Apparatus and method for reducing power consumption in a mobile communications receiver
First Claim
1. A method for conserving power in a mobile station consuming power at an average rate that receives information from a base station, by dividing all time into periodic segments of time, each segment of which is comprised of a fixed number of time slots, and by scheduling communication from said base station to said mobile station during at least one time slot within each segment of said periodic segments, comprising the steps of:
- providing to said base station by said mobile station a notification of the identity of said mobile station;
providing to said base station by said mobile station an index number representing a quantity of slots during which communication is possible within each of said periodic segments;
determining at said base station an assigned slot within said fixed number of time slots within each segment based on the identity of said mobile station;
determining at said base station a set of active time slots within each segment of said periodic segments wherein said set of active time slots comprises said quantity of slots during which communication is possible and wherein said set of active time slots is evenly spaced in time within said periodic segments and wherein one slot of said set of active time slots is said assigned slot; and
reducing said average power consumption rate of said mobile station in said fixed number of time slots other than said set of active time slots.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for reducing receiver power consumption in communication system having a transmitter and one or more receivers schedules periodic messages in "slots." Each receiver is assigned a slot during which it monitors the transmissions. The transmitter transmits messages to the receiver only during the assigned slots. The receiver is in an "active state" during its assigned slot. It may remain in the active state after its assigned slot if the message requires the receiver to perform additional actions. During the "inactive state," which is the time period between successive occurrences of its assigned slot, the receiver may perform any action not requiring coordination with the transmitter. It may conserve power during this time by removing power from one or more components such as those used for monitoring the transmissions. At a time during the inactive state shortly before the assigned slot, the receiver applies power to these components and performs initializations. Such initializations may include requiring a pilot channel signal to which the receiver may synchronize itself if its timing signals have drifted out of synchronization with those of the transmitter during the preceding inactive state.
415 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A method for conserving power in a mobile station consuming power at an average rate that receives information from a base station, by dividing all time into periodic segments of time, each segment of which is comprised of a fixed number of time slots, and by scheduling communication from said base station to said mobile station during at least one time slot within each segment of said periodic segments, comprising the steps of:
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providing to said base station by said mobile station a notification of the identity of said mobile station; providing to said base station by said mobile station an index number representing a quantity of slots during which communication is possible within each of said periodic segments; determining at said base station an assigned slot within said fixed number of time slots within each segment based on the identity of said mobile station; determining at said base station a set of active time slots within each segment of said periodic segments wherein said set of active time slots comprises said quantity of slots during which communication is possible and wherein said set of active time slots is evenly spaced in time within said periodic segments and wherein one slot of said set of active time slots is said assigned slot; and reducing said average power consumption rate of said mobile station in said fixed number of time slots other than said set of active time slots. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A communication system for transferring messages from a central base station to one or more of a plurality of mobile stations, each mobile station consuming power, comprising:
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means for receiving at said base station a message intended for a particular mobile station; means for selecting a set of active time slots at said base station during which to transfer said message, said set of active time slots based on the identity of said particular mobile station and an index number received from said particular mobile station; means for transmitting said message from said base station during one time slot of said set of active time slots; means for receiving said message at said particular mobile station; and means for reducing said power consumption of said particular mobile station in said plurality of time slots other than said set of active time slots. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for conserving power in a cellular telephone having an average power consumption that is not currently involved in a telephone call by using periodic intervals of time, wherein each interval is comprised of a fixed number of time slots, and by scheduling communication from a base station to said cellular telephone during at least one time slot within each of said periodic intervals, comprising the steps of:
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identifying said cellular telephone to said base station; determining at said base station a set of active time slots within each interval wherein said set of active time slots comprises a quantity of time slots during which said base station may transmit messages to said cellular telephone; and reducing said average power consumption of said cellular telephone during said fixed number of time slots other than said set of active time slots. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification