SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LOW POWER OPERATIONS ON WIRELESS NETWORKS

• US 20140112224A1
• Filed: 03/07/2013
• Published: 04/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Jafarian, Amin, Merlin, Simone
• Granted Patent: US 9,191,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/311
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0206 in access points, e.g. base stations access point devices per se H04W88/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/365 Power headroom reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/58 Format of the TPC bits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

IEEE 802.11 power saving mode (PSM) defines two different power modes under which stations operate: active mode and power save (PS) mode. This disclosure introduces devices, methods, and systems to implement an additional power save with ultra low power (PS-ULP) mode that further reduces power consumption. In one aspect, a method of communicating a power management mode of a station on a wireless network is disclosed. The method includes transmitting by a station a first message on the wireless network, the first message indicating one of at least three power management modes, wherein the indication is communicated in a power management portion of a frame control field of a media access control header. The power management portion comprises more than one bit; and operating the station in a power management state in accordance with the indicated power management mode.

Claims

1. A method of communicating a power management mode of a station on a wireless network, comprising:

transmitting by a station a first message on the wireless network, the first message indicating one of at least three power management modes, wherein the indication is communicated in a power management portion of a frame control field of a media access control header, and wherein the power management portion comprises more than one bit; and

operating the station in a power management state in accordance with the indicated power management mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein operating the station in a power management state in accordance with a first of the at least three power management modes comprises:

operating a first receiver in two receiver states during the power management state that is in accordance with the first power management mode,

wherein in a first of the two receiver states, the first receiver is configured to not receive frames from the wireless network,

wherein in a second of the two receiver states, the first receiver is configured to receive one or more frames from the wireless network,

wherein the first receiver is switched from the first receiver state to the second receiver state in response to a second receiver receiving a message from the wireless network, and

wherein the first receiver consumes less power in the first receiver state than in the second state.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first receiver operates in the second receiver state during a time period indicated by the message received by the second receiver.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the message received by the second receiver is of shorter duration than frames received by the first receiver.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the message received by the second receiver is of lower energy than any frame received by the first receiver.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein operating the station in the power management state in accordance with the first of the at least three power management modes further comprises:

determining one or more time intervals when the second receiver may receive a message,

configuring the second receiver to not receive messages during times outside the one or more time intervals, and

wherein the second receiver consumes less power when configured not to receive messages than when configured to receive messages.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more time intervals correspond to beacon intervals.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein operating the station in a power management state in accordance with a second of the at least three power-save power management modes comprises:

operating the first receiver in the station in two different receiver states,

wherein in a first state of the two receiver states, the first receiver is configured to receive at least one frame during a time interval when an access point may transmit at least one frame to the station, and

in a second state of the two receiver states, the receiver is configured to not receive frames, wherein the first receiver is configured to consume less power when operating in the second receiver state than when operating in the first receiver state.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the time interval is a beacon interval.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein operating the station in a power management state in accordance with a third of the at least three power management modes comprises:

configuring the receiver to continuously receive one or more frames from the wireless network for the duration of the power management state in accordance with the active power management mode.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first power management mode is an ultra-low power mode, the second power management mode is a power-save mode, and the third power management mode is an active power management mode.

12. A method of communicating a power management mode of a station on a wireless network, comprising:

receiving by an access point a first message, the first message indicating that the station is operating in one of at least three power management modes, wherein the indication is communicated in a power management portion of a frame control field of a media access control header, wherein the power management portion comprises more than one bit; and

communicating with the station in accordance with the indicated mode.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein communicating with the station in accordance with a first power management mode comprises transmitting a wake up signal to the station in response to receiving data to be downlinked to the station.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first power management mode is a power save with ultra low power save mode.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the wake up signal is configured to be received by a low power receiver.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the wake up signal is a short duration paging message.

17. An apparatus for communicating a power management mode of a station on a wireless network, comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a first message on the wireless network, the first message indicating one of at least three power management modes, wherein the indication is communicated in a power management portion of a frame control field of a media access control header, wherein the power management portion comprises more than one bit; and

a processor configured to operate the apparatus in a power management state in accordance with the indicated power management mode.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a first receiver and a second receiver, wherein the processor is configured to operate the apparatus in a power management state in accordance with a first of the at least three power management modes by:

operating the first receiver in two receiver states during the power management state that is in accordance with the first power management mode,

wherein in a first of the two receiver states, the first receiver is configured to not receive frames from the wireless network,

wherein in a second of the two receiver states, the first receiver is configured to receive one or more frames from the wireless network,

wherein the receiver is switched from the first receiver state to the second receiver state in response to the second receiver receiving a message from the wireless network, and

wherein the first receiver consumes less power in the first receiver state than in the second receiver state.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured to operate the first receiver in the second receiver state during a time period indicated by the message received by the second receiver.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the message received by the second receiver is of shorter duration than frames received by the first receiver.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the message received by the second receiver is of lower energy than any frame received by the first receiver.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to operate the apparatus in the power management state in accordance with the first of the at least three power management modes by:

determining one or more time intervals when the second receiver may receive a message, and

configuring the second receiver to not receive messages during times outside the one or more time intervals,

wherein the second receiver consumes less power when configured not to receive messages than when configured to receive messages.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the one or more time intervals correspond to beacon intervals.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured to operate the station in a power management state in accordance with a second of the at least three power management modes by:

operating the first receiver in the station in two different receiver states,

wherein in one of the two receiver states, the processor configures the first receiver to receive at least one frame during a time interval when an access point may transmit at least one frame to the station, and

in a second of the two receiver states, the processor configures the first receiver to not receive frames, wherein the first receiver is configured to consume less power when operating in the second receiver state than when operating in the first receiver state.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the time interval is a beacon interval.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the processor is configured to operate the station in a power management state in accordance with a third of the at least three power management modes by configuring the receiver to continuously receive one or more frames from the wireless network for the duration of the power management state in accordance with the active power management mode.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first power management mode is an ultra-low power mode, the second power management mode is a power-save mode, and the third power management mode is an active power management mode.

28. An apparatus for communicating a power management mode of a station on a wireless network, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a first message; and

a processor configured to interpret the first message, the first message indicating that the station is operating in one of at least three power management modes, wherein the indication is communicated in a power management portion of a frame control field of a media access control header, wherein the power management portion comprises more than one bit, the processor configured to communicate with the station in accordance with the indicated mode.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the processor is configured to communicate with the station in accordance with a first power management mode by configuring a transmitter to transmit a wake up signal to the station in response to receiving data to be downlinked to the station.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the first power management mode is a power save with ultra low power save mode.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the wake up signal is configured to be received by a low power receiver.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the wake up signal is a short duration paging message.

33. An apparatus for communicating a power management mode of a station on a wireless network, comprising:

means for transmitting by a station a first message on the wireless network, the first message indicating one of at least three power management modes, wherein the indication is communicated in a power management portion of a frame control field of a media access control header, wherein the power management portion comprises more than one bit; and

means for operating the station in a power management state in accordance with the indicated power management mode.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the means for operating the station in a power management state in accordance with the indicated power management mode is configured to operate the station in accordance with a first of the at least three power management modes by:

operating a first receiver in two receiver states during the power management state that is in accordance with the first power management mode,

wherein in a first of the two receiver states, the first receiver is configured to not receive frames from the wireless network,

wherein in a second of the two receiver states, the first receiver is configured to receive one or more frames from the wireless network,

wherein the receiver is switched from the first receiver state to the second receiver state in response to a second receiver receiving a message from the wireless network, and

wherein the first receiver consumes less power in the first receiver state than in the second receiver state.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the means for operating the station in a power management state in accordance with the indicated power management mode is further configured to operate the station in accordance with the first of the at least three power management modes by operating the first receiver in the second receiver state during a time period indicated by the message received by the second receiver.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the message received by the second receiver is of shorter duration than frames received by the first receiver.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the message received by the second receiver is of lower energy than any frame received by the first receiver.

38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the means for operating the station in a power management state in accordance with the indicated power management mode is further configured to operate the station in accordance with the first of the at least three power management modes by:

determining one or more time intervals when the second receiver may receive a message, and

configuring the second receiver to not receive messages during times outside the one or more time intervals,

wherein the second receiver consumes less power when configured not to receive messages than when configured to receive messages.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the one or more time intervals correspond to beacon intervals.

40. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the means for operating the station in a power management state in accordance with the indicated power management mode is configured to operate the station in accordance with a second of the at least three power management modes by:

operating the first receiver in the station in two different receiver states,

wherein in one of the two receiver states, the first receiver is configured to receive at least one frame during a time interval when an access point may transmit at least one frame to the station, and

in a second of the two receiver states, the receiver is configured to not receive frames, wherein the first receiver is configured to consume less power when operating in the second receiver state than when operating in the first receiver state.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the time interval is a beacon interval.

42. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the means for operating the station in a power management state in accordance with the indicated power management mode is configured to operate the station in accordance with a third of the at least three power management modes by configuring the receiver to continuously receive one or more frames from the wireless network for the duration of the power management state in accordance with the active power management mode.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the first power management mode is an ultra-low power mode, the second power management mode is a power-save mode, and the third power management mode is an active power management mode.

44. An access point for communicating a power management mode of a station on a wireless network, comprising:

means for receiving a first message, the first message indicating that a station is operating in one of at least three power management modes, wherein the indication is communicated in a power management portion of a frame control field of a media access control header, wherein the power management portion comprises more than one bit; and

means for communicating with the station in accordance with the indicated mode.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the means for communicating is configured to communicate with the station in accordance with a first power management mode by configuring a means for transmitting to transmit a wake up signal to the station in response to receiving data to be downlinked to the station.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the first power management mode is a power save with ultra low power save mode.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the wake up signal is configured to be received by a low power receiver.

48. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the wake up signal is a short duration paging message.

49. A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform a method of communicating a power management mode of a station on a wireless network, the method comprising:

transmitting by a station a first message on the wireless network, the first message indicating one of at least three power management modes, wherein the indication is communicated in a power management portion of a frame control field of a media access control header, wherein the power management portion comprises more than one bit; and

operating the station in a power management state in accordance with the indicated power management mode.

50. The computer readable storage medium of claim 49, wherein operating the station in a power management state in accordance with a first of the at least three power management modes comprises:

operating a first receiver in two receiver states during the power management state that is in accordance with the first power management mode,

wherein in a first of the two receiver states, the first receiver is configured to not receive frames from the wireless network,

wherein in a second of the two receiver states, the first receiver is configured to receive one or more frames from the wireless network,

wherein the receiver is switched from the first receiver state to the second receiver state in response to a second receiver receiving a message from the wireless network, and

wherein the first receiver consumes less power in the first receiver state than in the second receiver state.

51. The computer readable storage medium of claim 50, wherein the first receiver operates in the second receiver state during a time period indicated by the message received by the second receiver.

52. The computer readable storage medium of claim 50, wherein the message received by the second receiver is of shorter duration than frames received by the first receiver.

53. The computer readable storage medium of claim 50, wherein the message received by the second receiver is of lower energy than any frame received by the first receiver.

54. The computer readable storage medium of claim 50, wherein operating the station in the power management state in accordance with the first of the at least three power management modes further comprises:

determining one or more time intervals when the second receiver may receive a message,

configuring the second receiver to not receive messages during times outside the one or more time intervals, and

wherein the second receiver consumes less power when configured not to receive messages than when configured to receive messages.

55. The computer readable storage medium of claim 54, wherein the one or more time intervals correspond to beacon intervals.

56. The computer readable storage medium of claim 50, wherein operating the station in a power management state in accordance with a second of the at least three power management modes comprises:

operating the first receiver in the station in two different receiver states,

wherein in one of the two receiver states, the first receiver is configured to receive at least one frame during a time interval when an access point may transmit at least one frame to the station, and

in a second of the two receiver states, the receiver is configured to not receive frames, wherein the first receiver is configured to consume less power when operating in the second receiver state than when operating in the first receiver state.

57. The computer readable storage medium of claim 56, wherein the time interval is a beacon interval.

58. The computer readable storage medium of claim 56, wherein operating the station in a power management state in accordance with a third of the at least three power management modes comprises:

configuring the receiver to continuously receive one or more frames from the wireless network for the duration of the power management state in accordance with the active power management mode.

59. The computer readable storage medium of claim 58, wherein the first power management mode is an ultra-low power mode, the second power management mode is a power-save mode, and the third power management mode is an active power management mode.

60. A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform a method of receiving a power management mode of a station on a wireless network, the method comprising:

receiving a first message, the first message indicating that a station is operating in one of at least three power management modes, wherein the indication is communicated in a power management portion of a frame control field of a media access control header, wherein the power management portion comprises more than one bit; and

communicating with the station in accordance with the indicated mode.

61. The computer readable storage medium of claim 60, wherein the means for communicating is configured to communicate with the station in accordance with a first power management mode by configuring a means for transmitting to transmit a wake up signal to the station in response to receiving data to be downlinked to the station.

62. The computer readable storage medium of claim 61, wherein the first power management mode is a power save with ultra low power save mode.

63. The computer readable storage medium of claim 61, wherein the wake up signal is configured to be received by a low power receiver.

64. The computer readable storage medium of claim 61 wherein the wake up signal is a short duration paging message.