Multiple network wake-up

• US 8,041,404 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2010
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Seshadri, Nambirajan, Bennett, James D., Karaoguz, Jeyhan
• Primary Examiner(s): Yun; Eugene
• Application Number:
  US12/914,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20110039607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 355 Days
• Field of Search: 455/574, 455/572, 455/303, 455/521, 455/522, 455/127.1, 455/127.5, 455/13.4, 455/143, 455/146, 455/225
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/253 where a visual mode is used instead of a voice mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53 Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system and method for managing messaging in a mobile communication system (e.g., having power-save capability) in a multiple network environment. For example, the mobile communication system may operate in a power-save mode (e.g., a mode in which the mobile communication system does not communicate messages). The mobile communication system may exit the power-save mode. After exiting from the power-save mode, the mobile communication system may determine to establish communication with a second system (e.g., a message server) over a second communication path instead of a first communication path. Communication with the second system may be established over the second communication path, and message-related information may be communicated between the mobile communication system and the second system. Such message-related information may, for example, comprise message information, information regarding message availability, or information regarding the communication of message information.

Claims

1. In a mobile communication device, a method for determining the existence of one or more pending messages, the method comprising:

in the mobile communication device, performing actions comprising;

exiting from a power-save mode of operation, in which the mobile communication device does not receive messages; and

after exiting from the power-save mode of operation;

attempting to communicate over a first communication path to check for pending messages, wherein the first communication path comprises a set of one or more independent communication networks; and

if attempting to communicate over the first communication path to check for pending messages fails, then attempting to communicate over a second communication path to check for pending messages, wherein the second communication path comprises a set of one or more independent communication networks, at least a portion of the second set different from the first set.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said attempting to communicate over a first communication path to check for pending messages comprises attempting to communicate with a message server over the first communication path; and

said attempting to communicate over a second communication path to check for pending messages comprises attempting to communicate with the message server over the second communication path.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said attempting to communicate over a first communication path to check for pending messages comprises determining the availability of the first communication path by at least one of:

receiving a beacon signal transmitted from an access point of the first communication path; and

transmitting a beacon signal that is to be received by an access point of the first communication path.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising determining to attempt to communicate over the first communication path to check for pending messages prior to attempting to communicate over the second communication path to check for pending messages.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said determining to attempt to communicate over the first communication path to check for pending messages prior to attempting to communicate over the second communication path to check for pending messages comprises determining that communicating over the first communication path consumes less electrical energy than communicating over the second communication path.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said determining to attempt to communicate over the first communication path to check for pending messages prior to attempting to communicate over the second communication path to check for pending messages comprises determining that communicating over the first communication path is higher priority than communicating over the second communication path.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second communication path comprises at least a portion of the first communication path.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication path comprises a telecommunication network, and the second communication path comprises a computer network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication path comprises at least one of:

a personal area network and a local area network.

10. A mobile communication device operable in a power-save mode, the mobile communication device comprising:

a communication interface module that is capable of communicating over a first communication path and over a second communication path, where the first communication path comprises a set of one or more independent communication networks, the second communication path comprises a set of one or more independent communication networks, and at least a portion of the second set is different from the first set; and

at least one module that operates to, after the mobile communication system exits the power-save mode;

attempt to communicate over the first communication path to check for pending messages; and

if the attempt to communicate over the first communication path to check for pending messages fails, then attempt to communicate over a second communication path to check for pending messages.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein the at least one module operates to:

attempt to communicate over the first communication path to check for pending messages by, at least in part, attempting to communicate with a message server over the first communication path; and

attempt to communicate over the second communication path to check for pending messages by, at least in part, attempting to communicate with the message server over the second communication path.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein the at least one module operates to attempt to communicate over the first communication path to check for pending messages by, at least in part, determining the availability of the first communication path by at least one of:

receiving a beacon signal transmitted from an access point of the first communication path; and

transmitting a beacon signal that is to be received by an access point of the first communication path.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein the at least one module operates to determine to attempt to communicate over the first communication path to check for pending messages prior to attempting to communicate over the second communication path to check for pending messages.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the at least one module operates to determine to attempt to communicate over the first communication path to check for pending messages prior to attempting to communicate over the second communication path to check for pending messages by, at least in part, determining that communicating over the first communication path consumes less electrical energy than communicating over the second communication path.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the at least one module operates to determine to attempt to communicate over the first communication path to check for pending messages prior to attempting to communicate over the second communication path to check for pending messages by, at least in part, determining that communicating over the first communication path is higher priority than communicating over the second communication path.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein the second communication path comprises at least a portion of the first communication path.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein the first communication path comprises a telecommunication network, and the second communication path comprises a computer network.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein the first communication path comprises at least one of:

a personal area network (“

PAN”

) and a local area (“

LAN”

) network.