SEMI-CONNECTED OPERATIONS FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20090082072A1
• Filed: 09/20/2007
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Agashe, Parag A., Agrawal, Avneesh, Ulupinar, Fatih, Prakash, Rajat
• Granted Patent: US 8,284,706 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate reducing battery consumption during periods of inactivity intermixed with traffic bursts in wireless communications systems. A semi-connected mode is provided that fast recognition of mobile devices upon wakeup and access while enabling mobile devices to operate in reduce power states. A mobile device operates in a semi-connected mode with all base stations in an active set of the mobile device. Moreover, mechanisms are provided to notify mobile devices of pending data while avoiding latency associated with paging channels.

Claims

1. A method that effectuates expeditious access while reducing battery consumption in a wireless communications system, comprising:

initiating a semi-connected mode with one or more base stations in an active set; and

operating in the semi-connected mode to enable expedited system access with bursty traffic.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sleeping during a period of inactivity while in the semi-connected mode.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing the system with MAC ID scrambled access.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising retaining a MAC ID from each member of the active set during periods of inactivity.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an information block on a shared signal channel during a wakeup period.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating a semi-connected mode comprises transmitting at least one message to one or more base stations in an active set that includes a parameter specifying the number of physical frames of wakeup per period.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein transmitting at least one message in comprises sending a semi-connected start message to a serving sector base station.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the start message is sent over the air or tunneled through a serving sector to all base station in the active set.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving a semi-connect acknowledgement message in response to the start message.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising broadcasting a semi-connect exit message to terminate the semi-connected mode.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the information block is a forward link assignment block.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring forward pilot channels of active set members.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising utilizing MAC ID scrambled access to initiate handoff.

14. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory that retains instructions related to initiating a semi-connected mode with one or more base stations in an active set and operating in the semi-connected mode to enable expedited system access with bursty traffic; and

a processor coupled to the memory, configured to execute the instructions retained in the memory.

15. A wireless communications apparatus that effectuates reduce power consumption during periods of inactivity, comprising:

means for initiating a semi-connected mode with one or more base stations in an active set; and

means for operating in the semi-connected mode to enable expedited system access with bursty traffic.

16. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for sleeping during a period of inactivity while in the semi-connected mode.

17. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for accessing the system with MAC ID scrambled access.

18. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for retaining a MAC ID from each member of the active set during periods of inactivity.

19. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for receiving an information block on a shared signal channel during a wakeup period.

20. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, wherein means for initiating a semi-connected mode comprises means for transmitting at least one message to one or more base stations in an active set that includes a parameter specifying the number of physical frames of wakeup per period.

21. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 20, wherein transmitting at least one message in comprises sending a semi-connected start message to a serving sector base station.

22. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 21, wherein the start message is sent over the air or tunneled through a serving sector to all base station in the active set.

23. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 22, further comprising means for receiving a semi-connect acknowledgement message in response to the start message.

24. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for broadcasting a semi-connect exit message to terminate the semi-connected mode.

25. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 19, wherein the information block is a forward link assignment block.

26. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for monitoring forward pilot channels of active set members.

27. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 26, further comprising utilizing MAC ID scrambled access to initiate handoff.

28. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon machine-executable instructions for:

initiating a semi-connected mode with one or more base stations in an active set; and

operating in the semi-connected mode to enable expedited system access with bursty traffic.

29. The machine-readable medium of claim 28, further comprising sleeping during a period of inactivity while in the semi-connected mode.

30. The machine-readable medium of claim 28, further comprising accessing the system with MAC ID scrambled access.

31. The machine-readable medium of claim 28, further comprising retaining a MAC ID from each member of the active set during periods of inactivity.

32. The machine-readable medium of claim 28, further comprising receiving an information block on a shared signal channel during a wakeup period.

33. The machine-readable medium of claim 28, wherein initiating a semi-connected mode comprises transmitting at least one message to one or more base stations in an active set that includes a parameter specifying the number of physical frames of wakeup per period.

34. The machine-readable medium of claim 33, wherein transmitting at least one message in comprises sending a semi-connected start message to a serving sector base station.

35. The machine-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the start message is sent over the air or tunneled through a serving sector to all base station in the active set.

36. The machine-readable medium of claim 35, further comprising receiving a semi-connect acknowledgement message in response to the start message.

37. The machine-readable medium of claim 28, further comprising broadcasting a semi-connect exit message to terminate the semi-connected mode.

38. The machine-readable medium of claim 32, wherein the information block is a forward link assignment block.

39. The machine-readable medium of claim 28, further comprising instructions for monitoring forward pilot channels of active set members.

40. The machine-readable medium of claim 39, further comprising instructions for utilizing MAC ID scrambled access to initiate handoff.

41. In a wireless communication system, an apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to;

initiate a semi-connected mode with one or more base stations in an active set; and

operate in the semi-connected mode to enable expedited system access with bursty traffic.

42. A method that facilitates expeditious access while reducing battery consumption in a wireless communications system, comprising:

receiving a request to initiate at a semi-connected mode;

transmitting an information block on a shared signaling channel to notify a mobile device of pending data; and

accepting access through MAC ID scrambled access.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising identifying a mobile device through a MAC ID retained by the mobile device.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising providing quality of service (QoS) treatment to the mobile device upon access.

45. The method of claim 42, further comprising maintaining a forward link while no transmitting on the reverse link.

46. The method of claim 42, further comprising transmitting at least one of an acknowledgement message in response to the request.

47. The method of claim 42, wherein the information block is a forward link assignment block in the semi-connect mode.

48. The method of claim 42, further comprising detecting a false handoff.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein detecting the false handoff comprises:

starting a timer when a non-serving base station grabs a tunnel;

reacquiring the tunnel upon timer expiration; and

deleting the timer upon receipt of a semi-connect exit message.

50. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory that retains instructions related to receiving a request to enter into at a semi-connected mode, notifying a mobile device of pending data through an information block on a shared signaling channel and providing access through MAC ID scrambled access; and

a processor coupled to the memory, configured to execute the instructions retained in the memory.

51. A wireless communications apparatus that effectuates reduce power consumption during periods of inactivity, comprising:

means for receiving a request to initiate a semi-connected mode;

means for transmitting an information block on a shared signaling channel to notify a mobile device of pending data; and

means for accepting communications through MAC ID scrambled access.

52. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 51, further comprising means for identifying a mobile device through a MAC ID retained by the mobile device.

53. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 52, further comprising means for providing quality of service (QoS) treatment to the mobile device upon access.

54. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 51, further comprising means maintaining a forward link while not transmitting on the reverse link.

55. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 51, further comprising means for transmitting at least one of an acknowledgement message response to the request.

56. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 51, wherein the information block is a forward link assignment block.

57. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 51, further comprising means for detecting a false handoff.

58. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 57, wherein means for detecting the false handoff comprises:

means for initiating a timer when a non-serving base station grabs a tunnel;

means for reacquiring the tunnel upon timer expiration; and

means for deleting the timer upon receipt of a semi-connect exit message.

59. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon machine-executable instructions for:

receiving a request to enter into a semi-connected mode;

notifying a mobile device of pending data through an information block on a shared signaling channel; and

providing system access through MAC ID scrambled access.

60. The machine-readable medium of claim 59, further comprising identifying a mobile device through a MAC ID retained by the mobile device.

61. The machine-readable medium of claim 60, further comprising providing quality of service (QoS) treatment to the mobile device upon access.

62. The machine-readable medium of claim 59, further comprising maintaining a forward link while not transmitting on the reverse link.

63. The machine-readable medium of claim 59, further comprising transmitting at least one of an acknowledgement message response to the request.

64. The machine-readable medium of claim 59, wherein the information block is a forward link assignment block.

65. The machine-readable medium of claim 59, further comprising detecting a false handoff.

66. The machine-readable medium of claim 65, wherein detecting the false handoff comprises:

starting a timer when a non-serving base station grabs a tunnel;

reacquiring the tunnel upon timer expiration; and

deleting the timer upon receipt of a semi-connect exit message.

67. In a wireless communication system, an apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive a request to initiate at a semi-connected mode;

transmit an information block on a shared signaling channel to notify a mobile device of pending data; and

accept system communication through MAC ID scrambled access.