Wireless Device Receiver Sensitivity Energy Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless devices face significant energy consumption challenges when detecting network connection requests, particularly in Machine Type Communications (MTC) where energy efficiency is critical, and conventional techniques either waste energy or fail to accommodate applications with low signal strength.
Innovation Solution
A method that dynamically adjusts receiver sensitivity based on channel conditions to optimize energy consumption, allowing the device to select a configuration with sufficient sensitivity for request detection while minimizing energy usage, by employing different receiver sensitivity configurations and alternating between energy-efficient and energy-hungry receivers as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the device uses conventional sleep technique with periodic wake-up, then energy consumption is reduced compared to constant awake state, but considerable energy is still wasted during wake-up periods when no connection requests are received
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the receiver functionality into two separate receivers: a wake-up receiver with worse sensitivity that consumes less energy, and a conventional receiver with better sensitivity that consumes more energy. This segmentation allows the device to use only the low-power wake-up receiver for detecting connection requests, eliminating the need for periodic wake-ups of the high-power conventional receiver and thus reducing wasted energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically switches between different receiver configurations based on operational needs. The wake-up receiver operates continuously in a low-power state, and only when it detects a connection request does the device activate the conventional receiver. This dynamic approach optimizes energy consumption by ensuring the high-power receiver is active only when absolutely necessary.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the device uses wake-up receiver technique with two receivers, then energy consumption is significantly reduced, but the technique fails to accommodate applications with low signal strength due to the wake-up receiver's worse sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic receiver selection based on signal strength conditions. The wake-up receiver operates in good channel conditions where high signal strength allows the use of a receiver with worse sensitivity. When channel conditions deteriorate or signal strength becomes low, the system dynamically switches to the conventional receiver with better sensitivity, ensuring reliable operation across all signal conditions while maintaining energy efficiency whenever possible.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the receiver system by selectively activating different receivers based on channel conditions. The system monitors signal strength and adjusts which receiver is active, thereby adapting the receiver sensitivity parameter to match the current operational requirements and environmental conditions.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the device maintains the conventional receiver in constant sleep state to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but the device cannot detect connection requests under low signal strength conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the receiver functionality into specialized components: a wake-up receiver optimized for low-power operation in high signal strength conditions, and a conventional receiver optimized for sensitivity in low signal strength conditions. This segmentation allows the device to adapt to different application scenarios by selecting the appropriate receiver based on current channel conditions, thereby expanding the overall application scope while maintaining energy efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments herein include a method implemented by a wireless device for detecting requests to connect to a wireless communications network. The method includes determining a receiver sensitivity that is sufficient, given channel conditions at the device, for the device to detect connection requests. The method then entails dynamically selecting, from among different receiver sensitivity configurations of the device, a configuration that has a receiver sensitivity at least as good as the determined sensitivity and that has less energy consumption than at least one other configuration. Finally, the method includes using the selected configuration for request detection. A wireless device herein thereby reduces its energy consumption when it is disconnected from the network, but intelligently limits the extent of that energy consumption reduction in order to maintain an ability to detect network connection requests.