Method for reduced access delay in multiple access attempt exchanges

• US 8,009,638 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2007
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Pilkington, John Randall, Chin, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): WASHINGTON, ERIKA ALISE
• Application Number:
  US11/870,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20080025283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/335
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0283 with sequential power up or power down of successive circuit blocks, e.g. switching on the local oscillator before RF or mixer stages
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0833 Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system and method for reducing access delay associated with multiple access attempt exchanges in a communications network is provided. A system of the present invention may include a mobile station and a base station system for sending and receiving signals; an air interface link for carrying the signals; and a set of timing modules for governing the transmission of the signals, whereby the set of timing modules controls activation periods of the battery'"'"'s current flow to the transmit clock according to a predetermined time interval. Control of activation periods minimizes delay during access attempts and conserves power resources.

Claims

1. A method of reducing delay during a multiple access attempt exchange of a sending device having a power device, a transmit clock, and a control device, the method comprising:

determining if the transmit clock is stopped;

if the transmit clock is stopped, activating the power device, powering the transmit clock via the power device, starting the transmit clock, and synchronizing the transmit clock and associated pseudonoise (PN) generators with system time;

sending one or more access probes from the sending device to a receiving device; and

deactivating the power device after lapse of a predetermined time interval measured by the control device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to deactivating the power device and prior to the lapse of the predetermined time interval, sending at least a second access probe from the sending device to the receiving device without re-synchronizing the transmit clock.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending device further comprises a mobile telephone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving device further comprises a base station system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the control device further comprises a timer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more access probes is sent via an air interface link.

7. A method of reducing delay during a multiple access attempt exchange in a communication network having a base station system and a mobile station with a battery, a transmit clock, and a timer, the method comprising

activating a current from the battery to the transmit clock;

starting the transmit clock and synchronizing the transmit clock and associated pseudonoise (PN) generators with system time associated with the communication network;

sending a series of access probes from the mobile station to the base station system;

setting a timer for a predetermined time interval;

if a successive access is to be attempted, determining if the timer has expired;

if the timer has expired, reactivating the current from the battery to the transmit clock; and

if the timer has not expired, sending a second series of access probes from the mobile station to the base station system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the predetermined time interval is selected from a range of one second to five seconds.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the range further comprises two seconds to four seconds.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined time interval is two seconds.

11. A mobile station with a sending device having a power device, the mobile station comprising:

a control device operable to activate and to deactivate a transmit clock associated with the power device, wherein the control device is operable to start a timer based on a predetermined time interval, and wherein the control device is operable to stop the timer in response to a successful access attempt by the sending device.

12. The mobile station of claim 11, wherein the sending device transmits at least one access attempt probe during the predetermined time interval.

13. The mobile station of claim 11, further comprising a receiving device to receive signals from the sending device.

14. The mobile station of claim 11, wherein the series of access probes is sent via an air interface link.

15. The mobile station of claim 11, wherein the mobile station further comprises a mobile telephone.

16. The mobile station of claim 11, wherein the mobile station further includes a transmit clock.

17. The mobile station of claim 11, wherein the predetermined time interval ranges from one second to five seconds.

18. A system to reduce delay during a multiple access attempt exchange by a mobile station having a battery, a transmit clock, and a timer, the system comprising:

means for activating a current from the battery to the transmit clock;

means for starting the transmit clock and synchronizing the transmit clock and associated pseudonoise (PN) generators with a system time associated with a communication network associated with the mobile station;

means for sending a series of access probes from the mobile station to a base station system;

means for setting a timer for a predetermined time interval; and

means for deactivating the current from the battery to the transmit clock and for stopping the transmit clock in response to expiration of the timer.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the means for setting a timer further comprises means for setting a timer according to a predetermined time interval in the range of one to five seconds.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the means for setting a timer further comprises means for setting a timer for a time period of two seconds.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the communications network further comprises a wireless communication network.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the wireless communications network further comprises a code division multiple access (CDMA) wireless communications network.

23. A tangible computer readable medium including instructions operable, when executed by a computer, to cause the computer to:

power a transmit clock;

synchronize the transmit clock with a code division multiple access (CDMA) system clock;

initiate an access attempt to a receiver by sending a plurality of access probes to the receiver and starting a timer associated with a time interval; and

after expiration of the timer and before receiving acknowledgement of a successful access attempt from the receiver, stop the timer and deactivate the transmit clock.

24. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions are further operable, when executed by the computer, to cause the computer to:

receive from the receiver an acknowledgement of a successful access attempt;

in response to receiving the acknowledgement of the successful access attempt, send a second plurality of access probes and restart the timer associated with the time interval.

25. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein continuing to power the transmit clock enables the computer to send a second plurality of access probes without re-activating the transmit clock.

26. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein the time interval is a time period during which re-synchronization of the transmit clock is not necessary and during which the transmit clock may remain powered.