WIRELESS DEVICE BATTERY OPTIMIZATION BY SUPPRESSING OSCILLATION IN CELL SCOPE DURING IDLE MODE

• US 20160255585A1
• Filed: 05/09/2016
• Published: 09/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Carrier Iq
• Inventors: Pasquereau, Benoit, Hayter, David Paul
• Granted Patent: US 10,869,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/16 Performing reselection for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

One example of a method of managing battery usage by a wireless mobile communication device includes reading a start time, an end time, and other information, for each of a number of extents, and identifying one or more handovers, using the start time, end time, and other information, wherein the one or more handovers are handover activity. Next, the handover activity is compared to an allowable threshold, and a determination made as to when the number of idle mode handovers exceeds the allowable threshold. Finally, battery usage by the wireless mobile communication device is reduced by taking action to reduce the number of idle mode handovers that occur.

Claims

1. A method of managing battery usage by a wireless mobile communication device, the method comprising:

reading a start time, an end time, and other information, for each of a plurality of extents;

identifying a plurality of handovers, using the start time, end time, and other information, wherein the plurality of handovers collectively comprise handover activity;

comparing the handover activity to an allowable threshold;

determining when the number of a particular type of handover exceeds the allowable threshold; and

reducing battery usage by taking action to reduce the number of the particular type of handovers that occur.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, performing the following by the wireless mobile communication device:

desensitizing itself to cell signal strength; and

/or

increasing its tenacity to use the most recently used cell in order to reduce battery usage.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising reading the number of times the wireless mobile communication device reconnects to the same source and comparing the number of times to an allowable threshold.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular type of handover occurs when the wireless mobile communication device is in idle mode.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the handovers occur when the wireless mobile communication device is not in an idle mode.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a wireless communication network is unable to identify or locate the wireless mobile communication device during one or more of the extents.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless mobile communication device is unable to determine its Cellular Global Identity during one or more of the extents.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising reading a respective location of the wireless mobile communication device for each of the extents.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein only the particular type of handover is employed in the management of battery usage.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the allowable threshold is exceeded when the number of consecutive particular type of handovers exceeds an established number.

11. A wireless mobile communication device, comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory storage media including an agent in the form of executable instructions which, when executed by or at the direction of the processor, perform the following processes;

reading a start time, an end time, and other information, for each of a plurality of extents;

identifying a plurality of idle mode handovers, using the start time, end time, and other information; and

reporting the idle mode handovers.

12. The mobile wireless communication device of claim 11, wherein the recited processes are performed when the wireless mobile communication device is in idle mode.

13. The mobile wireless communication device of claim 11, wherein the wireless mobile communication device further performs:

desensitizing itself to cell signal strength; and

/or

increasing its tenacity to use the most recently used cell in order to reduce battery usage.

14. The wireless mobile communication device of claim 11, wherein the processes performed by the agent further comprise reading a respective location of the wireless mobile communication device for each of the extents, and reporting the locations.

15. The wireless mobile communication device of claim 11, wherein identifying a plurality of idle mode handovers comprises distinguishing between an idle mode handover and a normal handover.

16. A wireless network operator entity configured to communicate with a plurality of wireless mobile communication devices, the wireless network operator entity comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory storage media including executable instructions which, when executed by or at the direction of the processor, perform the following processes;

receiving information from a wireless mobile communication device, wherein the information comprises a start time, an end time, and other information, for each of a plurality of extents;

analyzing the received information to identify a number of idle mode handovers experienced by the wireless mobile communication device, and to identify a location for each of the idle mode handovers;

determining when the number of idle mode handovers exceeds an allowable threshold; and

performing, or causing the performance of, an action to reduce the number of idle mode handovers experienced by the wireless mobile communication device, wherein the action, when taken, reduces battery usage by the wireless mobile communication device.

17. The wireless network operator entity as recited in claim 16, wherein the wireless network operator entity cooperates with an agent of the wireless mobile communication device to determine one or more of how long the wireless mobile communication device stays on a specific cell, the cell being identified by the Cellular Global Identity, and the frequency with which the wireless mobile communication device reconnects to the same Cellular Global Identity.

18. The wireless network operator entity as recited in claim 16, wherein analyzing the received information further comprises distinguishing between an idle mode handover and a normal mode handover