Wireless device power optimization

• US 20040204181A1
• Filed: 03/21/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cromer, Daryl Carvis, Locker, Howard Jeffrey, Jakes, Philip John, Ward, James Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,027,843 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/22 Negotiating communication rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and system for conserving battery strength of a mobile node, such as a laptop computer, on a wireless local area network (WLAN). The mobile node transmit symbols, which are units of data, during transmission cycles to maintain a connection with the WLAN. A battery charge level of the mobile node is measured. As the battery charge level drops below pre-defined levels, a frequency of symbol transmission for the mobile node is reduced. The reduction of the frequency of the symbol transmission results in lower power demands by a transmitter chipset of the mobile node. Thus, the mobile node is able to prolong the life of the battery of the mobile node.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting data in a network, said method comprising:

measuring a battery charge level of a mobile node on the network;

adjusting a data transmission rate for said mobile node according to said battery charge level; and

transmitting data from said mobile node at said data transmission rate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said data transmission rate is reduced as said battery charge level is reduced.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said data transmission rate is adjusted by said mobile node.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmission data rate of said mobile node is adjusted by a base node on the network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said data is transmitted in a wireless network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said data is transmitted in a wireless local area network.

7. A mobile node on a computer network having means to adjust a mobile node data transmission rate according to a battery power level of said mobile node.

8. The mobile node of claim 7, further comprising:

a network interface capable of adjusting said data transmission rate according to a battery power level of said mobile node.

9. The mobile node of claim 8, wherein said network interface is capable of reducing said data transmission rate as said battery power level is reduced.

10. The mobile node of claim 7, wherein said computer network is a wireless network.

11. A base node on a network having means to adjust a data reception rate according to a battery power level of a mobile node.

12. The base node of claim 11, further comprising means to adjust a data transmission rate of a mobile node according to said battery power level of said mobile node.

13. The base node of claim 11, further comprising:

a base node network interface, said network interface capable of receiving a data transmitted by said mobile node on said network at a data transmission rate determined by said battery power level of said mobile node.

14. The base node of claim 13, further comprising means for said base node network interface to transmit data to said mobile node on said network at said data transmission rate determined by said battery power level of said mobile node.

15. The base node of claim 11, wherein said network is a wireless network.

16. A computer program product, residing on a computer usable medium, for conserving power consumption in a wireless network, said computer program product comprising:

program code means for determining a battery charge level of a mobile node on a network;

program code means for adjusting a data transmission rate according to said battery charge level; and

program code means for transmitting a data from said mobile node at said data transmission rate.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising program code means to reduce said data transmission rate as said battery charge level is reduced.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising program code means to adjust said transmission data rate using said mobile node.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said data is transmitted in a wireless network.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said data is transmitted in a wireless local area network.