Task Offloading Control Circuit Server Energy Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for task execution transfer between computational platforms are not adequately suited for mobile application settings, particularly in terms of resource protection and energy efficiency, as they fail to consider the power-limited nature of mobile devices and the need to conserve resources.

Innovation Solution

A control circuit with a wireless two-way transceiver determines the need to offload tasks to a server, awakens the server from a sleep state when necessary, establishes a connection, and transfers the task for execution, ensuring efficient use of resources and returning the server to a sleep state post-execution, thereby conserving energy and protecting local resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the server remains in a standby state to quickly accept task offloading requests, then task execution availability is improved, but energy consumption increases due to continuous power requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetask execution availabilityVSAvoidserver energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by having the mobile device prepare task information and send wake-up notifications to the server before actual task execution is needed. The server is put into a low-power state after task completion, and the mobile device proactively notifies it of upcoming tasks, allowing the server to wake up only when necessary rather than remaining continuously active.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements periodic action through the cyclic pattern of the server entering sleep mode after task completion and being awakened by the mobile device when new tasks are available. This creates a periodic on-demand activation pattern rather than continuous operation, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining task execution capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Use of energy by moving object

If the server is awakened on-demand to reduce energy consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but task execution time increases due to wake-up delay

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveserver energy consumptionVSAvoidtask execution time
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile device sends a wake-up notification to the server in advance before the actual task data is transferred. This preliminary action allows the server to initiate its wake-up sequence and prepare its systems before the task execution begins, minimizing the impact of wake-up delay on overall task completion time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Use of energy by moving object

If task offloading is implemented to conserve mobile device resources, then mobile device energy efficiency is improved, but network communication overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemobile device energy consumptionVSAvoidnetwork communication energy
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic action by establishing a communication pattern where the mobile device and server interact at specific intervals - sending wake-up notifications, transferring task data, and receiving results. This structured periodic communication optimizes network usage by avoiding continuous connection maintenance while ensuring timely task offloading and completion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP2456169B1Method and apparatus pertaining to energy efficient task execution offloading
Publication Date: 2018.06.13 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2456169B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2456169B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP2456169B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A control circuit (such as a smartphone processor) having access to a wireless two-way transceiver (such as a short-range transceiver) determines a need to offload execution of a task to a server and then determines present unavailability of that server. This control circuit then transmits a first message to the server to prompt the server to awaken. The control circuit then transmits a second message to the server to establish a wireless connection that the control circuit employs to offload execution of the task to the server. By one approach, the aforementioned first message can include a unique identifier for the server. If desired, this unique identifier can have been provided earlier by the server via a general broadcast.