SIGNALING OVER CELLULAR NETWORKS TO REDUCE THE WI-FI ENERGY CONSUMPTION OF MOBILE DEVICES

• US 20080248749A1
• Filed: 12/26/2007
• 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 8,358,975 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• 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. When the device receives a wake up call from a server via its Cellular interface, the Wi-Fi interface is enabled if the device answers the wake up call and the Wi-Fi interface is available. Using its Wi-Fi interface, the mobile device then connects to an IP-based network via a Wi-Fi access point.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving data directed to a mobile device;

sending a wake-up signal to the mobile device, wherein the wake-up signal is sent by way of a cellular network; and

sending at least a portion of the data to the mobile device over the wireless IP-based network if the mobile device answers the wake-up signal.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the mobile device receives the data by way of a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) interface.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising sending at least a portion of the data to the mobile device if the mobile device does not answer the wake-up signal.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the mobile device receives the data by way of a cellular interface.

5. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the at least a portion of data is less than the whole.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data is directed to the mobile device by way of a server.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a user can define one or more preferences to receive the data when the mobile device does or does not respond to the wake-up signal.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a system can define one or more preferences to receive the data when the mobile device does or does not respond to the wake-up signal.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data directed to the mobile device is a teleconference call or data associated with an email.

10. A method for real time communication status updates comprising:

sending over a cellular network of a first client, a status of a second client; and

receiving the status of the second client on a mobile device.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the real time communication comprises instant messaging and the first and second clients comprise instant messaging clients.

12. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising enabling the first client to interact with second client when the first client requests communication.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising communicating with the second client over an IP-based network by way of a cellular interface.

14. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising communicating with the second client over an IP-based network by way of a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) interface.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the Wi-Fi interface is disabled at the conclusion of the communication with the second client.

16. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the mobile device of the first client receives the status of the second client in the form of a ring signal over the cellular network to which a cellular interface connects.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the status of the second client is encoded in a caller ID of the ring signal.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the caller ID comprises:

a first digit set to zero;

a set of one or more digits wherein the set of one or more digits are specific to an identification of a contact as established by the first client; and

at least one digit determining a presence state of the contact.

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

receiving data directed to a mobile device;

sending a wake-up signal to the mobile device, wherein the wake-up signal is sent by way of a network other than an IP-based network;

if the mobile device does not answer the wake-up signal, sending at least a portion of the data over a switch-based network to the mobile device; and

otherwise, sending at least a portion of the data over the IP-based network to the mobile device.

20. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 19, wherein the call is received by a server in communication with the mobile device.