METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR POWER SAVING IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20080176521A1
• Filed: 01/15/2008
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Singh, Harkirat, Shao, Huai-Rong, Ngo, Chiu, Qin, Xiangping
• Granted Patent: US 8,503,968 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/69
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0206 in access points, e.g. base stations access point devices per se H04W88/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/287 when the channel is in stand-by
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/288 taking into account the usage mode, e.g. hands-free, data transmission, telephone
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and a system for wireless communication is provided which involves maintaining a data communication module in a power saving mode, detecting channel reservation for communication on a wireless data channel during one or more reserved time periods, and upon successful data channel reservation, transitioning the data communication module from the power saving mode to an active mode for data communication on the reserved data channel. Preferably, the data communication module is transitioned back to the power saving mode upon completion of data communication on the data channel.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

maintaining a data communication module in a power saving mode;

detecting channel reservation for communication on a wireless data channel during one or more reserved time periods; and

upon successful data channel reservation, transitioning the data communication module from the power saving mode to an active mode for data communication on the reserved data channel.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of transitioning the data communication module back to the power saving mode upon completion of data communication on the data channel, wherein the step of detecting channel reservation further includes:

receiving control information communications over a wireless control channel, detecting data channel reservation based on the received control information, and providing the control information to the data communication module through a convergence layer, for transitioning the data communication module from the power saving mode to the active mode.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the step of receiving control information over a wireless control channel further includes maintaining a control communication module in an active mode for communication on the control channel; and

the data channel comprises an in-band channel and the control channel comprises an out-of-band channel, such that the in-band channel and the out-of-band channel are at different wireless frequencies.

4. The method of claim 3 further including the step of performing directional data communication on the in-band data channel, wherein the in-band channel comprises a 60 GHz wireless channel.

5. A method of wireless communication at a transmitting station, comprising:

receiving a command from a receiving station for adjusting transmission power emanating from the transmitting station on a first wireless channel;

adjusting transmission power from the transmitting station in response;

determining if the transmission power emanating from the receiving station on a second wireless channel is within a range for effective communication therebetween; and

if the transmission power emanating from the receiving station is not within said range, then transmitting a request to the receiving station to adjust transmission power emanating from the receiving station to be within said range.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein adjusting transmission power from the transmitting station includes reducing transmission power from the transmitting station to conserve power.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of transmitting a request to the receiving station to adjust transmission power emanating from the receiving station includes transmitting a request to the receiving station to reduce transmission power emanating from the receiving station to conserve power.

8. The method of claim 5 further including the step of first requesting the receiving station to determine if transmission power emanating from the transmitting station needs adjustment, and then receiving a command from the receiving station to adjust transmission power emanating from the transmitting station.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of the first and second wireless channels comprises a 60 GHz frequency band.

10. A method of wireless communication at a receiving station, comprising:

receiving a request from a transmitting station to determine if transmission power emanating from the transmitting station needs adjustment; and

determining if the transmission power emanating from the receiving station on a wireless channel is outside a range for effective communication therebetween, and sending a request to the transmitting station to adjust the transmission power of the transmitting station.

11. The method of claim 10 further including the step of:

receiving a request from the transmitting station for adjusting transmission power emanating from the receiving station on a wireless channel; and

adjusting transmission power from the receiving station in response, by reducing transmission power from the receiving station to conserve power.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the wireless channel comprises a channel in the 60 GHz frequency band.

13. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a data communication module configured for communication on a data channel;

a power saving module configured for maintaining the data communication module in a power saving mode until detection of channel reservation for communication on a wireless data channel, and then transitioning the data communication module from the power saving mode to an active mode for data communication on the reserved data channel; and

a convergence module for providing received control information, indicative of a channel reservation for communication on a wireless data channel, to the power saving module for transitioning the data communication module from the power saving mode to the active mode.

14. The wireless communication system of claim 13, wherein:

the control information to the data communication module is provided through a convergence layer, for transitioning the data communication module from the active state to the power saving state for communication on the data channel; and

the power saving module is further configured for transitioning the data communication module back to the power saving mode upon completion of data communication on the data channel.

15. The wireless communication system of claim 13 further comprising a control communication module configured for receiving control information communications over a wireless control channel, and detecting data channel reservation based on the received control information.

16. The wireless communication system of claim 15, wherein the control communication module is further configured to remain in an active mode for communication on the control channel, and the data channel comprises an in-band channel and the control channel comprises an out-of-band channel, such that the in-band channel and the out-of-band channel are at different wireless frequencies.

17. The wireless communication system of claim 16 wherein the data communication module is configured for performing directional data communication on the in-band data channel, wherein the in-band channel comprises a 60 GHz wireless channel.

18. A wireless transmitting station, comprising:

a communication module configured for receiving a command from a receiving station for adjusting transmission power emanating from the transmitting station on a first wireless channel;

a power adjusting module configured for adjusting transmission power from the transmitting station in response; and

the power adjusting module further configured for detecting if the transmission power emanating from the receiving station on a second wireless channel is outside a range for effective communication therebetween, and transmitting a request to the receiving station to adjust transmission power emanating from the receiving station to be within said range.

19. The wireless transmitting station of claim 18, wherein the power adjusting module is further configured for adjusting transmission power from the transmitting station by reducing transmission power from the transmitting station to conserve power.

20. The wireless transmitting station of claim 18, wherein the power adjusting module is further configured for transmitting a request to the receiving station to reduce transmission power emanating from the receiving station to conserve power.

21. The wireless transmitting station of claim 18, wherein the communication module is further configured for first requesting the receiving station to determine if transmission power emanating from the transmitting station needs adjustment, and then receiving a command from the receiving station to adjust transmission power emanating from the transmitting station.

22. The wireless transmitting station of claim 18, wherein at least one of the first and second wireless channels comprises a 60 GHz frequency band.

23. A wireless receiving station, comprising:

a communication module configured for receiving a request from a transmitting station to determine if transmission power emanating from the transmitting station needs adjustment; and

a power adjusting module configured for detecting if the transmission power emanating from the receiving station on a wireless channel is outside a range for effective communication therebetween, and sending a request to the transmitting station to adjust the transmission power of the transmitting station.

24. The wireless receiving station of claim 23, wherein:

the communication module is further configured for receiving a request from the transmitting station for adjusting transmission power emanating from the receiving station on a wireless channel; and

the power adjusting module is further configured for adjusting transmission power from the receiving station in response.

25. The wireless receiving station of claim 23, wherein the power adjusting module is further configured for adjusting transmission power from the receiving station includes reducing transmission power from the receiving station to conserve power.

26. The wireless receiving station of claim 23, wherein the wireless channel comprises a channel in the 60 GHz frequency band.