Advanced power management for satellite positioning system

• US 7,573,422 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2002
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CSR Limited (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SiRF Technology Holdings Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Witanis, Stefan, Innis, Wendell Edwin, Harvey, Robert Shaw, Garin, Lionel J., Zhang, Gengsheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing; Gregory C
• Application Number:
  US10/489,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20050083230A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,523 Days
• Field of Search: 242/357.06, 242/357.12, 455/343.1, 713/324, 713/320
• US Class Current: 342/357.74
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A power management system for managing power in a wireless device having a SPS receiver, communication device and a power source, the power management is described. The power management system may include a real-time clock, an input/output device, a radio frequency front-end and a SPS engine in signal communication with the real-time clock, input/output device and radio frequency front-end, the SPS engine capable of powering down itself, the input/output device and radio frequency front-end in response to determining a mode of operation.

Claims

1. A method for managing power in a wireless device having a SPS receiver, communication device and a power source, the method comprising:

obtaining a position of the wireless device with the SPS receiver;

determining a mode of operation of the SPS receiver by;

receiving a mode command from the communication device, the mode command including a duty priority mode command and a time-between fixes mode command; and

adjusting an amount of power supplied by the power source to the SPS receiver in response to the determined mode of operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining a fix of the wireless device includes determining a fix of the wireless device in a cold-start operation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the mode operation includes determining an environment of operation in response to obtaining a position of the wireless device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting an amount of power supplied by the power source includes powering up all components of the SPS receiver in response to determining the mode is a full power sub-mode.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting an amount of power supplied by the power source includes powering down components of the SPS receiver except a processor and a real-time clock in response to determining the mode is a processor only sub-mode.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein adjusting an amount of power is supplied by the power source includes powering down components of the SPS receiver except the real-time clock in response to determining the mode is a tricklestate sub-mode.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein adjusting the amount of power supplied by the power source includes

programming the real-time clock with the processor for a wakeup time;

powering down radio frequency front-end and input/output device located in the SPS receiver; and

powering down the processor.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the real-time clock includes setting up a wakeup time for the real-time clock to send a wakeup signal to the processor at the wakeup time.

9. The method of claim 8, further including:

powering up the processor in response to receiving the wakeup signal from the real-time clock; and

powering up the radio frequency front-end of the SPS receiver;

obtaining measurement dated from the radio frequency front-end;

powering down the radio frequency front-end;

computing a new fix of wireless device in response to obtaining the measurements;

powering up the input/output device of the SPS receiver;

sending the computed new fix to the communication device;

determining a sleep time and wakeup time for the processor;

setting a new wakeup time for the real-time clock; and

powering down the processor.

10. A power management system for managing power in a wireless device having a SPS receiver, communication device and a power source, the power management system comprising:

a real-time clock;

input/output device;

an radio frequency front-end; and

a SPS engine in signal communication with the real-time clock, input/output device and radio frequency front-end, the SPS engine operable to receive a mode command from the communication device, the mode command including a duty priority mode command and a time-between fixes mode command, the SPS engine further operable to power down itself, the input/output device and radio frequency front-end in response to determining a mode of operation.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the mode command includes a duty priority mode command and a time-between fixes mode command.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the real-time clock includes a backup memory.

13. A power management system for managing power in a wireless device having a SPS receiver, communication device and a power source, the power management system comprising:

means for obtaining a position of the wireless device with the SPS receiver;

means for receiving a mode command from the communication device, the mode command including a duty priority mode command and a time-between fixes mode command; and

means for adjusting an amount of power supplied by the power source to the SPS receiver in response to the determined mode of operation.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein determining means includes means for determining an environment of operation in response to obtaining a position of the wireless device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein adjusting means includes means for powering up all components of the SPS receiver in response to determining the mode is a full power sub-mode.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein adjusting means includes means for powering down components of the SPS receiver except a processor and a real-time clock in response to determining the mode is a processor only sub-mode.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein adjusting means includes means for powering down components of the SPS receiver except the real-time clock in response to determining the mode is a tricklestate sub-mode.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein:

adjusting means includes means for programming the real-time clock with the processor for a wakeup time;

means for powering down radio frequency front-end and input/output device located in the SPS receiver; and

means for powering down the processor.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein programming means includes means for setting a wake-up time for the real-time clock to send a wakeup signal to the processor at the wakeup time.

20. The system of claim 19, further including:

means for powering up the processor in response to receiving the wakeup signal from the real-time clock; and

means for powering up the radio frequency front-end of the SPS receiver;

means for obtaining measurement date from the radio frequency front-end;

means for powering down the radio frequency front-end;

means for computing a new fix of wireless device in response to obtaining the measurements;

means for powering up the input/output device of the SPS receiver;

means for sending the computed new fix to the communication device;

means for determining a sleep time and wakeup time for the processor;

means for setting a new wakeup time for the real-time clock; and

means for powering down the processor.

21. A signal-bearing medium having software for managing power in a wireless device having a SPS receiver, communication device and a power source, the signal-bearing medium comprising:

logic configured for obtaining a position of the wireless device with the SPS receiver;

logic configured for determining the more of operation of the SPS receiver, the determining logic including;

logic configured for receiving a mode command from the communication device, the mode command includes a duty priority mode command and a time-between fixes mode command; and

logic configured for adjusting an amount of power supplied by the power source to the SPS receiver in response to the determined mode of operation.

22. The signal-bearing medium of claim 21, wherein determining logic includes

logic configured for determining an environment of operation in response to obtaining a position of the wireless device.

23. The signal-bearing medium of claim 21, wherein adjusting logic includes logic configured for powering up all components of the SPS receiver in response to determining the mode is a full power sub-mode.

24. The signal-bearing medium of claim 21, wherein adjusting logic includes logic configured for powering down components of the SPS receiver except a processor and a real-time clock in response to determining the mode is a processor only sub-mode.

25. The signal-bearing medium of claim 24, wherein adjusting logic includes logic configured for powering down components of the SPS receiver except the real-time clock in response to determining the mode is a tricklestate sub-mode.

26. The signal-bearing medium of claim 25, wherein adjusting logic includes:

logic configured for programming the real-time clock with the processor for a wakeup time;

logic configured for powering down radio frequency front-end and input/output device located in the SPS receiver; and

logic configured for powering down the processor.

27. The signal-bearing medium of claim 26, wherein programming loge includes logic configured for setting a wakeup time for the real-time clock to send a wakeup signal to the processor at the wakeup time.

28. The signal-bearing medium of claim 27, further including

logic configured for powering up the processor in response to receiving the wakeup signal from the real-time clock;

and

logic configured for powering up the radio frequency front-end of the SPS receiver;

logic configured for obtaining measurement data from the radio frequency front-end;

logic configured for powering down the radio frequency font-end;

logic configured for computing a new fix of wireless device in response to obtaining the measurements;

logic configured for powering up the input/output device of the SPS receiver;

logic configured for determining a sleep time for the real-time clock; and

logic configured for powering down the processor.