Signaling over cellular networks to reduce the Wi-Fi energy consumption of mobile devices

• US 10,057,853 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2014
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Bahl, Paramvir, Wolman, Alastair, Chandra, Ranveer, Chin, Kevin, Agarwal, Yuvraj
• Primary Examiner(s): Pasia, Redentor
• Application Number:
  US14/520,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20150139057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/085 collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/00 Interfaces specially adapted for wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Techniques for increasing the battery life on a mobile device by decreasing the energy consumption of the mobile device'"'"'s wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) interface are described. In one embodiment, the mobile device'"'"'s Wi-Fi interface is automatically disabled when the device is not engaged. When the device receives a wake up call from a server via its Cellular interface, the Wi-Fi interface is enabled if the device answers the wake up call and the Wi-Fi interface is available. Using its Wi-Fi interface, the mobile device then connects to an IP-based network via a Wi-Fi access point.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a wireless interface;

one or more processors; and

one or more mobile device applications executable by the one or more processors to;

set to a first power state the wireless interface on the mobile device in response to detecting that the mobile device is not engaged in communication across the wireless interface;

set to a second power state the wireless interface responsive to;

a request to communicate received from a server device, the request to communicate comprising an identifier that is unique to both the server device and to the mobile device;

a determination that the mobile device is within a range of a known access point, the known access point comprising an access point previously connected to by the mobile device, the first power state being a lower power state than the second power state; and

a determination that the identifier that is unique to both the server device and to the mobile device matches a unique server identifier; and

communicate via the wireless interface after setting to the second power state the wireless interface responsive to the request to communicate, the determination that the mobile device is within range, and the determination that the identifier matches the unique server identifier.

2. The mobile device as recited in claim 1, wherein setting power states of the wireless interface is facilitated by control features implemented on the mobile device, the control features are facilitated by communication handling rules on the server device communicatively coupled with the mobile device.

3. The mobile device as recited in claim 1, wherein data received via the wireless interface comprises data associated with a real-time application.

4. The mobile device as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless interface is set to the second power state responsive to initiating a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) interface communication on the mobile device.

5. The mobile device as recited in claim 4, wherein one or more mobile device applications are executable by the one or more processors to engage in the Wi-Fi communication with the mobile device via an internet protocol (IP)-based network responsive to the determination that the mobile device is within range or responsive to the initiating the Wi-Fi communication.

6. The mobile device as recited in claim 5, wherein the Wi-Fi communication comprises data associated with a real-time application.

7. The mobile device as recited in claim 1, wherein the known access point further comprises information allowing access to the known access point comprising an IP-address wherein the IP-address has not expired.

8. A method comprising:

setting, by a mobile device, to a first power state a wireless interface on the mobile device in response to detecting that the mobile device is not engaged in communication across the wireless interface;

setting, by the mobile device, to a second power state the wireless interface responsive to;

a request to send data, receive data, or a combination thereof received from a server device, the request comprising an identifier that is unique to both the server device and to the mobile device;

a determination that the mobile device is within a range of a known access point, the known access point comprising an access point previously connected to by the mobile device, the first power state being a lower power state than the second power state; and

a determination that the identifier that is unique to both the server device and to the mobile device matches a unique server identifier; and

sending, receiving, or a combination thereof, by the mobile device, data via the wireless interface after setting to the second power state the wireless interface responsive to the request to communicate, the determination that the mobile device is within range, and the determination that the identifier matches the unique server identifier.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein setting power states of the wireless interface is facilitated by control features implemented on the mobile device, the control features are facilitated by communication handling rules on the server device communicatively coupled with the mobile device.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the data received via the wireless interface comprises data associated with a real-time application.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein:

the wireless interface is set to the second power state responsive to initiating a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) interface communication on the mobile device;

one or more mobile device applications are executable by one or more processors to engage in the Wi-Fi communication with the mobile device via an internet protocol (IP)-based network responsive to the determination that the mobile device is within range or responsive to the initiating the Wi-Fi communication; and

the Wi-Fi communication comprises data associated with a real-time application.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the known access point further comprises information allowing access to the known access point comprising an IP-address wherein the IP-address has not expired.

13. A mobile device comprising:

a wireless interface;

one or more processors; and

one or more mobile device applications executable by the one or more processors to;

set to a first power state the wireless interface on the mobile device when the mobile device is not engaged in communication across the wireless interface;

set to a second power state the wireless interface responsive to a request to communicate, and a determination that the mobile device is within a range of a known access point, the request to communicate being received from a server device and comprising an identifier that is unique to both the server device and to the mobile device, the known access point comprising an access point where information allowing access to the access point is contained in a cache of the mobile device, the first power state being a lower power state than the second power state, and a determination that the identifier that is unique to both the server device and to the mobile device matches a unique server identifier;

connect to the known access point through the wireless interface subsequent to the determination that the mobile device is within range and prior to or without scanning for available access points; and

communicate via the wireless interface after setting to the second power state the wireless interface responsive to the request to communicate, the determination that the mobile device is within range, and the determination that the identifier matches the unique server identifier.

14. The mobile device as recited in claim 13, wherein information allowing access comprises an IP-address wherein the IP-address has not expired.

15. The mobile device as recited in claim 13, wherein setting power states of the wireless interface is facilitated by control features implemented on the mobile device, the control features are facilitated by communication handling rules on the server device communicatively coupled with the mobile device.

16. The mobile device as recited in claim 13, wherein data received via the wireless interface comprises data associated with a real-time application.

17. The mobile device as recited in claim 13, wherein the wireless interface is set to the second power state responsive to initiating a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) interface communication on the mobile device.

18. The mobile device as recited in claim 17, wherein one or more mobile device applications are executable by the one or more processors to engage in the Wi-Fi communication with the mobile device via an internet protocol (IP)-based network responsive to the determination that the mobile device is within range or responsive to the initiating the Wi-Fi communication.

19. The mobile device as recited in claim 13, wherein information of the known access point is received from the server device prior to the determination that the mobile device is within range of the known access point.