Base Station, Method of Operating a Base Station and Wireless Communication System

• US 20100120476A1
• Filed: 11/13/2008
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxlinear Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lantiq Deutschland GMBH (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: Zettler, Thomas, Kassel, Pidder, Bry, Charles, Bjarnason, Elias
• Granted Patent: US 8,447,368 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A base station for wireless communication comprises a receiver and a processor. The receiver has a first operating state and a second operating state with different power consumption levels. In the first operating state, the receiver is configured to receive a signal. The processor is coupled to the receiver to switch the receiver between the first and second operating states.

Claims

1. A base station for wireless communication, comprising:

a receiver having a first operating state and a second operating state, wherein said receiver in said first operating state is configured to receive signals, and wherein said receiver in said second operating state has a power consumption lower than in said first operating state; and

a processor coupled to said receiver and configured to control said receiver based on at least one parameter so that said receiver repeatedly switches between said first operating state and said second operating state, said processor being configured to adjust said at least one parameter.

2. The base station according to claim 1,

wherein said processor is configured to control said receiver to periodically switch between said first operating state and said second operating state.

3. The base station according to claim 2,

wherein said processor is configured to control said receiver to switch to said first operating state for a time interval determined based on said at least one parameter.

4. The base station according to claim 1,

wherein said processor is configured to adjust said at least one parameter based on signal characteristics of a request transmitted by a client device to establish a connection with said base station.

5. The base station according to claim 4,

wherein said at least one parameter comprises a duration of said request transmitted by said client device.

6. The base station according to claim 5,

wherein said at least one parameter further comprises a repetition count of said request transmitted by said client device.

7. A wireless communication system, comprising

a base station comprising a receiver;

and

a client device configured to transmit a request to said base station to establish a connection with said base station;

wherein said receiver of said base station has a first operating state and a second operating state, wherein said receiver in said first operating state is configured to receive said request from said client device, and wherein said receiver in said second operating state has a power consumption lower than in said first operating state,

wherein said receiver is configured to repeatedly switch between said first operating state and said second operating state based on signal characteristics of said request transmitted by said client device.

8. The wireless communication system according to claim 7,

wherein said base station is configured to detect said signal characteristics of said request.

9. The wireless communication system according to claim 7,

wherein said base station is configured to identify said client device and to establish said signal characteristics of said request based on said identified client device.

10. A base station for wireless communication, comprising:

a receiver; and

a processor coupled to said receiver and configured to process signals received by said receiver;

wherein said base station has a learning mode,

wherein, when said learning mode is activated, said receiver is configured to receive an association request and said processor is configured to determine signal characteristics of said association request,

wherein said processor is configured to control said receiver based on said determined signal characteristics in a low power mode.

11. The base station according to claim 10,

wherein said association request comprises a plurality of association request signals, and said determined signal characteristics comprise at least one of a duration of an association request signal, a time delay between successive association request signals and a repetition count of said plurality of association request signals.

12. The base station according to claim 10,

wherein said receiver has at least two operating states with different power consumption levels, and said processor is configured to control said receiver based on said determined signal characteristics so that said receiver switches between said at least two operating states in said low power mode.

13. The base station according to claim 10,

wherein said processor is configured to respectively determine said signal characteristics for a plurality of client devices and to control said receiver based on said signal characteristics determined for said plurality of client devices.

14. The base station according to claim 13, comprising

a memory;

wherein said processor is coupled to said memory to store said signal characteristics determined for said plurality of client devices in said memory.

15. The base station according to claim 10,

wherein said base station is a WLAN access point.

16. A method of operating a base station for wireless communication, comprising:

providing a base station;

receiving an association request from a client device at said base station;

determining signal characteristics of said received association request; and

controlling said base station based on said determined signal characteristics so that said base station switches between a plurality of operating states with different power consumption levels in a low power mode.

17. The method of claim 16,

wherein said association request transmitted by said client device comprises a plurality of association request signals, and said determined signal characteristics comprise at least one of a duration of an association request signal, a time delay between successive association request signals and a repetition count of said plurality of association request signals.

18. The method of claim 17,

wherein said base station is controlled such that said base station is configured to receive at least one association request signal of said plurality of association request signals in said low power mode.

19. The method of claim 16,

wherein said receiving and said determining are performed for a plurality of client devices.

20. The method of claim 19,

wherein said base station is controlled such that, when any one client device of said plurality of client devices transmits an association request comprising a plurality of association request signals, said base station is configured to receive at least one association request signal of said association request in said low power mode.

21. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a base station having a low power mode; and

a client device configured to transmit a wake-up signal to said base station to initiate a wake-up of said base station from said low power mode, wherein said client device is configured to generate said wake-up signal based on a parameter;

wherein said base station is configured to set said parameter and to notify said client device of said set parameter.

22. The wireless communication system according to claim 21,

wherein said base station in said low power mode periodically listens for said wake-up signal with a periodicity, wherein said periodicity is adjusted based on said set parameter.

23. The wireless communication system according to claim 22,

wherein said client device has a low power mode in which said client device periodically listens for a signal from said base station with a further periodicity,

wherein said base station is configured to set said further periodicity and to notify said client device of said set further periodicity.

24. The wireless communication system according to claim 21, further comprising:

at least one additional client device,

wherein said base station is configured to set said parameter such that said client device and said at least one additional client device respectively are configured to transmit a wake-up signal generated based on said set parameter.

25. The wireless communication system according to claim 21,

wherein said wireless communication system is a DECT telephone system.