Method for reducing power consumption in bluetooth and CDMA modes of operation

• US 7,333,838 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2004
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Pattabiraman, Ganesh, Burke, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pan; Yuwen
• Application Number:
  US10/964,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20050047358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 455/4.1, 455/502, 455/574, 455/343.2, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/426.1, 455/41.3, 455/343.1, 455/343.4, 370/350, 370/503, 370/504, 370/411, 370/500, 370/515
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/707 using direct sequence modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/713 using frequency hopping
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2201/70709 with discontinuous detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0015 one node acting as a reference for the others
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Techniques are provided for synchronizing a wakeup schedule for a first module and a wakeup schedule for a CDMA module in a wireless mobile unit operable in a synchronous communication system. In one embodiment, a next CDMA wakeup time is determined. A new wakeup time for the first module can then be synchronized to a next CDMA wakeup time when a next CDMA wakeup time is earlier than a next wakeup time for the first module.

Claims

1. In a synchronous communication system, a method for synchronizing a wakeup schedule for a first module and a wakeup schedule for a CDMA module in a wireless mobile unit operable in the synchronous communication system, comprising:

determining a next CDMA wakeup time;

substantially synchronizing a new wakeup time for the first module to said next CDMA wakeup time when the next CDMA wakeup time is earlier than a next wakeup time for the first module; and

establishing the next wakeup time for the first module as the new wakeup time for the first module when the next CDMA wakeup time is later than the next wakeup time for the first module.

2. The method of claim 1 further including powering on the first module and the CDMA module substantially simultaneously during the next wakeup time for the first module so as to reduce the wireless mobile unit'"'"'s power consumption.

3. A wireless mobile unit operable in a synchronous communication system, comprising:

a first module;

a CDMA module configured to perform a CDMA wakeup process at a next CDMA wakeup time; and

a processor configured to substantially synchronize a new wakeup time for the first module to the next CDMA wakeup time when the next CDMA wakeup time is earlier than a next wakeup time for the first module, and to select the next wakeup time for the first module as the new wakeup time for the first module when the next CDMA wakeup time is later than the next wakeup time for the first module.

4. The wireless mobile unit of claim 3, wherein the CDMA module comprises:

a CDMA transmitter/receiver;

and a CDMA antenna, the CDMA transmitter/receiver and the CDMA antenna being configured to receive a pilot signal from a base station so as to synchronize the CDMA module with the base station.

5. The wireless mobile unit of claim 4, wherein the CDMA module is further configured to derive a current CDMA time from the pilot signal.

6. The wireless mobile unit of claim 5, wherein the first module further comprising a clock which is configured to track a current time for the first module.

7. The wireless mobile unit of claim 6, wherein said processor is further configured to calculate a CDMA interval, the CDMA interval being equal to the next CDMA wakeup time minus the current CDMA time.

8. The wireless mobile unit of claim 4, wherein the CDMA module performs the CDMA wakeup process and said first module performs the wakeup process for the first module substantially at the new wakeup time for the first module.

9. The wireless mobile unit of claim 8, wherein the CDMA module and the first module are configured to power on substantially simultaneously so as to reduce the wireless mobile unit'"'"'s power consumption.

10. The wireless mobile unit of claim 3, wherein said wireless mobile unit is a BLUETOOTH-enabled CDMA cell phone.

11. A wireless unit operable in a synchronous communication system, comprising:

a first module;

means for performing a CDMA wakeup process at a next CDMA wakeup time;

means for substantially synchronizing a new wakeup time for the first module to said next CDMA wakeup time when said next CDMA wakeup time is earlier than a next wakeup time for the first module; and

means for selecting the next wakeup time for the first module as the new wakeup time for the first module when the next CDMA wakeup time is later than the next wakeup time for the first module.

12. A wireless mobile unit operable in a synchronous communication system, comprising:

a first module;

memory means;

means for performing a CDMA wakeup process at a next CDMA wakeup time and for substantially synchronizing a new wakeup time for the first module to said next CDMA wakeup time when said next CDMA wakeup time is earlier than a next wakeup time for the first module; and

means for selecting the next wakeup time for the first module as the new wakeup time for the first module when the next CDMA wakeup time is later than the next wakeup time for the first module.

13. A digital signal processing apparatus, comprising:

memory means for storing digital data; and

a digital signal processing unit that interprets digital signals to synchronize a wakeup schedule for a first module and a wakeup schedule for a CDMA module in a wireless mobile unit operable in a synchronous communication system by;

determining a next CDMA wakeup time;

substantially synchronizing a new wakeup time for the first module to said next CDMA wakeup time when said next CDMA wakeup time is earlier than a next wakeup time for the first module; and

selecting the next wakeup time for the first module as the new wakeup time for the first module when the next CDMA wakeup time is later than the next wakeup time for the first module.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said digital signal processing unit interprets digital signals to establish said next wakeup time for the first module after said determining a next CDMA wakeup time and before said synchronizing a new wakeup time for the first module.

15. A method for synchronizing a wakeup schedule for a first module and a wakeup schedule for a CDMA module in a wireless mobile unit operable in a synchronous communication system, comprising:

determining a current CDMA time and a current time for the first module;

calculating a CDMA interval, said CDMA interval equaling a next CDMA wakeup time less said current CDMA time; and

synchronizing a new wakeup time for the first module to said next CDMA wakeup time when the current time for the first module plus said CDMA interval is less than a next time for the first module.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

establishing said next CDMA wakeup time prior to said step of calculating said CDMA time interval; and

establishing said next wakeup time for the first module prior to said step of synchronizing said new time for the first module.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

performing a wakeup process for the first module and a CDMA wakeup process substantially at said new wakeup time for the first module.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said performing step comprises:

powering on said first module and said CDMA module substantially simultaneously so as to reduce said wireless mobile unit'"'"'s power consumption.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said wireless mobile unit comprises a BLUETOOTH-enabled CDMA cell phone.