Mobile Device RF Coverage Alert and Dynamic Scan Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile communication devices often experience service denial during poor or no RF coverage, leading to missed or late scheduled calls due to lack of awareness of coverage issues and inefficient scanning operations disconnected from calendar appointments requiring wireless service.
Innovation Solution
Implement user interface methods and apparatus that display call denial indications and reminders, adjust scanning rates based on upcoming appointments and call reminders, and provide warnings for out-of-coverage conditions, ensuring users are alerted to relocate for coverage and reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mobile device performs scanning operations at a fast scan rate to identify available wireless networks, then the reliability of detecting coverage is improved, but the power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the scan rate adjustable rather than fixed. The system dynamically changes the scan rate based on whether calendar appointments requiring wireless service are detected. When appointments are present, a faster scan rate is used to ensure reliable coverage detection; when no appointments are present, the scan rate is reduced to conserve battery power.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of scan rate based on the presence of calendar appointments. The processor determines whether to use a first (faster) or second (slower) scan rate by evaluating appointment information, thereby optimizing the balance between coverage detection reliability and power consumption according to actual service needs.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the mobile device reduces scan rate to slow scan rate to reduce power consumption, then the power consumption is reduced, but the ability to detect coverage restoration in time is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-identifying calendar appointments that require wireless service before scanning operations begin. This allows the system to proactively set an appropriate scan rate based on upcoming service needs, ensuring that coverage restoration is detected timely when appointments are present, while still conserving power when no appointments are scheduled.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from calendar appointment information to adjust scanning behavior. The processor continuously monitors for the presence of appointments requiring wireless service and adjusts the scan rate accordingly, creating a feedback loop that optimizes both power consumption and coverage detection timeliness based on actual service requirements.
3Reliability
If the calendar application synchronizes with remote calendar via wireless network, then the calendar information is kept up-to-date, but the device requires continuous wireless coverage which increases power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by scheduling calendar synchronization operations based on appointment information rather than continuous synchronization. The system periodically synchronizes calendar information with the remote calendar only when appointments requiring wireless service are detected, reducing unnecessary network communications and associated power consumption while maintaining synchronization reliability when needed.
4Reliability
If the mobile device performs frequent scanning operations to ensure coverage detection for scheduled calls, then the call reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using the existing calendar application and its appointment information for multiple purposes: not only for scheduling but also for controlling scanning operations. The calendar data serves dual functions of event management and wireless service requirement indication, simplifying the overall system architecture while improving call reliability through appointment-based scan rate control.
Data Source
AI summary
In one illustrative example, a mobile device includes one or more processors, memory coupled to the one or more processors, a wireless transceiver coupled to the one or more processors, and a user interface which includes a visual display and a plurality of keys. The one or more processors are operative to identify whether a radio frequency (RF) out-of-coverage condition exists between the mobile device and a wireless communication network within a predetermined time period from a date and time of an appointment associated with a calendar application of the mobile device. In response to identifying such condition, the one or more processors cause an RF out-of-coverage warning indication to be produced at the user interface in association with the appointment. Otherwise, the one or more processors refrain from causing this RF out-of-coverage warning indication to be produced. The indication may be or include a message which instructs a user of the mobile device to relocate the mobile device for removing the out-of-coverage condition for the appointment. At the date and time of the appointment, the one or more processors also cause a calendar reminder indication for the appointment to be produced at the user interface, as a reminder of the appointment.