Multiple network wake-up

• US 20060035682A1
• Filed: 03/29/2005
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Seshadri, Nambirajan, Bennett, James D., Karaoguz, Jeyhan
• Granted Patent: US 7,826,875 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/253 where a visual mode is used instead of a voice mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53 Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system and method for managing messaging in a mobile communication system (e.g., having power-save capability) in a multiple network environment. For example, the mobile communication system may operate in a power-save mode (e.g., a mode in which the mobile communication system does not communicate messages). The mobile communication system may exit the power-save mode. After exiting from the power-save mode, the mobile communication system may determine to establish communication with a second system (e.g., a message server) over a second communication path instead of a first communication path. Communication with the second system may be established over the second communication path, and message-related information may be communicated between the mobile communication system and the second system. Such message-related information may, for example, comprise message information, information regarding message availability, or information regarding the communication of message information.

Claims

1. In a mobile communication system that is capable of communicating with a second system over a first communication path and over a second communication path, a method for retrieving one or more messages from the second system, the method comprising:

exiting from a power-save mode of operation in which the mobile communication system does not receive messages from the second system;

after exiting from the power-save mode of operation;

determining to establish communication with the second system over the second communication path instead of over the first communication path;

establishing communication with the second system over the second communication path; and

retrieving one or more messages from the second system over the second communication path.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining to establish communication with the second system comprises determining the availability of the second communication path.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the availability of the second communication path comprises at least one of:

receiving a beacon signal transmitted from an access point of the second communication path; and

transmitting a beacon signal that is received by an access point of the second communication path.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second communication path is communicatively coupled to the second system through at least a portion of the first communication path.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication path comprises a telecommunication network, and the second communication path comprises a computer network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second communication path comprises at least one of:

a local area network and a personal area network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining to establish communication with the second system over the second communication path instead of over the first communication path comprises determining that communicating with the second system over the second communication path will be more energy-efficient than communicating with the second system over the first communication path.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining to establish communication with the second system over the second communication path instead of over the first communication path comprises determining that communicating with the second system over the second communication path is higher priority than communicating with the second system over the first communication path.

9. In a mobile communication system, a method for determining the existence of one or more pending messages, the method comprising:

exiting from a power-save mode of operation in which the mobile communication system does not receive messages; and

after exiting from the power-save mode of operation;

attempting to communicate over a first communication path to check for pending messages; and

if attempting to communicate over the first communication path to check for pending messages fails, then attempting to communicate over a second communication path to check for pending messages.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

attempting to utilize a first communication path to check for pending messages comprises attempting to utilize the first communication path to communicate with a message server; and

attempting to utilize a second communication path to check for pending messages comprises attempting to utilize the second communication path to communicate with the message server.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein attempting to communicate over the first communication path to check for pending messages comprises determining the availability of the first communication path by at least one of:

receiving a beacon signal transmitted from an access point of the first communication path; and

transmitting a beacon signal that is to be received by an access point of the first communication path.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining to attempt to communicate over the first communication path to check for pending messages prior to attempting to communicate over the second communication path to check for pending messages.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining to attempt to communicate over the first communication path to check for pending messages prior to attempting to communicate over the second communication path to check for pending messages comprises determining that communicating over the first communication path consumes less electrical energy than communicating over the second communication path.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein determining to attempt to communicate over the first communication path to check for pending messages prior to attempting to communicate over the second communication path to check for pending messages comprises determining that communicating over the first communication path is higher priority than communicating over the second communication path.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the second communication path comprises at least a portion of the first communication path.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the first communication path comprises a telecommunication network, and the second communication network comprises a computer network.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the first communication path comprises at least one of:

a personal area network and a local area network.

18. A mobile communication system comprising:

a communication interface module that is capable of communicating with a second system over a first communication path and over a second communication path;

at least one module that operates the mobile communication system in a power-save mode; and

at least one module that, after the mobile communication system exits the power-save mode;

determines to establish communication with the second system over the second communication path instead of over the first communication path;

utilizes the communication interface module to establish communication with the second system over the second communication path; and

communicates information related to pending messages with the second system over the second communication path.

19. The mobile communication system of claim 18, wherein the at least one module that determines to establish communication with the second system over the second communication path determines the availability of the second communication path.

20. The mobile communication system of claim 18, wherein the second communication path is communicatively coupled to the second system through at least a portion of the first communication path.

21. The mobile communication system of claim 18, wherein the at least one module that determines to establish communication with the second system over the second communication path instead of over the first communication path determines that communicating with the second system over the second communication path is higher priority than communicating with the second system over the first communication path.

22. A mobile communication system comprising:

a communication interface module that is capable of communicating over a first communication path and over a second communication path;

at least one module that operates the mobile communication system in a power-save mode; and

at least one module that, after the mobile communication system exits the power-save mode;

attempts to communicate over the first communication path to check for pending messages; and

if the attempt to communicate over the first communication path to check for pending messages fails, then attempts to communicate over a second communication path to check for pending messages.

23. The mobile communication system of claim 22, wherein at least one module determines availability of the first communication path by at least one of:

receiving a beacon signal transmitted from an access point of the first communication path; and

transmitting a beacon signal that is to be received by an access point of the first communication path.

24. The mobile communication system of claim 22, wherein at least one module determines to attempt to communicate over the first communication path to check for pending messages prior to attempting to communicate over the second communication path to check for pending messages.

25. The mobile communication system of claim 22, wherein the second communication path comprises at least a portion of the first communication path.

26. The mobile communication system of claim 22, wherein at least one module determines to attempt to communicate over the first communication path to check for pending messages prior to attempting to communicate over the second communication path to check for pending messages based, at least in part, on communication path priority.