Apparatus and method for saving power in dual mode portable terminal

• US 8,326,348 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2008
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Choi, Jong-Mu, Jung, Jun-Yeop, Kim, Mi-Soon, Chae, Hee-Jung, Lee, Jung-Hun
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Blane J
• Application Number:
  US12/013,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20080171568A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,786 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/552.1, 455/572, 455/574
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0245 according to signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/06 De-registration or detaching
• 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: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Provided is an apparatus and method for saving power in a dual mode portable terminal that concurrently supports a cellular network and an unlicensed band network. The method includes, upon disassociating from an in-association Access Point (AP) of an unlicensed band network, measuring a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) from the AP during a predetermined time and calculating an average value of the RSSI; and comparing the calculated average value with a predetermined threshold value and deciding whether to perform a mode conversion between a low power mode and a general mode.

Claims

1. A method for saving power in a dual mode portable terminal that concurrently supports a cellular network and an unlicensed band network, the method comprising:

disassociating from an in-association Access Point (AP) of an unlicensed band network;

measuring a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) from the disassociated AP from a time when the dual mode portable terminal disassociates from the in-association AP to a predetermined time;

calculating an average value of the RSSI; and

comparing the calculated average value with a predetermined threshold value and deciding whether to perform a mode conversion between a low power mode and a general mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising converting into the low power mode when the calculated average value is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold value.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining the general mode when the calculated average value is greater than the predetermined threshold value.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold value is a threshold value for determining whether to disassociate from the AP.

5. An apparatus for saving power in a dual mode portable terminal that concurrently supports a cellular network and an unlicensed band network, the apparatus comprising:

a controller for, disassociating from an in-association AP of the unlicensed band network, measuring an RSSI from the disassociated AP from a time when the dual mode portable terminal disassociates from the in-association AP to a predetermined time, comparing a calculated average value with a predetermined threshold value, and deciding whether to perform a mode conversion; and

a communication module for performing a mode conversion between a low power mode and a general mode depending on the decision of the controller.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the controller decides to convert into a low power mode when the average value is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold value and decides to maintain a general mode when the average value is greater than the predetermined threshold value.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the predetermined threshold value is a threshold value for determining whether to disassociate from the AP.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the communication module comprises:

a cellular module for processing a signal exchanged with the cellular network; and

an unlicensed band network supporting module for processing a signal exchanged with the unlicensed band network,

wherein when the controller decides to perform a mode conversion into the low power mode, the controller periodically turns the unlicensed band network supporting module on or off.

9. A method for saving power in a portable terminal, the method comprising:

a means for disassociating from an in-association Access Point (AP) of an unlicensed band network

measuring a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) from the disassociated AP; and

comparing an average value of the RSSI with a threshold value and deciding whether to perform a mode conversion between a low power mode and a general mode.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising converting into the low power mode when the average value is less than or equal to the threshold value.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising maintaining the general mode when the average value is greater than the threshold value.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the threshold value is a value for determining whether to disassociate from the AP.

13. An apparatus for saving power in a portable terminal, the apparatus comprising:

a means for disassociating from an in-association Access Point (AP) of an unlicensed band network;

a means for measuring a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) from the disassociated Access Point (AP); and

a means for comparing an average value of the RSSI with a threshold value and deciding whether to perform a mode conversion between a low power mode and a general mode.