Systems and methods for bluetooth resource conservation

• US 20060046653A1
• Filed: 09/01/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Kirbas, Bilhan
• Granted Patent: US 8,380,125 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0235 Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/021 adapted for Wireless Local Loop operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A Bluetooth device searches for another Bluetooth device or a Bluetooth command in response to a user intervention event. A user intervention event can take many forms, such as, for example, a connection to a power source or communication device, a mechanical configuration change, or a user input. Specifically, a Bluetooth device begins searching when the user intervention event takes place. To list some examples, the Bluetooth device may enter a page state, a page scan state, an inquiry state or an inquiry scan state in response to the user intervention. Alternatively, as more examples, if the Bluetooth device is in a sniff mode, a hold mode or a park state, the Bluetooth device may enter the active mode in response to the user intervention event.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a Bluetooth module, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication of a user intervention event; and

waking up the Bluetooth module, responsive to the user intervention event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of waking up the Bluetooth module comprises the steps of:

changing a state of the Bluetooth module from a stand by state to a page state.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of waking up the Bluetooth module comprises the steps of:

changing a state of the Bluetooth module from a stand by state to a page scan state.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of waking up the Bluetooth module comprises the steps of:

changing a state of the Bluetooth module from a stand by state to an inquiry state.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of waking up the Bluetooth module comprises the steps of:

changing a state of the Bluetooth module from a stand by state to an inquiry scan state.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of waking up the Bluetooth module comprises the steps of:

changing a state of the Bluetooth module from a park state to a connection state.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of waking up the Bluetooth module comprises the steps of:

changing a mode of the Bluetooth module from a sniff mode to an active mode.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of waking up the Bluetooth module comprises the steps of:

changing a mode of the Bluetooth module from a hold mode to an active mode.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving an indication of a user intervention event comprises the step of receiving a key input signal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving an indication of a user intervention event comprises the step of receiving a voice activated signal.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving an indication of a user intervention event comprises the steps of:

receiving a menu navigation command; and

receiving a menu selection command.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a wireless communication signal other than a Bluetooth signal; and

causing the Bluetooth module to enter a sleep mode, responsive to the step of receiving a wireless communication signal other than a Bluetooth signal.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving an indication of a user intervention event comprises the step of sensing a connection of a power source.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving an indication of a user intervention event comprises the step of sensing a reconfiguration of a wireless communication device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of sensing a reconfiguration comprises the step of sensing sliding a first housing portion relative to a second housing portion.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of sensing a reconfiguration comprises the step of sensing rotating a first housing portion relative to a second housing portion.

17. A computer readable medium embodying instructions for performing a method for controlling a Bluetooth module, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication of a user intervention event; and

waking up the Bluetooth module, responsive to the user intervention event.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the step of waking up the Bluetooth module comprises the steps of:

changing a state of the Bluetooth module from a stand by state to a page state.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the step of waking up the Bluetooth module comprises the steps of:

changing a state of the Bluetooth module from a stand by state to a page scan state.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the step of waking up the Bluetooth module comprises the steps of:

changing a state of the Bluetooth module from a stand by state to an inquiry state.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the step of waking up the Bluetooth module comprises the steps of:

changing a state of the Bluetooth module from a stand by state to an inquiry scan state.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the step of waking up the Bluetooth module comprises the steps of:

changing a state of the Bluetooth module from a park state to an connection state.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the step of waking up the Bluetooth module comprises the steps of:

changing a mode of the Bluetooth module from a sniff mode to an active mode.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the step of waking up the Bluetooth module comprises the steps of:

changing a mode of the Bluetooth module from a hold mode to an active mode.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the step of receiving an indication of a user intervention event comprises the step of receiving a key input signal.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the step of receiving an indication of a user intervention event comprises the step of receiving a voice activated signal.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the step of receiving an indication of a user intervention event comprises the steps of:

receiving a menu navigation command; and

receiving a menu selection command.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 17, the method further comprising the steps of:

receiving a wireless communication signal other than a Bluetooth signal; and

causing the Bluetooth module to enter a sleep mode, responsive to the step of receiving a wireless communication signal other than a Bluetooth signal.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the step of receiving an indication of a user intervention event comprises the step of sensing a connection of a power source.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the step of receiving an indication of a user intervention event comprises the step of sensing a reconfiguration of a wireless communication device.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein the step of sensing a reconfiguration comprises the step of sensing sliding a first housing portion relative to a second housing portion.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein the step of sensing a reconfiguration comprises the step of sensing rotating a first housing portion relative to a second housing portion.

33. A wireless communication device comprising:

a user interface sensor;

a Bluetooth module capable of entering a passive state and an activity state, the Bluetooth module including a Bluetooth state machine connected to the user interface sensor and configured to cause the Bluetooth module to wake up responsive to an input from the user interface sensor; and

a Bluetooth radio frequency circuit connected to the Bluetooth module and configured to receive and transmit Bluetooth signals.

34. The wireless communication device of claim 33, further comprising:

a wireless communication transceiver other than a Bluetooth transceiver; and

a portable power supply connected to the Bluetooth RF circuit and to the other wireless communication transceiver for supplying portable power to the Bluetooth RF circuit and to the other wireless communication transceiver.

35. The wireless communication device of claim 34, wherein the other wireless communication transceiver comprises a communication band that overlaps with a Bluetooth communication band.

36. The wireless communication device of claim 35, wherein the other wireless communication transceiver comprises an IEEE 802.11 transceiver.

37. The wireless communication device of claim 36, wherein the Bluetooth state machine is:

connected to the IEEE 802.11 transceiver; and

configured to cause the Bluetooth module to enter a passive state, responsive to sensing an IEEE 802.11 signal.