Power optimized request response communication protocol with timer mechanism to enforce client to generate request

• US 20030027608A1
• Filed: 07/31/2001
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Twitter Inc (X Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Carmeli, Boaz, Cohen, Benjamin M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,016,710 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In order to support connectivity requirements for today'"'"'s pervasive devices, the present invention provides an asymmetric two-way request-response communication protocol in which the end user or application is an active participant in the power management scheme. No power is consumed until a user-initiated client request is made. At that time, the client activates its transceiver and attempts to connect to the server; if it succeeds, it requests information, receives its response, and disconnects again, totally shutting down the transceiver. The server'"'"'s transceiver always stays in a listening mode and waits for a client request. The protocol does not provide a direct method for the server to send unsolicited messages to the client.

Claims

1. An asymmetric two-way request-response communication method providing communication between a client transceiver servicing a user/application and a server transceiver while providing power management and conservation of power at the client transceiver, comprising:

maintaining the client transceiver in a power-off state until the client transceiver initiates a client communication with the server and enters a power-on state;

the client transceiver initiates a client communication with the server transceiver and requests information from the server transceiver;

the server transceiver transmits a server communication with the requested information to the client transceiver;

the client transceiver receives the server communication and then returns to a power-off state;

the server transceiver stays in a listening mode and waits for a client communication, and the server transceiver does not transmit unsolicited server communications to the client transceiver.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the client transceiver has a time-out period, after which the client transceiver enters a power-on state and transmits a client communication to the server transceiver.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the user/application defines the time-out period.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the server defines the time-out period in a server communication.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein if the time-out period defined by the server is less than the time-out period defined by the user/application, then the time-out period defined by the server is used as the time-out period, and if the time-out period defined by the server is greater than the time-out period defined by the user/application, then the time-out period defined by the user/application is used as the time-out period.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein if the time-out period defined by the server is less than the time-out period defined by the user/application, then the time-out period defined by the user/application is used as the time-out period, and if the time-out period defined by the server is greater than the time-out period defined by the user/application, then the time-out period defined by the server is used as the timeout period.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is employed with a small, limited-power, wireless, mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is employed with one of a power badge, wireless toy, wireless sensor, wireless information access device, digital cell phone, WAP phone, 2-way pager, interactive remote control, personal digital assistant, mobile computer, intelligent object, and other pervasive device.

9. The method of claim 1, further including providing the user/application with a display of an ‘

until-when’

parameter, specifying the time or date until which the client transceiver will still operate.