Pausing Keep-Alive Messages and Roaming for Virtual Private Networks on Mobile Computing Devices to Save Battery Power
First Claim
1. A method for conserving power on a mobile computing device, comprising:
- defining a power timeout parameter corresponding to a period of inactivity for a mobile computing device, wherein a time interval defined by the power timeout parameter is based on and longer than a time interval defined by a network address translation (NAT) timeout parameter associated with a communication channel on a first network connection;
setting a timer equal to time interval defined by the power timeout parameter;
detecting activity on the mobile computing device associated with the communication channel;
resetting the timer to time interval defined by the power timeout variable when activity associated with the communication channel is detected;
transitioning the mobile computing device into a power conservation state when the timer expires;
detecting activity associated with the communication channel while the mobile computing device is in the power conservation state;
scanning for a second network connection that is faster than the first network connection;
transitioning, when the mobile computing device is in the power conservation state, the mobile computing device from the power conservation state to an active state when activity associated with the communication channel is detected by establishing the communication channel on the second network connection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Provided is a method, system and programming product for maintaining a connection between a mobile device and a server over a wireless network in a manner that conserves the power supply of the mobile device. The claimed subject matter addresses the transmission of regular “keep-alive” packets to refresh a network address translation (NAT) server and the scanning for and connecting to faster, higher priority network connections. A configurable parameter, or power timeout, specifies an idle time. When a period of time equal to the parameter has passed with no traffic between the mobile device and the server, in either direction, periodic roaming scans and keep-alive messages are halted. As soon as traffic is resumed through the tunnel, the mobile device roams to the highest priority connection and roaming scans and keep-alive messages are resumed.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for conserving power on a mobile computing device, comprising:
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defining a power timeout parameter corresponding to a period of inactivity for a mobile computing device, wherein a time interval defined by the power timeout parameter is based on and longer than a time interval defined by a network address translation (NAT) timeout parameter associated with a communication channel on a first network connection; setting a timer equal to time interval defined by the power timeout parameter; detecting activity on the mobile computing device associated with the communication channel; resetting the timer to time interval defined by the power timeout variable when activity associated with the communication channel is detected; transitioning the mobile computing device into a power conservation state when the timer expires; detecting activity associated with the communication channel while the mobile computing device is in the power conservation state; scanning for a second network connection that is faster than the first network connection; transitioning, when the mobile computing device is in the power conservation state, the mobile computing device from the power conservation state to an active state when activity associated with the communication channel is detected by establishing the communication channel on the second network connection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for conserving power in a mobile computing device, comprising:
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a power timeout parameter corresponding to a period of inactivity for a mobile computing device, a time interval defined by the power timeout parameter is longer than a time interval defined by a network address translation (NAT) timeout parameter associated with a communication channel on a first network connection; a timer; logic for detecting activity on the mobile computing device associated with the communication channel; logic for transitioning the mobile computing device into a power conservation state when the timer indicates that a period of inactivity on the mobile computing device associated with the communication channel has exceeded the power timeout parameter; logic for scanning for a second network connection that is faster than the first network connection; and logic for transitioning, when the mobile computing device is in the power conservation state, the mobile computing device from the power conservation state to an active state when activity associated with the communication channel is detected by establishing the communication channel on the second network connection. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium embodying computer instructions for conserving power in a mobile computing device, comprising:
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a non-transitory memory; a power timeout parameter, stored on the non-transitory memory, corresponding to a period of inactivity for a mobile computing device, wherein a time interval defined by the power timeout parameter is longer than a time interval defined by a network address translation (NAT) timeout parameter associated with a communication channel on a first network connection; and computer instructions, stored on the non-transitory memory for execution on a processor, for; setting a timer equal to time interval defined by the power timeout parameter; detecting activity on the mobile computing device associated with the communication channel; resetting the timer to time interval defined by the power timeout variable when activity associated with a communication channel is detected; transitioning the mobile computing device into a power conservation state when the timer expires; detecting activity associated with the communication channel while the mobile computing device is in the power conservation state; scanning for a second network connection that is faster than the first network connection; and transitioning, when the mobile computing device is in the power conservation state, the mobile computing device from the power conservation state to an active state when activity associated with a communication channel is detected by establishing the communication channel on the second network connection. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A cellular telephone, comprising:
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a power timeout parameter corresponding to a period of inactivity for the cellular, wherein a time interval defined by the power timeout parameter is longer than a time interval defined by a network address translation (NAT) timeout parameter associated with a communication channel on a first network connection; a timer; logic for detecting activity on the cellular telephone associated with the communication channel; logic for transitioning the mobile cellular telephone into a power conservation state when the timer indicates that a period of inactivity on the cellular telephone associated with the communication channel has exceeded the power timeout parameter; logic for scanning for a second network connection that is faster than the first network connection; and logic for transitioning, when the cellular telephone is in the power conservation state, the cellular telephone from the power conservation state to an active state when activity associated with a communication channel is detected by establishing the communication channel on the second network connection. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for conserving power on a mobile computing device, comprising:
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defining a power timeout parameter corresponding to a period of inactivity for a mobile computing device, wherein a time interval defined by the power timeout parameter is longer than a time interval defined by a network address translation (NAT) timeout parameter associated with a communication channel on a first network connection; setting a timer equal to time interval defined by the power timeout parameter; detecting activity on the mobile computing device associated with the communication channel; resetting the timer to time interval defined by the power timeout variable when activity associated with a communication channel is detected; transitioning the mobile computing device into a power conservation state when the timer expires; detecting activity associated with the communication channel while the mobile computing device is in the power conservation state; scanning for a second network connection that is faster than the first network connection; and transitioning the mobile computing device from the power conservation state to an active state when activity associated with a communication channel is detected while the mobile computing device is in the power conservation state by establishing the communication channel on the second network connection. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification