Synchronization for extending battery life

• US 20040028014A1
• Filed: 05/02/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Terry, Stephen E., Goldberg, Steven Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 8,023,475 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/337
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1615 Switching on; Switching off, e.g. remotely battery saving circuits associated with selective call operation H04W52/00; details of power consumption reduction in a PLL, H03L7/0802, H03L7/14, H03L2207/08, H03L2207/18; muting amplifiers by gain control see H03G3/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method and system for efficiently supporting data calls to WTRUs in systems that also support telephony. Various types of data is transmitted on a known schedule which is tightly synchronized to a predetermined time frame. The WTRUs synchronize their wake-up periods to search for data at times when data may or will actually be transmitted to them.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing data transmissions between a wireless communications network and WTRUs operating therein, the method comprising:

establishing a synchronization schedule for data provided in frames wherein each frame includes a plurality of time slots and at least one frame includes data intended for at least one WTRU operating within a wireless communication network, the synchronization schedule identifying for each frame which time slots include data intended for which WTRUs;

activating the WTRU for receipt of data during the time slot identified as including data intended for the WTRU; and

placing the WTRU in a quiescent state during time slots not identified as including data intended for the WTRU.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each time slot includes data for a plurality of WTRUs.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the frames are grouped into a series of frames and each WTRU is assigned one time slot within the series of frames.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the frames are grouped into a series of frames and each WTRU is assigned a plurality of time slots within the series of frames.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein each frame comprises 15 time slots.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein one time slot is assigned to a WTRU for each series of frames.

7. A method for synchronizing data transmissions between a wireless communications network and WTRUs operating therein, the method comprising:

transmitting data according to a schedule known by a transmitting WTRU and a receiving WTRU; and

synchronizing when the WTRUs will wake up to search for data by providing the scheduling information on a broadcast common control channel.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of activating the WTRU for receipt of data during the time slot identified as including data intended for the WTRU.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of placing the WTRU in a quiescent state during time slots not identified as including data intended for the WTRU.

10. A method for synchronizing data transmissions between a wireless communications network and WTRUs operating therein, the method comprising:

providing WTRUs with a schedule of multiple network transmissions;

synchronizing when the WTRUs wake up to receive the transmissions based on the schedule of the transmissions; and

transmitting the multiple transmissions over a forward access channel.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the multiple transmissions are transmitted over a downlink shared channel.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein transmission of the multiple transmissions is discontinued with respect to a particular WTRU once said WTRU sends an acknowledgement signal acknowledging receipt of the transmission.

13. A method for synchronizing data transmissions between a wireless communications network and WTRUs operating therein, the method comprising:

providing at least one WTRU with a schedule of when an indication will be transmitted indicating whether data exists for the WTRU;

synchronizing when the WTRU wakes up to search for data;

requesting data intended for the WTRU using layer access stratum signaling; and

establishing a dedicated radio bearer for transmission of the intended data.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the data intended for the WTRU is requested using non access stratum signaling.