Inactivity timer in a discontinuous reception configured system

• US 8,144,679 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2008
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Cai, Zhijun, Womack, James Earl
• Primary Examiner(s): Pwu, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nooristany, Sulaiman
• Application Number:
  US12/193,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20090052361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 370/342
• US Class Current: 370/342
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/18 Automatic repetition systems, e.g. Van Duuren systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0064 Rate requirement of the data, e.g. scalable bandwidth, data priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0091 Signaling for the administration of the divided path
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/005 Routing actions in the presence of nodes in sleep or doze mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/28 Discontinuous transmission [DTX]; Discontinuous reception [DRX]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems, methods and wireless devices are provided that utilize a timer to ensure a receiver of a wireless device is on to receive downlink transmissions. In the event the timer runs out without further resource allocation, the mobile device turns its radio off. If a further resource allocation occurs while the timer is running, the timer is restarted.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a radio in a wireless device, the method comprising:

controlling the radio during a plurality of awake periods and a plurality of sleep periods, the awake periods alternating in time with the sleep periods, such that the radio is always on during each of the awake periods, and the radio is off for at least some of the sleep periods;

receiving, during one of the awake periods, signaling that defines a downlink transmission resource to communicate a packet or sub-packet, the transmission resource allocated during a portion of a sleep period;

controlling the radio to be on during the portion of the sleep period;

monitoring, during the portion of the sleep period, for signaling that defines an additional transmission resource to communicate an additional downlink packet or subpacket, and in the event such signaling is received, controlling the radio to be on for an additional portion of a sleep period;

starting a timer that counts down the portion of the sleep period upon receiving signaling that defines the downlink transmission resource to transmit the additional downlink packet or sub-packet;

controlling the radio to be on as long as the timer has not expired;

during any portion of a sleep period that the mobile device is controlling the radio to be on, monitoring for signaling defining further downlink transmission resources to transmit further additional packets or sub-packets so long as the timer has not expired, and restarting the timer upon receiving such signaling or upon receiving such a further additional packet or sub-packet; and

controlling the radio to be off at the expiry of the timer.

2. A wireless device comprising:

a wireless access radio for sending and receiving wireless communications to and from a network;

a radio manager that controls the radio of the wireless device during a plurality of awake periods and a plurality of sleep periods, the awake periods alternating in time with the sleep periods, such that the radio is always on during each of the awake periods, and the radio is off for at least some of the sleep periods;

the wireless device further configured to;

receive, during one of the awake periods, signaling that defines a downlink transmission resource to transmit an additional downlink packet or sub-packet, the downlink transmission resource allocated during a portion of a sleep period;

control the radio to be on during the portion of the sleep period;

monitor, during the portion of the sleep period, for signaling that defines additional downlink transmission resource to transmit another additional downlink packet or subpacket, and in the event such signaling is received, control the radio to be on for an additional portion of a sleep period;

start a timer that counts down the portion of the sleep period upon receiving signaling that defines the additional downlink transmission to transmit the additional downlink packet or sub-packet or upon receiving the additional downlink packet or subpacket;

control the radio to be on as long as the timer has not expired;

during any portion of a sleep period that the mobile device is controlling the radio to be on, monitor for signaling defining further downlink transmission resources to transmit further additional packets or sub-packets so long as the timer has not expired, and restarting the timer upon receiving such signaling or upon receiving such a further additional packet or sub-packet; and

control the radio to be off at the expiry of the timer.

3. A method of controlling a wireless device, the method comprising:

configuring the wireless device for discontinuous reception ‘

DRX’

having a plurality of awake periods and a plurality of sleep periods such that a receiver of the wireless device is always on during each of the awake periods, and the receiver of the wireless device is off for at least some portions of at least some of the sleep periods;

monitoring for downlink signaling;

upon receipt of signaling, starting an inactivity timer if the inactivity timer is not running when the signaling is received, and restarting the inactivity timer if the inactivity timer is already running when the signaling is received;

during running of the inactivity timer, controlling the receiver of the wireless device to be on, during a sleep period; and

controlling the receiver of the wireless device to switch from on to off at the expiration of the inactivity timer.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the signaling is an uplink grant over a control channel.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the signaling is a downlink grant over a control channel.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving, during one of the awake periods, signaling that defines a downlink transmission resource to communicate a packet or subpacket, the transmission resource allocated during a portion of a sleep period;

controlling the receiver of the wireless device to be on during the portion of the sleep period; and

monitoring, during the portion of the sleep period, for signaling that defines an additional transmission resource to communicate an additional downlink packet or sub-packet, and, in the event such signaling is received, controlling the receiver of the wireless device to be on for an additional portion of a sleep period.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

starting the inactivity timer that counts down the portion of the sleep period upon receiving signaling that defines the downlink transmission resource to transmit the additional downlink packet or sub-packet; and

controlling the receiver of the wireless device to be on as long as the inactivity timer has not expired.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

during any portion of a sleep period that the wireless device is controlling the receiver of the wireless device to be on, monitoring for signaling defining further downlink transmission resources to transmit further additional packets or sub-packets so long as the inactivity timer has not expired, and restarting the inactivity timer upon receiving such signaling or upon receiving such a further additional packet or subpacket; and

controlling the receiver of the wireless device to switch from on to off at the expiry of the inactivity timer.

9. A wireless device comprising:

a receiver;

a processor configured to control the receiver to have a plurality of awake periods and a plurality of sleep periods such that the receiver is always on during each of the awake periods, and the receiver is off for at least some portions of at least some of the sleep periods;

the receiver configured to monitor downlink signaling;

the processor further configured to start an inactivity timer upon reception of the signaling over the control channel if the inactivity timer is not running when the signaling is received, and to restart the inactivity timer if the inactivity timer is already running when the signaling is received;

the processor further configured to control the receiver of the wireless device to be on during running of the inactivity timer, during a sleep period; and

the processor is further configured to control the receiver of the wireless device to switch from on to off at an expiry of the inactivity timer.

10. The wireless device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive, during one of the awake periods, signaling that defines a downlink transmission resource to transmit an additional downlink packet or sub-packet, the downlink transmission resource allocated during a portion of a sleep period;

control the receiver of the wireless device to be on during the portion of the sleep period; and

monitor, during the portion of the sleep period, for signaling that defines additional downlink transmission resource to transmit another additional downlink packet or sub-packet, and, in the event such signaling is received, control the receiver of the wireless device to be on for an additional portion of a sleep period.

11. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

start the inactivity timer that counts down the portion of the sleep period upon receiving signaling that defines the additional downlink transmission resource to transmit the additional downlink packet or sub-packet or upon receiving the additional downlink packet or subpacket; and

control the receiver of the wireless device to be on as long as the inactivity timer has not expired.

12. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

during any portion of a sleep period that the processor is controlling the receiver of the wireless device to be on, monitor for signaling defining further downlink transmission resources to transmit further additional packets or sub-packets so long as the inactivity timer has not expired, and restart the inactivity timer upon receiving such signaling or upon receiving such a further additional packet or sub-packet;

control the receiver of the wireless device to switch from on to off at the expiry of the inactivity timer.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable by at least one processor of a communications device for causing the device to:

control discontinuous reception having a plurality of awake periods and a plurality of sleep periods such that a receiver of the device is always on during each of the awake periods, and the receiver is off for at least some portions of at least some of the sleep periods;

monitor downlink signaling;

upon receipt of signaling, start an inactivity timer if the inactivity timer is not running when the signaling is received, and restart the inactivity timer if the inactivity timer is already running when the signaling is received;

during running of the inactivity timer, control the receiver of the wireless device to be on, even during a sleep period;

control the receiver to switch from on to off at the expiry of the inactivity timer.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the signaling is an uplink grant over a control channel.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the signaling is a downlink grant over a control channel.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor for causing the device to:

receive, during one of the awake periods, signaling that defines a downlink transmission resource to communicate a packet or subpacket, the transmission resource allocated during a portion of a sleep period;

control the receiver to be on during the portion of the sleep period; and

monitor, during the portion of the sleep period, for signaling that defines an additional transmission resource to communicate an additional downlink packet or sub-packet, and, in the event such signaling is received, control the receiver to be on for an additional portion of a sleep period.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor for causing the device to:

control the receiver to be on as long as the inactivity timer has not expired.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor for causing the device to:

during any portion of a sleep period that the receiver is on, monitor for signaling defining further downlink transmission resources to transmit further additional packets or sub-packets so long as the inactivity timer has not expired, and restart the inactivity timer upon receiving such signaling or upon receiving such a further additional packet or subpacket; and

control the receiver to switch from on to off at the expiry of the inactivity timer.

19. A method of controlling a wireless device enabled for discontinuous reception having a plurality of awake periods and a plurality of sleep periods, wherein the wireless device comprises a receiver that is on during each of the awake periods and off during at least some portions of at least some of the sleep periods, the method comprising:

monitoring a channel for downlink signaling;

receiving the signaling;

starting an inactivity timer if the inactivity timer is not running when the signaling is received, and restarting the inactivity timer if the inactivity timer is already running when the signaling is received;

during running of the inactivity timer, controlling the receiver to be on including during a portion of a sleep period;

controlling the receiver to switch from on to off at the expiration of the inactivity timer.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the signaling is an uplink grant over a control channel.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the signaling is a downlink grant over a control channel.

22. A mobile communication device enabled for discontinuous reception having a plurality of awake periods and a plurality of sleep periods, wherein the device comprises a receiver that is on during each of the awake periods and off during at least some portions of at least some of the sleep periods, the device configured to:

monitor downlink signaling;

receive the signaling;

start an inactivity timer if the inactivity timer is not running when the signaling is received, and restart the inactivity timer if the inactivity timer is already running when the signaling is received;

during running of the inactivity timer, control the receiver to be on, including during a portion of a sleep period; and

control the receiver to switch from on to off at the expiration of the inactivity timer.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the signaling is an uplink grant over a control channel.

24. The device of claim 22, wherein the signaling is a downlink grant over a control channel.

25. A method of controlling a wireless device having a receiver, which is enabled to be on during each of a plurality of awake periods and off during at least some portions of at least some of a plurality of sleep periods, and an inactivity timer, the method comprising:

receiving, during one of the awake periods, signaling that defines a downlink transmission resource to communicate a packet or subpacket, the downlink transmission resource allocated during a portion of a sleep period;

controlling the receiver to be on during the portion of the sleep period;

monitoring, during the portion of the sleep period, for signaling that defines an additional transmission resource to communicate an additional downlink packet or subpacket, and, in the event such signaling is received, controlling the receiver to be on for an additional portion of a sleep period; and

controlling the receiver to be on as long as the inactivity timer has not expired.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

during any portion of a sleep period that the receiver is controlled to be on, monitoring for signaling defining further downlink transmission resources to transmit further additional packets or sub-packets so long as the inactivity timer has not expired, and restarting the inactivity timer upon receiving such signaling or upon receiving such a further additional packet or subpacket; and

controlling the receiver to switch from on to off at the expiry of the inactivity timer.

27. A method of controlling a wireless device having a receiver, which is enabled to be on during each of a plurality of awake periods and off during at least some portions of at least some of a plurality of sleep periods, and an inactivity timer, the method comprising:

receiving, during an awake period, a downlink transmission to communicate a packet or subpacket, the downlink transmission requiring a portion of a sleep period following the awake period for the wireless device to receive fully the packet or subpacket;

controlling the receiver to be on during the portion of the sleep period;

monitoring, during the portion of the sleep period, for an additional downlink transmission to communicate an additional packet or sub-packet, and in the event such additional downlink transmission is received, controlling the receiver to be on for an additional portion of the sleep period;

controlling the receiver to be on as long as the inactivity timer has not expired.

28. A mobile communication device having a receiver, which is enabled to be on during each of a plurality of awake periods and off during at least some portions of at least some of a plurality of sleep periods, and an inactivity timer, the device configured to:

receive, during one of the awake periods, signaling that defines a downlink transmission resource to communicate a packet or subpacket, the downlink transmission resource allocated during a portion of a sleep period;

control the receiver to be on during the portion of the sleep period;

monitor, during the portion of the sleep period, for signaling that defines an additional transmission resource to communicate an additional downlink packet or subpacket, and in the event such signaling is received, control the receiver to be on for an additional portion of a sleep period; and

control the receiver to be on as long as the inactivity timer has not expired.

29. The device of claim 28, further configured to:

during any portion of a sleep period that the receiver is controlled to be on, monitor for signaling defining further downlink transmission resources to transmit further additional packets or sub-packets so long as the inactivity timer has not expired, and restart the inactivity timer upon receiving such signaling or upon receiving such a further additional packet or subpacket; and

control the receiver to switch from on to off at the expiry of the inactivity timer.

30. A mobile communication device having a receiver that is enabled to be on during each of a plurality of awake periods and off during at least some portions of at least some of a plurality of sleep periods, the device configured to:

receive, during an awake period, a downlink transmission to communicate a packet or subpacket, the downlink transmission requiring a portion of a sleep period following the awake period for the device to receive fully the packet or subpacket;

control the receiver of the wireless device to be on during the portion of the sleep period;

monitor, during the portion of the sleep period, for an additional downlink transmission to communicate an additional packet or sub-packet, and in the event such additional downlink transmission is received, control the receiver to be on for an additional portion of the sleep period;

during any portion of a sleep period that the mobile device is controlling the radio to be on, monitor for signaling defining further downlink transmission resources to transmit further additional packets or sub-packets so long as the timer has not expired, and restarting the timer upon receiving such signaling or upon receiving such a further additional packet or sub-packet; and

control the receiver to be off at the expiry of the timer.

31. A mobile communication device comprising:

a receiver enabled to be on during each of a plurality of awake periods and off during at least some portions of at least some of a plurality of sleep periods, a memory storing executable program instructions for managing operation of the receiver; and

a processor for executing the program instructions to;

receive, during an awake period, a downlink transmission to communicate a packet or subpacket, the downlink transmission requiring a portion of a sleep period following the awake period for the device to receive fully the packet or subpacket;

control the receiver of the wireless device to be on during the portion of the sleep period;

monitor, during the portion of the sleep period, for an additional downlink transmission to communicate an additional packet or sub-packet, and in the event such additional downlink transmission is received, control the receiver to be on for an additional portion of the sleep period;

during any portion of a sleep period that the mobile device is controlling the radio to be on, monitor for signaling defining further downlink transmission resources to transmit further additional packets or sub-packets so long as the timer has not expired, and restarting the timer upon receiving such signaling or upon receiving such a further additional packet or sub-packet; and

control the receiver to be off at the expiry of the timer.