Control of a Short-Range Wireless Terminal

• US 20080194201A1
• Filed: 06/29/2004
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Sinivaara, Hasse, Kelly, Christopher, Black, Simon, Edney, Jonathan P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,688,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling the operation of a short-range wireless terminal capable of operating in a first beacon-based network and in a second beacon-based network, and having an active state and a power save state in the first beacon-based network. For seamless operation in the two networks, the terminal moves to a power save state with respect to the first beacon-based network if operation in the second beacon-based network is required. However, the first beacon-based network is only informed that the terminal moves to a power save state and instead of powering down, the terminal becomes active in the second beacon-based network.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a short-range wireless terminal capable of operating in a first beacon-based network and in a second beacon-based network, the method comprising the steps of:

controlling the short-range wireless terminal to enter a power save state with respect to a first beacon-based network; and

starting operation in a second beacon-based network in response to the controlling step,

wherein the controlling step is performed if the short-range wireless terminal is in an active operation state with respect to the first beacon-based network when the operation in the second beacon-based network is to be started.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

suspending the operation of the short-range wireless terminal in the second beacon-based network; and

receiving a beacon broadcast of the first beacon-based network during the suspending step.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the receiving step includes a sub-step of receiving dedicated data for the short-range wireless terminal.

4. A method according to claim 2, further comprising a step of resuming the operation in the second beacon-based network, the resuming step being performed in response to the receiving step.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the starting step includes controlling the short-range wireless terminal to change from a first radio frequency used in the first beacon-based network to a second radio frequency used in the second beacon-based network.

6. A method according to claim 4, further comprising a step of determining a moment for the resuming step, the determining step being performed during the suspending step.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the determining step includes the steps of:

receiving messages of at least one other short-range wireless terminal belonging to the second beacon-based network; and

defining said moment based on the messages received.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

maintaining a first timer for the first beacon-based network, the first timer indicating beacon broadcast moments in the first beacon-based network;

maintaining a second timer for the second beacon-based network, the second timer indicating beacon transmission moments in the second beacon-based network; and

maintaining an offset between the first timer and the second timer.

9. A method according to claim 3, further comprising a step of returning the terminal back to the active operation state with respect to the first beacon-based network, the returning step being performed in response to the receiving sub-step.

10. A method according to claim 3, further comprising a step of resuming the operation in the second beacon-based network, the resuming step being performed in response to the receiving sub-step.

11. A method according to claim 8, wherein the suspending and the receiving steps are performed at regular intervals according to the beacon broadcast moments in the first beacon-based network.

12. A wireless terminal for short-range wireless networks, the wireless terminal comprising:

a first operation mode for operating in a first beacon-based network;

a second operation mode for operating in a second beacon-based network; and

first control means for controlling the wireless terminal to a power save state with respect to the first beacon-based network;

wherein the first control means are configured to operate in response to a command to assume the second operation mode, the command being received when the terminal is in the active operation state with respect to the first beacon-based network.

13. A wireless terminal according to claim 12, further comprising second control means for suspending the operation in the second operation mode substantially at selected beacon broadcast moments of the first beacon-based network.

14. A wireless terminal according to claim 13, wherein the second control means are configured to suspend the operation in the second operation mode at substantially regular intervals.

15. A wireless terminal according to claim 13, wherein the second control means include a first timer synchronized with timing information broadcast in the first beacon-based network.

16. A wireless terminal according to claim 13, further comprising third control means for resuming the operation in the second operation mode.

17. A wireless terminal according to claim 16, wherein the third control means include means for controlling the wireless terminal from a first radio frequency to a second radio frequency.

18. A wireless terminal according to claim 15, further comprising a second timer for indicating beacon broadcast moments in the second beacon-based network, the second timer being synchronized with the first timer.

19. A computer useable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein to control a short-range wireless terminal, the computer readable program code comprising:

a first computer readable program code portion for receiving a command to start operation in a second beacon-based network; and

a second computer readable program code portion for controlling the short-range wireless terminal to enter a power save state with respect to a first beacon-based network, the second computer readable program code being configured to control the short-range wireless terminal in response to the command if the short-range wireless terminal is in an active operation state with respect to the first beacon-based network when the command is received.