POWER MANAGEMENT

• US 20100331056A1
• Filed: 08/31/2009
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Sampath, Hemanth, Abraham, Santosh P., Taghavi Nasrabadi, Mohammad Hossein
• Granted Patent: US 9,775,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0245 according to signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An apparatus for wireless communications includes a processing system. The processing system is configured to turn off a first wireless interface configured to support communications within a first coverage area. The processing system is further configured to communicate with a second apparatus using a second wireless interface configured to support communications within a second coverage area greater than the first coverage area. The processing system is further configured to turn on the first wireless interface based on the communication with the second apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

a processing system configured to;

turn off a first wireless interface configured to support communications within a first coverage area;

communicate with a second apparatus using a second wireless interface configured to support communications within a second coverage area greater than the first coverage area; and

turn on the first wireless interface based on the communication with the second apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first wireless interface is associated with a first frequency and the second wireless is associated with a second frequency lower than the first frequency.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to turn off the first wireless interface based on a time period of inactivity of the first wireless interface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to provide an indication to the second apparatus that the first wireless interface will be turned off, wherein the processing system is further configured to use either one of the first or second wireless interfaces to provide the indication.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to use the second wireless interface to provide an indication to the second apparatus that the first wireless interface will be used to receive data from the second apparatus or to receive an indication of a potential improvement in a quality of signal reception.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to periodically turn off the second wireless interface to save power while the first wireless interface is turned off.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to support either one of in-band and out-of-band communications with the second apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to turn off the first wireless interface based on a quality of signal reception via the first wireless interface.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processing system is further configured to estimate the quality of signal reception via the first wireless interface based on a quality of signal reception via the second wireless interface.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processing system is further configured to estimate the quality of signal reception via the first wireless interface by determining a change in the quality of signal reception via the second wireless interface.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processing system is further configured to estimate the quality of signal reception via the first wireless interface by exchanging reference signals with the second apparatus via the second wireless interface.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to:

estimate a quality of signal reception via the first wireless interface based on a signal reception via the second wireless interface; and

turn on the first wireless interface based on the estimated quality of signal reception.

13. A method for wireless communications, comprising:

turning off a first wireless interface configured to support communications within a first coverage area;

communicating with an apparatus using a second wireless interface configured to support communications within a second coverage area greater than the first coverage area; and

turning on the first wireless interface based on the communication with the second apparatus.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first wireless interface is associated with a first frequency and the second wireless is associated with a second frequency lower than the first frequency.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first wireless interface is turned off based on a time period of inactivity of the first wireless interface.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing an indication to the apparatus that the first wireless interface will be turned off, wherein the indication is provided using either one of the first or second wireless interfaces.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising using the second wireless interface to provide an indication to the apparatus that the first wireless interface will be used to receive data from the apparatus or to receive an indication of a potential improvement in a quality of signal reception.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising periodically turning off the second wireless interface to save power while the first wireless interface is turned off.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising supporting either one of in-band and out-of-band communications with the apparatus.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the first wireless interface is turned off based on a quality of signal reception via the first wireless interface.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising estimating the quality of signal reception via the first wireless interface based on a quality of signal reception via the second wireless interface.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the quality of signal reception is estimated via the first wireless interface by determining a change in the quality of signal reception via the second wireless interface.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the quality of signal reception is estimated via the first wireless interface by exchanging reference signals with the second apparatus via the second wireless interface.

24. The method of claim 13, further comprising estimating a quality of signal reception via the first wireless interface based on a signal reception via the second wireless interface, wherein the turning on of the first wireless interface is based on the estimated quality of signal reception.

25. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

means for turning off a first wireless interface configured to support communications within a first coverage area;

means for communicating with a second apparatus using a second wireless interface configured to support communications within a second coverage area greater than the first coverage area; and

means for turning on the first wireless interface based on the communication with the second apparatus.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first wireless interface is associated with a first frequency and the second wireless is associated with a second frequency lower than the first frequency.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first wireless interface is turned off based on a time period of inactivity of the first wireless interface.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising means for providing an indication to the apparatus that the first wireless interface will be turned off, wherein the indication is provided using either one of the first or second wireless interfaces.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising means for using the second wireless interface to provide an indication to the apparatus that the first wireless interface will be used to receive data from the apparatus or to receive an indication of a potential improvement in a quality of signal reception.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising means for periodically turning off the second wireless interface to save power while the first wireless interface is turned off.

31. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising means for supporting either one of in-band and out-of-band communications with the apparatus.

32. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first wireless interface is turned off based on a quality of signal reception via the first wireless interface.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising means for estimating the quality of signal reception via the first wireless interface based on a quality of signal reception via the second wireless interface.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the quality of signal reception is estimated via the first wireless interface by determining a change in the quality of signal reception via the second wireless interface.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the quality of signal reception is estimated via the first wireless interface by exchanging reference signals with the second apparatus via the second wireless interface.

36. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising means for estimating a quality of signal reception via the first wireless interface based on a signal reception via the second wireless interface, wherein the means for turning on of the first wireless interface turns on the first wireless interface based on the estimated quality of signal reception.

37. A computer-program product for communication, comprising:

a machine-readable medium comprising instructions executable to;

turn off a first wireless interface configured to support communications within a first coverage area;

communicate with a second apparatus using a second wireless interface configured to support communications within a second coverage area greater than the first coverage area; and

turn on the first wireless interface based on the communication with the second apparatus.

38. An access point, comprising:

one or more antennas;

a first wireless interface configured to support communications within a first coverage area via at least one of the one or more antennas;

a second wireless interface configured to support communications within a second coverage area via at least one of the one or more antennas, wherein the second coverage area is greater than the first coverage area;

a processing system configured to;

turn off the first wireless interface;

communicate with a second apparatus using the second wireless interface; and

turn on the first wireless interface based on the communication with the second apparatus.

39. A station, comprising:

a first wireless interface configured to support communications within a first coverage area;

a second wireless interface configured to support communications within a second coverage area greater than the first coverage area;

a user interface;

a processing system configured to;

turn off the first wireless interface;

communicate with a second apparatus using the second wireless interface, the communication being based on input from the user interface; and

turn on the first wireless interface based on the communication with the second apparatus.