Power management mechanism for unlicensed wireless communication systems

• US 20050255879A1
• Filed: 04/04/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc. (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kineto Wireless Incorporated (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shi, Jianxiong, Gallagher, Michael D., Baranowski, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,041,385 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/552.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/06 De-registration or detaching
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method is disclosed. The method includes a mobile station (MS) operating on a licensed communication network via a first radio, the MS switching operation from the licensed communication network to operating on an unlicensed communication network via a second radio and deactivating the first radio upon switching operation to the unlicensed communication network.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a mobile station (MS) operating on a licensed communication network via a first radio;

the MS switching operation from the licensed communication network to operating on an unlicensed communication network via a second radio; and

the MS deactivating the first radio after the MS has switched operation to the unlicensed communication network.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the MS detaching a radio resource (RR) sub-layer associated with the licensed communication network prior to deactivating the first radio.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the MS shutting down a layer 1 protocol layer associated with the licensed communication network prior to deactivating the first radio.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

the RR sub-layer determining whether a camping cell associated with the licensed communication network is available; and

storing the received system information of the camping cell prior to the MS going into the hibernate mode.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising detecting a condition.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the condition occurs when the MS changes access points as a result of roving or handover.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the condition occurs when the MS detects that rove-out or handover-out is necessary due to deterioration of unlicensed radio link condition.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the condition occurs when the MS detects that rove-out or handover-out is necessary due to other conditions not directly related to unlicensed radio condition

9. The method of claim 5 further comprising activating the RR sub-layer associated with the licensed communication network in response to detecting the condition.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising activating the first radio.

10. The method of claim 10 further comprising restoring previously stored system information upon frequency/time synchronization is done.

12. A mobile station (MS) comprising:

a licensed component to operate on a licensed network; and

an unlicensed component to operate on an unlicensed network, wherein the licensed component is deactivated whenever the MS has switched operation to the unlicensed communication network.

13. The MS of claim 12 wherein the licensed component comprises:

a radio; and

a radio resource (RR) sublayer.

14. The MS of claim 13 wherein the radio is deactivated upon the licensed component becoming deactivated.

15. The MS of claim 14 wherein the radio resource (RR) sub-layer is detached prior to deactivating the first radio.

16. The MS of claim 15 wherein the licensed component further comprises a layer 1 protocol layer that is shut off prior to deactivating the first radio.

17. A system comprising:

a licensed network;

an unlicensed network; and

a mobile station (MS) including;

a licensed component to operate on the licensed network; and

an unlicensed component to operate on the unlicensed network, wherein the licensed component is deactivated whenever the MS has switched operation to the unlicensed communication network.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the licensed component comprises:

a radio; and

a radio resource (RR) sublayer.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the radio is deactivated upon the licensed component becoming deactivated.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the radio resource (RR) sub-layer is detached prior to deactivating the first radio.