Wireless device power optimization

• US 7,027,843 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2002
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Cromer, Daryl Carvis, Locker, Howard Jeffrey, Jakes, Philip John, Ward, James Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZEWDU, MELESS NMN
• Application Number:
  US10/103,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20040204181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,482 Days
• Field of Search: 455572-574, 455/522, 455/418, 455423-425, 455/557, 455/561, 455/550.1, 455/127.1, 455/127.5, 455/115.1, 455/517, 455/527, 455/67.11, 455/115.3, 455/123, 370/310, 370/311
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/22 Negotiating communication rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and system for conserving battery strength of a mobile node, such as a laptop computer, on a wireless local area network (WLAN). The mobile node transmit symbols, which are units of data, during transmission cycles to maintain a connection with the WLAN. A battery charge level of the mobile node is measured. As the battery charge level drops below pre-defined levels, a frequency of symbol transmission for the mobile node is reduced. The reduction of the frequency of the symbol transmission results in lower power demands by a transmitter chipset of the mobile node. Thus, the mobile node is able to prolong the life of the battery of the mobile node.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting data in a network, said method comprising:

measuring a battery charge level of a mobile node on the network;

adjusting an original data transmission rate for said mobile node according to said battery charge level, wherein said original data transmission rate is adjusted downward to a lower data transmission rate when said battery charge level decreases; and

subsequently transmitting data from said mobile node at said lower data transmission rate, wherein said data is transmitted in a wireless network, and wherein said original data transmission rate is adjusted downward only when said mobile node is pinging a base node, said pinging being a transmission of only sufficient data to maintain a wireless connection between said mobile node and said base node, and wherein if said base node does not receive a ping from said mobile node within a prescribed length of time, then said mobile node resumes pinging said base node at said original data transmission rate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein data transmitted from a base node to said mobile node remains at said original data transmission rate while data transmitted from said mobile node to said base node is transmitted at said lower data transmission rate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of adjusting said original data transmission rate downward is performed exclusively by said mobile node.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of adjusting said original transmission data rate downward for said mobile node is performed exclusively by a base node on the network.

5. A mobile node on a computer network having a mobile network interface card that is used to adjust a mobile node data transmission rate for data according to a battery power level of said mobile node, wherein said mobile node data transmission rate is lowered as said battery power level is reduced, wherein said data is transmitted in a wireless network, and wherein an original data transmission rate of said data is adjusted downward only when said mobile node is pinging a base node, said pinging being a transmission of only sufficient data to maintain a wireless connection between said mobile node and said base node, and wherein if said base node does not receive a ping from said mobile node within a prescribed length of time, then said mobile node resumes pinging said base node at said original data transmission rate.

6. The mobile node of claim 5, wherein data transmitted from a base node to said mobile node remains at a higher data transmission rate while data transmitted from said mobile node to said base node is transmitted at said lowered mobile node data transmission rate.

7. The mobile node of claim 6, wherein said network interface of said mobile node is exclusively capable of reducing said mobile data transmission rate as said battery power level is reduced.

8. A base node on a network having a base network interface card that is used to adjust a data reception rate for data according to a battery power level of a mobile node, wherein said data is transmitted in a wireless network, and wherein an original data transmission rate for said data is adjusted downward only when a mobile node is pinging said base node, said pinging being a transmission of only sufficient data to maintain a wireless connection between said mobile node and said base node, and wherein if said base node does not receive a ping from said mobile node within a prescribed length of time, then said mobile node resumes pinging said base node at said original data transmission rate.

9. The base node of claim 8, further comprising means to adjust a data transmission rate of said mobile node according to said battery power level of said mobile node.

10. The base node of claim 8, further comprising:

a base node network interface, said network interface capable of receiving a data transmitted by said mobile node on said network at a data transmission rate determined by said battery power level of said mobile node.

11. The base node of claim 10, further comprising means for said base node network interface to transmit data to said mobile node on said network at said data transmission rate determined by said battery power level of said mobile node.

12. A computer program product, residing on a computer usable medium, for conserving power consumption in a wireless network, said computer program product comprising:

program code means for determining a battery charge level of a mobile node on a network;

program code means for adjusting an original data transmission rate for said mobile node according to said battery charge level, wherein said original data transmission rate is adjusted downward to a lower data transmission rate when said battery charge level decreases; and

program code means for subsequently transmitting data from said mobile node at said lower data transmission rate, wherein said data is transmitted in a wireless network, and wherein said original data transmission rate is adjusted downward only when said mobile node is pinging a base node, said pinging being a transmission of only sufficient data to maintain a wireless connection between said mobile node and said base node, and wherein if said base node does not receive a ping from said mobile node within a prescribed length of time, then said mobile node resumes pinging said base node at said original data transmission rate.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein data transmitted from a base node to said mobile node remains at said original data transmission rate while data transmitted from said mobile node to said base node is transmitted at said lower data transmission rate.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising program code means to adjust said transmission data rate downward for transmissions from said mobile node, wherein said downward adjustment is performed exclusive by said mobile node.