Digital signal processor update of single channel strength signal

• US 6,952,571 B1
• Filed: 06/04/2001
• Issued: 10/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Brown, John, Elliott, Katherine, Garrabrant, Gary, Vertatschtisch, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ubiles, Marie C.
• Application Number:
  US09/874,674
• Time in Patent Office: 1,583 Days
• Field of Search: 455/226.2, 455/343.1, 455/343.2, 455/343.6
• US Class Current: 455/226.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0245 according to signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/19 Connection re-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and system of periodically measuring the signal strength fluctuations in a wireless connection between a portable computer system and a wireless network. The portable computer system has a main processor and a DSP (digital signal processor). The DSP receives instructions from the main processor for controlling the periodic measuring, and subsequent thereto is placed in low power mode. The main processor is placed into a low power mode after sending the instructions. The DSP periodically awakens to measure the signal strength fluctuations while the main processor remains in a low power mode. When the signal strength fluctuation is unacceptable, this triggers the DSP to awaken the main processor. When the signal strength fluctuation is acceptable, the DSP returns to a low power state until the next periodic measuring.

Claims

1. In a computer system comprising a DSP (digital signal processor) and a main processor, a method for periodically measuring signal strength fluctuations of a wireless connection between said computer system and a wireless network, said method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving instructions by said DSP from said main processor controlling said measuring of said signal strength fluctuations;

b) waking said DSP during periods of transceiving, said waking caused by expiration of a periodic timed interval of low power mode entered by said DSP;

c) measuring said signal strength of said wireless connection fluctuations during periods of transceiving, wherein said step c) is performed by said DSP while said main processor remains in said low power mode;

d) waking said main processor provided said fluctuation is in excess of an acceptable range; and

e) returning said DSP to said low power mode provided said fluctuation of said signal strength is within said acceptable range.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

automatically placing said main processor in a low power mode subsequent to said step a); and

automatically placing said DSP subsequent to said step a).

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said instructions are for providing the duration of said periodic timed interval of said low power mode entered by said DSP.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said instructions provide an upper threshold limit and a lower threshold limit of said wireless connection signal strength fluctuation, wherein said upper and said lower threshold limits are for defining said acceptable range.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said instructions provide a particular broadcast channel frequency for said DSP to monitor, said frequency equating to the frequency of said wireless connection.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step b) further comprises the step of:

b1) repeating steps b) and c) automatically in accordance with said periodic timed intervals of said instructions.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

f) displaying said measurement of said fluctuation of said signal strength on a signal strength indicator, wherein said display is generated by said DSP.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said wireless network is a Mobitex wireless communication system.

9. A portable computer system comprising:

a bus;

a signal strength indicator coupled to said bus;

a wireless transceiver coupled to said bus;

a main processor coupled to said bus; and

a DSP (digital signal processor) coupled to said bus for executing a method for periodically measuring the signal strength of a wireless connection between said portable computer system and a wireless network, said method comprising the steps of;

a) receiving instructions by said DSP from said main processor for controlling said measuring said signal strength for fluctuations;

b) waking said DSP during periods of transceiving, wherein said waking is caused by the expiration of a defined periodic interval of low power mode entered by said DSP;

c) measuring said signal strength for said fluctuations during periods of transceiving, wherein said step c) is performed by said DSP while said main processor remains in said low power mode;

d) waking said main processor, provided said fluctuations are in excess of an acceptable range; and

e) returning said DSP to said low power mode provided said fluctuations are within said acceptable.

10. The system as recited in claim 9 and further comprising the steps of:

automatically placing said main processor into a low power mode subsequent to said step a); and

automatically placing said DSP into a low power mode subsequent to said step a).

11. The system as recited in claim 9 wherein said instructions provide a duration of said periodic time interval of low power mode entered by said DSP.

12. The system as recited in claim 9 wherein said instructions are for providing an upper threshold limit and a lower threshold limit of said wireless connection signal strength fluctuations, wherein said upper and said lower threshold levels are for defining an acceptable range.

13. The system as recited in claim 9 wherein said instructions provide a particular broadcast channel frequency for said DSP to measure, said frequency equating to the frequency of said wireless connection.

14. The system as recited in claim 9 wherein said step b) further comprises the step of:

b1) repeating said steps b) and c) automatically in accordance with said periodic timed intervals.

15. The system as recited in claim 9 and further comprising the step of:

f) displaying said measurement of said fluctuation of said signal strength on said signal strength indicator, wherein said display is generated by said DSP.

16. The system as recited in claim 9 wherein said wireless network is a Mobitex wireless communication system.

17. In a portable computer system comprising a DSP (digital signal processor) and a main processor and an RSSI (radio signal strength indicator), a method for periodically measuring of fluctuation of the signal strength of a wireless connection between said portable computer system and a wireless network, said method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving instructions by said DSP from said main processor for controlling periodic measuring of said signal strength for fluctuations;

b) said DSP waking to perform said periodic measurement of said fluctuations of said signal strength;

c) said DSP measuring said fluctuations of said signal strength while said main processor remains in a low power mode;

d) said DSP waking said main processor provided said fluctuations exceeds an acceptable range; and

e) said DSP returning to said low power mode provided said fluctuations of said signal strength are within said acceptable range.

18. The system as recited in claim 17 and further comprising the steps of:

automatically placing said main processor into a low power mode subsequent to said step a); and

automatically placing said DSP into a low power mode subsequent to said step a).

19. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein said instructions provide a duration of said periodic time intervals of said low power mode entered by said DSP.

20. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein said instructions provide an upper threshold limit and a lower threshold limit of said fluctuation of said wireless connection signal strength fluctuation, wherein said upper and said lower threshold limits are for defining an acceptable range.

21. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein said instructions provide a particular broadcast channel frequency for said DSP to measure, said frequency equating to the frequency of said wireless connection.

22. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein said step b) further comprises the step of:

b1) said DSP repeating said step b) and said step c) automatically in accordance with said periodic timed intervals.

23. The system as recited in claim 17 and further comprising the step of:

f) said DSP generating a display of said measured fluctuation of said signal strength, wherein said display is on said RSSI.

24. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein said wireless network is a Mobitex wireless communication system.