Sony patents way to keep low-power devices connected without re-registering
Sony has been granted a patent for a method that helps wireless devices powered by energy harvesting, such as solar or vibration, stay connected when their battery runs low. When a device runs out of power for normal communication, it tells the network to keep its connection details saved for a specific time. This allows the device to resume talking to the network immediately once it has enough energy, without needing to go through the full setup process again.
In the filing’s own words
A method is disclosed, performed by a network node, for handling low energy conditions of an energy harvesting wireless device (WD). The network node stores a UE context of the WD received in a registration procedure of the WD with the network. The method includes receiving by the network node a message from the WD, wherein the message indicates that the WD has insufficient power level for performing regular radio operations for an upcoming message exchange. The message further indicates that the UE context of the WD is to be preserved for a time period during which the power level is insufficient.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method, performed in a network node, for handling low energy conditions of an energy harvesting wireless device (WD), the method comprising: storing a UE context of the WD, the UE context having been received during a registration procedure with the WD; and receiving, from the WD, a message indicating that the WD has insufficient power level for performing regular radio operations for an upcoming message exchange and indicating that the UE context of the WD is to be preserved for a time period during which the power level is insufficient, wherein the preserving the UE context for the time period permits the network node and the WD to resume communications based on the preserved UE context without a requirement of performing a further registration procedure.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (Sony Group Corporation)
- Official title
- Methods for handling low energy conditions of an energy harvesting wireless device, a related network node and a related wireless device
- Patent number
- US12750781B2
- Application number
- 18290795
- Filed
- Aug 26, 2022
- Granted
- Sep 29, 2026
- Inventors
- 4
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04W 52/0235 Electricity & electronicsH02J 50/001 Electricity & electronicsH04L 5/0053 Electricity & electronicsMore from Sony in Networks & wireless
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.