Mobile device and power saving method thereof

• US 8,310,969 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2009
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Inventors: Tsai, Chuan-Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, PHUC H
• Application Number:
  US12/603,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20110007679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 370310-311, 370/329, 370/350
• US Class Current: 370/311
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/73 Battery saving arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention discloses a mobile device and a power saving method thereof. The mobile device comprises a modem processor and a data processor. The modem processor is electrically connected to a wireless network system for receiving/transmitting a network packet. When the data processor is in a hibernation mode, the IP packet protocol module of the modem processor unpacks the received network packets to access the packet data. If it is determined that the packet data need to be processed by the data processor, the modem processor wakes up the data processor; whereas the data processor remains in the hibernation mode. Thus, the time period in which the data processor is in the hibernation mode is extended so as to achieve power saving effect.

Claims

1. A mobile device used in a wireless network system, comprising:

a modem processor electrically connected to said wireless network system to receive/transmit a network packet, said modem processor including an IP packet protocol module and a storage buffer; and

a data processor connected via said modem processor to said wireless network system for network service;

wherein when said data processor is in a hibernation mode, said IP packet protocol module unpacks said received network packet to access a packet data and said modem processor selectively wakes up said data processor according to said packet data;

wherein when said modem processor determines that said packet data needs to be processed by said data processor, then said modem processor wakes up said data process by sending said packet data to said data processor;

wherein when said modem processor determines that said packet data is not necessary to wake up said data processor, then said modem processor sends said packet data to said storage buffer.

2. The mobile device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said IP packet protocol module is a push mail protocol module or an instant message (IM) protocol module.

3. The mobile device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said modem processor transmits the packet data stored in said storage buffer to said data processor when said data processor is woken up.

4. The mobile device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said modem processor transmits said received network packet to said data processor which unpacks said network packet according to said IP packet protocol when said data processor is not in said hibernation mode.

5. The mobile device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said IP packet protocol module generates and transmits a response packet to said wireless network system according to said network packet when said data processor is in said hibernation mode.

6. The mobile device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said IP packet protocol module generates and transmits a query packet to said wireless network system according to said IP packet protocol when said data processor is in said hibernation mode.

7. A power saving method for a mobile device, said mobile device including a modem processor and a data processor, said modem processor comprising a storage buffer and receiving at least one network packet, said power saving method comprising the steps of:

determining whether or not said data processor is in a hibernation mode;

said modem processor unpacking said received network packet according to an IP packet protocol to access a packet data when said data processor is in said hibernation mode;

said modem processor selectively waking up said data processor according to said packet data;

sending said packet data to said data processor when said modem processor determines that said packet data need to be processed by said data processor; and

storing said packet data to said storage buffer when said modem processor determines that it is not necessary to wake up said data processor according to said packet data.

8. The power saving method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said IP packet protocol is a push mail protocol or an instant message (IM) protocol.

9. The power saving method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a step of:

said modem processor transmitting the packet data stored in said storage buffer to said data processor when said data processor is woken up.

10. The power saving method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a step of:

said modem processor transmitting said received network packet to said data processor which unpacks said network packet according to said IP packet protocol when said data processor is not in said hibernation mode.

11. The power saving method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a step of:

said modem processor generating and transmitting a response packet to a wireless network system according to said received network packet and said IP packet protocol when said data processor is in said hibernation mode.

12. The power saving method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a step of:

said modem processor generating and transmitting a query packet to a wireless network system according to said IP packet protocol when said data processor is in said hibernation mode.