Method and system for power-efficient monitoring of wireless broadcast network

• US 20070232366A1
• Filed: 03/29/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, An, Chandhok, Ravinder
• Application Number:
  US11/394,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20070232366A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/574
• 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 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to a mobile communication device that may receive wireless broadcast signals from a number of different base stations or transmitters. The device alternates its operation between a low-power mode and a higher-power mode to conserve battery power. The length of time the device remains in the sleep mode is its sleep interval. The sleep interval is a function of two components. One component is set by the wireless broadcast network and the other component is set by the carrier that provisions the mobile communications device. When the device awakens from the sleep mode, it can check the status of any notification messages. If there are any updates, then it will process them. If there are no updates, then it will return to the low-power mode.

Claims

1. A mobile communications device, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive signals from a wireless broadcast network when operating in a first mode;

a memory configured to store a configurable parameter; and

a processor configured to periodically alternate operating the receiver in a second mode and the first mode, the second mode being a lower power mode as compared to the first mode, and wherein operating in the second mode lasts for a predetermined interval, a length of which based on the configurable parameter and an index value received from the wireless broadcast network.

2. The mobile communications device of claim 1, wherein in the second mode the receiver is powered down.

3. The mobile communications device of claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises a demodulator and a demultiplexer.

4. The mobile communications device of claim 3, wherein in the second mode at least one of the demodulator and demultiplexer is powered down.

5. The mobile communications device of claim 1, wherein:

the processor is further configured, upon changing operation of the receiver from the second mode to the first mode, to determine if a notification message was transmitted in the wireless broadcast network while the receiver was operated in a most recent interval in the second mode.

6. The mobile communications device of claim 1, wherein

the processor is further configured, upon changing operation of the receiver from the second mode to the first mode, to determine if the signals from the wireless broadcast network include an indication that a notification message update occurred while the receiver was operated in a most recent interval in the second mode.

7. The mobile communications device of claim 6, wherein the indication comprises a label that uniquely indicates whether a new notification message was transmitted during the most recent interval.

8. The mobile communications device of claim 6, wherein

the processor is configured to:

a) return to operating the receiver in the second mode if the indication is not present; and

b) continue operating the receiver in the first mode if the indication is present in order to receive the notification message update.

9. The mobile communications device of claim 1, wherein the configurable parameter is determined by a provisioner of the mobile communications device.

10. The mobile communications device of claim 9, wherein the configurable parameter is set within a configuration file stored in the memory when the device is initially provisioned.

11. The mobile communications device of claim 1, wherein the length of the predetermined interval, in seconds, is calculated according to (configurable parameter)×

2ˆ

(index value).

12. The mobile communications device of claim 1, wherein the configurable parameter is a positive number.

13. The mobile communications device of claim 12, wherein the configurable parameter comprises a non-negative real number.

14. The mobile communications device of claim 1, wherein the index value is transmitted within a control channel of the wireless broadcast network.

15. A method of operating a mobile communications device comprising:

a) operating a receiver of the device in a first mode for a predetermined interval, wherein a length of the interval depends on an index value received from the wireless broadcast network and a configurable parameter stored in the device;

b) after expiration of the predetermined interval, operating the receiver of the device in a second mode to receive signals from a wireless broadcast network, wherein operating in the first mode consumes less power than operating in the first mode;

c) while the receiver is operating in the first mode, determining whether the signals include an indication that a notification message update occurred during a most recent operating interval in the first mode;

d) if there is the indication, then remain operating the receiver in the second mode to determine an update; and

e) if there is no indication, then return to operating the receiver in the first mode and repeat steps a)-c).

16. The method of claim 15, wherein in the first mode the receiver is powered down.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the length of the predetermined interval, in seconds, is calculated according to (configurable parameter)×

2ˆ

(index value).

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the configurable parameter is a positive number.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the configurable parameter comprises a non-negative real number.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the index value is transmitted within a control channel of the wireless broadcast network.

21. A mobile communications device, comprising:

a receiver configured to operate in either an active mode or a sleep mode, wherein the sleep mode provides lower power consumption compared to the active mode;

a memory configured to store a configurable parameter; and

a processor configured to;

operate the receiver in the active mode to receive signals from a wire less broadcast network;

decode an index value contained within a control channel of the signals;

operate the receiver in the sleep mode for a predetermined interval, the predetermine interval having a length dependent on both the configurable parameter and the index value; and

change the receiver from the sleep mode to the active mode at the end of the interval.

22. The mobile communications device of claim 21, wherein in the sleep mode the receiver is powered down.

23. The mobile communications device of claim 21, wherein:

the processor is further configured to change the receiver from the active mode to the sleep mode to begin the interval.

24. The mobile communications device of claim 21, wherein the configurable parameter is set within a configuration file stored in the memory when the device is initially provisioned.

25. The mobile communications device of claim 21, wherein:

the processor is further configured to;

upon the receiver changing from the sleep mode to the active mode, determine if a notification update message was transmitted by the wireless broadcast network during a most recent interval in the sleep mode;

if so, operate the receiver to receive and decode an update from the wireless broadcast network;

or

if not, change the receiver from the active mode to the sleep mode.

26. A mobile communications device having a receiver configured to receive signals from a wireless broadcast network when operating in a first mode, comprising;

means for storing a configurable parameter; and

means for periodically alternating operating of the receiver in a second mode and the first mode, the second mode being a lower power mode as compared to the first mode, and wherein operating in the second mode lasts for a predetermined interval, a length of which based on the configurable parameter and an index value received from the wireless broadcast network.