Methods and apparatus for reducing power consumption for mobile devices using broadcast-to-unicast message conversion

• US 20070254619A1
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Nagy, Tom, Sivasithambaresa, Arjuna, Milardovic, Matt, Salomone, Leonardo
• Granted Patent: US 7,953,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/343.200
• 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 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for use in reducing power consumption in battery-powered mobile communication devices in wireless local area networks (WLANs) are described. In one illustrative example, a mobile device in a WLAN is configured to normally refrain from receiving broadcast messages so that it may remain in a low power mode of operation. A network server is configured to convert broadcast messages into unicast messages for receipt by the mobile device only if the message or protocol type of the broadcast message is one in which the mobile device needs to process. As the mobile device is still configured to receive unicast messages, it will receive and decode such a unicast message and process the broadcast information within it accordingly. Advantageously, battery power is conserved at the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for use in reducing power consumption in a mobile communication device, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving a broadcast message within a communication network;

identifying whether the broadcast message is intended for use at a mobile communication device which operates in a wireless network coupled to the communication network;

if the broadcast message is intended for use at the mobile communication device;

producing, from the broadcast message, a unicast message which includes information from the broadcast message; and

causing the unicast message to be sent to the mobile communication device in the wireless network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the act of:

if the broadcast message is not intended for use at the mobile communication device, refraining from causing any unicast message to be transmitted to the mobile communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of producing the unicast message from the broadcast message comprises the further act of encapsulating the broadcast message within the unicast message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of identifying whether the broadcast message is intended for use at the mobile communication device comprises the further acts of identifying a message or protocol type of the broadcast message and identifying whether the mobile communication device is configured for the message or protocol type.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of identifying whether the broadcast message is intended for use at the mobile communication device comprises the further acts of identifying a sub-network access protocol (SNAP) type of the broadcast message and identifying whether the mobile communication device is configured for the SNAP type.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the acts of:

receiving information which indicates which broadcast messages are intended for use at the mobile communication device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the acts of:

receiving a registration message from the mobile communication device in order to receive information which indicates which broadcast messages are intended for use at the mobile communication device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of identifying whether the broadcast message is intended for use at the mobile communication device comprises the further act of identifying whether the broadcast message comprises at least one of an IP type and an ARP type.

9. A computer program product, comprising:

a storage medium;

computer instructions stored on the storage medium;

the computer instructions being executable by one or more processors for;

receiving a broadcast message within a communication network;

identifying whether the broadcast message is intended for use at a mobile communication device which operates in a wireless network coupled to the communication network;

if the broadcast message is intended for use at the mobile communication device;

producing, from the broadcast message, a unicast message which includes information from the broadcast message; and

causing the unicast message to be sent to the mobile communication device in the wireless network.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

if the broadcast message is not intended for use at the mobile communication device, refraining from causing any unicast message to be transmitted to the mobile communication device.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer instructions are executable for producing the unicast message from the broadcast message by encapsulating the broadcast message within the unicast message.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer instructions are executable for identifying whether the broadcast message is intended for use at the mobile communication device by identifying a message or protocol type of the broadcast message and identifying whether the mobile communication device is configured for the message or protocol type.

13. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for identifying whether the broadcast message is intended for use at the mobile communication device by identifying a sub-network access protocol (SNAP) type of the broadcast message and identifying whether the mobile communication device is configured for the SNAP type.

14. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

receiving a message having information indicating which broadcast messages are intended for use at the mobile communication device.

15. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

receiving a registration message from the mobile communication device in order to receive information indicating which broadcast messages are intended for use at the mobile communication device.

16. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are included within a server of the communication network.

17. A method for use in reducing power consumption in a mobile communication device, the method comprising the acts of:

refraining from receiving, through a wireless receiver of the mobile communication device, a broadcast message which is broadcasted from a wireless network;

if the broadcast message is intended for use at the mobile communication device;

monitoring to receive, through the wireless receiver, a unicast message from the wireless network; and

identifying broadcast message information of the broadcast message within the unicast message.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the acts of:

if the broadcast message is not intended for use at the mobile communication device;

failing to receive any unicast message having broadcast message information of the broadcast message.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the act of refraining from receiving the broadcast message comprises maintaining the wireless receiver in a low power or power down mode while the broadcast message is broadcasted from the wireless network.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the act of identifying the broadcast message information within the unicast message comprises the further act of decapsulating the unicast message to identify the broadcast message.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising the act of:

causing a message to be transmitted to the wireless network which has information indicating which broadcast messages are intended for use at the mobile communication device.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising the act of:

processing an instruction in response to the broadcast message information.

23. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a wireless receiver;

one or more processors coupled to the wireless receiver;

the one or more processors being operative to;

refrain from receiving, through the wireless receiver, a broadcast message which is broadcasted from a wireless network;

if the broadcast message is intended for use at the mobile communication device;

receive, through the wireless receiver, a unicast message from the wireless network; and

identify broadcast message information of the broadcast message within the unicast message.

24. The mobile communication device of claim 23, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

if the broadcast message is not intended for use at the mobile communication device;

fail to receive any unicast message having broadcast message information of the broadcast message.

25. The mobile communication device of claim 23, wherein the wireless receiver is maintained in a low power or power down mode while the broadcast message is broadcasted from the wireless network.

26. The mobile communication device of claim 23, wherein the one or more processors are operative to identify the broadcast message information within the unicast message by decapsulating the unicast message to identify the broadcast message.

27. The mobile communication device of claim 23, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to cause a message to be transmitted to the wireless network which has information indicating which broadcast messages are intended for use at the mobile communication device.

28. The mobile communication device of claim 23, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to process an instruction in response to the broadcast message information.

29. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a communication network;

a wireless network coupled to the communication network;

the wireless network being adapted to wirelessly broadcast messages from the communication network;

a server component coupled to the communication network;

the server component being adapted to;

receive the broadcast messages from the communication network;

identify whether the broadcast messages are intended for use at a mobile communication device which operates in the wireless network;

if a broadcast message is intended for use at the mobile communication device;

produce, from the broadcast message, a unicast message which includes information from the broadcast message;

cause the unicast message to be sent to the mobile communication device in the wireless network;

the mobile communication device being adapted to;

refrain from receiving the broadcast messages which are wirelessly broadcasted from the wireless network;

if a broadcast message is intended for use at the mobile communication device;

receive a unicast message sent from the server component through the wireless network; and

identify broadcast message information of the broadcast message within the unicast message.

30. The wireless communication system of claim 29, wherein the wireless network comprises a wireless local area network (WLAN).