Power consumption control method, power consumption control apparatus, computer program product, computer program distribution medium and communication device

• US 20080004063A1
• Filed: 09/08/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kiukkonen, Niko, Haapoja, Sami
• Granted Patent: US 7,609,171 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/522
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/028 switching on or off only a part of the equipment circuit blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The invention relates to a power consumption control apparatus configured to receive messages or commands which have an increasing effect on power consumption of a communication device; monitor the power consumption of the communication device; and control the power consumption of the communication device by applying at least one predetermined power consumption limit in such a way that if the monitored power consumption reaches the at least one power consumption limit or if actions according to the received messages or commands will make the power consumption reach the at least one power consumption limit, the actions according to the received messages or commands are postponed.

Claims

1. A power consumption control method for a communication device, the method comprising:

setting at least one power consumption limit of the communication device, wherein the communication device receives messages or commands which have an increasing effect on power consumption of the communication device;

monitoring the power consumption of the communication device; and

postponing actions according to the received messages or commands if the monitored power consumption reaches the at least one power consumption limit or if the actions according to the received messages or commands will make the power consumption reach the at least one power consumption limit.

2. The power consumption control method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring the at least one power consumption limit to be adaptive, and the setting of the at least one power consumption limit comprising

checking remaining battery capacity;

checking current or power consumption; and

monitoring service needs.

3. The power consumption control method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring the at least one power consumption limit to be adaptive, and the setting of the adaptive limit comprising utilizing transmit power probability function profiles.

4. The power consumption control method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring the at least one power consumption limit to comprise a short-term limit for allowed peak current and a longer-term limit.

5. The power consumption control method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring the at least one power consumption limit to comprise a short-term limit for allowed peak current or a longer-term limit.

6. The power consumption control method of claim 1, further comprising:

carrying out the monitoring by checking power or current consumption of the communication device or by maintaining a list of active systems and applications and associated power consumption statuses.

7. The power consumption control method of claim 1, further comprising:

carrying out the monitoring by checking power or current consumption of the communication device and by maintaining a list of active systems and applications and associated power consumption statuses.

8. A power consumption control apparatus configured to:

receive messages or commands which have an increasing effect on power consumption of a communication device;

monitor the power consumption of the communication device; and

control the power consumption of the communication device by using at least one predetermined power consumption limit in such a way that if the monitored power consumption reaches the at least one power consumption limit or if actions according to the received messages or commands make the power consumption reach the at least one power consumption limit, the actions according to the received messages or commands are postponed.

9. The power consumption control apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one limit for power consumption comprises a short-term limit and a longer-term limit for allowed peak current.

10. The power consumption control apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one limit for power consumption comprises a short-term limit or a longer-term limit for allowed peak current.

11. The power consumption control apparatus of claim 8, the apparatus further configured to carry out the monitoring of the power consumption of the communication device by checking power or current consumption of the communication device or by maintaining a list of active systems and applications and associated power consumption statuses.

12. The power consumption control apparatus of claim 8, the apparatus further configured to carry out the monitoring of the power consumption of the communication device by checking power or current consumption of the communication device and by maintaining a list of active systems and applications and associated power consumption statuses.

13. A power consumption control apparatus comprising:

means for receiving messages or commands which have an increasing effect on power consumption of a communication device;

means for monitoring the power consumption of the communication device; and

means for controlling the power consumption of the communication device by applying at least one predetermined power consumption limit in such a way that if the monitored power consumption reaches the at least one power consumption limit or if actions according to the received messages or commands make the power consumption reach the at least one power consumption limit, the actions according to the received messages or commands are postponed.

14. A communication device configured to:

supply power from a power storage;

receive messages or commands which have an increasing effect on power consumption of the communication device;

monitor the power consumption of the communication device; and

control the power consumption of the communication device by applying at least one predetermined power consumption limit in such a way that if the monitored power consumption reaches the at least one power consumption limit, or if actions according to the received messages or commands make the power consumption reach the at least one power consumption limit, the actions according to the received messages or commands are postponed to prevent excessive use of the power storage.

15. The communication device of claim 14, wherein the at least one limit for power consumption comprises a short-term limit and a longer-term limit for allowed peak current.

16. The communication device of claim 14, wherein the at least one limit for power consumption comprises a short-term limit or a longer-term limit for allowed peak current.

17. The communication device of claim 14, the apparatus further configured to carry out the monitoring of the power consumption of the communication device by checking power or current consumption of the communication device or by maintaining a list of active systems and applications and associated power consumption statuses.

18. The communication device of claim 14, the apparatus further configured to carry out the monitoring of the power consumption of the communication device by checking power or current consumption of the communication device and by maintaining a list of active systems and applications and associated power consumption statuses.

19. A computer program product encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process for power consumption control, the process comprising:

receiving messages or commands which have an increasing effect on power consumption of a communication device;

monitoring the power consumption of the communication device; and

controlling the power consumption of the communication device by applying at least one predetermined power consumption limit in such a way that if the monitored power consumption reaches the at least one power consumption limit or if actions according to the received messages or commands make the power consumption reach the at least one power consumption limit, the actions according to the received messages or commands are postponed.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising:

carrying out the monitoring by checking the power or current consumption of the communication device or by maintaining a list of active systems and applications and associated power consumption statuses.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising:

carrying out the monitoring by checking the power or current consumption of the communication device and by maintaining a list of active systems and applications and associated power consumption statuses.

22. A computer program distribution medium readable by a computer and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process for power consumption control, the process comprising:

receiving messages or commands which have an increasing effect on power consumption of a communication device;

monitoring the power consumption of the communication device; and

controlling the power consumption of the communication device by using at least one predetermined power consumption limit in such a way that if the monitored power consumption reaches the at least one power consumption limit or if actions according to the received messages or commands make the power consumption reach the at least one power consumption limit, the actions according to the received messages or commands are postponed.

23. The computer program distribution medium of claim 22, the distribution medium including at least one of the following media:

a computer readable medium, a program storage medium, a record medium, a computer readable memory, a computer readable software distribution package, a computer readable signal, a computer readable telecommunications signal, and a computer readable compressed software package.

24. A communication device, comprising:

means for supplying power from a power storage;

means for receiving messages or commands which have an increasing effect on power consumption of the communication device;

means for monitoring the power consumption of the communication device; and

means for controlling the power consumption of the communication device by applying at least one predetermined power consumption limit in such a way that if the monitored power consumption reaches the at least one power consumption limit, or if actions according to the received messages or commands make the power consumption reach the at least one power consumption limit, the actions according to the received messages or commands are postponed to prevent excessive use of the power storage.

25. A power consumption control apparatus, comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive messages or commands which have an increasing effect on power consumption of a communication device;

a monitor configured to monitor the power consumption of the communication device; and

a controller configured to control the power consumption of the communication device by applying at least one predetermined power consumption limit in such a way that if the monitored power consumption reaches the at least one power consumption limit or if actions according to the received messages or commands make the power consumption reach the at least one power consumption limit, the actions according to the received messages or commands are postponed.

26. A communication device configured to:

a power supply configured to supply power from a power storage;

a receiver configured to receive messages or commands which have an increasing effect on power consumption of the communication device;

a monitor configured to monitor the power consumption of the communication device; and

a controller configured to control the power consumption of the communication device by applying at least one predetermined power consumption limit in such a way that if the monitored power consumption reaches the at least one power consumption limit, or if actions according to the received messages or commands make the power consumption reach the at least one power consumption limit, the actions according to the received messages or commands are postponed to prevent excessive use of the power storage.