Reducing power consumption of an electronic system having a communication device

• US 20030200372A1
• Filed: 04/19/2002
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Compal Information Kunshan Company Limited (Compal Electronics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lagnado, Isaac, Panditharathne, Chrismal R., Doragh, Philip H., Schooley, Ronald M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,944,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/305
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0232 according to average transmission signal activity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A computer system comprises a host computer coupled to a wireless module via a digital interface. The wireless module permits the computer system to communicate with a wireless network. The host computer repeatedly polls the wireless module to determine whether it has received any incoming data from the wireless network, but preferably does not poll the wireless module all of the time. Periodic cessation of polling advantageously helps to extend battery life in the case of a host computer that operates off battery power. This concept, however, can be applied and is useful in the context of desktop electronic systems that operate from AC power.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a host CPU; and

a wireless module coupled to said host CPU to permit the computer system to communicate with a wireless network;

wherein, at first predefined periods of time, said host CPU polls said wireless module to determine whether said wireless module has any input data from the wireless network, but does not poll said wireless module at second predefined periods of time.

2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein each first predefined period of time begins with a request for data transmitted from the wireless module to the wireless network and ends upon receipt of the requested data from the wireless network.

3. The computer system of claim 1 wherein each first predefined period of time begins a third period of time after a request for data is transmitted from the wireless module to the wireless network and ends upon receipt of the requested data from the wireless network.

4. The computer system of claim 3 wherein said third period of time is preset.

5. The computer system of claim 3 wherein said third period of time is programmable.

6. The computer system of claim 3 wherein said third period of time dynamically varies.

7. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said second predefined periods of time begin upon receipt of data from the wireless network and ends on transmission of a request for data from the wireless module to the wireless network.

8. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said second predefined periods of time begin upon receipt of data from the wireless network and ends a third period of time after a request for data is transmitted from the wireless module to the wireless network.

9. The computer system of claim 8 wherein said third period of time is preset.

10. The computer system of claim 8 wherein said third period of time is programmable.

11. The computer system of claim 8 wherein said third period of time dynamically varies.

12. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said wireless module couples to the host CPU via an interface that does not include a physical interrupt signal to permit the wireless module to alert the host CPU of the presence of incoming data from the wireless network.

13. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said wireless module couples to the host CPU via an interface that comprises a USB interface.

14. A computer system, comprising:

a host CPU; and

an interface coupled to said CPU and adapted to be coupled to a wireless module to thereby permit the computer system to communicate with a wireless network;

wherein, at first predefined periods of time, said host CPU causes said interface to poll said wireless module to determine whether said wireless module has any input data from the wireless network, but does not poll said wireless module at second predefined periods of time.

15. The computer system of claim 14 wherein each first predefined period of time begins with a request for data transmitted from the wireless module to the wireless network and ends upon receipt of the requested data from the wireless network.

16. The computer system of claim 14 wherein each first predefined period of time begins a third period of time after a request for data is transmitted from the wireless module to the wireless network and ends upon receipt of the requested data from the wireless network.

17. The computer system of claim 16 wherein said third period of time is preset.

18. The computer system of claim 16 wherein said third period of time is programmable.

19. The computer system of claim 16 wherein said third period of time dynamically varies.

20. The computer system of claim 14 wherein said second predefined periods of time begin upon receipt of data from the wireless network and ends on transmission of a request for data from the wireless module to the wireless network.

21. The computer system of claim 14 wherein said second predefined periods of time begin upon receipt of data from the wireless network and ends a third period of time after a request for data is transmitted from the wireless module to the wireless network.

22. The computer system of claim 21 wherein said third period of time is preset.

23. The computer system of claim 21 wherein said third period of time is programmable.

24. The computer system of claim 21 wherein said third period of time dynamically varies.

25. The computer system of claim 14 wherein said interface does not include a physical interrupt signal to permit the wireless module to alert the host CPU of the presence of incoming data from the wireless network.

26. The computer system of claim 14 wherein said interface comprises a USB interface.

27. A method of managing power in a computer system that contains a wireless communication module that permits the computer system to communicate with a wireless communication network, comprising:

(a) transmitting a request for data to the wireless network;

(b) beginning to poll the wireless module for the presence of incoming data from the wireless network; and

(c) ceasing polling the wireless module at a defined point in time.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the defined point in time is the receipt of data from the network in response to the request.

29. A method of managing power in a computer system that contains a wireless communication module that permits the computer system to communicate with a wireless communication network, comprising:

(a) transmitting a request for data to the wireless network;

(b) waiting a time interval following (a);

(c) beginning to poll the wireless module for the presence of incoming data from the wireless network upon expiration of the time interval in (b); and

(d) ceasing polling the wireless module at a defined point in time.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said defined point in time in (c) time is the receipt of data from the network in response to the request.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the time interval in (b) is preset.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the time interval in (b) is programmable.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein the time interval in (b) dynamically varies.

34. A computer system, comprising:

a host CPU; and

a wireless module coupled to said host CPU to permit the computer system to communicate with a wireless network;

wherein said host CPU permits a user to select one of a plurality of modes of operation, each mode providing different communication performance and different power performance.

35. The computer system of claim 34 wherein said plurality of modes of operation comprise:

a first mode in which the host CPU repeatedly and continuously polls the wireless module for the presence of network data; and

a second mode in which the host CPU polls the wireless module for the presence of network data during time intervals which begin with the transmission of a request to the network for data and end with the receipt of the requested data from the network.

36. The computer system of claim 34 wherein said plurality of modes of operation comprise:

a first mode in which the host CPU repeatedly and continuously polls the wireless module for the presence of network data; and

a second mode in which the host CPU polls the wireless module for the presence of network data during time intervals which begin at a defined period of time after the transmission of a request to the network for data and end with the receipt of the requested data from the network.

37. The computer system of claim 36 wherein said defined period of time is preset.

38. The computer system of claim 36 wherein said defined period of time is programmable.

39. The computer system of claim 36 wherein said defined period of time dynamically varies.

40. The computer system of claim 34 wherein said plurality of modes of operation comprise:

a first mode in which the host CPU polls the wireless module for the presence of network data during time intervals which begin with the transmission of a request to the network for data and end with the receipt of the requested data from the network; and

a second mode in which the host CPU polls the wireless module for the presence of network data during time intervals which begin at a defined period of time after the transmission of a request to the network for data and end with the receipt of the requested data from the network.

41. The computer system of claim 34 wherein said plurality of modes of operation comprise:

a first mode in which the host CPU polls the wireless module for the presence of network data during time intervals which begin with the transmission of a request to the network for data and end with the receipt of the requested data from the network; and

a second mode in which the host CPU polls the wireless module for the presence of network data during time intervals which begin at a defined period of time after the transmission of a request to the network for data and end with the receipt of the requested data.

42. The computer system of claim 34 further including a USB interface between the host CPU and the wireless module and wherein said plurality of modes of operation further comprise a third mode in which the host CPU polls an interrupt communication pipe associated with the wireless module to determine whether the wireless module has received data from the network.