SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR ADAPTING POWER USAGE OF A MOBILE UNIT

• US 20180310250A1
• Filed: 10/10/2016
• Published: 10/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: BLOM, ANTONIUS HERMANUS MARIA, VAN DEN DUNGEN, WILHELMUS ANDREAS MARINUS ARNOLDUS MARIA
• Granted Patent: US 10,863,442 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/38 TPC being performed in particular situations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system (100), a method (200) and a computer program for adapting power usage of a mobile unit (110) that is configured to communicate data to a base unit (120). In wearable/portable modules, the power needed by an ISM radio link between the wearable/portable mobile unit (110) and the (quasi-)stationary base unit (120) is determined primarily by the attenuation of the transmitted wave between transmitter and receiver. By monitoring the power setting needed for the transmitter to maintain the link, that information can be used to optimize the position of the base unit (120) for achieving lowest power consumption in the battery operated mobile unit (110).

Claims

1. A system for adapting power usage of a mobile unit that is configured to communicate data to a base unit, the system comprising:

said mobile unit, said base unit;

wherein said mobile unit is configured to provide transmission power information to said analysis unit, wherein said transmission power information corresponds to a transmission power needed by said mobile unit as a function of time;

wherein said analysis unit is configured to receive spatial information, wherein said spatial information corresponds to a relative location of said mobile unit with respect to said base unit as a function of time;

wherein said analysis unit is configured to provide a recommendation on a location of said base unit, wherein said recommendation is based on said transmission power information and on said spatial information.

2. The system of claim 1,

wherein said spatial information corresponds to a distance between said mobile unit and said base unit or to a weighted distance between said mobile unit and said base unit.

3. The system of claim 1,

wherein said analysis unit is configured to provide said recommendation on the base unit'"'"'s location by recommending a location corresponding to said relative location during a time period wherein said transmission power needed by said mobile unit or by said base unit is on average high compared to other time periods.

4. The system of claim 1,

wherein said mobile unit further comprises an activity monitoring unit that is configured to provide activity data as a function of time for a subject wearing said mobile unit;

wherein said analysis unit is configured to provide said recommendation on the base unit'"'"'s location further based on said activity data.

5. The system of claim 1,

wherein said mobile unit further comprises a power supply unit;

wherein said analysis unit is configured to provide said recommendation on the base unit'"'"'s location further based on a power level of said power supply unit.

6. The system of claim 1,

wherein said analysis unit is configured to provide said recommendation on the base unit'"'"'s location by evaluating average values for corresponding time periods on different days.

7. The system of claim 1,

wherein said analysis unit comprises at least one of an input unit that is configured to receive said spatial information;

or a user interface unit that is configured to receive said spatial information.

8. The system of claim 1,

wherein said system further comprises a second mobile unit separate from said mobile unit, wherein said second mobile unit comprises said analysis unit.

9. The system of claim 1,

wherein said mobile unit comprises an attachment unit that is configured to attach said mobile unit to a subject'"'"'s wrist.

10. The system of claim 1,

wherein said base unit is quasi-stationary.

11. The system of claim 1,

wherein said analysis unit is configured to provide said recommendation on the base unit'"'"'s location by recommending a location corresponding to a location of said mobile unit that occurs most frequently during a selected time period.

12. The system of claim 1,

wherein said spatial information received by said analysis unit corresponds to locations within a pre-defined space.

13. An analysis unit that is configured to be employed in a system according to claim 1, said analysis unit comprising:

a transmission power information providing unit that is configured to receive transmission power information for said mobile unit, wherein said transmission power information corresponds to a transmission power needed by said mobile unit as a function of time; and

a spatial information providing unit that is configured to receive spatial information, wherein said spatial information corresponds to a relative location of said mobile unit with respect to said base unit as a function of time;

wherein said analysis unit is configured to provide a recommendation on a location of said base unit, wherein said recommendation is based on said transmission power information and on said spatial information.

15. A computer program for adapting power usage of a mobile unit that is configured to communicate data to a base unit, the computer program comprising program code means for causing a system for adapting power usage of a mobile unit as defined in claim 1 to carry out the steps of:

receiving transmission power information, wherein said transmission power information corresponds to a transmission power needed by said mobile unit as a function of time;

receiving spatial information, wherein said spatial information corresponds to a relative location of said mobile unit with respect to said base unit as a function of time; and

providing a recommendation on a location of said base unit,

wherein said recommendation is based on said transmission power information and on said spatial information, when the computer program is executed by a processor on a computer controlling the system for adapting power usage of a mobile unit.

14. A method for adapting power usage of a mobile unit that is configured to communicate data to a base unit, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving transmission power information, wherein said transmission power information corresponds to a transmission power needed by said mobile unit as a function of time;

receiving spatial information, wherein said spatial information corresponds to a relative location of said mobile unit with respect to said base unit as a function of time; and

providing a recommendation on a location of said base unit, wherein said recommendation is based on said transmission power information and on said spatial information.