Wireless Remote Control Sleep Sniff Mode Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Consumer electronics devices face challenges in conserving battery power in remote controls while maintaining efficient communication, as existing solutions either drain battery faster or interfere with other wireless devices, and there is a need for methods to optimize wireless coexistence without consuming significant bandwidth.

Innovation Solution

A host device manages the operating state of a first wireless device, such as a Bluetooth remote control, by switching it between sleep and sniff modes based on the presence of other devices using the same bandwidth spectrum, allowing the remote control to conserve battery by powering down until data transmission is needed and periodically powering up to synchronize with the host device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the remote control operates in sleep mode to conserve battery power, then battery life is extended, but communication responsiveness and data transmission capability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery power consumptionVSAvoidcommunication responsiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The remote control dynamically switches between sleep mode and sniff mode based on communication needs. The host device determines whether to place the remote control in sleep mode or sniff mode, allowing the system to adapt its power consumption and responsiveness characteristics to current operational requirements, thus resolving the contradiction between battery conservation and communication responsiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

In sniff mode, the remote control periodically wakes up from sleep to synchronize with the host device and check for data transmissions. This periodic activation allows the remote control to maintain communication capability without continuously operating at full power, achieving a balance between battery conservation and responsiveness by only being active when necessary

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Productivity

If the remote control operates in sniff mode to maintain communication readiness, then data transmission capability is improved, but battery power is consumed faster

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission capabilityVSAvoidbattery power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the operational mode of the remote control based on real-time communication requirements. When other wireless devices are present and bandwidth spectrum is available, the remote control operates in sniff mode for better data transmission capability. When no other devices are present, it switches to sleep mode to conserve battery, thus adaptively resolving the contradiction between productivity and energy consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the host device continuously monitors bandwidth spectrum for other wireless devices, then wireless coexistence is optimized, but processing resources and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewireless coexistence optimizationVSAvoidprocessing resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The host device autonomously monitors the bandwidth spectrum for the presence of other wireless devices and automatically determines the appropriate operational mode for the remote control without requiring manual intervention or complex external control systems. This self-service approach optimizes wireless coexistence while keeping the control logic integrated within the host device, managing processing resource consumption efficiently

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2448357B1Mixed-mode wireless device operation
Publication Date: 2016.07.20 BROADCOM INC
  • EP2448357B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2448357B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2448357B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods to operate wireless devices are provided herein. In an exemplary system a first wireless device coupled to a consumer electronics device is operated in a sleep mode. It is determined whether there is a second device is operating in the same bandwidth spectrum as the first device. If there is a second device operating in the same bandwidth spectrum, then the first device is switched to a sniff mode of operation.