Reduced power consumption in a communication device

• US 7,075,903 B1
• Filed: 04/14/1999
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.), ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Solum, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Application Number:
  US09/291,798
• Time in Patent Office: 2,645 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.36, 379/106.04, 379/169, 379/307, 379/318, 379/322, 379/323, 379/324, 379/348, 379/795.01, 379/413, 379/413.05, 495/18.4, 495/127, 495/270, 495/343, 495/402, 495/500, 495/522, 495/574, 375/222, 375/257, 375/312, 370/318, 370/311
• US Class Current: 370/311
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0241 where no transmission is received, e.g. out of range of the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method for controlling power consumption in a communication device is provided. The method includes powering down a receiver of the communication device for a selected period of time and, when the selected period of time expires, powering up the receiver to check for incoming data.

Claims

1. A method for controlling power consumption in a remote communication device in signal communication with a head end communication device, the method comprising:

staring a counter for the remote communication device to time a predetermined power down period;

powering down the remote communication device for the predetermined power down period;

powering up the remote communication device to check for any incoming data;

starting a counter for the head end communication device to time for substantially the same predetermined power down period after completion of a data transmission to the remote.

2. A method for controlling power consumption in a remote communication device in signal communication with a head end communication device, the method comprising:

starting a counter at the remote communication device to count for a predetermined power down period after the remote unit has received a transmission of a final packet or other indication that transmission from the head end communication device has come to an end;

starting a counter at the head end communication device at substantially the same time as the remote communication device counter is set;

wherein a substantial synchronization is maintained between the counters.