Wireless Data Transmission Buffering for Cellular Battery Life
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current IP-based applications on cellular devices consume excessive battery power due to frequent and prolonged active wireless connections for small data transmissions, leading to reduced battery lifetimes, as they were originally designed for fixed networks and not optimized for cellular networks.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method to classify data messages as urgent or non-urgent and delaying non-urgent messages until a predetermined condition is met, such as the airlink being open, a maximum delay time elapsed, or storage capacity reached, to consolidate transmissions and reduce power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data messages are transmitted frequently to maintain IP connectivity, then network responsiveness is improved, but battery consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple small data messages into a single concatenated transmission buffer. Instead of opening the airlink separately for each small message, multiple messages are merged and transmitted together in one airlink opening, reducing the frequency of airlink state transitions and associated power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary buffering of data messages before transmission. Messages are accumulated in a transmission buffer until sufficient data is available to justify opening the airlink, or until a timeout occurs. This preliminary accumulation action reduces unnecessary airlink openings for very small messages.
2Reliability
If the airlink is kept open for several seconds after data transmission, then network protocol requirements are met, but power consumption increases due to prolonged active state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic checking of the transmission buffer at defined intervals (e.g., every 10 seconds). Instead of maintaining continuous airlink openness, the system periodically evaluates whether transmission is needed, allowing the airlink to close between periods when no data is pending, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining protocol compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the timing parameter of airlink closure based on data availability. Instead of fixed timeout closure, the airlink is kept open only as long as necessary to transmit accumulated data, with the closure timing parameter dynamically adjusted based on buffer content and message urgency levels.
3Adaptability or versatility
If small data packets are transmitted frequently, then IP application functionality is maintained, but battery lifetime is reduced by up to 80%
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transmission process into buffering phase and transmission phase. Small messages are segmented into a buffer during idle periods, and only transmitted when the buffer reaches a threshold or timeout occurs. This segmentation allows the system to maintain IP application functionality while avoiding frequent airlink openings that drain battery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a transmission buffer as an intermediary between the IP application layer and the physical transmission layer. This intermediary buffer absorbs the frequency of small messages from applications and releases them in more efficient bulk transmissions, decoupling application functionality from transmission frequency and reducing power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
Non-urgent data messages of an IP based application hosted by a cellular device are only transmitted when a predetermined condition is met. A data message may be: a presence report; a check for new email sent by an email client to a server; and a keep-alive message sent to a server, but this is not an exhaustive list of the relevant types of data message. The predetermined condition, may, for example, be met when the first of the following occurs: the airlink is open; a maximum delay time has elapsed; a store for non-urgent messages is full; and a maximum number of messages is stored. The invention reduces the number of times when the airlink is open, thus preventing the 3 to 10 seconds additional open time for each occurrence. This saves battery life for the cellular device. The invention is also applicable to other types of messaging in which small data messages are periodically transmitted over an airlink.