Communication unit energy conservation apparatus and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- at a communication unit;
determining a need to transmit a communication on a channel;
using a first receiver to monitor indicia of energy on the channel while substantially simultaneously placing a second receiver into a reduced power mode of operation, wherein the first receiver uses less power during normal operation thereof than the second receiver uses during normal operation thereof;
effecting an activation event as a function, at least in part, of the indicia of energy on the channel, wherein the activation event includes at least;
placing the second receiver into an increased power mode of operation; and
transmitting on the channel.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communication unit (10) can have at least a first receiver (11) and a second receiver (12). The latter typically consumes more power than the former during ordinary operation. Pursuant to one embodiment a communication unit can use the lower-power receiver to detect energy on a monitored channel while the second receiver is retained in a reduced power mode of operation. Upon detecting an absence of channel activity the second receiver can be restored to normal operability to effect such activities as are then presently required.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
at a communication unit;
determining a need to transmit a communication on a channel;
using a first receiver to monitor indicia of energy on the channel while substantially simultaneously placing a second receiver into a reduced power mode of operation, wherein the first receiver uses less power during normal operation thereof than the second receiver uses during normal operation thereof;
effecting an activation event as a function, at least in part, of the indicia of energy on the channel, wherein the activation event includes at least;
placing the second receiver into an increased power mode of operation; and
transmitting on the channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of selecting a transmission time using a communication unit comprising:
-
providing a first receiver in the communication unit that utilizes a first amount of energy during normal operation;
providing a second receiver in the communication unit that utilizes a second amount of energy during normal operation, which second amount of energy is greater than the first amount of energy;
providing a duration of time;
operating the second receiver in a reduced power mode of operation during at least a part of the duration of time;
using the first receiver to monitor a channel to thereby detect indicia of transmissions from other communications units during at least a part of the duration of time;
modifying the duration of time as a function, at least in part, of any detected transmissions from other communication units to provide a modified duration of time;
operating the second receiver in an increased power mode of operation as a function, at least in part, of the modified duration of time;
selecting a transmission time as a function, at least in part, of the modified duration of time. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A communication unit comprising:
-
a first receiver that utilizes a first amount of energy during normal operation;
a second receiver that is at least partially discrete from the first receiver and that has at least a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, wherein the first mode of operation utilizes a second amount of energy that is greater than the first amount of energy and the second mode of operation utilizes a third amount of energy that is less than the second amount of energy;
a controller that has a mode-selection output operably coupled to the second receiver;
a transmission scheduler having a next-scheduled transmission time output that is responsive to the first receiver and that is operably coupled to the controller;
such that the first receiver can monitor a communication channel using a particular amount of energy while the controller causes the second receiver to operate in the second mode of operation to thereby also use no more than the particular amount of energy, and the transmission scheduler can determine a next-scheduled transmission time as a function, at least in part, of the first receiver'"'"'s monitoring of the communication channel, and the controller can use the next-scheduled transmission time to determine when to switch the second receiver from the second mode of operation to the first mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A method comprising:
-
at a communication unit;
determining a need to transmit a communication on a channel;
using a receiver to monitor indicia of energy on the channel while substantially simultaneously placing the receiver into a reduced power mode of operation, wherein the receiver uses less power than during normal operation thereof;
effecting an activation event as a function, at least in part, of the indicia of energy on the channel, wherein the activation event includes at least;
placing the receiver into an increased power mode of operation; and
transmitting on the channel. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
Specification