WLAN Transceiver Power Management via WWAN Cell Site Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile communication devices with multiple transceivers face excessive battery power consumption when continuously operating WLAN transceivers during WWAN operations, as existing cell selection techniques do not efficiently manage the switching between WWAN and WLAN networks.
Innovation Solution
The mobile device performs scanning operations using the WWAN transceiver to identify cell site identifications and stores them with WLAN profiles, enabling the WLAN transceiver only when a predetermined threshold of matching cell site identifications is met, thereby maintaining it in a low power state during WWAN operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the WLAN transceiver is continuously operated or frequently enabled during WWAN operations to maintain network switching capability, then the device can quickly switch between networks, but battery power is consumed excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary scanning operations using the WWAN transceiver to identify WLAN opportunities before actual WLAN connection is needed. Cell site identifications are obtained in advance and stored with WLAN profiles, so when network switching is required, the device can quickly determine available WLANs without needing to continuously activate the WLAN transceiver.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous operation, the WLAN transceiver is enabled periodically or on-demand based on specific conditions. The system uses a threshold-based mechanism where the WLAN transceiver is only activated when the number of matching cell site identifications meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold, converting continuous monitoring into periodic, condition-triggered actions.
2Speed
If the WLAN transceiver is enabled often to monitor for WLAN opportunities, then network switching responsiveness is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary scanning operations using the WWAN transceiver to identify WLAN opportunities before actual WLAN connection is needed. Cell site identifications are obtained in advance and stored with WLAN profiles, so when network switching is required, the device can quickly determine available WLANs without needing to continuously activate the WLAN transceiver.
Solution Approach 2:
The WWAN transceiver acts as an intermediary that performs initial scanning and identification of WLAN opportunities. By using the WWAN transceiver to obtain cell site identifications that can indicate WLAN availability, the system avoids the need to continuously activate the WLAN transceiver, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining switching responsiveness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If autonomous cell selection is implemented between WLAN and WWAN cells, then network selection flexibility is improved, but complexity of transceiver management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The WWAN transceiver is utilized for dual purposes: its primary function for WWAN communication and a secondary function for scanning and identifying WLAN opportunities through cell site identifications. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated scanning mechanisms for WLAN, simplifying overall transceiver management while maintaining autonomous network selection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an intermediary approach where cell site identifications from WWAN scanning serve as indirect indicators of WLAN availability. Rather than requiring direct WLAN transceiver activation for all network selection decisions, the system uses these intermediary identifications to make informed network selection decisions, reducing management complexity.
Data Source
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Figure 3A
AI summary
A mobile device operates for communications via a WLAN with use of a WLAN transceiver portion. During such operation, the mobile device performs one or more scanning operations with use of a WWAN transceiver portion for identifying a set of cell site identifications corresponding to a plurality of base stations of one or more WWANs available in a coverage region of the WLAN. The set of cell site identifications is stored in association with a WLAN profile of the WLAN. Subsequently, while the mobile device operates for communications in a WWAN, the WLAN transceiver portion may be maintained in a low power state. During the WWAN operation, the mobile device performs one or more scanning operations with use of the WWAN transceiver portion for identifying a current set of cell site identifications corresponding to the currently-serving base station of the WWAN and one or more neighboring base stations. The mobile device compares cell site identifications of the current set with those in the stored set, and identifies if the number or percentage of matching cell site identifications of the current and stored sets meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold. If the predetermined threshold is met or exceeded, the mobile device enables operation of the WLAN transceiver portion for communications via the WLAN; otherwise, the mobile device refrains from enabling operation of the WLAN transceiver portion for communications via the WLAN. This technique may be performed in association with each WLAN profile stored in the mobile device.