Signaling over cellular networks to reduce the Wi-Fi energy consumption of mobile devices

• US 8,270,965 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bahl, Paramvir, Chandra, Ranveer, Chin, Kevin, Wolman, Alastair, Agarwal, Yuvraj
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ngo, Chuong A
• Application Number:
  US11/697,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20080247344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,993 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455419-4221, 455/432.1, 455/436, 455/442, 455/500, 455/552.1, 4551271-1275, 455571-574, 4553431-3436, 455/90.2, 455/522, 455/415, 455518-520, 4553431-3436, 370/310, 370/313, 370/348, 370/311, 370/318, 370216-266, 370/332, 370/338, 370/260, 370/389
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/085 collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/00 Interfaces specially adapted for wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Techniques for increasing the battery life on a mobile device by decreasing the energy consumption of the mobile device'"'"'s wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) interface are described. In one embodiment, the mobile device'"'"'s Wi-Fi interface is automatically disabled when the device is not engaged in a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) call via the Wi-Fi interface. When a VoIP call is initiated on the device, or when the device receives a wake up call from a server via its Cellular interface, the Wi-Fi interface is automatically enabled. Using its Wi-Fi interface, the mobile device then connects to an IP-based network via a Wi-Fi access point. The server then initiates a direct call, wherein VoIP technology is used by the mobile device, between the mobile device and a VoIP calling device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by a first mobile device, a cellular call over a cellular network, wherein the cellular call includes a caller identification (ID) number, the caller ID number comprises a number, at least a portion of which is formatted to avoid collisions between the cellular call and other calls on the cellular network;

a number, at least a portion of which is encrypted using a one-way hash of a secret key shared by the server device and the first mobile device;

or a combination thereof;

determining, by the first mobile device, whether the caller ID number is associated with a server device sending a wake-up call;

enabling, by the first mobile device, a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) interface on the first mobile device when the caller ID number is associated with the server device sending the wake-up call; and

initiating, by the first mobile device, a direct call utilizing voice over internet protocol (VoIP) technology between the first mobile device and a second mobile device via the Wi-Fi interface on the first mobile device.

2. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the cellular call rings on the first mobile device as a regular cellular call when the caller ID number is not associated with the server device sending the wake-up call.

3. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

connecting to a wireless access point via the Wi-Fi interface on the first mobile device;

obtaining an IP address from an IP-based network via the wireless access point; and

registering the IP address with the server device.

4. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the acts of initiating the cellular call and initiating the direct call are facilitated by control features implemented on the first mobile device.

5. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the caller ID number is unique with respect to both the server device and the first mobile device.

6. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first mobile device implements a full-featured compact operating system.

7. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising monitoring traffic over the Wi-Fi interface on the first mobile device to determine when to disable the Wi-Fi interface on the first device at the conclusion of the direct call.

8. A mobile device comprising:

a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) interface;

a cellular interface;

one or more processors;

one or more mobile device applications executable by the one or more processors to;

receive a cellular call over a cellular network, wherein the cellular call includes a caller identification (ID) number, the caller ID number comprises a number, at least a portion of which is formatted to avoid collisions between the cellular call and other calls on the cellular network;

a number, at least a portion of which is encrypted using a one-way hash of a secret key shared by the server device and the first mobile device;

or a combination thereof;

determine whether the caller ID number is associated with a server device sending a wake-up call;

enable a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) interface on the first mobile device when the caller ID number is associated with the server device sending the wake-up call; and

initiate a direct call utilizing voice over internet protocol (VoIP) technology between the first mobile device and a second mobile device via the Wi-Fi interface on the first mobile device.

9. The mobile device as recited in claim 8, wherein the cellular call rings on the mobile device as a regular cellular call when the caller ID number is not associated with the server device sending the wake-up call.

10. The mobile device as recited in claim 8, the one or more mobile device applications further executable by the one or more processors to:

connect to a wireless access point via the Wi-Fi interface on the mobile device;

obtain an IP address from an IP-based network via the wireless access point; and

register the IP address with the server device.

11. The mobile device as recited in claim 8, wherein initiation of the cellular call and the initiation of the direct call are facilitated by control features implemented on the mobile device.

12. The mobile device as recited in claim 8, wherein the caller ID number is unique with respect to both the server device and the mobile device.

13. The mobile device as recited in claim 8, wherein the mobile device implements a full-featured compact operating system.

14. The mobile device as recited in claim 8, the one or more mobile device applications further executable by the one or more processors to monitor traffic over the Wi-Fi interface on the mobile device to determine when to disable the Wi-Fi interface on the mobile device at the conclusion of the direct call.

15. A computer-readable storage device comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, configure the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:

receiving, by a first mobile device, a cellular call over a cellular network, wherein the cellular call includes a caller identification (ID) number, the caller ID number comprises a number, at least a portion of which is formatted to avoid collisions between the cellular call and other calls on the cellular network;

a number, at least a portion of which is encrypted using a one-way hash of a secret key shared by the server device and the first mobile device;

or a combination thereof;

determining, by the first mobile device, whether the caller ID number is associated with a server device sending a wake-up call;

enabling, by the first mobile device, a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) interface on the first mobile device when the caller ID number is associated with the server device sending the wake-up call; and

initiating, by the first mobile device, a direct call utilizing voice over internet protocol (VoIP) technology between the first mobile device and a second mobile device via the Wi-Fi interface on the first mobile device.

16. The computer-readable storage device as recited in claim 15, wherein the cellular call rings on the first mobile device as a regular cellular call when the caller ID number is not associated with the server device sending the wake-up call.

17. The computer-readable storage device as recited in claim 15, the acts further comprising:

connecting to a wireless access point via the Wi-Fi interface on the first mobile device;

obtaining an IP address from an IP-based network via the wireless access point; and

registering the IP address with the server device.

18. The computer-readable storage device as recited in claim 15, wherein the acts of initiating the cellular call and initiating the direct call are facilitated by control features implemented on the first mobile device.

19. The computer-readable storage device as recited in claim 15, wherein the caller ID number is unique with respect to both the server device and the first mobile device.

20. The computer-readable storage device as recited in claim 15, the acts further comprising monitoring traffic over the Wi-Fi interface on the first mobile device to determine when to disable the Wi-Fi interface on the first device at the conclusion of the direct call.