APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REDUCING POWER CONSUMPTION IN PORTABLE TERMINAL

• US 20120163260A1
• Filed: 12/14/2011
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yeo, Jae-Yung
• Granted Patent: US 9,084,196 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/311
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An apparatus and method minimize power consumption in a portable terminal which enters a low-power mode during connection with an access point (AP). The apparatus includes a memory for storing a Wi-Fi profile including position information of APs, a wireless LAN module for performing connection with the AP, an AP connection unit for performing connection with the AP using the wireless LAN module only when an AP exists around the portable terminal, a position determining unit for determining APs which exist around the portable terminal, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a position of the portable terminal, determine a position of an AP which exists around the portable terminal, and operate the wireless LAN module at only a position where the AP exists.

Claims

1. An apparatus for reducing power consumption in a portable terminal, the apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store a Wi-Fi profile including position information of one or more access points (APs);

a wireless LAN module configured to perform connection with an AP;

an AP connection unit configured to perform connection with the AP using the wireless LAN module only when the AP exists around the portable terminal;

a position determining unit configured to determine APs which exist around the portable terminal; and

a controller configured to determine a position of the portable terminal, determine a position of an AP which exists around the portable terminal, and operate the wireless LAN module only at the position where the AP exists.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller receives a satellite signal and ascertains the position of the portable terminal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the Wi-Fi profile is a list of APs previously connected to the portable terminal and includes a field indicating position information of the respective APs.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller ends an operation of the wireless LAN module when the connection with the AP is ended.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller receives position information of APs from a server which manages hot spot areas and determines the APs which exist around the portable terminal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller determines APs which exist around the portable terminal using the position information of the APs included in the Wi-Fi profile.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, when an AP with position information which is not included in the Wi-Fi profile is searched and connected, the controller additionally stores the position information of the searched and connected AP in the Wi-Fi profile.

8. A method of reducing power consumption in a portable terminal, the method comprising:

storing a Wi-Fi profile including position information of one or more access points (APs);

ascertaining a position of the portable terminal;

determining whether an AP exists around the portable terminal;

operating a wireless LAN module at a position where the AP exists; and

performing connection with the AP using the wireless LAN module.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the determination of the position of the portable terminal comprises:

receiving a satellite signal; and

determining the position of the portable terminal using the received satellite signal.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the Wi-Fi profile is a list of APs previously connected to the portable terminal and includes a field indicating position information of the respective APs.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising ending an operation of the wireless LAN module when the connection with the AP is ended.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the determination whether the AP exists around the portable terminal comprises:

receiving position information of APs from a server which manages hot spot areas; and

determining the APs which exist around the portable terminal using the received position information of the APs.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the determination whether the AP exists around the portable terminal comprises determining a position of the AP which exists around the portable terminal using the position information of the APs included in the Wi-Fi profile.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the performance of the connection with the AP comprises, when an AP with position information which is not included in the Wi-Fi profile is searched and connected, additionally storing position information of the searched and connected AP in the Wi-Fi profile.

15. A portable terminal configured to reduce power consumption, the portable terminal comprising:

an input unit;

a display unit;

a memory configured to store a Wi-Fi profile including position information of one or more access points (APs);

a wireless LAN module configured to perform connection with an AP;

an AP connection unit configured to perform connection with the AP using the wireless LAN module only when the AP exists around the portable terminal;

a position determining unit configured to determine APs which exist around the portable terminal; and

a controller configured to determine a position of the portable terminal, determine a position of an AP which exists around the portable terminal, and operate the wireless LAN module only at the position where the AP exists.

16. The portable terminal of claim 15, wherein the controller receives a satellite signal and ascertains the position of the portable terminal.

17. The portable terminal of claim 15, wherein the Wi-Fi profile is a list of APs previously connected to the portable terminal and includes a field indicating position information of the respective APs.

18. The portable terminal of claim 15, wherein the controller ends an operation of the wireless LAN module when the connection with the AP is ended.

19. The portable terminal of claim 15, wherein the controller receives position information of APs from a server which manages hot spot areas and determines the APs which exist around the portable terminal.

20. The portable terminal of claim 15, wherein the controller determines APs which exist around the portable terminal using the position information of the APs included in the Wi-Fi profile.