Server Push Schedule for Mobile Battery and Data Conservation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile devices face challenges in managing resource consumption, particularly in extending battery life and reducing network data transfer usage, as existing methods do not effectively control when to wake devices and transfer data, leading to inefficient battery usage and potential data limit exceedance.

Innovation Solution

A method where a server pushes a 'wake' command and content updates to mobile devices periodically, maintaining schedules for waking and data transfer to control resource consumption, prioritizing power-efficient devices and optimizing data usage based on network connectivity and charging status.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the device wakes frequently to check for content updates, then the user receives timely content, but battery life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent update timelinessVSAvoidbattery consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic wake schedules where the device wakes at predetermined intervals to check for content updates. This periodic action balances content freshness with battery conservation by not waking the device continuously or too frequently, thus reducing energy consumption while still maintaining reasonable content update timeliness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The wake schedule is dynamically adjusted based on device characteristics (power-efficient vs. less power-efficient devices), network conditions, and charging status. Power-efficient devices may wake more frequently, while less power-efficient devices wake less often, especially when battery level is low or the device is charging, optimizing the balance between content updates and battery usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the device transfers data frequently to sync content, then the content is up-to-date, but network data usage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent synchronizationVSAvoidnetwork data consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Data transfer occurs periodically according to the wake schedule rather than continuously. The device transfers data only when waking to check for updates, which reduces overall network data consumption while still maintaining content synchronization at acceptable intervals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The device performs partial data transfers by only retrieving new content or updates since the last wake event, rather than transferring all data continuously. This partial action approach maintains synchronization while minimizing unnecessary data consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If the device wakes more often, then content freshness is improved, but uniform battery life across devices is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent freshnessVSAvoidbattery life uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different wake schedules and content update frequencies to different devices based on their individual characteristics. Power-efficient devices receive more frequent updates, while less power-efficient devices receive less frequent updates, especially when charging. This local quality approach ensures each device operates within its battery constraints while maintaining acceptable content freshness for its capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes key parameters (wake frequency, data transfer timing) based on device power efficiency characteristics and battery status. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system achieves uniform battery life consumption patterns across diverse devices while still providing content freshness appropriate to each device's capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Use of energy by moving object

If the device delays waking events to save battery, then battery life is extended, but content update timeliness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery conservationVSAvoidcontent update responsiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous or on-demand waking, the system uses periodic wake schedules that extend intervals between wakes to conserve battery. This periodic approach accepts delayed content updates as a trade-off for significant battery savings, which is appropriate for devices in low-power states or when content urgency is low.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts wake timing based on battery level, charging status, and device power efficiency. When battery is low or device is charging, wakes are delayed or reduced. When battery is sufficient or device is power-efficient, wakes occur more frequently. This dynamic adjustment optimizes the trade-off between battery conservation and content update responsiveness based on real-time conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2939078B1Conserving battery and data usage
Publication Date: 2020.11.18 META PLATFORMS INC
  • EP2939078B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2939078B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2939078B1 patent drawingFigure 2C~2E

AI summary

In one embodiment, a method includes determining a power consumption profile for a device. Status information for the device may be received, wherein the status information comprises power status and network connectivity status. Using a resource-control algorithm and based on the status information and the power consumption profile, a schedule for sending push events to the device may be determined. Content to be provisioned to the device may be identified, and the scheduled push events may be sent to the device, in order to provision the identified content to the device. The resource-control algorithm may be further based on one or more device-based consumption factors, such as a periodic data usage transfer limit with respect to a specified network and a data usage status with respect to the specified network, or system-wide consumption factors, such as a power threshold that applies across all devices.