Control of a short-range wireless terminal

• US 7,688,772 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2004
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kelly, Christopher, Black, Simon, Edney, Jonathan P., Sinivaara, Hasse
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar; Kamran
• Application Number:
  US11/630,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20080194201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,100 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370311-312, 370/318, 370/338, 370/328, 370/347, 370/350, 455/574, 455/517, 455/500, 455/41.2, 4554521-453, 455/522, 455/69, 455/502
• US Class Current: 370/318
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling the operation of a short-range wireless terminal capable of operating in a first beacon-based network and in a second beacon-based network, and having an active state and a power save state in the first beacon-based network. For seamless operation in the two networks, the terminal moves to a power save state with respect to the first beacon-based network if operation in the second beacon-based network is required. However, the first beacon-based network is only informed that the terminal moves to a power save state and instead of powering down, the terminal becomes active in the second beacon-based network.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

operating a wireless device in a first beacon-based network;

informing the first beacon-based network that the wireless device enters a power save state with respect to the first beacon-based network so that the wireless device is not present in the first beacon-based network while in the power save state; and

starting operation in a second beacon-based network in response to the informing,

wherein the informing is performed when the wireless device is in an active operation state with respect to the first beacon-based network and when the operation in the second beacon-based network is to be started.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

suspending the operation of the wireless terminal device in the second beacon-based network; and

receiving a beacon broadcast of the first beacon-based network during the suspending.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the receiving comprises receiving dedicated data for the wireless device.

4. A method according to claim 2, further comprising

resuming the operation in the second beacon-based network, the resuming being performed in response to the receiving.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the starting comprises controlling the wireless device to change from a first radio frequency used in the first beacon-based network to a second radio frequency used in the second beacon-based network.

6. A method according to claim 4, further comprising:

determining a moment for the resuming, the determining being performed during the suspending.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the determining further comprises:

receiving messages of at least one other wireless device belonging to the second beacon-based network; and

defining said moment based on the messages received.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining a first timer for the first beacon-based network, the first timer indicating beacon broadcast moments in the first beacon-based network;

maintaining a second timer for the second beacon-based network, the second timer indicating beacon transmission moments in the second beacon-based network; and

maintaining an offset between the first timer and the second timer.

9. A method according to claim 3, further comprising:

returning the terminal back to the active operation state with respect to the first beacon-based network, the returning-step being performed in response to the receiving of the dedicated data.

10. A method according to claim 3, further comprising:

resuming the operation in the second beacon-based network, the resuming being performed in response to the receiving of the dedicated data.

11. A method according to claim 8, wherein the suspending and the receiving are performed at regular intervals according to the beacon broadcast moments in the first beacon-based network.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a first operation mode configured to operate in a first beacon-based network;

a second operation mode configured to operate in a second beacon-based network; and

a first controller configured to inform the first beacon-based network that the apparatus enters a power save state with respect to the first beacon-based network so that the apparatus is not present in the first beacon-based network while in a rower save state,

wherein the first controller is configured to operate in response to a command to assume the second operation mode, the command being received when the apparatus is in the active operation state with respect to the first beacon-based network.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a second controller configured to suspend the operation in the second operation mode substantially at selected beacon broadcast moments of the first beacon-based network.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the second controller is configured to suspend the operation in the second operation mode at substantially regular intervals.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the second controller comprises a first timer synchronized with timing information broadcast in the first beacon-based network.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

a controller configured to resume the operation in the second operation mode.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the third controller is configured to control the apparatus from a first radio frequency to a second radio frequency.

18. The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising:

a second timer configured to indicate beacon broadcast moments in the second beacon-based network, the second timer being synchronized with the first timer.

19. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium, the computer program being configured to control a processor of an apparatus to cause the apparatus to:

operate in a first beacon-based network;

inform the first beacon-based network that the apparatus enters a power save state with respect to the first beacon-based network so that the apparatus is not present in the first beacon-based network while in the power save state;

start operation in a second beacon-based network in response to the informing;

wherein the informing is performed when the apparatus is in an active operation state with respect to the first beacon-based network and when the operation in the second beacon-based network is to be started.