Wireless Device Power Management via Periodic Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication devices face challenges in managing power consumption, particularly due to high data throughput requirements and interference, leading to inefficient transmit power control that does not optimize for minimal power consumption.

Innovation Solution

The method involves determining a pattern of signaling messages to enable and disable transmission circuitry in wireless communication devices, adjusting the duty cycle of 'transmit on' and 'transmit off' frames to achieve a target average transmit power level, by estimating actual and target power levels and channel conditions, and communicating these to the access network system to optimize radio resource allocation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If transmit power levels are increased to achieve high data rates and overcome interference, then data throughput and signal decoding performance are improved, but power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata throughputVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements discontinuous transmission by periodically enabling and disabling the transmission circuitry based on channel conditions and data availability. The device determines transmit frames and non-transmit frames in a sequence, activating transmission only when necessary to send data, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining required data throughput through strategic periodic transmission bursts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Productivity

If continuous transmission is used to maintain steady data rate, then data throughput is maintained, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata throughputVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from continuous transmission to periodic discontinuous transmission by establishing sequences of transmit and non-transmit frames. Transmission circuitry is enabled only during designated transmit frames when data needs to be sent, and disabled during non-transmit frames, thereby extending battery life through reduced operational duration while maintaining data throughput through efficient use of active transmission periods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic adaptability by allowing the transmission pattern to be adjusted based on channel conditions, data buffer status, and power constraints. The device can dynamically modify the sequence of transmit and non-transmit frames, changing transmission behavior in response to varying operational requirements rather than maintaining a fixed continuous transmission mode

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Use of energy by moving object

If transmit power is reduced to save power, then power consumption decreases, but signal decoding performance at the receiving end deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidsignal decoding performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the device monitors channel conditions, signal quality, and decoding performance at the receiving end. Based on this feedback information, the system adjusts transmission parameters including power levels and timing of transmit frames to maintain adequate signal quality for reliable decoding while minimizing power consumption through optimized transmission moments and power levels

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Speed

If transmission circuitry is frequently enabled to send signaling messages, then data transmission responsiveness is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission responsivenessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system establishes periodic opportunities for transmission through the frame sequence structure, where transmit frames are scheduled at regular intervals. This periodic structure allows the device to remain responsive to transmission opportunities while consuming power only during designated transmit frames, rather than maintaining continuous readiness or transmitting too frequently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS9462558B2Managing power consumption of transmission circuitry in a wireless communication device

Publication Date: 2016.10.04 APPLE INC

AI summary

Methods, apparatuses and computer readable media are described that manage transmit power levels for a wireless device connected to a network access system of a wireless network. Processing circuitry in the wireless device obtains a target average transmit power level. Based on estimates of an actual average transmit power level for a sliding window of a past time period and the target average transmit power level, the processing circuitry determines a target transmit power level, a duty cycle percentage, and a transmit pattern of transmit on frames and transmit off frames for a future time period. The processing circuitry sends to the access network system signaling messages indicating non-zero valued buffer status reports for the transmit on frames and zero valued buffer status reports for the transmit off frames. Non-zero values correspond to actual amounts of pending uplink data, while zero values are sent irrespective of actual uplink buffer status.