Reducing idle power consumption in a networked battery operated device

• US 7,539,508 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2006
• Issued: 05/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Shih, Eugene, Sinclair, Michael J., Bahl, Paramvir
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aminzay; Shaima Q
• Application Number:
  US11/376,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20060160559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 455/522, 455/13.4, 455/426.1, 455/343.1, 455/434, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/556.1, 455/574, 4551271-1275, 455/434.6, 455/143.6, 340/539.19, 340/572.1, 370/338, 370/311, 370/346, 713/300, 713/320
• US Class Current: 455/522
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode

Abstract

An improved method and system for reducing the power consumption of computing devices capable of communicating over a wireless network allows longer device operation and/or the use of smaller batteries. The wireless computing device supports a low power channel for receiving control signals during idle periods of operation. When the computing device is idle, the device is configured to power down all of its components with the exception of the circuitry required to power the low power channel. As such, the channel is maintained in an active state for receiving signals during both idle and non-idle periods, or in an embodiment, only during idle periods. When another device wishes to communicate with the wireless computing device, the low power channel passes a “wake-up” signal to the device indicating that the device be powered up from the idle mode of operation. A host RF component that is coupled to the network via a host computer generates this wake-up signal in an embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. A method for communicating with a wireless computing device over a network comprising a secondary communication channel, the secondary communication channel being a radio frequency channel operable by the wireless computing device and requiring less power usage by the wireless computing device than a two-way primary communication channel also operable by the wireless computing device, the method comprising:

requesting, by a requesting device, a notification of the presence of a low power transceiver operating upon the wireless computing device;

receiving, by the requesting device, a notification of the presence of a low power transceiver operating upon the wireless computing device;

sending, by the requesting device, a wakeup request, via the secondary communication channel, requesting activation of the wireless computing device from a low power state, in which the wireless computing device does not communicate over the two-way primary communication channel, to a high power state, in which the wireless computing device communicates over the primary communication channel; and

communicating, by the requesting device, with the wireless computing device over the two-way primary communication channel, after sending the wakeup request.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein requesting a notification of the presence of a low power transceiver operating upon the wireless computing device further comprises determining whether the wireless computing device is within radio range over the secondary communication channel of a host transceiver via the low power transceiver.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the host transceiver is operable by a host computer and is communicably linked with the requesting device.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein determining whether the wireless computing device is within radio range over the secondary communication channel of a host transceiver via the low power transceiver further comprises broadcasting a detection signal via the secondary communication channel.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the detection signal is transmitted when the host transceiver is not transmitting other types of signals via the secondary communication channel.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein requesting a notification of the presence of a low power transceiver operating upon the wireless computing device further comprises transmitting a message to a presence server, the message indicating the presence of the low power transceiver.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein requesting a notification of the presence of a low power transceiver operating upon the wireless computing device further comprises querying the presence server for presence information pertaining to the low power transceiver.

8. A system for communicating with a wireless computing device over a network via a secondary communication channel, the secondary communication channel being a radio frequency channel operable by the wireless computing device and requiring less power usage by the wireless computing device than a two-way primary communication channel also operable by the wireless computing device, the system comprising:

means for detecting the presence of a low power transceiver operating upon the wireless computing device via the secondary communication channel; and

means for transmitting a message to the wireless computing device via the secondary communication channel based on the presence of the low power transceiver, the message requesting activation of the wireless computing device from a low power state, in which the wireless computing device does not communicate over the primary communication channel, to a high power state, in which the wireless computing device communicates over the two-way primary communication channel, whereby in response to the message a reply message is transmitted to the wireless computing device via the two-way primary communication channel.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said means for transmitting a message comprises communication facilities of a computing device remote from the wireless computing device, and wherein said means for detecting is operable by a host computer that is communicably linked with a requesting device.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the host computer comprises means for broadcasting a detection signal via the secondary communication channel, the detection signal indicating whether the wireless computing device is within a physical range suitable for enabling said means for detecting to communicate with the wireless computing device via the secondary communication channel.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein said means for detecting further comprises means for maintaining presence information associated with one or more radio transceivers operable by one or more wireless computing devices capable of communicating via the secondary communication channel.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein said means for transmitting is communicably linked with a host computer via the primary communication channel.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the host computer comprises means for generating a corresponding message in response to a message received from said means for transmitting, the corresponding message indicating a request for the wireless computing device to perform an action, the corresponding message being transmitted to the wireless computing device via the secondary communication channel.