Efficient detection of general paging messages in poor signal to noise environments

• US 6,539,242 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2000
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Bayley, Gwain
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thanh Cong
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Application Number:
  US09/540,799
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 455/458, 455/574, 455/575, 455/504, 455/63, 455/343, 370/311, 370/312, 370/313, 370/346, 370/349, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method of and an apparatus for reducing the average power consumption in a remote unit in a wireless communication system. When a remote unit in a slotted mode communication system enters an active state, it receives a sequence of messages. One element of this sequence is a general paging message that command the remote unit to return to the inactive state immediately, thus conserving battery power. The general paging message is followed by several additional elements in the sequence. When the remote unit operates in a poor signal-to-noise ratio environment, for example, it may not receive the general paging message and may, thus, unnecessarily remain in the active state until the end of its assigned slot, wasting battery power. The invention determines whether the element received by the remote unit is a general paging message. If so, the remote unit enters the inactive mode. If not, the invention determines whether the element occurs after a general paging message in the sequence of messages. If so, the remote unit enters the inactive mode without waiting for the end of the assigned slot.

Claims

1. A method for use by a remote unit in a wireless communication system for processing base station signals, comprising:

receiving an element of a sequence of messages during a slot assigned to the remote unit, the sequence of messages including a general paging message for transitioning a mode of operation of the remote unit to an inactive mode;

determining whether said element is the general paging message;

if said element is not the general paging message, further determining whether said element is of a type that only occurs after the general paging message during the slot; and

changing the mode of operation of said remote unit to the inactive mode when said element is of the type that only occurs after the general paging message.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said remote unit transitions to an active mode prior to said receiving.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

changing a mode of operation of said remote unit when said element is a general paging message.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transitioning said remote unit to an inactive mode when said element is a general paging message.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transitioning said remote unit to an inactive mode when said element is of the type that only occurs after a general paging message.

6. A remote unit for use in a communication system, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive an element of a sequence of messages during a slot assigned to the remote unit, the sequence of messages including a general paging message for transitioning a mode of operation of the remote unit to an inactive mode; and

a controller configured to determine whether said element is the general paging message and further configured to determine, when said element is not the general paging message, whether said element is of the type that only occurs after the general paging message in said sequence,

wherein said controller is further configured to transition said remote unit to an inactive mode when said element is of the type that only occurs after the general paging message.

7. The remote unit according to claim 6, wherein said controller is further configured to transition said remote unit to an inactive mode when said element is a general paging message.

8. A remote unit for use in a communication system, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive an element of a sequence of messages in interleaved form during a slot assigned to the remote unit, the sequence of messages including a general paging message for transitioning a mode of operation of the remote unit to an inactive mode, said sequence being of a fixed order of element types;

a deinterleaver coupled with said receiver and configured to deinterleave said element received in interleaved form;

a controller configured to determine whether said element is the general paging message; and

a message monitor configured to determine, when said element is not the general paging message, whether said element is of a type occurring only after the general paging message in said sequence,

wherein said controller is further configured to transition said remote unit to an inactive mode when said element is the type that occurs only after the general paging message.

9. The remote unit according to claim 8, wherein said controller is further configured to transition said remote unit to an inactive mode when said element is a general paging message.

10. The remote unit according to claim 8, wherein said message monitor is part of said controller.

11. A remote unit for use in a communication system with base stations transmitting a sequence of messages in interleaved form, said sequence being of a fixed order of element types, said remote unit comprising:

a receiver configured to receive an element of said sequence during a slot assigned to the remote unit, the sequence of messages including a general paging message for transitioning a mode of operation of the remote unit to an inactive mode;

a deinterleaver coupled with said receiver and configured to deinterleave said element received in interleaved form; and

a controller configured to determine whether said element is the general paging message and further configured to determine, when said element is not the general paging message, whether said element is of a type occurring only after the general paging message in said sequence,

wherein said controller is further configured to transition said remote unit to an inactive mode when said element is of the type that occurs only after the general paging message.

12. The remote unit according to claim 11, wherein said controller is further configured to transition said remote unit to an inactive mode when said element is a general paging message.

13. A remote unit for use in a communication system, comprising:

means for receiving an element of a sequence of messages in interleaved form during a slot assigned to the remote unit, the sequence of messages including a general paging message for transitioning a mode of operation of the remote unit to an inactive mode, said sequence being of a fixed order of element types;

means for deinterleaving said element received in interleaved form;

means for determining whether said element is the general paging message;

means for further determining, when said element is not the general paging message, whether said element is of a type occurring only after the general paging message in said sequence; and

means for transitioning said remote unit to an inactive mode when said element is of the type that occurs only after the general paging message.

14. A method of processing base station signals by a remote unit for use in a wireless communication system with base stations transmitting a sequence of messages in interleaved form, said sequence being of a fixed order of element types, said method comprising:

receiving an element of said sequence of messages during a slot assigned to the remote unit, the sequence of messages including a general paging message for transitioning a mode of operation of the remote unit to an inactive mode;

determining whether said element is the general paging message;

if said element is not the general paging message, further determining whether said element is of a type occurring only after the general paging message in said sequence; and

changing a mode of operation of said remote unit to an inactive mode when said element is of the type that only occurs after the general paging message.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said remote unit transitions to an active mode prior to said receiving.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

changing a mode of operation of said remote unit when said element is a general paging message.

17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

transitioning said remote unit to an inactive mode when said element is a general paging message.

18. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

transitioning said remote unit to an inactive mode when said element is of the type that only occurs after a general paging message.