Methods and apparatus for saving power by designating frame interlaces in communication systems

• US 20070097894A1
• Filed: 10/27/2005
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Prakash, Rajat
• Granted Patent: US 8,611,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/311
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/54 Signalisation aspects of the TPC commands, e.g. frame structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments provide for methods and systems for designating at least one frame interlace out of a set of frame interlaces, by identifying a number of frame interlaces, wherein information may be communicated on the identified frame interlaces, and designating the identified frame interlaces to at least one access terminal, such that the access terminal may save power by monitoring only the designated frame interlaces.

Claims

1. A method for designating at least one frame interlace out of a set of frame interlaces, the method comprising:

identifying a number of frame interlaces, wherein information may be communicated on the identified frame interlaces; and

designating the identified frame interlaces to at least one access terminal, such that the access terminal may save power by monitoring only the designated frame interlaces.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying comprises avoiding designation of the same frame interlace to two or more access terminals (ATs).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying comprises aligning one of the identified frame interlaces on frames that carry power control channel.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said identifying comprises aligning a second one of the identified frame interlaces on frames adjacent to frames that carry power control channel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying comprises identifying the frame interlaces based on a request from an AT.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said request comprises a first number of frame interlaces that the AT may support.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said first number of frame interlaces that the AT may support is determined based on available power at the AT.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said identifying comprises identifying a second number of frame interlaces, the second number being equal or fewer than the requested first number of frame interlaces.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an acknowledgement message generated by the AT in response to receiving said designated frame interlaces.

10. A method for requesting a number of frame interlaces, the method comprising:

identifying a number of frame interlaces that an access terminal can monitor, based on at least available power at the access point; and

providing the identified number of frame interlaces to an access point.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving a number of designated frame interlaces in response to said providing, thereby saving power by monitoring only the designated frame interlaces.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending an acknowledgement message to the AP in response to receiving said number of designated frame interlaces.

13. A method for changing a designated set of frame interlaces from a first number to a second number, the method comprising:

receiving a request for changing a designated set of frame interlaces from a first number to a second number;

identifying a second number of frame interlaces; and

designating the identified second number of frame interlaces to the access terminal, such that the access terminal may save power by monitoring only the designated second number of frame interlaces.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second number is smaller than the first number, when the available power at the access terminal has decreased.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the second number is larger than the first number, when the available power at the access terminal has increased.

16. A computer-readable medium embodying means for implementing a method for designating at least one frame interlace out of a set of frame interlaces, the method comprising:

identifying a number of frame interlaces, wherein information may be communicated on the identified frame interlaces; and

designating the identified frame interlaces to at least one access terminal, such that the access terminal may save power by monitoring only the designated frame interlaces.

17. A computer-readable medium embodying means for implementing a method for requesting a number of frame interlaces, the method comprising:

identifying a number of frame interlaces that an access terminal can monitor, based on at least available power at the access point; and

providing the identified number of frame interlaces to an access point.

18. A computer-readable medium embodying means for implementing a method for changing a designated set of frame interlaces from a first number to a second number, the method comprising:

receiving a request for changing a designated set of frame interlaces from a first number to a second number;

identifying a second number of frame interlaces; and

designating the identified second number of frame interlaces to the access point, such that the access terminal may save power by monitoring only the designated second number of frame interlaces.

19. An apparatus for designating at least one frame interlace out of a set of frame interlaces, comprising:

means for identifying a number of frame interlaces, wherein information may be communicated on the identified frame interlaces; and

means for designating the identified frame interlaces to at least one access terminal, such that the access terminal may save power by monitoring only the designated frame interlaces.

20. An apparatus for requesting a number of frame interlaces, comprising:

means for identifying a number of frame interlaces that an access terminal can monitor, based on at least available power at the access point; and

means for providing the identified number of frame interlaces to an access point.

21. An apparatus for changing a designated set of frame interlaces from a first number to a second number, comprising:

means for receiving a request for changing a designated set of frame interlaces from a first number to a second number;

means for identifying a second number of frame interlaces; and

means for designating the identified second number of frame interlaces to the access point, such that the access terminal may save power by monitoring only the designated second number of frame interlaces.

22. At least one processor configured for designating at least one frame interlace out of a set of frame interlaces, the processor comprising:

a first module that identifies a number of frame interlaces, wherein information may be communicated on the identified frame interlaces; and

a second module that designates the identified frame interlaces to at least one access terminal, such that the access terminal may save power by monitoring only the designated frame interlaces.

23. The processor of claim 22, wherein said first module avoids designation of the same frame interlace to two or more access terminals (ATs).

24. The processor of claim 22, wherein said first module aligns one of the identified frame interlaces on frames that carry power control channel.

25. The processor of claim 22, wherein said first module aligns a second one of the identified frame interlaces on frames adjacent to frames that carry power control channel.

26. The processor of claim 22, wherein said first module aligns identifies the frame interlaces based on a request from an AT.

27. The processor of claim 26, wherein said request comprises a first number of frame-interlaces that the AT may support.

28. The processor of claim 27, wherein said first number of frame interlaces that the AT may accommodate is determined based on available power at the AT.

29. The processor of claim 28, wherein said first module identifies a second number of frame interlaces, the second number being equal or fewer than the requested first number of frame interlaces.

30. The processor of claim 22, further comprising a third module that receives an acknowledgement message generated by the AT in response to receiving said designated frame interlaces.

31. At least one processor configured for requesting a number of frame interlaces, the processor comprising:

a first module that identifies a number of frame interlaces that an access terminal can monitor, based on at least available power at the access point; and

a second module that provides the identified number of frame interlaces to an access point.

32. The processor of claim 31, further comprising a third module for receiving a number of designated frame interlaces in response to said providing, thereby saving power by monitoring only the designated frame interlaces.

33. The processor of claim 32, further comprising a fourth module for sending an acknowledgement message to the AP in response to receiving said number of designated frame interlaces.

34. At least one processor configured for changing a designated set of frame interlaces from a first number to a second number, the processor comprising:

a first module that receives a request for changing a designated set of frame interlaces from a first number to a second number;

a second module that identifies a second number of frame interlaces; and

a third module that designates the identified second number of frame interlaces to the access terminal, such that the access terminal may save power by monitoring only the designated second number of frame interlaces.

35. The processor of claim 34, wherein the second number is smaller than the first number, when the available power at the access terminal has decreased.

36. The processor of claim 34, wherein the second number is larger than the first number, when the available power at the access terminal has increased.