Low power transmission mode

• US 20070123290A1
• Filed: 02/08/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Stenmark, Fredrik
• Application Number:
  US11/349,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20070123290A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/522
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/288 taking into account the usage mode, e.g. hands-free, data transmission, telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/50 at the moment of starting communication in a multiple access environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method for operating a mobile terminal and a mobile terminal is provided for using a low power transmission mode. The method comprises transmitting an access request to a base station; receiving from the base station a request to transmit using a low power transmission mode in response to the access request; and communicating with the special base station using a reduced transmit power level.

Claims

1. A method for operating a mobile terminal using a low power transmission mode, comprising the steps of:

transmitting an access request to a base station;

receiving, in response to the access request, from the base station a request to transmit using a low power transmission mode; and

communicating with the base station using a reduced transmit power level.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said receiving comprises receiving at least an identification code, which is a request to transmit using the low power transmission mode and which identifies the base station as a special base station.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said receiving comprises receiving a request to disable a base station search function.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting comprises using a predetermined reduced transmit power setting, which is less than the maximum possible transmit power setting, to transmit the access request.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving an assigned reduced transmit power level from the base station for subsequent transmission while in the low power transmission mode.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising receiving the request to transmit from a special base station, which is a base station in an aircraft.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising receiving the request to transmit from a special base station, which is operating in a power sensitive environment.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting the access request using maximum transmit power when said mobile terminal is not in the low power transmission mode; and

wherein

said receiving comprises receiving a request from the base station to switch to the low power transmission mode when the maximum power is above a predetermined level.

9. The method according to claim 2, comprising comparing the identification code to at least one identification code stored in the mobile terminal to determine if the received identification code is for a special base station.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

disabling search for a base station when a base station is not located using the low power transmission mode.

20. A computer program product comprising computer program code portions for executing the method according to claim 1, when said computer program code portions are run by an electronic device having computer capabilities.

21. The computer program product according to claim 20, wherein the computer program product is comprised on computer readable medium, a record medium, or in a signal.

11. A mobile terminal capable of operating in a low power transmission mode, comprising:

a processor;

a transmitter adapted to transmit an access request to a base station; and

a receiver adapted to receive, in response to a transmitted access request, from the base station a request to transmit using a low power transmission mode;

wherein the transmitter is adapted to communicate with the base station using a reduced power level in the low power transmission mode.

12. The mobile terminal according to claim 11, wherein the processor is adapted to determine whether an identification code, which is received in the request to transmit, identifies a special base station and disable a base station search function when the base station is a special base station.

13. The mobile terminal according to claim 11, wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit the access request using a predetermined reduced power setting when the mobile terminal is in the low power transmission mode.

14. The mobile terminal according to claim 11, wherein the receiver is adapted to receive an assigned reduced power level from the base station for subsequent transmission while in the low power transmission mode.

15. The mobile terminal according to claim 11, wherein the mobile terminal is a portable or handheld mobile radio communication equipment, a mobile radio terminal, a mobile telephone, a smartphone, or a communicator.

16. A method for operating a base station in a power sensitive environment, comprising the steps of:

receiving an access request from a mobile terminal;

determining the power level of the access request; and

sending a request for the mobile terminal to enter a low power transmission mode when the power level of the access request is above a predetermined level.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said sending comprises sending to the mobile terminal an identification code, which identifies the base station as a special base station, which is a request to enter a low power transmission mode.

22. A computer program product comprising computer program code portions for executing the method according to claim 16, when said computer program code portions are run by an electronic device having computer capabilities.

23. The computer program product according to claim 22, wherein the computer program product is comprised on computer readable medium, a record medium, or in a signal.

18. A base station for operating in a power sensitive environment, comprising:

a receiver operative to receive an access request from a mobile terminal;

a processor operative to determine the power level of the access request; and

a transmitter operative to send a request for the mobile terminal to enter a low power transmission mode when the power level of the access request is above a predetermined level.

19. The base station according to claim 18, wherein the transmitter is operative to send to the mobile terminal an identification code, which identifies the base station as a special base station, which is a request to enter a low power transmission mode.