Wearable Device Resource Conservation via Companion Offloading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wearable devices face challenges in resource conservation due to their limited computing power, battery life, and input capabilities, which restricts their functionality and efficiency, especially when not in proximity to a companion device.

Innovation Solution

Implementing mechanisms that allow wearable devices to optimize resource usage based on context and priority by leveraging companion devices for tasks such as internet access, sensor data, and computation, while conserving resources when alone, through secure registration and configuration processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If wearable devices perform all tasks locally to maintain functionality, then device independence is improved, but battery life and computing resources are depleted faster

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice independenceVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a companion device as an intermediary between the wearable device and remote services. The companion device handles computationally intensive tasks, internet communication, and data processing, allowing the wearable to conserve battery life while maintaining functionality through the intermediary's resources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If wearable devices leverage companion devices for tasks, then resource conservation is improved, but device complexity increases due to registration and configuration processes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource conservationVSAvoidregistration and configuration processes

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary registration and configuration actions where the wearable device pre-establishes communication channels and authentication mechanisms with the companion device and remote services before actual task execution. This preliminary setup simplifies subsequent resource sharing operations by pre-configuring protocols and permissions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service authentication and resource allocation where the wearable device automatically manages its own resource requests to the companion device and remote services through priority-based mechanisms, reducing the need for manual configuration and simplifying the user experience

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Duration of action of stationary object

If wearable devices use limited local resources to conserve energy, then battery life is extended, but computing power and processing capabilities are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery lifeVSAvoidcomputing power

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments computational tasks into two categories: lightweight tasks executed locally on the wearable device to maintain responsiveness, and computationally intensive tasks offloaded to the companion device or remote services. This segmentation allows the wearable to extend battery life by performing only essential local processing while leveraging external resources for complex computations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11861396B2Mechanisms for conserving resources of wearable devices

Publication Date: 2024.01.02 MCAFEE LLC

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a system and method for providing a service on a wearable device where the wearable device is limited in its functionality in some way when compared with a companion device. In particular, the disclosure describes use cases for configuring the wearable device, and use cases for configuring a wearable device and performing service application functions on the wearable device while leveraging a companion device.