Signaling Over Cellular Networks to Reduce the Wi-Fi Energy Consumption of Mobile Devices

• US 20080247344A1
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bahl, Paramvir, Chandra, Ranveer, Wolman, Alastair, Agarwal, Yuvraj, Chin, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 8,270,965 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/085 collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical 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: H04W 92/00 Interfaces specially adapted for wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Techniques for increasing the battery life on a mobile device by decreasing the energy consumption of the mobile device'"'"'s wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) interface are described. In one embodiment, the mobile device'"'"'s Wi-Fi interface is automatically disabled when the device is not engaged in a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) call via the Wi-Fi interface. When a VoIP call is initiated on the device, or when the device receives a wake up call from a server via its Cellular interface, the Wi-Fi interface is automatically enabled. Using its Wi-Fi interface, the mobile device then connects to an IP-based network via a Wi-Fi access point. The server then initiates a direct call, wherein VoIP technology is used by the mobile device, between the mobile device and a VoIP calling device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

disabling a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) interface on a mobile device when the device is not engaged in Wi-Fi communication; and

enabling the Wi-Fi interface responsive to receiving a wake up signal via a cellular interface on the mobile device.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the control features are facilitated by communication handling rules on a server device communicatively coupled with the mobile device.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving a wake up signal from a server device communicatively coupled with the mobile device, the wake up call being associated with a caller identification (ID) that allows the mobile device to identify the wake up call as having been sent by the server device.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving a wake up signal from a server device communicatively coupled with the mobile device, the wake up signal being associated with a data packet sent over the cellular data network that allows the mobile device to identify the data packet as having been sent by the server device.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising enabling the Wi-Fi interface responsive to initiating Wi-Fi communication on the device.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, further comprising engaging in Wi-Fi communication with a remote device via an internet protocol (IP)—

based network responsive to the receiving or to the initiating.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the Wi-Fi communication comprises voice over internet protocol (VoIP) calling.

8. A computer-implemented method comprising:

initiating a cellular call to a first device over a cellular network, wherein the cellular call directs the first device to enable a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) interface on the first device and associate with a Wi-Fi network; and

initiating a direct call utilizing VoIP technology between the first device and a second device utilizing the Wi-Fi interface on the second device.

9. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8, wherein the acts of initiating a cellular call and initiating a direct call utilizing VoIP technology are performed, at least in part, by one or more server devices that are not the first device or the second device.

10. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 9, wherein the one or more server devices include at least one of:

an application layer signaling protocol server; and

application-level call handling rules to facilitate the acts of initiating a cellular call and initiating a direct call, wherein VoIP technology is used by the first device to engage in the direct call.

11. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8, wherein the acts of initiating a cellular call and initiating a direct call are facilitated by control features implemented on the first device.

12. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8, wherein the cellular call is associated with a caller identification (ID) number that allows the first device to recognize the call as being initiated by a server device that is not the first device or the second device.

13. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 12, wherein the caller ID is unique to both the server device and the mobile device and comprises one or more of:

a number, at least a portion of which is randomly generated;

a number, at least a portion of which is formatted to avoid collisions between the cellular call and other calls on the cellular network;

a number, at least a portion of which is encrypted using a one-way hash of a secret key shared by the server device and the mobile device;

14. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8, further comprising disabling the Wi-Fi interface at the conclusion of the VoIP call.

15. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8, wherein the first device comprises a mobile computing device implementing a full-featured compact operating system.

16. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed perform acts comprising:

receiving a call directed to a mobile device;

responsive to the receiving, notifying the mobile device via a cellular network;

responsive to the notifying, enabling a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) interface on a mobile device, wherein the Wi-Fi interface connects to an IP-based network via an access point; and

connecting the call directly with the mobile device as a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) call via the IP-based network.

17. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

responsive to initiating a VoIP call on the mobile device, enabling the Wi-Fi interface; and

responsive to the VoIP call ending, disabling the Wi-Fi interface.

18. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 17, wherein one or more of the following acts are performed by the mobile device:

responsive to the notifying, enabling the Wi-Fi interface;

responsive to initiating a VoIP call on the mobile device, enabling the Wi-Fi interface; and

responsive to the VoIP call ending, disabling the Wi-Fi interface.

19. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 16, wherein one or more of the acts of receiving, notifying and connecting are performed by a server device in communication with the mobile device.

20. One more computer-readable media as recited in claim 16, wherein the act of notifying comprises sending a wake up signal to the mobile device, the wake up signal being associated with a caller identification (ID) that uniquely identifies the server device.