Wireless Device Battery Management via Dynamic Communication Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless automatic meter reading systems using cellular communication face challenges in reducing current consumption, as they require frequent retransmissions and are sensitive to communication environment changes, leading to increased power usage and unreliable data transmission.
Innovation Solution
A wireless device with a controller that adjusts communication frequency and data volume based on the remaining battery power, using a battery remaining amount calculation unit to optimize power usage, allowing for reduced current consumption even in fixed installations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If cellular communication is used for wireless automatic meter reading, then construction and maintenance operations are handled by telecommunications carriers, but current consumption increases due to connection requirements with base stations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of communication parameters including transmission power and reporting frequency based on battery remaining amount. The controller adapts the communication strategy in real-time, switching between different communication modes (immediate transmission, delayed transmission, or data accumulation) to optimize power consumption while maintaining cellular network connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes communication parameters such as transmission power level, data reporting frequency, and communication timing based on battery status. When battery level is high, more frequent communications are permitted; when low, the system reduces communication frequency and accumulates data for batch transmission, directly addressing the power consumption issue.
2Reliability
If transmission power and retransmission attempts are increased to ensure communication reliability, then data transmission reliability improves, but current consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by adjusting the degree of communication effort based on battery status. Instead of always using maximum transmission power and unlimited retransmission attempts, the system uses just enough communication effort to ensure reliable data delivery given the current battery level. When battery is low, it reduces transmission power and limits retransmission attempts, accepting lower reliability temporarily to conserve power.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication strategy dynamically adapts to battery conditions. The controller monitors battery remaining amount and adjusts transmission power levels and retransmission parameters accordingly, creating a dynamic balance between communication reliability and power consumption rather than using fixed high-reliability settings.
3Loss of information
If data transmission frequency is increased to improve data freshness, then data availability improves, but battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by scheduling data transmissions based on battery status rather than continuous or fixed-period transmission. The reporting frequency is adjusted periodically according to battery remaining amount, creating adaptive periodic communication patterns that balance data freshness with power conservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuity of useful action by accumulating data locally when communication conditions are unfavorable (low battery) and transmitting in batches when conditions improve. This ensures continuous data collection and periodic data delivery, maintaining data availability while extending battery life through intelligent timing of transmission events.
4Reliability
If communication environment deteriorates at a fixed installation location, then communication reliability decreases, but the fixed station cannot relocate to improve conditions
Solution Approach 1:
Since the fixed station cannot change location, the system compensates by changing communication parameters such as transmission power level, data encoding scheme, and reporting frequency. These parameter adjustments optimize communication reliability for the specific fixed location's environmental conditions while managing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts communication strategies to compensate for fixed location disadvantages. The controller continuously monitors communication status and battery level, adjusting transmission parameters in real-time to maintain reliable data transmission despite the inability to relocate to a better communication environment.
Data Source
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AI summary
Wireless device (100) includes: communication unit (101) that communicates with host apparatus (200); controller (102) that controls communication unit (101); storage unit (105) that records data obtained from sensor (104); battery (106) that is a power source; and battery remaining amount calculation unit (107) that calculates a battery remaining amount of battery (106) based on a communication status with host apparatus (200). Furthermore, controller (102) of wireless device (100) changes a frequency of transmission of the data and/or a volume of the data to be transmitted in accordance with the battery remaining amount calculated by battery remaining amount calculation unit (107). This configuration reduces current consumption. Accordingly, current consumption decreases even in a case of use of cellular communication, and operation is achievable for a demanded period without battery replacement.