Method and system for optimizing power resources in wireless devices

• US 6,950,684 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2002
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Goldberg, Steven Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US10/334,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20030207692A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 370/225, 370/242, 370/389, 455/458, 455/459, 455/466, 455/502, 455/515, 455/522, 455/68, 455/69, 455/550.1, 455/571, 455/572, 455/574
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/025 Indirect paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0473 the resource being transmission power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and system is disclosed for a device to quickly determine if data is being sent to it. If no data is being sent to the device, the device may return to a sleep mode so as to conserve energy. The present invention includes organizing and transmitting, one at a time, all device destination identifiers. If a message listing search indicates that no message is being sent for a device, the device can continue with any other activity that needs servicing, or if no other activity is pending, it may shut down to conserve power until the next wake up period arrives. If the search returns a positive indication, the count value when the identifier is found can be used to determine the location of the pointer to the message.

Claims

1. A method for reducing power consumption in a wireless device comprising:

synchronizing the device with a wireless network so that the device may wake up at predetermined time intervals to determine whether the device has been identified for receipt of message data over the network;

providing a message listing not having message data and comprising at least one destination identifier and an associated message pointer for a new incoming call, said at least one destination identifier being included in the message listing before the associated message pointer;

detecting whether the message listing includes any destination identifiers that correspond to the device;

entering into a sleep mode if the device fails to detect any destination identifier corresponding to the device in the message listing, and receiving the associated message pointer in the same message listing if the device detects any destination identifier corresponding to the device in the message listing; and

receiving the message data indicated by the message pointer,

whereby the device recognizes an existence of the incoming call only by reading a portion of the message listing.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the message listing comprises a list terminator and at least one destination identifier and associated message pointer.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the message listing further comprises a count of the identifiers in the message listing.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the message listing further comprises a list terminator.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the device sleeping while waiting for the destination identifier that corresponds to the device.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the device sleeping after the device has received a destination identifier that corresponds to the device.

7. A message listing for use in a wireless communication device comprising:

a count of identifiers listed in the message listing;

at least one destination identifier indicative of a device to whom a message has been sent to; and

a message pointer for each destination identifier indicative of where a device to whom a message has sent may obtain the message data intended for said device and wherein the message listing does not include the message data, said message pointer being included in the message listing after the associated destination identifier.

8. The message listing of claim 7 wherein the message data is separated from the at least one destination identifier and associated message pointer.

9. A system for optimizing power resources in wireless devices comprising:

at least one radio network controller (RNC);

at least one base station (BS);

wherein the RNC and BS are adapted so as to periodically provide a message listing comprising at least one destination identifier and associated message pointer for a new incoming call, the message listing not comprising message data, said at least one destination identifier being included in the message listing before the associated message pointer; and

a plurality of wireless devices, each device adapted to receive the provided message listing, enter into a sleep mode if the device fails to detect any destination identifier corresponding to the device in the message listing, receive the associated message pointer in the same message listing if the device detects any destination identifier corresponding to the device in the message listing, and obtain any messages indicated by the message pointer,

whereby the device recognizes an existence of the incoming call by reading a portion of the message listing.

10. A wireless device configured to receive message data over a wireless interface comprising:

a processor for analyzing a message listing comprising;

a count of identifiers listed in the message listing;

at least one destination identifier indicative of a device to whom a message has been sent to; and

a message pointer for each destination identifier indicative of where a device to whom a message has sent may obtain the message data intended for said device and wherein the message listing does not include the message data, said message pointer being included in the message listing after the associated destination identifier.