Method and arrangement for reducing power consumption in a mobile communication network

• US 8,180,408 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2006
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Frenger, Pål, Magnusson, Per, Parkvall, Stefan, Wiberg, Niclas
• Primary Examiner(s): GESESSE, TILAHUN
• Application Number:
  US12/161,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20090005127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,016 Days
• Field of Search: 455/343.2, 455/343.5, 455/574, 455/343.1, 455/571
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0055 Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0206 in access points, e.g. base stations access point devices per se H04W88/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0238 where the received signal is an unwanted signal, e.g. interference or idle signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/28 using user profile, e.g. mobile speed, priority or network state, e.g. standby, idle or non transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/286 during data packet transmission, e.g. high speed packet access [HSPA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/287 when the channel is in stand-by
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/02 Arrangements for increasing efficiency of notification or paging channel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for reducing power consumption of a receiver in a mobile communication network comprising a sender transmitting packet data on a downlink channel to one or more receivers over a radio interface. Inactive time instants and listening time instants are defined according to provided rules. The receiver is arranged to listen for information from the sender during the listening time instants and to sleep during the inactive time instants. Thus, less power will be consumed during the inactive time instants.

Claims

1. A method for reducing power consumption of a receiver in a mobile communication network comprising a sender transmitting packet data on a downlink channel to one or more receivers over a radio interface, wherein the method comprises the step of:

making an agreement on a rule with said sender;

defining inactive time instants and listening time instants according to said agreed rule,

wherein, during said listening time instants said receiver is listening for signalling from said sender,

wherein, during said inactive time instants, said receiver is not listening for signalling from said sender and said sender agrees not to send packets to the receiver, whereby less power is consumed during said inactive time instants.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of defining said listening time instants according to a fixed periodical pattern.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said listening time instants starts at a pre-determined time and ends when a packet is received in said receiver.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the method further comprises the step of sending a dummy packet to said receiver in order to end said listening time instants.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said listening time instants starts at a pre-determined time and ends after a pre-determined time.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of sending commands instructing said receiver to go into said inactive mode for a time period according to instructions in said command.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of sending commands instructing said receiver to go into said inactive mode until a pre-determined time.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of triggering the start of said listening time instant by a negative acknowledgement sent from said receiver when a packet is erroneously received in said receiver.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said listening time instant starts after a channel quality report is received in said receiver.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said rules are tabulated for different types of applications.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of automatically selecting said rules by means of an algorithm based on pre-determined parameters.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of determining said rules by means of an adaptive algorithm based on observed traffic characteristics.

13. An arrangement for reducing power consumption of a receiver in a mobile communication network comprising a sender transmitting packet data on a downlink channel to one or more receivers over a radio interface, wherein the arrangement comprises:

a processor configured to;

make an agreement on a rule with said sender;

define inactive time instants and listening time instants according to said agreed rule,

wherein, during said listening time instants said receiver is arranged to listen for signalling from said sender,

wherein, during said inactive time instants, said receiver is not arranged to listen for signalling from said sender and said sender agrees not to send packets to the receiver, whereby less power is consumed during said inactive time instants.

14. An arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the arrangement further comprises means for defining said listening time instants according to a fixed periodical pattern.

15. An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein said listening time instants are arranged to start at a pre-determined time and to end when a packet is received in said receiver.

16. An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to send a dummy packet to said receiver in order to end said listening time instants.

17. An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein said listening time instants are arranged to start at a pre-determined time and to end after a pre-determined time.

18. An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to send commands instructing said receiver to go into said inactive mode for a time period according to instructions in said command.

19. An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to send commands instructing said receiver to go into said inactive mode until a pre-determined time.

20. An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to trigger the start of said listening time instant by a negative acknowledgement sent from said receiver when a packet is erroneously received in said receiver.

21. An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein said listening time instants are arranged to start after a channel quality report is received in said receiver.

22. An arrangement according to claim 13, wherein said rules are tabulated for different types of applications.

23. An arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to automatically select said rules by means of an algorithm based on pre-determined parameters.

24. An arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the processor is further operable to determine said rules by means of an adaptive algorithm based on observed traffic characteristics.

25. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein the arrangement is part of a mobile terminal.

26. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program for reducing power consumption of a receiver in a mobile communication network comprising a sender transmitting packet data on a downlink channel to one or more receivers over a radio interface, wherein the computer program, when executed by a processor, performs the step of:

making an agreement on a rule with said sender;

defining inactive time instants and listening time instants according to said agreed rule,

wherein, during said listening time instants said receiver is listening for signalling from said sender,

wherein, during said inactive time instants, said receiver is not listening for signaling from said sender and said sender agrees not to send packets to the receiver, whereby less power is consumed during said inactive time instants.