Method and apparatus for power management using transmission mode with reduced power

• US 7,610,495 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2004
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bell Northern Research, LLC (Hilco Inc. (d/b/a Hilco Global))
• Original Assignee: Agere Systems Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Song, Leilei, Azadet, Kameran
• Primary Examiner(s): CONNOLLY, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US10/874,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20050114721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,952 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/320, 713/322, 713/340, 455/67.11, 455/127.5, 455/574, 455/855, 455/127.1, 455/522
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for power management of an electronic device. The present invention reduces power consumption of an electronic device that communicates over a network by selecting a transmission mode with reduced power consumption as the battery level gets lower. A disclosed power management process monitors the battery level of an electronic device and selects a transmission mode (e.g., a transmission rate) with a lower power consumption when the battery power level reaches one or more predefined threshold levels.

Claims

1. A method for power management in an electronic device that communicates over a network, said method comprising the steps of:

monitoring a battery level of said electronic device;

evaluating a power consumption of said electronic device in one or more transmission modes;

establishing one or more threshold levels based on said power consumption information; and

selecting a rate of a substantially continuous transmission mode based on a comparison of said battery level to said one or more threshold levels.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting step further comprises the step of selects a transmission mode with a lower power consumption when said battery level reaches one or more predefined threshold levels.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said transmission modes and corresponding predefined threshold levels are stored in a table.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said monitoring step is performed periodically.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmission mode includes a transmission rate.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said method may be selectively disabled by a user.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of evaluating a power consumption of said electronic device in one or more transmission modes is performed periodically.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of notifying a user that said transmission mode has been adjusted based on said battery level.

9. An electronic device, comprising:

one or more batteries;

one or more ports for network communication;

a memory; and

at least one processor, coupled to the memory, operative to;

monitor a battery level of said electronic device;

evaluate a power consumption of said electronic device in one or more transmission modes;

establish one or more threshold levels based on said power consumption information; and

select a rate of a substantially continuous transmission mode based on a comparison of said battery level to said one or more threshold levels.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein said processor is further configured to select a transmission mode with a lower power consumption when said battery level reaches one or more predefined threshold levels.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein said transmission modes and corresponding predefined threshold levels are stored in a table in said memory.

12. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein said processor is further configured to perform said monitoring step periodically.

13. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein said transmission mode includes a transmission rate.

14. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein said processor is further configured to selectively disable said battery monitoring and selection of a transmission mode.

15. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein said processor is further configured to perform said evaluation of a power consumption of said electronic device in one or more transmission modes periodically.

16. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein said processor is further configured to notify a user that said transmission mode has been adjusted based on said battery level.

17. A power management driver for an electronic device that communicates over a network, said driver implementing the steps of:

monitoring a battery level of said electronic device;

evaluating a power consumption of said electronic device in one or more transmission modes;

establishing one or more threshold levels based on said power consumption information; and

selecting a rate of a substantially continuous transmission mode based on a comparison of said battery level to said one or more threshold levels.

18. The power management driver of claim 17, wherein said selecting step further comprises the step of selects a transmission mode with a lower power consumption when said battery level reaches one or more predefined threshold levels.

19. The power management driver of claim 17, wherein said transmission mode includes a transmission rate.

20. The power management driver of claim 17, wherein said power management driver may be selectively disabled by a user.