Wireless Communication Device ROD Mode Power Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication devices consume excessive power when maintaining an active state without a communication destination, and switching to a sleep state may prevent secure communication if the destination device cannot transmit activation signals.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a Radio on Demand (ROD) mode that allows the device to switch between active and sleep states based on the presence of an activation signal, using a communication scheme requiring less power for signal reception, and adjusting the operation mode based on the communication settings of the destination device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the wireless communication device sets its state to active state continuously, then wireless communication with communication destination device can be securely performed, but the amount of electric power consumed becomes unnecessarily large

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure communicationVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless communication device dynamically adjusts its operational state between active and sleep modes based on real-time detection of communication destination devices. The device transitions to sleep state when no communication destination is detected, and activates when a destination is found, optimizing the balance between power consumption and communication reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device employs feedback mechanisms to detect the presence of communication destination devices and adjusts its state accordingly. The detection result feeds back to the state setting unit, which then determines whether to maintain active state or transition to sleep state, creating a closed-loop control system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Use of energy by moving object

If the wireless communication device sets its state to sleep state to decrease power consumption, then electric power consumption is reduced, but wireless communication with communication destination device incapable of transmitting activation instruction signal cannot be securely performed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidsecure communication

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The base station acts as an intermediary that receives detection results from other base stations about communication destination devices. This intermediary mechanism allows the wireless communication device to infer the presence of communication destinations without requiring direct activation signal transmission, enabling reliable communication with devices incapable of transmitting activation signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements multi-functionality by allowing base stations to perform both direct communication and relay detection functions. The base station can utilize detection results from other base stations to determine its own operational state, making the system universally applicable to various communication scenarios including those with devices that cannot transmit activation signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If the wireless communication device uses first communication scheme for active state communication, then communication performance is maintained, but electric power consumption increases when no communication destination exists

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication performanceVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless communication device periodically checks for the presence of communication destination devices and adjusts its state accordingly. Instead of maintaining continuous active state, the device transitions to sleep state during periods when no communication destinations are present, reducing power consumption while maintaining communication performance when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameter (state) between active and sleep modes based on the detection of communication destination devices. This parameter change allows the device to adapt its power consumption level to the current communication needs, maintaining high performance when communication is required and low performance (power saving) mode when communication is not needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9554330B2Wireless communication device

Publication Date: 2017.01.24 NEC COMM SYST LTD

AI summary

A wireless communication device 81 operates in either a ROD mode or a non-ROD mode. The non-ROD mode sets the state of the device to an active state that the device can perform wireless communication compliant with a first communication scheme with a communication destination device 82. The ROD mode: sets the state of the device to either the active state or a sleep state that the device can receive an activation instruction signal compliant with a second communication scheme requiring smaller electric power to receive a signal than the first communication scheme and cannot perform wireless communication compliant with the first communication scheme with the communication destination device; sets the state of the device to the sleep state when a predetermined sleep condition is satisfied; and sets the state of the device to the active state when the device receives the activation instruction signal.