Methods and apparatus for reducing power consumption in CDMA communication device

• US 7,525,941 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2003
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Bugnariu, C. Nicolas, Islam, M. Khaledul
• Primary Examiner(s): Yao; Kwang B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lai; Andrew
• Application Number:
  US10/737,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20040213195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,960 Days
• Field of Search: 370/342, 370/352, 370/320, 370/335, 455/343, 455/422, 455/466, 455/352
• US Class Current: 370/335
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0232 according to average transmission signal activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for reducing power consumption of a code division multiple access (CDMA) communication device are described. The CDMA communication device operates in a communication session with a base station during which information is communicated over an information channel. At some point during the communication session, the device identifies that is has no information to transmit. In response, the device places its transmitter into a low power state and does not transmit any information that it would normally be accustomed to transmit (e.g. overhead such as idle frames) provided that forward RF link is stable. During that time, a receiver of the communication device may remain operative to receive information (e.g. transmitter power values). Provided that there is no need to transmit other necessary information, the transmitter is maintained in the low power state for a duration of time that is less than a fade time expiration of the base station. Thus, the communication device imitates a short fade during the communication session to conserve battery power.

Claims

1. A method for use in reducing power consumption in a code division multiple access (CDMA) communication device having a transmitter which includes a power amplifier (PA), the method comprising the acts of:

maintaining the CDMA communication device in a voice or a data call during which information is communicated over forward and reverse traffic channels set up with a base station;

in response to identifying that there is no information to transmit by the CDMA communication device;

during at least one portion of the voice or the data call, causing the transmitter to enter and be maintained in a low power state during which the PA is shut off while at least the reverse traffic channel is maintained by the base station; and

causing the transmitter to be exited from the low power state during the voice or the data call so that the PA is turned on again for resuming communications for the voice or the data call.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of maintaining the CDMA communication device in the voice or the data call comprises the further act of maintaining the CDMA communication device in a voice call.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of maintaining the CDMA communication device in the voice or the data call comprises the further act of maintaining the CDMA communication device in a data call.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a power setting of the PA is set to a zero or negligible value in the low power state.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining a receiver of the CDMA communication device enabled to receive information during the voice or the data call while the transmitter is in the low power state.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

during the low power state;

maintaining a receiver of the CDMA communication device enabled to receive information during the voice or the data call while the transmitter is in the low power state;

receiving, during the voice or data call, one or more power values through the receiver for tracking an open loop transmit power required when transmission for the voice or the data call is resumed; and

storing one or more transmitter power values which are based on the received power values.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

refraining from transmitting any information in the low power state during the portion of the voice or the data call.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

refraining from transmitting idle frames in the low power state during the portion of the voice or the data call.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

during the low power state of the voice or the data call;

maintaining a receiver of the CDMA communication device enabled to receive information during the voice or the data call while the transmitter is in the low power state;

receiving one or more power values through the receiver for tracking an open loop transmit power required when transmission for the voice or the data call is resumed;

storing one or more transmitter power values which are based on the received power values; and

during the voice or the data call gradually causing the transmitter to reach a transmitter power value after exiting the low power state.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of identifying that there is no information to transmit comprises identifying that there is no voice or user data for the voice or the data call to transmit.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting and running, in the CDMA communication device, a timer corresponding to a fade timer of the base station; and

wherein the act of causing the transmitter to be exited from the low power state is performed in response to detecting an expiration of the timer prior to release of the voice or the data call by the base station.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the CDMA communication device operates based on an IS-95, an IS-2000, or a CDMA2000 standard.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting and running, in the CDMA communication device, a timer corresponding to a fade timer of the base station; and

wherein the act of causing the transmitter to be exited from the low power state is performed in response to identifying transmit activity by the CDMA communication device or detecting an expiration of the timer prior to release of the voice or the data call by the base station.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of causing the transmitter to be exited from the low power state is performed in response to identifying transmit activity for the voice or the data call.

15. A code division multiple access (CDMA) communication device, comprising:

a receiver;

a transmitter which includes a power amplifier (PA);

an antenna coupled to the receiver and the transmitter;

a processor coupled to the receiver and the transmitter;

the processor being operative to;

maintain the CDMA communication device in a voice or a data call during which information is communicated over forward and reverse traffic channels set up with a base station;

in response to identifying that there is no information to transmit from the transmitter;

during at least one portion of the voice or the data call, cause the transmitter to enter and be maintained in a low power state during which the PA is shut down while at least the reverse traffic channel is maintained by the base station; and

cause the transmitter to be exited from the low power state during the voice or the data call so that the PA is turned on again for resuming communications for the voice or the data call.

16. The CDMA communication device of claim 15, wherein the processor is operative to maintain the CDMA communication device in the voice or the data call by maintaining the CDMA communication device in a voice call.

17. The CDMA communication device of claim 15, wherein the receiver is enabled by the processor to receive information for the voice or the data call while the transmitter is in the low power state.

18. The CDMA communication device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further operative to identify that there is no information to transmit by identifying that there is no voice or user data to transmit from the transmitter, and further operative to refrain from transmitting idle frames during the portion of the voice or the data call.

19. The CDMA communication device of claim 15, wherein the processor further operates to set and run a timer corresponding to a fade timer of the base station, and cause the transmitter to exit the low power state in response to detecting an expiration of the timer prior to release of the voice or the data call by the base station.

20. The CDMA communication device of claim 15, wherein the device refrains from transmitting idle frames in the low power state during the portion of the voice or the data call.

21. The CDMA communication device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further operative to:

during the low power state of the voice or the data call;

receive one or more power values through a receiver of the CDMA communication device for tracking an open loop transmit power required when transmission for the voice or the data call is resumed;

store one or more transmitter power values which are based on the received power values; and

gradually cause the transmitter to reach a transmitter power value during the voice or the data call after exiting the low power state.

22. The CDMA communication device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further operative to identify that there is no information to transmit by identifying that there is no voice or user data to transmit and no signalling data to transmit.

23. The CDMA communication device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further operative to cause the transmitter to be exited from the low power state in response to identifying transmit activity for the voice or the data call at the CDMA communication device.

24. A code division multiple access (CDMA) communication system, comprising:

a base station operative for CDMA communication;

a portable electronic device operative for CDMA communication with the base station;

the portable electronic device being further operative to maintain a voice or a data call during which information is communicated over forward and reverse traffic channels set up with the base station;

the portable electronic device being further operative to identify, during the voice or the data call, that there is no information to transmit from the portable electronic device to the base station;

the portable electronic device being further operative to cause a transmitter of the portable electronic device to enter and be maintained in a low power state during which a power amplifier (PA) of the transmitter is shut off for at least a portion of the voice or the data call, while at least the reverse traffic channel is maintained by the base station, based at least in part on identifying that there is no information to transmit from the portable electronic device; and

the portable electronic device being further operative to cause the transmitter to be exited from the low power state during the voice or the data call so that the PA is turned on again for resuming communications for the voice or the data call.

25. The CDMA communication system of claim 24 which operates in accordance with an IS-95, IS-2000, or CDMA2000 standard.

26. The CDMA communication system of claim 24, wherein the portable electronic device is further operative to maintain the CDMA communication in the voice or the data call by maintaining the CDMA communication device in a voice call.

27. The CDMA communication system of claim 24, wherein the portable electronic device is further operative to refrain from transmitting idle frames in the low power state.

28. The CDMA communication system of claim 24, wherein the portable electronic device is further operative to set and run a timer corresponding to a fade timer of the base station, and cause the transmitter to exit the low power state in response to detecting an expiration of the timer prior to release of the voice or the data call by the base station.

29. A method for use in reducing power consumption in a battery-operable mobile station which operates in accordance with code division multiple access (CDMA) communications, the method comprising the acts of:

maintaining a voice or a data call during which information is communicated over forward and reverse traffic channels setup with a serving base station;

based on identifying that there is no information to transmit from a transmitter of the mobile station;

powering down a transmitter power amplifier (PA) during a portion of the voice or the data call such that no signals are transmitted from the transmitter to the serving base station during the portion of the voice or the data call, and setting and running a timer corresponding to a fade timer of the base station;

powering up the transmitter PA in response to detecting transmit activity for the voice or the data call prior to expiration of the timer for resuming communications for the voice or the data call; and

otherwise powering up the transmitter PA in response to detecting an expiration of the timer and before a release of the reverse traffic channel by the serving base station for resuming communications for the voice or the data call.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

while the transmitter PA is powered down during the portion of the voice or the data call, receiving one or more power values from the serving base station and storing one or more transmitter power values based thereon.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

while the transmitter PA is powered down during the portion of the voice or the data call, receiving one or more power values from the serving base station for tracking an open loop transmit power required when transmission for the voice or the data call is resumed, and storing one or more transmitter power values based thereon.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein communications are based on an IS-95, IS-2000, or CDMA2000 standard.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the act of identifying that there is no voice or user information to transmit comprises the further act of identifying that there is no signalling information to transmit.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

refraining from transmitting any idle frames while the transmitter PA is powered down during the portion of the voice or the data call.

35. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

prior to powering down the transmitter PA, delaying to reach power control loop stability.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein the act of powering down the transmitter PA comprises imitating a fade to the base station during the portion of the voice or the data call.

37. A code division multiple access (CDMA) mobile station, comprising:

a CDMA receiver;

a CDMA transmitter;

a processor coupled to the CDMA receiver and transmitter;

the processor being operative to;

maintain the CDMA receiver and transmitter in a voice or a data call during which information is communicated over forward and reverse traffic channels setup with a serving base station;

shut down a power amplifier (PA) of the CDMA transmitter during a portion of the voice or the data call, while at least the reverse traffic channel is maintained by the serving base station, based on identifying that there is no information to transmit from the CDMA transmitter;

set and run a timer corresponding to a fade timer of the serving base station;

power up the PA in response to detecting transmit activity for the voice or the data call prior to expiration of the timer for resuming communications for the voice or the data call; and

otherwise power up the PA in response to detecting an expiration of the timer and before release of the reverse traffic channel by the serving base station for resuming communications for the voice or the data call.

38. The mobile station of claim 37 wherein the processor is further operative to, while the PA is shut down during the portion of the voice or data call, receive one or more power values through the CDMA receiver and store one or more transmitter power values based thereon for tracking an open loop transmit power required when transmission for the voice or the data call is resumed.

39. The mobile station of claim 37, wherein the processor is further operative to refrain from transmitting any idle frames to the serving base station while the transmitter PA is powered down during the portion of the voice or the data call.

40. The mobile station of claim 37, wherein the processor is further operative to:

while the PA is shut down during the portion of the voice or the data call;

receive one or more power values through the CDMA receiver;

store one or more transmitter power values which are based on the received power values;

while the PA is being powered up;

gradually increase power of the PA during the voice or data call to reach a previously stored transmitter power value.