Device, system and method of power-saving for wireless communication

• US 8,351,848 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2009
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Mohanty, Shantidev, Venkatachalam, Muthaiah
• Primary Examiner(s): Rego, Dominic E
• Application Number:
  US12/645,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20110045763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.02, 455/427, 455/428, 455/430, 455/431, 455 7- 9, 455/11.1, 455/12.1, 455 131- 133, 455 14- 17, 455/522, 455 68- 70, 455/127.1, 4553431-3436, 455/117, 455/230, 455/298, 455/572, 455/574, 455/327, 340/425.1, 370/226, 370/293, 370/246, 370/279, 370/315, 370/316, 370/492, 370/501, 370/318
• US Class Current: 455/11.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/41 Remote control of gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0069 comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• 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

Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of managing power saving mechanisms of wireless communication devices. For example, a wireless communication unit may relay communications between a wireless communication device and a base station, wherein the wireless communication unit is to manage a power-saving mechanism of the wireless communication device by scheduling one or more power-save periods for the wireless communication device, and transmitting to the wireless communication device a power-save message indicating the one or more power-save periods. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A device including:

a wireless communication unit to relay communications between a wireless communication device and a base station,

wherein the wireless communication unit is to manage a power-saving mechanism of the wireless communication device by scheduling one or more power-save periods for the wireless communication device, and transmitting to the wireless communication device a power-save message indicating the one or more power-save periods,

wherein the wireless communication unit is to receive a power-save request from the wireless communication device,

wherein the wireless communication unit is to process the power-save request and to determine whether to accept the power save request and schedule the power-save periods according to the power save request,

and wherein, in response to the power-save request, the wireless communication unit is to transmit a power-save response to the wireless communication device, the power-save response indicating the one or more power save periods scheduled by said wireless communication unit.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit is to receive the power-save request directly from the wireless communication device, and to transmit a power-save response directly to the wireless communication device.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the power-save request includes a sleep-mode request, and wherein the power-save periods include sleep periods during which the wireless communication device is to operate at a sleep mode.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the power-save request includes an idle-mode request, and wherein the power-save periods include idle periods during which the wireless communication device is to operate at an idle mode.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit is to transmit a power-save update to be received by the base station, the power-save update indicating the one or more power-save periods.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit is to receive an idle-mode initiation request from the wireless communication device, to relay the idle-mode initiation request to the base station, to receive from the base station an idle-mode initiation response including one or more idle-mode parameters defining one or more idle-mode paging periods, and to relay the idle-mode initiation response to the wireless communication device.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit is to be assigned to a same paging group as the base station, and to receive from the base station an announcement of a paging message, and wherein the wireless communication unit is to broadcast the paging message to the paging group.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the wireless communication unit is to receive the announcement prior to a broadcast transmission of the paging message by the base station.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit is to receive from the wireless communication device a location update request to switch the wireless communication device between paging groups, and wherein the wireless communication unit is to relay the location update request to the base station.

10. A method including:

relaying, via a relay station, communications between a wireless communication device and a base station; and

managing at the relay station a power-saving mechanism of the wireless communication device by scheduling one or more power-save periods for the wireless communication device, and transmitting to the wireless communication device a power-save message indicating the one or more power-save periods,

wherein managing the power-saving mechanism includes receiving a power-save request from the wireless communication device, processing the power-save request to determine whether to accept the power save request and schedule the power-save periods according to the power save request, and transmitting a power-save response to the wireless communication device in response to the power-save request, the power-save response indicating the one or more power save periods.

11. The method of claim 10 including receiving an idle-mode initiation request from the wireless communication device, relaying the idle-mode initiation request to the base station, receiving from the base station an idle-mode initiation response including one or more idle-mode parameters defining one or more idle-mode paging periods, and relaying the idle-mode initiation response to the wireless communication device.

12. The method of claim 10 including transmitting a power-save update to be received by the base station, the power-save update indicating the one or more power-save periods.

13. The method of claim 10 including:

assigning the relay station to the same paging group as the base station;

receiving, at the relay station, an announcement of a paging message from the base station, prior to a broadcast transmission of the paging message by the base station; and

broadcasting the paging message from the relay station to the paging group.

14. The method of claim 10 including receiving, at the relay station, a location update request to switch the wireless communication device between paging groups, and relaying the location update request to the base station.

15. A wireless communication system including:

a wireless communication relay station to relay communications between a wireless communication device and a base station, the relay station including a wireless communication unit and one or more antennas,

wherein the wireless communication relay station is to manage a power-saving mechanism of the wireless communication device by scheduling one or more power-save periods for the wireless communication device, and transmitting to the wireless communication device a power-save message indicating the one or more power-save periods,

wherein the relay station is to receive a power-save request from the wireless communication device,

wherein the relay station is to process the power-save request and to determine whether to accept the power save request and schedule the power-save periods according to the power save request,

and wherein, in response to the power-save request, the relay station is to transmit a power-save response to the wireless communication device, the power-save response indicating the one or more power save periods scheduled by said relay station.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the wireless communication relay station is to receive an idle-mode initiation request from the wireless communication device, to relay the idle-mode initiation request to the base station, to receive from the base station an idle-mode initiation response including one or more idle-mode parameters defining one or more idle-mode paging periods, and to relay the idle-mode initiation response to the wireless communication device.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the wireless communication relay station is to transmit a power-save update to be received by the base station, the power-save update indicating the one or more power-save periods.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the wireless communication relay station is to be assigned to a same paging group as the base station, and to receive from the base station an announcement of a paging message, and wherein the wireless communication relay station is to broadcast the paging message to the paging group.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the wireless communication relay station is to receive from the wireless communication device a location update request to switch the wireless communication device between paging groups, and wherein the wireless communication relay station is to relay the location update request to the base station.