POWER MANAGEMENT OF DEVICES IN A NETWORK

• US 20140149758A1
• Filed: 11/27/2012
• Published: 05/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: RAJKOTIA, Purva R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,459,682 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/310
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3234 Power saving characterised by the action undertaken
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/283 Processing of data at an internetworking point of a home automation network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A method includes receiving, at a first connectivity device, a first wake-up signal from an electronic device associated with a first class of devices. The first connectivity device is coupled to provide communications between the electronic device and a gateway device that provides access to an external network. The method includes determining a length of time that the first connectivity device is to remain in an active power mode based on a usage pattern defined for the first class of devices. The method includes updating the first connectivity device to be in the active power mode for at least the length of time.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a first connectivity device, a first wake-up signal from an electronic device associated with a first class of devices, wherein the first connectivity device is coupled to provide communications between the electronic device and a gateway device that provides access to an external network;

determining a length of time that the first connectivity device is to remain in an active power mode based on a usage pattern defined for the first class of devices; and

updating the first connectivity device to be in the active power mode for at least the length of time.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining a second connectivity device is coupled between the first connectivity device and the gateway device to provide communications between the gateway device and the electronic device,

transmitting, from the first connectivity device to the second connectivity device, a second wake-up signal to cause the second connectivity device to be in an active power mode for at least the length of time.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the length of time is based on a time of occurrence of a power-on operation of the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the second wake-up signal comprises a unique signature for identification of the first class of devices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wake-up signal comprises a unique signature for identification of the first class of devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of the first wake-up signal is in response to the electronic device being power-on for operation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the gateway device is coupled to the electronic device through the first connectivity device in a cascade configuration.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wake-up signal is transmitted over a power line that is configured to supply power to the electronic device and the first connectivity device.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, at a first connectivity device, a communication that is external to a gateway device and is destined for an electronic device that is connected to the gateway device through the first connectivity device, wherein the electronic device is associated with a first class of devices;

in response to receiving the communication that is destined for the electronic device,

determining a length of time that the first connectivity device is to remain in an active power mode based on a usage pattern defined for the first class of devices; and

updating the first connectivity device to be in the active power mode for at least the length of time.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a second connectivity device is coupled between the first connectivity device and the electronic device to provide the communication to the electronic device, wherein the method comprises,

transmitting, from the first connectivity device to the second connectivity device, the communication, wherein in response to receiving the communication the second connectivity device is configured to place the second connectivity device into the active power mode for at least the length of time.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the communication comprises a communication to power-on the electronic device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the gateway device is coupled to the electronic device through the first connectivity device in a cascade configuration.

13. A computer program product for power management, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer usable program code embodied therewith, the computer usable program code comprising a computer usable program code configured to;

receive, at a first connectivity device, a first wake-up signal from an electronic device associated with a first class of devices, wherein the first connectivity device is coupled to provide communications between the electronic device and a gateway device that provides access to an external network;

determine a length of time that the first connectivity device is to remain in an active power mode based on a usage pattern defined for the first class of devices; and

update the first connectivity device to be in the active power mode for at least the length of time.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the computer usable program code is configured to:

in response to a determination that a second connectivity device is coupled between the first connectivity device and the gateway device to provide communications between the gateway device and the electronic device,

transmit, from the first connectivity device to the second connectivity device, a second wake-up signal to cause the second connectivity device to be in an active power mode for at least the length of time.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the length of time is based on a time of occurrence of a power-on operation of the electronic device.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the second wake-up signal comprises a unique signature for identification of the first class of devices.

17. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the first wake-up signal comprises a unique signature for identification of the first class of devices.

18. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the computer usable program code configured to receive the first wake-up signal is in response to the electronic device being power-on for operation.

19. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the gateway device is coupled to the electronic device through the first connectivity device in a cascade configuration.

20. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the first wake-up signal is transmitted over a power line that is configured to supply power to the electronic device and the first connectivity device.

21. An apparatus comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive, from an electronic device associated with a first class of devices, a first wake-up signal, wherein the apparatus is coupled to provide communications between the electronic device and a gateway device that provides access to an external network; and

a power management unit configured to;

determine a length of time that the apparatus is to remain in an active power mode based on a usage pattern defined for the first class of devices; and

update to an active power mode for the apparatus for at least the length of time.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the power management unit is configured to:

in response to a determination that a second connectivity device is coupled between the communication interface and the gateway device to provide communications between the gateway device and the electronic device,

transmit, from the communication interface to the second connectivity device, a second wake-up signal to cause the second connectivity device to be in an active power mode for at least the length of time.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the length of time is based on a time of occurrence of a power-on operation of the electronic device.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the second wake-up signal comprises a unique signature for identification of the first class of devices.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first wake-up signal comprises a unique signature for identification of the first class of devices.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the communication interface is configured to receive the first wake-up signal is in response to the electronic device being power-on for operation.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the gateway device is coupled to the electronic device through the apparatus in a cascade configuration.

28. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first wake-up signal is transmitted over a power line that is configured to supply power to the electronic device and the apparatus.

29. An apparatus comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive a communication that is external to a gateway device and is destined for an electronic device that is connected to the gateway device through the apparatus, wherein the electronic device is associated with a first class of devices; and

a power management unit configured to;

in response to receipt of the communication that is destined for the electronic device,

determine a length of time that the communication interface is to remain in an active power mode based on a usage pattern defined for the first class of devices; and

update the communication interface to be in the active power mode for at least the length of time.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein a second connectivity device is coupled between the apparatus and the electronic device to provide the communication to the electronic device, wherein the power management unit is configured to

transmit, to the second connectivity device, the communication, wherein in response to receiving the communication the second connectivity device is configured to place the second connectivity device into the active power mode for at least the length of time.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the communication comprises a communication to power-on the electronic device.

32. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the gateway device is coupled to the electronic device through the apparatus in a cascade configuration.