Integrated Power Management of a Client Device Via System Time Slot Assignment

• US 20070207750A1
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proxense, LLC
• Original Assignee: Proxense, LLC
• Inventors: Brown, David, Hirt, Fred
• Granted Patent: US 8,036,152 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/127.500
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/47 using near field communication [NFC] or radio frequency identification [RFID] modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/50 at the moment of starting communication in a multiple access environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/085 collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In a wireless network, time slots may be configured in a manner such that the network directs portable wireless client devices to listen and respond within specific time slots. Because the time slots can be predicted or are known, one of the client devices may be configured to set a timer, enter a sleep mode, and then later awaken when a specific, time-slotted data interaction is required of the client device. Accordingly, battery power that would otherwise be consumed if the client device were active outside of the time slot may be saved.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a wireless transceiver having an active mode in which power is consumed, and a sleep mode in which power is conserved; and

processing circuitry operatively coupled to the wireless transceiver, the processing circuitry arranged to switch the wireless transceiver from the sleep mode to the active mode based on time slot assignment information received by the wireless transceiver.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a timer usable to indicate when to switch from sleep mode to active mode.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the timer is set in accordance with the time slot assignment information.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the timer is set to an amount of time until a next time slot.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an amount of time the wireless transceiver is in the active mode is dynamically adjustable based on the time slot assignment information.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver comprises an RF interface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver does not wirelessly communicate data during the sleep mode.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a battery operatively connected to the wireless transceiver.

9. A method of facilitating data exchange, comprising:

wirelessly receiving information assigning a time slot for a portable client device to wirelessly communicate data;

placing the wireless transceiver in a sleep mode for a predetermined amount of time; and

activating the wireless transceiver from the sleep mode at a beginning of the time slot.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

powering the device with a battery operatively connected to a wireless transceiver.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the wireless transceiver consumes less power when in the sleep mode than when activated.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

setting a timer to indicate the beginning of the time slot.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

setting a timer to an amount of time until a next time slot.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the wirelessly received information comprises a mask for application to a bit field stored in the client device, wherein the time slot is determined based on the masked bit field.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

applying a mask to a bit field stored in the client device, wherein activating the wireless transceiver from the sleep mode is dependent on the masked bit field.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

setting a timer to indicate a beginning of the sleep mode.

17. A system, comprising:

a network device arranged to wirelessly broadcast synchronization information in a wireless coverage range; and

a portable client device arranged to wirelessly receive the synchronization information, wherein the synchronization information indicates a time slot for the client device to wirelessly communicate data, and wherein the client device enters a sleep mode during a time outside of the time slot.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the client device comprises a wireless transceiver that is deactivated from wirelessly communicating data when in the sleep mode.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the synchronization information comprises a mask for application to a bit field stored in the client device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the time slot is dependent on the masked bit field.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein a duration of the sleep mode is dependent on the synchronization information broadcast by the network device.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein a duration of the sleep mode is dependent on a power consumption setting determined by at least one of the network device and the client device.