Mobile Transceiver Wakeup Scheduling for Power-Constrained GNSS Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

GNSS tracking devices face challenges in efficiently operating across global and long-range tracking applications due to limited power and processing resources, particularly when crossing wireless carrier and network coverage boundaries, which affects their battery life and tracking efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A mobile transceiver with a processor, sensors, and multi-band wireless transceivers that use a power management system and scheduling of wakeup events to conserve power, allowing for efficient communication across various wireless services and satellite navigation systems, even in areas with changing wireless access technologies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the mobile transceiver continuously operates to maintain tracking across global and long-range applications, then tracking reliability is improved, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetracking reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile transceiver implements periodic wake-up events where the processor alternates between active and low-power states. The system wakes up at scheduled intervals to perform tracking operations and then returns to sleep mode, achieving reliable global tracking while significantly reducing average power consumption compared to continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-schedules wake-up events and prepares tracking operations in advance during active periods. By planning and executing tracking tasks during scheduled wake-up windows before returning to sleep, the system ensures tracking reliability is maintained across long-range applications without requiring continuous power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If the mobile transceiver wakes up frequently to maintain accurate tracking, then tracking precision is improved, but battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetracking precisionVSAvoidbattery life
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs periodic wake-up events with optimized intervals that balance tracking precision requirements against battery conservation. By scheduling wake-ups at strategically determined intervals rather than continuously, the system maintains adequate tracking precision while extending battery life in long-range applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The wake-up scheduling mechanism dynamically adjusts its behavior based on application requirements and battery status. The system can modify wake-up frequencies and durations to optimize the trade-off between tracking precision and battery life, adapting to changing operational conditions in global tracking scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Use of energy by moving object

If the mobile transceiver operates in low-power mode to extend battery life, then power consumption is reduced, but tracking responsiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidtracking responsiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile transceiver uses periodic wake-up events with optimized timing to balance power consumption and tracking responsiveness. During low-power mode, the system sleeps between scheduled wake-ups, reducing average power consumption while maintaining adequate tracking responsiveness by ensuring timely wake-events occur at appropriate intervals based on application needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor application requirements and battery status to dynamically adjust wake-up scheduling. This feedback loop ensures that the system maintains appropriate tracking responsiveness during low-power operation by adapting wake-up frequencies based on actual performance requirements and power availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3482228B1Method of scheduling wakeup events, method of operating a mobile transceiver, and devices configured for same
Publication Date: 2022.10.12 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP3482228B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3482228B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3482228B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of scheduling wakeup events, method of operating a mobile transceiver, and devices configured for same are provided. In one aspect, there is provided a method of scheduling wakeup events for a mobile transceiver, comprising: obtaining a first GNSS data set comprising a plurality of GNSS coordinates, the first GNSS data set defining a route; applying a curve simplification algorithm to generate a second GNSS data set comprising a plurality of GNSS coordinates, wherein the second GNSS data set is a subset of the first GNSS data set; defining one or more alarms as wakeup events to activate the satellite receiver from a low power mode based on the plurality of GNSS coordinates of the second GNSS data, wherein the one or more wakeup events are each defined by an alarm; and applying the one or more alarms.