Inter-processor parameter management in a multiple-processor wireless mobile communication device operating on a processor specific communication network

• US 7,493,109 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2004
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Munje, Arun, Farhad, Ahmed, Wang, Peiwei, Morris, Stewart Charles, Nielsen, Jorgen S.
• Primary Examiner(s): WASHINGTON, ERIKA ALISE
• Application Number:
  US10/999,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20050124331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,539 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and system of enabling auxiliary functions in a mobile device operable in a wireless network. A first data processor is configured to be operable with a mobile device application, and a second data processor is required for operation with the wireless network. An auxiliary function is configured to interface only with one of the processors. A data communication channel provided between the processors conveys data received by or sent from the mobile device through the wireless network. A message sent by one of the processors to the other through the data communication channel to enable the auxiliary function of the mobile device for the processor with which the auxiliary function is not interfaced.

Claims

1. A system of enabling auxiliary functions in a mobile device operable in a wireless network, the system comprising:

a first data processor configured to be operable with at least one mobile device application;

a second data processor of a preselected data processor type required for operation with the wireless network, configured to manage wireless communication operations with respect to the wireless network for the mobile device;

at least one auxiliary function configured to interface only with one of the first data processor and the second data processor; and

a data communication channel between the first data processor and the second data processor, the data communications channel conveying between the first data processor and the second data processor;

data received by or sent from the mobile device through the wireless network, and

at least one message sent by one of the first data processor and the second data processor to the other of the first data processor and the second data processor to enable control of the at least one auxiliary function of the mobile device for the other one of the first data processor and the second data processor with which the at least one auxiliary function is not interfaced.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one auxiliary function includes battery management.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one auxiliary function includes power management.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one message includes a battery services request message.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device has data communication capabilities, and wherein the data received by or to be sent from the mobile device include data communication information.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device has voice communication capabilities, and wherein the data which is received by or to be sent from the mobile device include voice communication information.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first data processor manages non-network communication functions of the mobile device, and wherein the second data processor manages communications between the mobile device and the wireless network.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device provides for device operation on a processor-specific communication network through utilization of the second data processor while maintaining a native device software platform through utilization of the first data processor.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second data processors have serial interfaces, and wherein the data communication channel comprises a serial link between the serial interfaces of the first and second data processors.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the data communication channel comprises a shared memory system, and wherein commands written by one of the first data processor and the second data processor into the shared memory system are read out by the other of the first data processor and the second data processor.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the data communication channel comprises a shared inter-processor bus, in which commands and responses are placed on the bus for communication to either the first data processor or the second data processor.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the second data processor is configured to detect caller identification information for an incoming call and to send the caller identification information to the first data processor via the data communication channel.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the first data processor comprises a device platform microprocessor and the second data processor comprises a network platform microprocessor.

14. In a mobile device having a first processor and second processor communicating over a data communications channel and at least one auxiliary function configured to interface only with one of the first processor and the second processor, a method for inter-processor function control comprising:

exchanging data received by or sent from the mobile device to a wireless network through the data communications channel; and

enabling control of the at least one auxiliary function at the other one of said first processor and said second processor with which the at least one auxiliary function is not interfaced by sending at least one message from one of the first data processor and the second data processor to the other of the first data processor and the second data processor.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one auxiliary function includes battery management.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one auxiliary function includes power management.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one message includes a battery services request message.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the mobile device has data communication capabilities, and wherein the data received by or to be sent from the mobile device include data communication information.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the mobile device has voice communication capabilities, and wherein the data which is received by or to be sent from the mobile device include voice communication information.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving a data packet transmitted over the wireless network, and

wherein exchanging data comprises the second data processor forwarding the received data packet to the first processor through the data communication channel as the data packet is received.