Transceiver Power Management via Cellular Beacon Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless handheld devices face significant power consumption issues due to the need to constantly monitor and respond to short-interval beacon signals in wireless networks, which prevents them from powering down their RF receivers and processing logic for extended periods, leading to unsustainable battery life.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where the electronic device ignores shorter interval beacon signals from wireless networks and instead uses longer interval beacon signals from cellular networks to power down transceivers for extended periods, allowing for significant power savings by only powering up to receive data when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If beacon signals are transmitted at short intervals (100ms-400ms) to enable quick detection of network loss, then connection detection speed is improved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by implementing an asynchronous communication mechanism where the wireless device periodically checks for data availability through a data bag indicator rather than continuously monitoring beacon signals. This allows the RF receiver to be powered down for extended periods while still maintaining the ability to detect and receive data when available, thus reducing power consumption while preserving connection detection capability.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the RF receiver is powered down for extended periods to conserve power, then power savings are achieved, but the ability to detect data availability through beacon signals is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of a data bag indicator that is set by the access point to signal data availability. This indicator acts as a mediator between the beacon signal system and the powered-down RF receiver, allowing the device to be reliably notified of data availability without requiring continuous beacon monitoring, thus maintaining data reception reliability while enabling extended power savings.
3Use of energy by moving object
If beacon signal transmission interval is extended to reduce power consumption, then power savings increase, but detection speed of network loss and data availability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the access point proactively set a data bag indicator before data becomes available. This allows the wireless device to be immediately notified when data is ready without requiring continuous monitoring or waiting for extended beacon intervals, thus eliminating detection delay while maintaining the ability to power down the RF receiver for extended periods.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of enabling wireless data transfer to an electronic device having a transceiver structured to interact in a first mode with a first wireless network and in a second mode with a second wireless network, including repeatedly powering up the transceiver and enabling the second mode to await receipt of a second beacon signal through the second wireless network, receiving an instance of the second beacon signal with an indication of availability of data to be transferred to the electronic device through the first wireless network, and in response to the receiving of the instance of the second beacon signal with the indication of availability of the data, enabling the first mode to receive the data through the first wireless network.