Methods and apparatus for reducing power consumption in CDMA communication device

• US 20040213195A1
• Filed: 12/16/2003
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Bugnariu, C. Nicholas, Islam, M. Khaledul
• Granted Patent: US 7,525,941 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/342
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0232 according to average transmission signal activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for reducing power consumption of a code division multiple access (CDMA) communication device are described. The CDMA communication device operates in a communication session with a base station during which information is communicated over an information channel. At some point during the communication session, the device identifies that is has no information to transmit. In response, the device places its transmitter into a low power state and does not transmit any information that it would normally be accustomed to transmit (e.g. overhead such as idle frames) provided that forward RF link is stable. During that time, a receiver of the communication device may remain operative to receive information (e.g. transmitter power values). Provided that there is no need to transmit other necessary information, the transmitter is maintained in the low power state for a duration of time that is less than a fade time expiration of the base station. Thus, the communication device imitates a short fade during the communication session to conserve battery power.

Claims

1. A method of reducing power consumption in a code division multiple access (CDMA) communication device, comprising:

operating the CDMA communication device in a communication session during which information is communicated over an information channel;

identifying that there is no information to transmit by the CDMA communication device; and

during at least a portion of the communication session, causing a transmitter of the CDMA communication device to be maintained in a low power state based at least in part on the act of identifying.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a power amplifier (PA) of the transmitter is shut off in the low power state.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a modulator and a power amplifier (PA) of the transmitter is shut off in the low power state.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a power setting of a power amplifier (PA) of the transmitter is set to a zero or negligible value in the low power state.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining a receiver of the CDMA communication device enabled to receive information while the transmitter is in the low power state.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

during the low power state;

receiving one or more power values through a receiver of the CDMA communication device; and

storing one or more transmitter power values which are based on the received power values.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

refraining from transmitting any information in the low power state; and

causing the transmitter to exit the low power state before an expiration of a fade timer.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

refraining from transmitting idle frames in the low power state.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

during the low power state;

receiving one or more power values through a receiver of the CDMA communication device;

storing one or more transmitter power values which are based on the received power values;

causing the transmitter to exit the low power state; and

gradually causing the transmitter to reach a transmitter power value after exiting the low power state.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication session comprises a data packet communication session.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication session comprises a voice call.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the CDMA communication device operates based on an IS-95, an IS-2000, or a CDMA2000 standard.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the CDMA communication device comprises a mobile station.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the CDMA communication device comprises a base station.

15. A code division multiple access (CDMA) communication device, comprising:

a receiver;

a transmitter which includes a power amplifier (PA);

an antenna coupled to the receiver and the transmitter;

a processor coupled to the receiver and the transmitter;

the processor being operative to;

operate the CDMA communication device in a communication session during which information is communicated over an information channel;

identify that there is no information to transmit; and

during at least a portion of the communication session, cause the transmitter to enter into a low power state based at least in part on no information being available to transmit over the information channel.

16. The CDMA communication device of claim 15, wherein the PA is shut off in the low power state.

17. The CDMA communication device of claim 15, wherein a modulator and the PA of the transmitter is shut off in the low power state.

18. The CDMA communication device of claim 15, wherein the processor further operates to set a power setting of the PA to zero or a negligible value for the low power state.

19. The CDMA communication device of claim 15, wherein the device refrains from transmitting any information in the low power state, and the processor further operates to cause the transmitter to exit the low power state prior to expiration of a fade timer.

20. The CDMA communication device of claim 15, wherein the device refrains from transmitting idle frames in the low power state.

21. The CDMA communication device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further operative to:

during the low power state;

receive one or more power values through a receiver of the CDMA communication device;

store one or more transmitter power values which are based on the received power values;

cause the transmitter to exit the low power state; and

gradually cause the transmitter to reach a transmitter power value after exiting the low power state.

22. The CDMA communication device of claim 15, wherein the CDMA communication device comprises a mobile station.

23. The CDMA communication device of claim 15, wherein the CDMA communication device comprises a base station.

24. A code division multiple access (CDMA) communication system, comprising:

a base station operative for CDMA communication;

a portable electronic device operative for CDMA communication with the base station;

the portable electronic device being further operative to operate in a communication session during which information is communicated with the base station over an information channel;

the portable electronic device being further operative to identify during the communication session that there is no information to transmit to the base station; and

the portable electronic device being further operative to, during at least a portion of the communication session, cause a transmitter of the portable electronic device to enter into a low power state based at least in part on no information being available to transmit.

25. The CDMA communication system of claim 24 which operates in accordance with an IS-95, IS-2000, or CDMA2000 standard.

26. The CDMA communication system of claim 24, wherein a power amplifier (PA) of the transmitter is shut off in the low power state.

27. The CDMA communication system of claim 24, wherein power setting of a power amplifier (PA) of the transmitter is set to zero or negligible value for the low power state.

28. The CDMA communication system of claim 24, wherein the portable electronic device is further operative to cause the transmitter to exit the low power state prior to expiration of a fade timer.

29. A method of reducing power consumption in a battery-operated mobile station which operates in accordance with a code division multiple access (CDMA) technique, the method comprising:

operating in a communication session during which information is communicated with a serving base station over an information channel;

based on identifying that there is no information to transmit, powering down a transmitter power amplifier (PA) during a portion of the communication session such that no signals are transmitted to the serving base station; and

powering up the transmitter PA before an expiration of a fade timer of the serving base station.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the act of powering down the transmitter PA comprises shutting off the transmitter PA, and wherein the act of powering up the transmitter PA comprises turning the transmitter PA back on.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

while the transmitter PA is powered down, receiving one or more power values from the serving base station and storing one or more transmitter power values based thereon; and

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the communication session is based on an IS-95, IS-2000, or CDMA2000 standard.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the communication session comprises a data packet communication session.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

refraining from transmitting any idle frames while the transmitter PA is powered down during the portion of the communication session.

35. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

prior to powering down the transmitter PA, waiting to reach power control loop stability.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein the act of powering down the transmitter PA comprises imitating a fade during the communication session.

37. A battery-powered code division multiple access (CDMA) mobile station, comprising:

a CDMA receiver;

a CDMA transmitter;

a processor coupled to the CDMA receiver and the transmitter;

the processor being operative to;

operate the CDMA receiver and transmitter in a communication session during which information is communicated over an information channel;

shut down a power amplifier (PA) of the CDMA transmitter during a portion of the communication session based on identifying that there is no information to transmit; and

power up the PA before an expiration of a fade timer of a serving base station.

38. The mobile station of claim 37 wherein the processor is further operative to, while the PA is shut down, receive one or more power values through the CDMA receiver and store one or more transmitter power values based thereon.

39. The mobile station of claim 37, wherein the processor operates the CDMA receiver and transmitter based on an IS-95, IS-2000, or CDMA2000 standard.

40. The mobile station of claim 37, wherein the processor is further operative to:

while the PA is shut down;

receive one or more power values through the CDMA receiver;

store one or more transmitter power values which are based on the received power values;

while the PA is being powered up;

gradually increase power of the PA to reach a previously stored transmitter power value.