Low power mode for a multiple function handheld device

• US 20070123314A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SigmaTel Incorporated (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: SigmaTel Incorporated (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Ragan, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US11/290,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20070123314A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/572
• 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 method begins by monitoring a battery voltage. The method continues by comparing the battery voltage with a threshold voltage. The method continues, when the battery voltage compares unfavorably to the threshold voltage, by establishing the first power state. The method continues by disabling at least a portion of a digital audio processing functionality in response to the first power state. The method continues by enabling wireless communication functionality in response to the first power state.

Claims

1. A method comprises:

monitoring a battery voltage;

comparing the battery voltage with a threshold voltage;

when the battery voltage compares unfavorably to the threshold voltage, establishing the first power state;

disabling at least a portion of a digital audio processing functionality in response to the first power state; and

enabling wireless communication functionality in response to the first power state.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

enabling the at least a portion of the digital audio processing functionality in response to a second power state; and

enabling the wireless communication functionality in response to the second power state.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprises:

comparing the battery voltage with a second threshold voltage;

when the battery voltage compares favorably to the second threshold voltage, establishing the second power state.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the disabling the at least a portion of the digital audio processing functionality in response to the first power state comprises:

producing a disable signal in response to the first power state, wherein the at least a portion of the digital audio processing functionality is disabled in accordance with the disable signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the disabling the at least a portion of the digital audio processing functionality in response to the first power state comprises:

producing a low battery indicate in response to the first power state;

receiving a disable request in response to the low battery indication; and

producing a disable signal in response to the disable request, wherein the at least a portion of the digital audio processing functionality is disabled in accordance with the disable signal.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

disabling at least a portion of a digital video processing functionality in response to the first power state.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least a portion of the digital video functionality comprises at least one of:

digital motion video playback;

digital still image video playback;

digital motion video record;

digital still image record;

digital video encode; and

digital video decode.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the digital audio functionality comprises at least one of:

digital audio playback;

digital audio record;

file transfer;

digital audio encode; and

digital audio decode.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication functionality comprises at least one of:

cellular telephone communication processing;

walkie-talkie communication processing; and

dispatch communication processing.

10. An apparatus comprises:

a control module operably coupled to;

monitor a battery voltage;

compare the battery voltage with a threshold voltage;

when the battery voltage compares unfavorably to the threshold voltage, establish the first power state;

a digital audio processing module disabled in the first power state from processing digital audio; and

a wireless communication processing module operable in the first power state to process a wireless communication.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprises:

the digital audio processing module operable in a second power state to process the digital audio; and

the wireless communication processing module operable in the second power state to process the wireless communication.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the control module further functions to:

compare the battery voltage with a second threshold voltage;

when the battery voltage compares favorably to the second threshold voltage, establish the second power state.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control module further functions to:

produce a disable signal in response to the first power state, wherein the at least a portion of the digital audio processing functionality is disabled in accordance with the disable signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control module further functions to:

produce a low battery indicate in response to the first power state;

receive a disable request in response to the low battery indication; and

produce a disable signal in response to the disable request, wherein the at least a portion of the digital audio processing functionality is disabled in accordance with the disable signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprises:

a digital video processing module disabled in the first power state from processing digital video.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processing the digital video comprises at least one of:

digital motion video playback;

digital still image video playback;

digital motion video record;

digital still image record;

digital video encode; and

digital video decode.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing the digital audio comprises at least one of:

digital audio playback;

digital audio record;

file transfer;

digital audio encode; and

digital audio decode.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing the wireless communication comprises at least one of:

cellular telephone communication processing;

walkie-talkie communication processing; and

dispatch communication processing.