Reducing electrical power consumption in a radio transceiver by de-energizing selected components when speech is not present
First Claim
1. A method for reducing electrical power consumption in a radio transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving digital signals which are divided into frames, each frame containing digital parameter codes characterizing analog speech signals and analog noise signals, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) determining if the analog speech signals are present;
(b) setting each of the digital parameter codes to at least one of determined or selected values for a predetermined number of frames when the analog speech signals are not present;
(c) transmitting the determined or selected parameter code values, defining an artificial noise signal, to a base station when the analog speech signals are not present; and
(d) reducing electrical power supplied to a digital signal processor of the radio transceiver when transmitting the artificial noise signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a battery-powered radio transceiver for transmitting and receiving digital signals and method of operation for reducing electrical power consumption and thereby improving battery life between recharges. The radio transceiver includes an operator interface and a transmitter, electrically connected to a microphone in the operator interface, to convert speech signals into digital radio frequency (RF) signals for transmission. A receiver is electrically connected to a speaker in the operator interface to receive digital RF signals and to convert the RF signals into audio signals from the speaker. A microprocessor electrically connected to the operator interface, the transmitter and the receiver controls the operation of these components in processing telephone calls. An electrical storage battery is electrically connected to the microprocessor to supply electrical power to the microprocessor, the operator interface, the transmitter and the receiver via the microprocessor. An antenna assembly is connected to the transmitter and the receiver for transmitting and receiving the RF signals. The transmitter comprises a digital signal processor which is programmed to de-energize at least some of its components and to generate an artificial noise signal for transmission when speech is not being received by the microphone.
52 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for reducing electrical power consumption in a radio transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving digital signals which are divided into frames, each frame containing digital parameter codes characterizing analog speech signals and analog noise signals, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining if the analog speech signals are present; (b) setting each of the digital parameter codes to at least one of determined or selected values for a predetermined number of frames when the analog speech signals are not present; (c) transmitting the determined or selected parameter code values, defining an artificial noise signal, to a base station when the analog speech signals are not present; and (d) reducing electrical power supplied to a digital signal processor of the radio transceiver when transmitting the artificial noise signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A battery-powered radio transceiver for transmitting and receiving digital RF signals with improved battery life, comprising:
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an operator interface; a transmitter electrically connected to a microphone in said operator interface to convert analog speech signals into the digital RF signals for transmission; a receiver electrically connected to a speaker in said operator interface to receive the digital RF signals and to convert the RF digital signals into audio signals from said speaker; a microprocessor electrically connected to said operator interface, said transmitter and said receiver; an electrical storage battery electrically connected to said microprocessor to supply electrical power to said microprocessor, said operator interface, said transmitter and said receiver, via said microprocessor; an antenna assembly for transmitting and receiving the RF digital signals; and said transmitter comprising a digital signal processor programmed to de-energize at least some components of said digital signal processor and to generate an artificial noise signal when the analog speech signals are not being received by said microphone, said artificial noise signal being transmitted to a base station to permit the base station to generate a return comfort noise signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A digital signal processor for use in a radio transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving digital signals which are divided into frames, each frame containing digital parameter codes characterizing analog speech signals and analog noise signals, said digital signal processor comprising:
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means for determining if the analog speech signals are present; means for setting each of the digital parameter codes to at least one of determined or selected code values for a predetermined number of frames when the analog speech signals are not present; means for transmitting the determined or selected parameter code values, defining an artificial noise signal, to a base station when the analog speech signals are not present; and means for de-energizing at least some selected components of the digital signal processor. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method for reducing electrical power consumption in a radio transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving digital signals which are divided into frames, each frame containing digital parameter codes characterizing analog speech signals and analog noise signals, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining if the analog speech signals are present; (b) setting each of the digital parameter codes to at least one of determined or selected values for a predetermined number of frames when the analog speech signals are not present; (c) transmitting the determined or selected parameter code values, defining an artificial noise signal, to a base station when the analog speech signals are not present to permit the base station to generate a return comfort noise signal; and
;(d) reducing electrical power supplied to a digital signal processor of the radio transceiver when transmitting the artificial noise signal.
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22. A digital signal processor for use in a radio transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving digital signals which are divided into frames, each frame containing digital parameter codes characterizing analog speech signals and analog noise signals, said digital signal processor comprising:
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means for determining if speech signals are present; means for setting each of the digital parameter codes to at least one of determined or selected code values for a predetermined number of frames when the analog speech signals are not present; means for transmitting the determined or selected parameter code values, defining an artificial noise signal, to a base station when the analog speech signals are not present to permit the base station to generate a return comfort noise signal; and means for de-energizing at least some selected components of the digital signal processor.
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Specification