Multiple-CPU portable terminal with communication function and control method

• US 7,373,134 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2004
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Kimata, Yusuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Vuong; Quochien B.
• Application Number:
  US10/979,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20050101283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 455/343.1, 455/343.2, 455/343.4, 455/574, 455/127.1, 455/127.5, 455/344, 455/232.1, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 370/311
• US Class Current: 455/343.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0293 having a sub-controller with a low clock frequency switching on and off a main controller with a high clock frequency
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In response to the occurrence of an application event in a portable terminal with the communication function that has an application control CPU (ACPU) and a communication control CPU (CCPU), the operation of a control target unit, which is under control of a CCPU and which operates at an intermittent reception time, is detected. During the operation period of the control target unit, an ACPU sends a transmission request to the CCPU to start the CCPU. When the CCPU is in the sleep state in the intermittent reception cycle, the CCPU is not started by the ACPU.

Claims

1. A portable terminal including a first CPU for primarily managing and controlling a communication function and a second CPU for primarily managing and controlling an application, said portable terminal comprising:

a unit for detecting an occurrence of an application event in said portable terminal;

a unit for detecting an operation of a control target unit that is under control of said first CPU and that operates in an intermittent reception mode; and

a unit for causing said second CPU to start said first CPU in the operation period of said control target unit.

2. The portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein said control target unit is a low-noise amplifier provided in an RF unit of said portable terminal.

3. The portable terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a unit for sending necessary information from said second CPU to said first CPU after said first CPU is started.

4. A portable terminal including a first CPU for primarily managing and controlling a communication function and a second CPU for primarily managing and controlling an application, said portable terminal comprising:

a unit for detecting an occurrence of an application event in said portable terminal;

a unit for detecting an operation of a control target unit that is under control of said first CPU and that operates in an intermittent reception mode; and

a unit for causing said second CPU to stan said first CPU in the next reception period of the operation period of said control target unit.

5. The portable terminal according to claim 4, wherein said control target unit is a low-noise amplifier provided in an RE unit of said portable terminal.

6. The portable terminal according to claim 4, further comprising a unit for sending necessary information from said second CPU to said first CPU after said first CPU is started.

7. A portable terminal including a first CPU for primarily managing and controlling a communication function and a second CPU for primarily managing and controlling an application, said portable terminal comprising:

a unit for causing said second CPU to start said first CPU in response to an occurrence of a first-priority event of an application in said portable terminal during an operation in an intermittent reception mode;

a unit for detecting a reception period operation in the intermittent reception mode in response to an occurrence of a second-priority event, said second-priority event being an event of an application in said portable terminal, said second-priority event being lower than the first-priority event in priority;

a unit for causing said second CPU to start said first CPU in the reception period;

a unit for detecting a reception period operation in an intermittent reception cycle in response to an occurrence of a third-priority event, said third-priority event being an event of an application in said portable terminal, said third-priority event being lower than the second-priority event in priority; and

a unit for causing said second CPU to start said first CPU in the next reception period in the intermittent reception cycle.

8. The portable terminal according to claim 7, further comprising a unit for sending necessary information from said second CPU to said first CPU after said first CPU is started.

9. The portable terminal according to claim 7, wherein the necessary information is sent within the reception period.

10. A control method for use in a portable terminal including a first CPU for primarily managing and controlling a communication function and a second CPU for primarily managing and controlling an application, said control method comprising the steps of:

detecting an occurrence of an application event in said portable terminal;

detecting an operation of a control target unit that is under control of said first CPU and that operates in an intermittent reception mode; and

causing said second CPU to start said first CPU in the operation period of said control target unit.

11. The control method for use in a portable terminal according to claim 10, wherein said control target unit is a low-noise amplifier provided in an RF unit of said portable terminal.

12. The control method for use in a portable terminal according to claim 10, further comprising the operation of sending necessary information from said second CPU to said first CPU after said first CPU is started.

13. A control method for use in a portable terminal including a first CPU for primarily managing and controlling a communication function and a second CPU for primarily managing and controlling an application, said control method comprising:

a first control step comprising the step of causing said second CPU to start said first CPU during an operation in an intermittent reception mode in response to an occurrence of an application event in said portable terminal;

a second control step comprising the steps of;

detecting a reception period during an operation in an intermittent reception mode in response to an occurrence of an application event in said portable terminal; and

causing said second CPU to start said first CPU in the reception period; and

a third control step comprising the steps of

detecting a reception period of an intermittent reception cycle during an operation in an intermittent reception mode in response to an occurrence of an application event in said portable terminal;

waiting until the next reception period in the intermittent reception cycle; and

causing said second CPU to start said first CPU in the next reception period,

said control method further comprising the step of;

making said first control step correspond to a first-priority event, said second control step correspond to a second-priority event that is lower than the first-priority event in priority, and said third control step correspond to a third-priority event that is lower than the second-priority event in priority.

14. The control method for use in a portable terminal according to claim 13, further comprising the operation of sending necessary information from said second CPU to said first CPU after said first CPU is started.

15. The control method for use in a portable terminal according to claim 13, wherein the necessary information is sent within the reception period.