METHOD FOR OPERATING A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND OBJECTS FOR SUCH A SYSTEM

• US 20030112124A1
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Teknisk Utveckling AB
• Original Assignee: Volvo Teknisk Utveckling AB
• Inventors: GUDMUNDSSON, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 7,574,192 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/7.38
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/04 Arrangements for synchronous operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Abstract of Disclosure

Method and arrangement for operating a communication system for communication between a central station (10) and one or a plurality or remote objects (20 to 25), as well as such an object, wherein at least one object is operated in a battery saving mode in which it is switched alternatively between a wake period for conducting communication between the object and the central station and a sleep period in which communication is inactive. Each object is designated a predetermined first time (t₀) and a time interval (Dt), wherein each object initiates the wake periods at times t₀+n (Dt) with n=0, 1, 2, ... and wherein the time interval is longer than the wake period.

Claims

1. A method for operating a communication system for communication between a central station and a plurality of remote objects, the method comprising:

operating said objects in a battery saving mode in which an object is switched alternately between a wake period for conducting communication between the object and the central station and a sleep period in which communication is inactive, each of the objects being designated a predetermined first time (t₀) and a predetermined time interval (Dt), for initiating the wake periods at times t₀ + n (Dt), where n equals increasing integer numbers beginning from zero.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein each object is designated a different first time (t₀).

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined first time (t₀) is a number of minutes and/or seconds counted from the beginning of a full hour.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first time (t₀) is derived from a unique identification number of the object which is stored at the related object and at the central station in a memory.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein during the sleep period, all electric and/or electronic devices are set inactive and these devices are activated during the wake period.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a wake period is terminated and a sleep period is initiated by an object after conduction of a communication.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein each object is designated a different time interval (Dt).

8. An arrangement for operating a communication system for communication between a central station and a plurality of remote objects, the arrangement comprising:

a control unit means for operating power consuming electric and/or electronic devices in a battery saving mode in which said devices are alternately switched between a wake period for conducting communication between an object and a central station and a sleep period in which communication is inactive and for initiating the wake periods at times t₀ + n (Dt), wherein n equals increasing integer numbers beginning from zero, wherein t₀ is a designated and predetermined first time, and wherein Dt is a predetermined time interval.

9. The arrangement as recited in claim 8, wherein the control unit is provided for terminating the wake periods and initiating the sleep periods after conduction of any communication requested by a central station.

10. The arrangement as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

the control unit including a memory for storing the predetermined first time (t₀) and the time interval (Dt); and

a timing circuit mechanism adapted for monitoring time and causing the control unit to initiate the wake periods.

11. The arrangement as recited in claim 10, wherein the memory is alternatively provided for storing a unique identification number of the object for deriving the first time (t₀) therefrom by means of the control unit.

12. The arrangement as recited in claim 8, wherein the control unit comprises a programmable microprocessor means for operating a communication system for communication between a central station and a plurality of remote objects by operating the objects in a battery saving mode in which an object is switched alternately between a wake period for conducting communication between the object and the central station and a sleep period in which communication is inactive, each of the objects being designated a predetermined first time (t₀) and a predetermined time interval (Dt), for initiating the wake periods at times t₀ + n (Dt), where n equals increasing integer numbers beginning from zero.

13. A computer program comprising computer program code run on a programmable microprocessor means for operating a communication system for communication between a central station and a plurality of remote objects by operating the objects in a battery saving mode in which an object is switched alternately between a wake period for conducting communication between the object and the central station and a sleep period in which communication is inactive, each of the objects being designated a predetermined first time (t₀) and a predetermined time interval (Dt), for initiating the wake periods at times t₀ + n (Dt), where n equals increasing integer numbers beginning from zero when the computer program code is run on the programmable microprocessor means.

14. A computer program product stored on a computer usable medium, comprising:

computer program code means run on a programmable microprocessor means for operating a communication system for communication between a central station and a plurality of remote objects by operating the objects in a battery saving mode in which an object is switched alternately between a wake period for conducting communication between the object and the central station and a sleep period in which communication is inactive, each of the objects being designated a predetermined first time (t₀) and a predetermined time interval (Dt), for initiating the wake periods at times t₀ + n (Dt), where n equals increasing integer numbers beginning from zero when loaded into internal memory of the programmable microprocessor means.

15. A method for operating a communication system for communication between a central station and a plurality of remote objects, the method comprising:

operating a system of a plurality of objects, said objects including at least one remotely traveling vehicle that carries electricity consuming devices on-board, in at least two modes including (1) a battery saving mode in which each of the plurality of object is switched alternately between a wake period during which communications are conducted between the object and a central station and (2) a sleep mode in which communication is inactive; and

designating to each of the objects a predetermined first time (t₀) and a predetermined time interval (Dt) for initiating the wake periods at regular intervals.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein a first wake period is initiated by a communication from a central station and subsequent wake periods during which communications are affected between the object and central station are initiated by the object at the predetermined time interval (Dt).