Data transmission system for reducing terminal power consumption in a wireless network

• US 6,285,892 B1
• Filed: 11/24/1998
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Uniloc 2017 LLC (FIG LLC (d/b/a Fortress Investment Group LLC))
• Original Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Hulyalkar, Samir N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Simon
• Application Number:
  US09/198,708
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 455/574, 455/500, 455/522, 455/526, 455/70, 455/38.3, 455/343, 455/132, 455/38.1, 455/31.1, 455/31.2, 455/31.3, 340/7.32, 370/311
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5607 Radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5675 Timeslot assignment, e.g. TDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The system transmits data between terminals of a wireless network. In the system, a base station/central controller (“BS/CC”) controls transmission of data from a transmitting terminal to plural receiving terminals, where the data is ordered in slots of a control data frame (“CDF”), and where each slot is reserved for a data transmission between the transmitting terminal and a specific receiving terminal. Specifically, the BS/CC divides the plural receiving terminals into a set of power-saving terminals and a set of non-power-saving terminals, and then reserves a set of slots in the CDF for data transmission between the transmitting terminal and the power-saving terminals, and another set of slots in the CDF for data transmission between the transmitting terminal and the non-power-saving terminals. The BS/CC then issues a message over the wireless network instructing the power-saving terminals when to switch between a low-power mode and a data-receiving mode based on a location of the set of slots in the frame reserved for data transmission between the transmitter and the power-saving terminals.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting data among plural terminals in a wireless network, the method comprising:

designating at least one of the plural terminals as a transmitter, the transmitter for outputting data to the wireless network;

designating a set of the plural terminals as able to receive data output to the wireless network by the transmitter;

issuing a first message to the plural terminals identifying the transmitter and the set of plural terminals;

receiving a request for transmission from the transmitter; and

issuing a second message to the plural terminals that identifies the transmitter;

wherein, each of the plural terminals determines whether it is able to receive the data based on the second message that identifies the transmitter; and

wherein

those of the plural terminals which are able to receive the data are enabled to receive the data, and

at least one of those of the plural terminals that are not able to receive the data is enabled to enter a low-power mode.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the set of the plural terminals comprises terminals that have established connections to the transmitter.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising re-issuing the first message each time connections among the plural terminals change.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

each of the plural terminals includes a corresponding terminal identifier; and

each of the plural terminals determines whether it is able to receive the data based on the corresponding terminal identifier of the transmitter.

5. A system for transmitting data among plural terminals in a wireless network, the system comprising:

a controlling apparatus that is configured to;

(i) designate at least one of the plural terminals as a transmitter, the transmitter for outputting data to the wireless network,

(ii) designate a set of the plural terminals as able to receive data output to the wireless network by the transmitter,

(iii) issue a first message to the plural terminals identifying the transmitter and the set of plural terminals,

(iv) receive a request for transmission from the transmitter; and

(v) issue a second message to the plural terminals that identifies the transmitter;

wherein;

each of the plural terminals determines whether it is able to receive the data based on the second message that identifies the transmitter; and

those of the plural terminals which are able to receive the data are enabled to receive the data and

one or more of the plural terminals that are not able to receive the data are enabled to enter a low-power mode.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the set of plural terminals comprises terminals that have established connections to the transmitter.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the controlling apparatus is further configured to re-issue the first message each time connections among the plural terminals change.

8. A system according to claim 5, wherein each of the plural terminals includes a corresponding terminal identifier;

and

wherein each of the plural terminals determines whether it is able to receive the data based on the corresponding terminal identifier of the transmitter.