Portable Terminal Wireless Module Activation Cycle Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional portable terminals waste power and inconvenience users by requiring manual on/off of short range wireless communication modules, leading to unnecessary service unavailability when no corresponding Access Point is found.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method and apparatus that automatically connect short range wireless networks in portable terminals using location and motion information to control the activation cycle of communication modules, thereby optimizing power usage and eliminating user intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the communication module for supporting the short range wireless network is continuously turned on to ensure service availability, then the service availability is improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice availabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The communication module operates in periodic cycles, alternating between active scanning periods and sleep periods. The controller periodically activates the communication module to scan for beacon signals from Access Points, then deactivates it when no AP is found, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining service availability during active periods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The portable terminal automatically detects the presence of Access Points through beacon signals and autonomously activates or deactivates the communication module based on detection results, eliminating the need for manual user intervention while optimizing power usage based on actual network availability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If the portable terminal continuously searches for Access Point to ensure automatic connection, then the service availability is improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic connection capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal performs periodic scanning for Access Points rather than continuous scanning. The communication module is activated in periodic intervals to receive beacon signals, and if no AP is detected within a predetermined time, the module is deactivated, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining automatic connection capability when APs are available

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The scanning behavior dynamically adjusts based on the operational state of the communication module. When the module is deactivated, scanning stops to save power; when activated, scanning resumes to detect APs, creating a dynamic balance between connection reliability and power consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Use of energy by moving object

If the user manually turns on and off the short range wireless communication module to save power, then the power consumption is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The portable terminal automatically performs the function of turning on and off the communication module based on its own detection of Access Point presence. The controller monitors beacon signals and autonomously activates or deactivates the communication module without requiring user intervention, thereby maintaining power efficiency while improving ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from beacon signal detection to automatically control the communication module state. When beacon signals are detected indicating AP presence, the module remains active; when no signals are detected, the module is deactivated, creating an automatic feedback loop that eliminates manual operation while optimizing power usage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2524567B1Method and apparatus for automatically connecting short range wireless network in portable terminal
Publication Date: 2020.03.04 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2524567B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2524567B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2524567B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method and an apparatus for automatically connecting a short range wireless network in a portable terminal. The method for automatically connecting a short range wireless network in the portable terminal includes, when registering to an Access Point (AP), storing location information of the AP. The method also includes obtaining location information of the terminal. The method further includes controlling an activation cycle of a communication module by comparing the location information of the terminal and the location information of the AP. The method still further includes, when the communication module is activated, searching for the AP.