Connected mode for low-end radio

• US 7,515,945 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Reunamaki, Jukka, Salokannel, Juha, Ruuska, Paivi M., Lappetelainen, Antti
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah; Melur
• Application Number:
  US10/610,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20040266494A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,108 Days
• Field of Search: 455/574, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 370/311, 370/449, 370/346, 370/503, 370/389, 370/338, 370/349
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/06 using polling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and methods for a implementing an optimized low-end radio communication protocol, wherein the communication link is flexible and the power consumption characteristics are optimized. One facet of the system'"'"'s flexibility relates to the system'"'"'s ability to negotiate device control roles associated with a polling communication link. Also, once the device control roles are in place and the communication link is established, the system selectively implements a number of polling protocols for a multitude of applications that need a low power consumption. In some embodiments the system maintains a communication link with a reduced frequency polling protocol. This type of communication link maintains efficient power consumption characteristics, as well as, connection times that are faster than establishing a communication link between disconnected devices.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

transmitting a broadcast polling message from an advertising device advertising availability for connection for subsequent data transfer, the broadcast polling message including a polling role switching indicator;

receiving from a user device a response message on the initialization channel including an indication of a data channel different from the initialization channel to be used for subsequent communication between the advertising device and the polling device, and containing a response polling role switching indicator;

enabling the advertising and user devices to establish a wireless short-range connection on the indicated data channel, wherein polling roles of the advertising and user devices are coordinated in accordance with the response polling role switching indicator, the device in the polling role being enabled to periodically transmit polling messages to the polled device, allowing power to be conserved in the polling device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the polling roles of the advertising and user devices are designated in accordance with a predetermined mode if said polling role switching is unavailable.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the advertising device assumes a polling device role during the connection with the user device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the broadcast polling message indicates that polling role switching is available and the response message indicates selecting polling role switching, whereupon the advertising and user devices switch polling roles.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

specifying in a message transmitted by at least one of the devices, a transmission protocol in which at least one of said devices periodically enters into a finite sleep state in which data is neither transmitted nor received.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the polling role switching indicators are communicated between the advertising and user devices on a dedicated advertising channel prior to establishing the wireless short range connection.

7. A method, comprising:

transmitting polling messages on an initialization channel to at least one polled device according to a general polling mode and a request to the at least one polled device to enter a low activity polling mode;

receiving a response message from the at least one polled device on the initialization channel, containing a response to the low activity mode request and an indication of a data channel different from the initialization channel to be used for subsequent communication between the advertising device and the polling device;

entering a low activity polling mode, wherein the low activity polling mode starts periodic transmissions of the polling message on the indicated data channel using a time-interval in accordance with parameters in the low activity polling mode request.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising negotiating the time interval with the at least one polled device between periodic transmissions of polling messages.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the periodicity of polling message transmissions in the low activity polling mode is specified in the transmitted low activity mode request.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the general polling mode further comprises:

the periodicity associated with transmitting the polling messages is defined by a fixed time-interval, wherein said fixed time-interval commences following receipt of said response message.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the general polling mode further comprises:

the periodicity associated with transmitting the polling messages is defined by a fixed time-interval, wherein said fixed time-interval commences at the end of a previous polling message, if no response message has been detected.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the low activity mode is asymmetrical, whereby the at least one polled device abstains from responding to at least one of the polling messages; and

a number of polling messages the at least one polled device can abstain from responding to is specified in a parameter defined in the low activity mode request.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

transmitting a message modifying the low activity time-interval after low activity data transfer has occurred.

14. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

conducting carrier sensing multiple access with collision avoidance for determining that there are no transmission conflicts prior to transmitting polling messages.

15. A method, comprising:

receiving a broadcast polling message on an initialization channel from an advertising device advertising available data, the received broadcast polling message including a polling role switching indicator indicating polling role switching availability;

detecting the state of the polling role switching indicator in the polling message by at least one user device;

transmitting a response message from the user device to the advertising device including an indication of a data channel different from the initialization channel to be used for subsequent communication between the advertising device and the user device, and a response polling role switching indicator;

connecting in a communication link on the indicated data channel for subsequent transfer of data, wherein device polling roles are coordinated in accordance with the response polling role switching indicator, the device in the polling role being enabled to periodically transmit polling messages to the polled device, allowing power to be conserved in the polled device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the transmitted response message indicates that polling role switching is available at the user device and the response message indicates an acceptance of polling role switching, whereupon the advertising and at least one user devices switch polling roles.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

specifying by one of said devices the duration or frequency of a sleep state for at least one of said devices in a low activity mode of operation, wherein the sleep state duration is specified in terms of the number of polling messages that can be ignored by the device in the sleep mode without acknowledging receipt of a polling message.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

sleep state characteristics are specified prior to the subsequent data transfer between the devices.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein:

connecting with the advertising device in said communication link by transmitting an acknowledgement in response to receiving the polling message on an advertising channel, wherein the polling message advertises data availability and at least one of said devices specifies a communication channel for subsequent data transmission.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

detecting at one of said devices a received transmission indicating that no additional data will be transmitted by the other device, and

transitioning said one device into a sleep mode upon detecting that no additional data will be transmitted.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

specifying, in a message transmitted by at least one of the devices, a transmission protocol in which at least one of said devices periodically enters into a finite sleep state in which data is neither transmitted nor received.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the polling role switching indicators are transmitted by the advertising and user devices on an advertising channel prior to connecting in the communication link.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein:

the transmitted response message designates a communication channel to be used for the subsequent communication of messages between the devices; and

advertising and user devises each tune to the designated communication channel.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

transitioning at least one of the advertising and user devices to a sleep state between successive data transfers.

25. A system, comprising:

an advertising device, wherein said advertising device is configured to transmit a broadcast polling message advertising availability for connection, the broadcast polling message including a polling role switching indicator;

a user device configured to transmit a response message on the initialization channel in response to receiving said polling message, said response message including an indication of a data channel different from the initialization channel to be used for subsequent communication between the advertising device and the polling device, and containing a response polling role switching indicator; and

said advertising and user devices being operative to connect in a communication link for the subsequent transmission of data, wherein their respective polling roles are coordinated in accordance with the response polling role switching indicator, the device in the polling role being enabled to periodically transmit polling messages to the polled device, allowing power to be conserved in the polled device.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein:

the polling roles of the advertising and user devices are designated in accordance with a predetermined mode if said polling role switching is unavailable.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein:

the advertising device assumes the polling device role during the connection with the user device.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein:

the polling message indicates that polling role switching is available and the response message accepts polling role switching, whereupon the advertising and user devices switch polling roles.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein:

the messages containing the polling role switching indicators are communicated between the polling and polled devices on an advertising channel prior to connecting in the communication link.

30. A system, comprising:

a user device configured to receive data from an advertising device on an initialization channel;

an advertising device configured to transmit data to the user device on the initialization channel;

wherein one of the user and advertising devices assumes a polling device role and the other of said devices assumes a polled device role;

said polling device being configured to transmit polling messages to the polled device according to a general polling mode and to transmit a request to the polled device to enter a low activity polling mode and an indication of a data channel different from the initialization channel to be used for subsequent communication between the advertising device and the polling device; and

said polled device being configured to transmit a response message in response to the receipt of said request from the polling device indicating an acceptance or rejection of the polling device request to enter a low activity polling mode on the indicated data channel, the polling and polled devices thereupon connecting in a communication link;

said polling and polled devices being further configured to enter a low activity polling mode on the indicated data channel, upon acceptance thereof by the polled device the low activity polling mode involving the periodic transmission of polling messages by the polling device.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein:

the polling and polled devices are further operative to negotiate an interval between periodic transmissions of polling messages; and

the periodicity of polling message transmissions involved in the low activity polling mode is specified in the transmitted low activity polling mode request.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein:

the periodicity of polling message transmissions is defined by fixed time-intervals between transmissions, said transmissions commencing following receipt of said response message by the polling device.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein:

the periodicity of polling message transmissions is defined by fixed time-intervals between transmissions, said transmissions commencing at the end of the transmission a previous polling message if no response message has been detected.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein the low activity mode is asymmetrical, whereby the polled device abstains from responding to at least one of said polling messages.

35. The system of claim 30, wherein the number of polling messages to which the polled device can abstain from responding is specified in a parameter defined in the low activity mode request.

36. The system of claim 30, wherein:

one of the polling device and the polled device is operative to transmit a request message to modify parameters associated with the low activity time-interval after low activity data transfer has occurred.

37. The system of claim 30, wherein:

the polling device conducts carrier sensing multiple access with collision avoidance and determines that there are no transmission conflicts prior to transmitting broadcast polling messages.

38. A system, comprising:

an advertising device configured to advertise availability of data for subsequent data transfer on an initialization channel;

a user device operative to receive advertisements on the initialization channel and request subsequent data transfers, wherein one of the advertising device and the user device assumes a polling device role and the other of the advertising device and the user device assumes a polled device role;

the user device receiving a broadcast polling message from the advertising device, wherein said broadcast polling message includes an indication of a data channel different from the initialization channel to be used for subsequent communication between the advertising device and the polling device and a polling role switching indicator;

the user device detecting the state of the polling role switching indicator in the polling message and transmitting a response message containing a response polling role switching indicator on the initialization channel; and

said devices connecting in a communication link for subsequent data transfer on the indicated channel, wherein device polling roles are determined in accordance with the response polling role switching indicator.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein:

the response polling role switching indicator in the response message indicates that polling role switching is unavailable.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein:

the broadcast polling message indicates that polling role switching is available and the response message indicates an acceptance of polling role switching, whereupon the advertising and user devices switch polling roles.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein:

one of the advertising device and the user device specifies a low activity mode of operation wherein the duration or frequency of a sleep state for at least one of the advertising device and the user device is communicated to the other of the advertising device and the user device; and

the sleep state duration is specified in terms of the number of polling messages a device assuming the polled device role can ignore without acknowledging receipt of a polling message.

42. The system of claim 38, wherein:

the polled device receives a transmission indicating that no additional data will be transmitted by the polling device, and

the polled device transitions into a sleep mode upon processing said transmission that no additional data will be transmitted.

43. The system of claim 38, wherein:

one of the polling device or polled devices specifies a transmission protocol in which at least one of said devices periodically enters into a finite sleep state in which data is neither transmitted nor received.

44. The system of claim 38, wherein:

the advertising device and user devices transmit the polling role switching indicator and the response polling role switching indicator, respectively on an advertising channel prior to connecting to in a communication link.

45. The system of claim 38, wherein:

one of the advertising device and user devices designates a communication channel to be used for the subsequent communication of messages between devices; and

the advertising device and user devices tune to the designated communication channel.

46. The system of claim 38, wherein:

at least one of the polled device and the polling device transition to a sleep state between successive data transfers.

47. The system of claim 38, wherein:

one of the polling device and the polled device specifies sleep state characteristics prior to a data transfer.

48. An apparatus, comprising:

a transmitter and receiver configured to transmit and/or receive messages by short range radio communication; and

a processor configured to cause the apparatus to;

transmit a broadcast polling message on an initialization channel advertising availability for connection to a user device;

receive from any responding user device a response message on the initialization channel including at least an indication of a data channel different from the initialization channel to be used for subsequent communication between the advertising device and the polling device;

detect any polling role switching indicator contained in such response message; and

establish a wireless short range communication link for the subsequent transfer of data, wherein the polling roles in the communication link are coordinated in accordance with the detected response polling role switching indicator, the device in the polling role being enabled to periodically transmit polling messages to the polled device, allowing power to be conserved in the polling device.

49. The communication device of claim 48, wherein:

the broadcast polling message includes a polling role switching indicator the polling role switching indicator indicating polling role switching availability.

50. The communication device of claim 48, wherein:

the communication device adopts a default polling role if no indicator of the of polling role switching availability is detected.

51. The communication device of claim 48, wherein:

the communication device repetitively cycles through operational states including transmit, receive and sleep states.

52. The communication device of claim 48, wherein:

the polling role switching indicators are communicated in transmissions from the communication device on an advertising channel prior to establishing a communication link with a user device.

53. An apparatus, comprising:

a transmitter and receiver configured to transmit and/or receive messages by short range radio communication; and

a processor configured to cause the apparatus to;

transmit polling messages on an initialization channel to at least one user device according to a general polling mode;

transmit a low activity polling mode request including at least an indication of a data channel different from the initialization channel to be used for subsequent communication to the at least one user device;

enter the low activity polling mode on the indicated data channel upon the receipt of a response message from the at least one user device accepting a low activity mode request, the low activity polling mode involving the periodic transmission of polling messages by the polling device.

54. The communication device of claim 53, wherein:

the low activity polling mode uses a time interval specified in the transmitted low activity mode request.

55. The communication device of claim 53, wherein the general polling mode further comprises:

the periodicity associated with transmitting polling messages is defined by a fixed time-interval, wherein said fixed time-interval commences following receipt of said response message.

56. The communication device of claim 53, wherein the general polling mode further comprises:

the periodicity associated with transmitting the polling messages is defined by a fixed time-interval, wherein said fixed time-interval commences at the end of a previous polling message, if no response message has been detected.

57. The communication device of claim 53, wherein:

the low activity mode is an asymmetrical whereby, said processor is programmed to cause said communication device to;

continue polling attempts in accordance with the parameters in the low activity polling mode, if the at least one user device does not respond to the polling messages.

58. The communication device of claim 53, wherein:

the number of polling messages which the polling device will continue transmitting without receiving a response from the polled device is specified in a parameter included in the low activity mode request.

59. The communication device of claim 53, wherein:

the communication device conducts carrier sensing multiple access with collision avoidance and determines that there are no transmission conflicts prior to transmitting messages.

60. An apparatus, comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit and/or receive messages by short range radio communication; and

a processor configured to cause the apparatus to;

receive a polling message from an advertising device on an initialization channel;

detect in the received message any polling role switching indicator;

transmit a response message to the advertising device request including at least an indication of a data channel different from the initialization channel to be used for subsequent communication and containing a response polling role switching indicator; and

connect in a communication link for subsequent data transfer with the advertising device on the indicated data channel, wherein the polling role of the communication device in the communication link is determined in accordance with the response polling role switching indicator.

61. The communication device of claim 60, wherein:

the response message indicates both polling role switching is available and an acceptance of polling role switching, whereupon the communication device assumes the polling device role.

62. The communication device of claim 60, wherein said processor is further programmed to cause said communication device to:

specify the duration or frequency of a sleep state for the communication devices in a low activity mode of operation; and

the sleep state duration is specified in terms of the number of polling messages that can be ignored in the sleep state without acknowledging receipt of a polling message.

63. The communication device of claim 60, wherein said processor is further programmed to cause said communication device to:

connect in said communication link with the advertising device by transmitting an acknowledgement in response to receiving the polling message on an advertising channel, wherein the polling message advertises data availability and at least one of the communication device or the advertising device specifies a communication channel for subsequent data transmission.

64. The communication device of claim 60, wherein said processor is further programmed to cause said communication device to:

detect a received transmission indicating that no additional data will be transmitted by the advertising device, and

transition said communication device into a sleep mode upon detecting that no additional data will be transmitted.

65. The communication device of claim 60, wherein said processor is further programmed to cause said communication device to:

specify a transmission protocol in which at least one of the communication device and the advertising periodically enters into a finite sleep state in which data is neither transmitted nor received.

66. The communication device of claim 60, wherein said processor is further programmed to cause said communication device to:

designate in the transmitted response message a communication channel to be used for the subsequent data transfer; and

tune to the designated communication channel.

67. The communication device of claim 60, wherein said processor is further programmed to cause said communication device to:

transition said communication device to a sleep state between successive data transfers.

68. The communication device of claim 60, wherein:

sleep state characteristics are specified prior to a data transfer connection to the communication link.