Terminal Heartbeat Agent for Power Saving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable devices connected to the Internet through wireless networks face challenges in maintaining connections due to network address translation (NAT) policies, which can lead to connection breakdowns and high power consumption when trying to keep channels active with intermittent data transmission periods varying across different networks, affecting real-time data delivery and battery life.
Innovation Solution
A method where a terminal or network server periodically transmits a heartbeat data packet to maintain the connection, with the terminal's communication functional unit keeping the main processing unit in a sleep state by using a heartbeat agent that transmits or receives a predetermined format heartbeat data packet, ensuring the connection remains active without waking the main processor, thus reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the portable device transmits heartbeat data frequently to maintain connection, then the connection remains active and NAT gateway does not clean up the channel, but the CPU and operating system are frequently woken up causing high power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the processing functions into two independent parts: a first processing unit (main CPU) and a second processing unit (communication functional unit). The second unit handles heartbeat data transmission independently while the first unit remains in sleep state, eliminating the need to wake the main CPU for connection maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a second processing unit (communication functional unit) as an intermediary between the network and the main CPU. This intermediary unit performs heartbeat data transmission and reception tasks, acting as a mediator that maintains connection availability without requiring the main CPU to wake up.
2Reliability
If the heartbeat data transmission period is set short, then connection maintenance is effective, but CPU wake-ups frequent causing high power consumption and reduced battery life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the processing tasks between two units, allowing the communication functional unit to handle connection maintenance with a longer period while the main CPU remains asleep, thus extending battery life without compromising connection maintenance effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic power management where the main CPU dynamically transitions between sleep and active states based on actual needs. The communication functional unit independently manages heartbeat transmission timing, allowing flexible adjustment of transmission periods without affecting CPU power state.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the heartbeat data transmission period is set long, then power consumption is reduced, but the connection channel cannot be maintained to be available for real-time data pushing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments connection maintenance responsibilities from data processing tasks. The communication functional unit handles heartbeat transmission with optimized timing, while the main CPU remains in sleep state. This segmentation allows the system to maintain connection availability with longer periods than traditional approaches while keeping power consumption low.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for maintaining the connection between a terminal and a network server is described. The terminal has a first processing unit with a first state and a second state, wherein the power consumption of the second state is less than the power consumption of the first state. When the first processing unit is in the second state, the terminal or the network server sends heartbeat data packets periodically in order to maintain the connection between said terminal and said network server. During the period that the terminal or the network server sends a periodic heartbeat data packet, a main processor of the terminal will not be woken up Thus, the terminal in a sleep state can maintain connection with the network server, and not be woken up due to the heartbeat data packets sent by the network server, which reduces the power consumption of the terminal.