Sleep Mode Operation for Networked End Devices

• US 20140047254A1
• Filed: 08/09/2012
• Published: 02/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Computime Electronics Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Computime Electronics Company Limited
• Inventors: Lei, Kairy Kai, Ha, Wai-leung, Kam, Kwok Wa Kenny
• Granted Patent: US 9,237,524 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/32 Means for saving power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/02 Power saving arrangements in wired systems H04L12/12; signaling of mobile application services, e.g. low battery notifications H04W4/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

A technique provides apparatuses, methods, and computer readable media for sending sleep information from an end device to a central unit of a network, in which the wake-up time of the end device is aligned to the scanning time for the central unit. The technique addresses at least two considerations: the clock accuracy of the end device is accounted for, and the reason that the end device requests sleep mode operation is provided. To address the above considerations, the end device may send its clock tolerance information and/or request for sleep mode (RSM) command to the central unit once the end device is connected via the network. The central unit may then adjust the scanning time based on the clock tolerance information. If the central unit receives a response from the end device during the adjusted scanning time, the central unit deems that the end device is still connected.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory and configured to perform, based on instructions stored in the at least one memory;

obtaining sleep information for an end device on a network, wherein the sleep information is indicative when the end device operates in a sleep mode;

determining a scanning time based on the sleep information; and

determining whether a response is received from the end device within the scanning time when the end device wakes up from the sleep mode.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform:

receiving tolerance information from the end device, the tolerance information indicative of a clock accuracy of the end device; and

based on the tolerance information, adjusting the sleep information to obtain the scanning time to receive the response from the end device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform:

receiving a request from the end device, wherein the request includes status information that is indicative of an operating condition of the end device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform:

converting the status information to a sleep time value, wherein the sleep time value is indicative of when the end device operating in the sleep mode.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform:

determining an action indicator from the status information, the action indicator indicating an action to be initiated for the end device.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the request contains a device identifier and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform:

converting the device identifier to a location indicator.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform:

sending the action indicator to a display device.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the status information contains a code and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform:

translating the code to the sleep time value.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform:

receiving translation information from the end device for the translating.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform:

instructing the end device to initiate sleep mode operation for a time duration.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform:

determining a targeted energy usage for the network; and

determining the time duration based on the targeted energy usage.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform:

setting the time duration to a predetermined value.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform:

sending a code indicator to the end device that is indicative of the time duration.

14. A method comprising:

obtaining sleep information for an end device, wherein the sleep information is indicative when the end device operates in a sleep mode;

determining a scanning time from the sleep information; and

determining whether a response is received from the end device within the scanning time when the end device wakes up from the sleep mode.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving tolerance information from the end device, the tolerance information indicative of a clock accuracy of the end device; and

based on the tolerance information, adjusting the sleep information to obtain the scanning time to receive the response from the end device.

16. An apparatus comprising:

at least one memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory and configured to perform, based on instructions stored in the at least one memory;

determining an operating condition of the apparatus;

generating status information indicative of the operating condition; and

sending a request from the apparatus requesting sleep mode operation for the apparatus, wherein the request includes the status information.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform:

determining a location of the apparatus; and

including location information in the request.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform:

receiving an instruction to initiate the sleep mode operation for a time duration; and

entering the sleep mode operation for the time duration.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the determining comprises:

assessing a battery condition of the apparatus; and

including battery information about the battery condition into the status information.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the determining comprises:

determining a time of operation of the apparatus; and

including the time of operation into the status information.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform:

sending tolerance information, the tolerance information indicative of a clock accuracy of the apparatus.

22. A method comprising:

sending, by an end device, tolerance information, the tolerance information indicative of a clock accuracy of the end device;

determining an operating condition of an end device;

generating status information indicative of the operating condition; and

sending a request, from the end device via a network to a central unit, requesting sleep mode operation for the end device at a time derived from the clock of the end device,

wherein the request includes the status information about the operating condition.