Method of optimizing data communication devices' auto-on functionality

• US 8,064,929 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2003
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Zhao, Wen
• Primary Examiner(s): Edouard; Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Casca; Fred
• Application Number:
  US10/702,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20040185849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,938 Days
• Field of Search: 455/574, 455/573, 455/571, 455/572, 455/343.2, 455/343.5, 455/414, 455/435, 455/522, 455/91, 455/92, 455/93, 455/95, 455/453, 455/418, 455/456.4, 455/343, 713/310, 713/320, 713/324, 713/300, 707/104.1, 708/112, 340/539, 340/164, 340/531, 340/573, 340/574
• US Class Current: 455/456.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In a network comprising mobile data devices having corresponding transceivers, a method and apparatus for temporally spreading network traffic associated with auto-on functionality of the data devices, the method comprising activating transceivers of the data devices independently of corresponding data device activation status in an unsynchronized manner.

Claims

1. A method of pacing network traffic associated with the activation of a mobile data device of a plurality of mobile data devices, the plurality of mobile data devices communicating over a wireless communications network with a data server, each mobile data device having a transceiver configured to be activated before or after activating the mobile data device, the method comprising:

determining an auto-on time when at least a portion of the mobile data device is to be activated, the auto-on time being specified via an auto-on time value;

reducing the probability of synchronization with the transceivers on other devices in the same network by selecting a transceiver-on time value from random time values about the auto-on time value;

activating the transceiver of the mobile data device at a transceiver-on time corresponding to the selected transceiver-on time value; and

registering the mobile data device with the data server subsequent to activating the transceiver.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein subsequent to selecting the transceiver-on timer value the method further comprises the step of causing the mobile data device to undergo an auto-off transition.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein subsequent to selecting the transceiver-on timer value the method further comprises deactivating the transceiver.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising activating the mobile data device, independent of the transceiver, at the auto-on time.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein subsequent to selecting the transceiver-on timer value the method further comprises causing the mobile data device to enter one of a dormant state, an idle state, a low power state, a power conservation state, a stand-by state, and a hibernation state.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transceiver-on time value represents one of a time before the auto-on time, and a time after the auto-on time.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transceiver comprises a wireless transmitter configured to be activated before or after activating the mobile data device, the method further comprising activating the transmitter at the transceiver-on time.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transceiver-on time value comprises a back-off time value, the method further comprising:

selecting a random back-off time value from random time values coming after the auto-on time value; and

activating the transceiver at the transceiver-on time comprises activating the transceiver at the back-off time specified via the back-off time value.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile data device further comprises a user interface, the transceiver being further configured to be activated independent of the user interface, the method further comprising activating the user interface at the auto-on time.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein selecting a transceiver-on time value, the method further comprises selecting the transceiver-on time value independent of any other mobile data device of the plurality of mobile data devices.

11. A mobile data device of a plurality of mobile data devices each configured to spread network traffic associated with the activation of the mobile data device, the mobile data device comprising:

a transceiver for communicating with a network;

a user interface, for interacting with a user;

a microprocessor configured to activate the transceiver and the user interface independently;

wherein the microprocessor reduces the probability of synchronization with other mobile data devices by maintaining an auto-on timer and a transceiver-on timer, the value of the transceiver-on timer being selected from random values about the value of the auto-on timer; and

wherein the microprocessor is further configured to;

activate the user interlace at the expiry of the auto-on timer;

activate the transceiver at the expiry of the transceiver-on timer;

register with the a data server subsequent to the activation of the transceiver.

12. The mobile data device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the transceiver-on timer value represents a time before the auto-on time.

13. The mobile data device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the transceiver-on timer value represents a time after the auto-on time.

14. A mobile data device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the transceiver-on timer comprises a back-off timer and wherein the microprocessor is further configured to activate the transceiver at the expiry of the back-off timer;

the microprocessor being configured to select a random back-off timer value from random time values falling after the auto-on timer value.

15. A mobile data device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the microprocessor is configured to select the value of the transceiver-on timer independently of any other mobile data device in the plurality of mobile data devices.