Mobile-initiated, packet switched communications method

• US 6,377,790 B1
• Filed: 03/08/1999
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ishii, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): TO, DORIS HA
• Application Number:
  US09/264,586
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 455/343, 455/127, 455/38.3, 455/522, 455/422, 455/403, 455/414, 455/426, 455/466, 709/227-229, 370/352, 370/320, 370/335
• US Class Current: 455/343.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0232 according to average transmission signal activity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method is provided which permits the conservation of wireless mobile station battery power in a system where only the mobile station initializes requests for data transfer, such as a wireless packet switched connection network. The method is especially practical in the transfer of large amounts of data that need not be received in real-time. Since only the mobile unit user, or mobile unit imbedded applications program initiates requests for data transfer, the mobile station need not monitor the forward link signal. The mobile station Deep Dormant™ mode saves battery power by completely disabling the receiver circuit when no data is to be sent or received. As a result, the mobile station enjoys longer battery life.

Claims

1. In a communications system including a base station and at least one mobile station, a method for the mobile station to organize the transfer of information with the base station, the method comprising the steps of:

a) enabling the mobile station transceiver to communicate control messages when information is to be transferred with an application program selected from the group including Internet browsers, file transfer systems, network management systems, and e-mail software; and

b) disabling the mobile station transceiver by ceasing the monitoring of control messages when no information is to be transferred, whereby transceiver power and system processing time are saved by not maintaining the link to the base station between information transfer tasks.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the mobile station has a user interface, including the step, preceding Step a), of:

accepting a request from the user interface to transfer information; and

including a further step, following Step a), and preceding Step b), of;

a1) accepting a request from the user interface to end the transfer of information, whereby the organization of the data transfer is responsive to the user interface.

3. A method as in claim 2 in which the step of accepting a request from the user interface to transfer information includes establishing a mobile station application program to initiate information transfer requests.

4. A method as in claim 3 including a further step, following the step of accepting a request from the user interface to transfer information, and preceding Step a), of:

establishing a circuit switched connection between the mobile station and the base station; and

including a further step following Step b) of;

b1) breaking the circuit switched connection between the mobile station and the base station.

5. A method as in claim 4 in which the step of establishing a circuit switched connection between the mobile station and the base station Step b1) include the circuit switched connection being a packet switched connection.

6. A method as in claim 2 in which the user interface of Step a1) includes establishing a mobile station application program to initiate the end of information transfer request.

7. A method as in claim 1 including the further step, following Step b), of:

c) maintaining the disabled state of the mobile station transceiver until the mobile station receives another request from the user interface to transfer information, whereby the user controls when the mobile is communicating with the base station.

8. A method as in claim 7 in which Step a) includes the transferring information between the base station and the mobile station by sending and receiving a plurality of data messages, with the complete set of data messages which transfer the information being an information session, and in which Step b) includes disabling the mobile station transceiver at the end of the information session by ceasing the sending and receiving of data messages, whereby the mobile station transceiver is disabled between information sessions.

9. A method as in claim 8 in which Step a) includes the data message timing and channels between the base station and the mobile station being dependent on a plurality of control messages between the base and mobile stations, in which Step b) includes disabling the control messages between the bases and mobile stations, and in which Step c) includes maintaining the disabled state of control messages between the base and mobile stations, until the mobile station receives another request from the user interface to transfer information.

10. A method as in claim 9 wherein the communication system includes a wireless link between the base and mobile stations, and in which Step a) includes transferring data and control messages through a wireless channel.

11. In a communications system including a base station and at least one mobile station, a method for the mobile station to conserve power in the transfer of information with the base station, the method comprising the steps of:

a) establishing a physical connection with the base station using control messages in response to a first request to transfer information by an application program selected from the group including Internet browsers, file transfer systems, network management systems, and e-mail software;

b) in response to Step a), establishing a logical connection with the base station;

c) breaking the physical connection with the base station by ceasing control message monitoring after the information has been transferred; and

d) waiting for a subsequent request to transfer information, whereby the breaking of connections between information transfers saves mobile station processing and power.

12. A method as in claim 11 wherein a mobile station transceiver is provided, in which Step a) includes the physical connection being a circuit switched connection between the base station and the mobile station transceiver.

13. A method as in claim 12 wherein the communications system includes a wireless link with at least one wireless communications channel, and in which Step a) includes the physical connection being a wireless communications channel.

14. A method as in claim 13 in which Step b) includes transferring information through a plurality of transmitted and received data messages, with the sum of the data messages being an information session, and in which Step c) includes ending the information transfer by ceasing the transmission and reception of data messages.

15. A method as in claim 14 in which Step a) includes establishing a physical connection, through a wireless communications channel, by communicating a plurality of control messages between the mobile station and the base station to coordinate the establishment of the logical connection in Step b), and in which Step d) includes breaking the physical connection by ceasing the communication of control messages between the mobile station and the base station.

16. A method as in claim 11 wherein a mobile station, user accessible applications program is provided, and including a further step, preceding Step a), of:

generating a request to transfer information in response to the applications program;

in which Step a) includes the physical connection being established in response to a request to transfer information, with the request to transfer information being responsive to the applications program;

including a further step, preceding Step c), of;

b1) generating a signal that the information transfer is complete; and

in which Step c) includes the physical connection being broken in response to the information transfer complete signal of Step b1).

17. A method of intermittently establishing wireless communications between a base station and a mobile station comprising the steps of:

a) initializing a request from an application program selected from the group including Internet browsers, file transfer systems, network management systems, and e-mail software to the mobile station that data be transferred;

b) using control messages, enabling the communication link between the mobile and base stations in response to the data request in Step a); and

c) disabling the communication link established in Step b) by ceasing to monitor control messages after the data transfer is complete, whereby the communications link is only established to process specific requests to transfer data.