Access terminal paging improvements

• US 20080293440A1
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Via Telecom Inc. (VIA Technologies)
• Inventors: Lee, Anthony, Srinivas, Satyaprasad
• Granted Patent: US 8,081,591 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/458
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/06 De-registration or detaching
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed providing improved paging procedures in a wireless communication system. In one embodiment, a Power-down Registration signal is transmitted via a 1×RTT modem from an Access Terminal (AT) to an Access Network (AN) in a wireless communication system that includes both a 1×RTT modem and a 1×HRPD modem. The Power-down Registration signal conveys information to the AN indicating that a power-down process has been initiated by the AT, and thereby enables the AN to discontinue transmission of signals and messages to the AT that are not effective when the AT is in an off-state.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting a Power-Down Registration message from an Access Terminal (AT) to an Access Network (AN) in a wireless communication system, comprising the steps of:

a) initiating a Power-Down process of an AT;

b) determining if a 1×

HRPD (High Rate Packet Data) modem of the AT is in a Monitor State;

c) suspending the Power-Down process, inactivating the 1×

HRPD modem, and activating a 1×

RTT (Radio Transmission Technology) modem of the AT when the 1×

HRPD modem is in the Monitor State; and

d) transmitting a Power-Down Registration message from the AT to the AN, wherein the 1×

RTT modem transmits the Power-Down Registration message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

e) if the 1×

HRPD modem is determined not in the Monitor State at step b), then setting the 1×

HRPD modem in the Monitor State.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

f) reactivating the 1×

HRPD modem in the Monitor State; and

g) completing the Power-Down process.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adapting the AN responsive to the Power-Down Registration message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the Power-Down process of the AT is initiated by means of a user interface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the Power-Down process of the AT is initiated responsive to a low-battery-power condition of the AT.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of adapting the AN responsive to the Power-Down Registration message includes a step of discontinuing messages from the AN to the AT relating to Idle State Protocols.

16. An Access Terminal (AT) for transmitting a Power-Down Registration message to an Access Network (AN), comprising:

a 1×

HRPD (High Rate Packet Data) modem, wherein the 1×

HRPD modem is coupled to the AT and conveys messages to and from the AN;

a 1×

RTT (Radio Transmission Technology) modem, wherein the 1×

RTT modem is coupled to the AT and conveys messages to and from the AN;

wherein the AT and the AN are adapted to perform the steps according to the method of claim 1.

8. An Access Terminal (AT) for transmitting a Power-Down Registration message to an Access Network (AN), comprising:

a 1×

HRPD (High Rate Packet Data) modem, wherein the 1×

HRPD modem is coupled to the AT and conveys messages to and from the AN;

a 1×

RTT (Radio Transmission Technology) modem, wherein the 1×

RTT modem is coupled to the AT and conveys messages to and from the AN; and

a controller, coupled to the 1×

HRPD modem and the 1×

RTT modem, wherein the controller is adapted to perform the steps of;

a) initiating a Power-Down process;

b) determining if the 1×

HRPD modem of the AT is in a Monitor State;

c) suspending the Power-Down process, inactivating the 1×

HRPD modem, and activating the 1×

RTT modem of the AT when the 1×

HRPD modem is in the Monitor State; and

d) transmitting the Power-Down Registration message to the AN, wherein the 1×

RTT modem transmits the Power-Down Registration message.

9. The Access Terminal of claim 8, wherein the controller is further adapted to perform the step of:

e) if the 1×

HRPD modem is determined not in the Monitor State at step b), then setting the 1×

HRPD modem in the Monitor State.

10. The Access Terminal of claim 8, wherein the controller is further adapted to perform the steps of:

f) reactivating the 1×

HRPD modem in the Monitor State; and

g) completing the Power-Down process.

11. The Access Terminal of claim 8, further comprising a user interface, coupled to the controller, for initiating the Power-Down process.

12. The Access Terminal of claim 8, further comprising a low-battery power detector for initiating the Power-Down process.

13. A wireless communication system for transmitting a Power-Down Registration message from an Access Terminal (AT) to an Access Network (AN), comprising:

a) means for initiating a Power-Down process of the AT;

b) means for determining if a 1×

HRPD modem of the AT is in a Monitor State;

c) means, responsive to the means for determining if a 1×

HRPD modem of the AT is in a Monitor State, for setting the 1×

HRPD modem in the Monitor State, wherein if the 1×

HRPD modem is not in the Monitor State, then the means for setting the 1×

HRPD modem in the Monitor State sets the 1×

HRPD modem in the Monitor State;

d) means for suspending the Power-Down process, wherein the suspending means inactivates the 1×

HRPD modem, and activates a 1×

RTT modem of the AT; and

e) means, responsive to the suspending means, for transmitting a Power-Down Registration message from the AT to the AN, wherein the 1×

RTT modem transmits the Power-Down Registration message.

14. The wireless communication system of claim 13, further comprising:

f) means for reactivating the 1×

HRPD modem in the Monitor State; and

,

g) means, responsive to the reactivating means, for completing the Power-Down process.

15. The wireless communication system of claim 13, further comprising:

h) means for adapting the AN responsive to the Power-Down Registration message.