Methods and systems for power management in communication devices based on cable connectivity

• US 10,122,543 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2014
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Entropic Communications, LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Entropic Communications, LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Petrovic, Branislav
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhao, Wei
• Application Number:
  US15/037,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20160294577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3296 by lowering the supply or operating voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/24 Testing correct operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2861 Point-to-multipoint connection from the data network to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0833 for reduction of network energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for power management in communication devices, particularly based on cable connectivity. A communication device that comprise a communication port, comprising a first connector and a signal path communicatively coupled between device components and the connector, may be operable, such as via a power management component in the communication device, to determine whether an external cable is mated to the first connector and to transition the communication device to a sleep mode if it is determined that an external cable is not mated to the first connector.

Claims

1. A communication device, comprising:

a communication port that comprises a connector and a signal path communicatively coupled to the connector; and

a power management component configured to;

determine whether an external cable is mated to the connector, wherein the power management component is configured to determine whether the external cable is mated to the connector based on launching a probe signal onto the signal path and measuring results of that launched signal on the signal path; and

transition the communication device to a sleep mode when it is determined that the external cable is not mated to the connector.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the power management component comprises:

a sensing component, and

a power control component,

wherein;

the sensing component is configured to alert the power management component regarding whether the external cable is mated to the first conductor, and

the power control component is configured to perform the operation of transitioning the communication device into the sleep mode when the external cable is not mated to the connector.

3. The communication device of claim 1, further comprising a power supply and a plurality of electronic components configured to draw energy directly or indirectly from the power supply, and wherein the sleep mode comprises turning off some or all of the plurality of electronic components to reduce amount of energy drawn from the power supply.

4. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the power management component is configured to determine whether the external cable is mated to the connector based on probing the communication port to measure signal characteristics on the signal path.

5. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the power management component is configured to generate the probe signal.

6. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the probe signal is generated by an electronic component of the communication device.

7. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the probe signal is swept over a frequency range and the power management component is configured to compare measured results to corresponding references at various frequencies.

8. The communication device of claim 7, wherein the comparing comprises comparing the energy at one or more frequencies with reference energy values corresponding to those frequencies to determine whether a signal is present at one or more frequencies or within one or more frequency bands.

9. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the power management component comprises a cable presence circuit configured to determine whether the external cable is connected by measuring voltage or current at the communication port resulting from the probe signal.

10. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the power management component is configured to determine whether the external cable is mated to the connector based on detecting presence or absence of a signal on the signal path.

11. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the power management component is configured to determine whether the external cable is mated to the connector based on evaluating signal characteristics of a signal present on the signal path.

12. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the power management component is configured to periodically determine whether the external cable is mated to the connector upon the initiation of the sleep mode.

13. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the power management component is configured to also enter a sleep mode for a predetermined period of time upon detecting that the external cable is not mated to the connector.

14. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the power management component is configured to periodically awaken from the sleep mode at least long enough to determine whether the external cable is mated to the connector.

15. The communication device of claim 1, wherein when the communication device enters the sleep mode at least part of the power management component is configured to remain awake and continue to determine whether the external cable is mated to the connector.

16. A method, comprising

managing power in a communication device that comprises a communication transceiver, the managing comprising:

providing power to a sensing module;

determining whether an external cable is mated to a connector that is electrically connected to the communication transceiver, wherein determining whether the external cable is mated to the connector comprises launching a probe signal onto the signal path and measuring results of that launched signal on the signal path; and

transitioning the communication device to a sleep mode when it is determined that the external cable is not mated to the connector.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the sleep mode comprises turning off some or all of a plurality of electronic components in the communication device to reduce an amount of energy drawn from a power supply of the communication device.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein determining whether the external cable is mated to the connector comprises probing at a communication port that comprises the connector, to measure signal characteristics on the signal path.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the probe signal is generated by a power management module.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the probe signal is generated by an electronic component of the communication device.

21. The method according to claim 16, comprising:

sweeping the probe signal over a frequency range, and

comparing measured results to corresponding references at various frequencies.

22. The method according to claim 21, comprising comparing energy at one or more frequencies with reference energy values corresponding to those frequencies to determine whether a signal is present at the one or more frequencies or within one or more frequency bands.

23. The method according to claim 16, wherein determining whether the external cable is mated to the connector comprises determining whether the external cable is connected by measuring the voltage or current at a communication port that comprises the connector, resulting from the probe signal.

24. The method according to claim 16, wherein determining whether the external cable is mated to the connector comprises detecting the presence or absence of a signal on the signal path.

25. The method according to claim 16, wherein determining whether the external cable is mated to the connector comprises evaluating signal characteristics of a signal present on the signal path.

26. The method according to claim 16, comprising determining whether the external cable is mated to the connector on a periodic basis.

27. The method according to claim 16, comprising toggling at least connection sensing components of a power management module between a sleep mode and a sensing mode when the communication device is in the sleep mode so that the power management module can periodically check for the presence of the external cable.

28. The method according to claim 16, comprising transitioning a power management module to a sleep mode when transitioning the communication device to a sleep mode.

29. The method according to claim 28, comprising awakening the power management module from the sleep mode after a predetermined period of time to determine whether the external cable is mated to the connector.

30. The method according to claim 28, wherein transitioning the power management module to a sleep mode comprises leaving at least part of the power management module awake and periodically determining whether the external cable is mated to the connector.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the predetermined period of time is of a duration varying between 0.1 seconds and 1 second.