Power management system for a communication device

• US 20070016813A1
• Filed: 09/25/2006
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Ogawa, Satoshi, Yamada, Kunihiro, Naitou, Mitsuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,814,353 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/028 switching on or off only a part of the equipment circuit blocks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A power management system for a communication device, including an accessory-signal generating device; the communication device; and a power management device for supplying electric power to the communication device if the accessory-signal generating device is not generating accessory signals and the communication device is in a communication-ready state.

Claims

1. A power management system for a communication device connected to a vehicle navigation apparatus, comprising:

a main electric power supply for supplying electric power;

an accessory-signal generating device;

the communication device for communicating with an access point; and

a power management device for determining whether communication between the communication device and the access point is established when just before the accessory-signal generating device is turned off, for supplying electric power from the main electric power supply to the communication device if communication between the communication device and the access point is established, and for interrupting the flow of the electric power to the communication device if communication between the communication device and the access point is not established.

2. The power management system according to claim 1, wherein the power management device supplies electric power to the communication device if a volume of communication traffic between the communication device and the access point is greater than a predetermined volume.

3. A vehicle navigation device comprising the power management system according to claim 1.

4. The power management system according to claim 1, the power management system further comprises a storage device for storing data transmitted from the access point via the communication device, wherein the power management device supplies electric power from the main electric power supply to the communication device and the storage device if communication between the communication device and the access point is established.

5. The power management system according to claim 4, wherein the storage device works on a standalone basis.

6. A power management system for a communication device connected to a vehicle navigation apparatus, comprising:

a main electric power supply for supplying electric power;

an accessory-signal generating device;

a first communication device for communicating with an access point;

a second communication device;

a power management device for determining whether communication between the first communication device and the access point is established when just before the accessory-signal generating device is turned off, for supplying electric power from the main electric power supply to the second communication device if communication between the first communication device and the access point is established, and for interrupting the flow of the electric power to the second communication device if communication between the firs communication device and the access point is not established; and

a startup management device for activating the first communication device upon receipt of startup-signals from the second communication device.

7. The power management system according to claim 6, wherein the power management device supplies electric power to the first communication device if a volume of communication traffic between the first communication device and the access point is greater than a predetermined volume.

8. The power management system according to claim 6, wherein the second communication device is a specific low-power radio communication device for receiving a transmission from a remote device, and the startup signals are generated when the second communication device receives the transmission from the remote device.

9. A vehicle navigation device comprising the power management system according to claim 6.

10. A power management system for a communication device and a storage device connected to a vehicle navigation apparatus, comprising:

a main electric power supply for supplying electric power;

an accessory-signal generating device;

the communication device for communicating with an access point;

the storage device for storing data transmitted from the access point via the communication device; and

a power management device for determining whether the access point exists through which communication with the communication device is established when just before the accessory-signal generating device is turned off, for supplying electric power from the main electric power supply to the communication device and the storage device if the access point exists, and for interrupting the flow of the electric power to the communication device if the access point does not existing.

11. The power management system according to claim 11, wherein the storage device works on a standalone basis.