System and method for incorporating a low power mode in wireless communication

• US 8,411,606 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2009
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Chen, Wei-Peng, Zhu, Chenxi, Okuda, Masato, Agre, Jonathan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mered, Habte
• Application Number:
  US12/512,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20100110979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 370310-350, 455/327, 455/574, 4553431-3436, 455/453, 709/200, 709238-244
• US Class Current: 370/311
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0206 in access points, e.g. base stations access point devices per se H04W88/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a method for wireless communication comprises providing, at a base station, a plurality of endpoints with access to a wireless network. The method also comprises the base station entering a low power mode, wherein the base station ceases to provide the plurality of endpoints with access to the wireless network while in the low power mode. In addition, the method comprises the base station transitioning to an active mode from the low power mode during a first predetermined time, wherein the first predetermined time is identified by the base station and at least one endpoint before the base station transitions to the active mode. Further, if the base station receives a request to access the wireless network from at least one endpoint after transitioning to the active mode during a second predetermined time, the method comprises the base station remaining in the active mode. If the base station does not receive a request to access the wireless network from at least one endpoint after transitioning to the active mode during the second predetermined time, the method comprises the base station transitioning to the low power mode.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

at a base station, providing a plurality of endpoints with access to a wireless network;

at the base station, entering a low power mode, wherein the base station ceases to provide the plurality of endpoints with access to the wireless network while in the low power mode;

at the base station, transitioning to an active mode from the low power mode during a first predetermined time, wherein the first predetermined time is identified by the base station and at least one endpoint before the base station transitions to the active mode;

if the base station receives a request to access the wireless network from at least one endpoint after transitioning to the active mode during a second predetermined time, remaining in the active mode;

if the base station does not receive a request to access the wireless network from at least one endpoint after transitioning to the active mode during the second predetermined time, transitioning to the low power mode; and

notifying, by the base station, a node of an access service network associated with the wireless network of the transition from the active mode to the low power mode such that the wireless network updates network load information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

coupling the base station to a network access device, the network access device providing the base station access to the wireless network via an Internet service provider network;

wherein providing the plurality of endpoints with access to the wireless network utilizes the Internet service provider network; and

wherein the wireless network comprises a wireless service provider network.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transitioning, at the base station, from the low power mode to the active mode in response to receiving a message from the wireless network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying, by the base station, at least one endpoint of the transition from the active mode to the low power mode such that the endpoint may determine the first predetermined time in response to the notification.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless network comprises a WiMAX network.

6. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

at a base station, providing a plurality of endpoints with access to a wireless network;

at the base station, entering a low power mode, wherein the base station ceases to provide the plurality of endpoints with access to the wireless network while in the low power mode;

at the base station, receiving at least one ranging code from at least one endpoint;

at the base station, determining that at least one of the received ranging codes corresponds to at least one ranging code of a predetermined set of ranging codes; and

at the base station, exiting the low power mode in response to determining that at least one received ranging code corresponds to at least one predetermined ranging code.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

determining that at least one received ranging code corresponds to at least one predetermined ranging code further comprises;

(a) determining that a first received ranging code corresponds to a first predetermined ranging code;

(b) increasing the amplification of received signals at the base station in response to the determination in step (a) prior to exiting the low power mode; and

(c) determining that a second received ranging code corresponds to a second predetermined ranging code, wherein the second received ranging code is received at the base station after increasing the amplification of received signals at the base station; and

exiting the low power mode further comprises exiting the low power mode in response to the determination in step (c).

8. The method of claim 7, wherein:

determining that at least one received ranging code corresponds to at least one predetermined ranging code further comprises (d) determining that a time delay associated with the first received ranging code is approximately equal to a time delay associated with the second received ranging code; and

wherein exiting the low power mode further comprises exiting the low power mode in response to the determinations in steps (c) and (d).

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

coupling the base station to a network access device, the network access device providing the base station access to the wireless network via an Internet service provider network;

wherein providing the plurality of endpoints with access to the wireless network utilizes the Internet service provider network; and

wherein the wireless network comprises a wireless service provider network.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

at the base station, transitioning from the low power mode to the active mode in response to receiving a message from the wireless network.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

at the base station, notifying the wireless network of the transition from the active mode to the low power mode such that the wireless network may update network load information.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the wireless network comprises a WiMAX network.

13. The method of claim 6, further comprising sending a notification from the base station to at least one endpoint indicating the transition from an active mode to a low power mode, wherein the notification comprises a cryptographic parameter that may be utilized to determine at least one predetermined ranging code.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein determining that at least one of the received ranging codes corresponds to at least one ranging code of a predetermined set of ranging codes further comprises determining that the ranging slot of the at least one ranging code corresponds to the ranging slot of the at least one predetermined ranging code.

15. A system for wireless communication comprising:

a radio operable to;

provide a plurality of endpoints with access to a wireless network;

cease providing the plurality of endpoints with access to the wireless network while a base station is in a low power mode; and

receive a request to access the wireless network from at least one endpoint; and

at least one processor operable to;

cause the base station to enter into the low power mode;

identify a first predetermined time;

cause the base station to transition from the low power mode to an active mode during the first predetermined time;

cause the base station to remain in the active mode after the transition from the low power mode to the active mode if the request is received during a second predetermined time;

cause the base station to transition from the active mode to the low power mode after the transition from the low power mode to the active mode if the request is not received during the second predetermined time; and

cause the base station to notify a node of an access service network associated with the wireless network of the transition from the active mode to the low power mode such that the wireless network updates network load information.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

an interface operable to;

couple the base station to a network access device, the network access device providing the base station access to the wireless network via an Internet service provider network wherein the wireless network comprises a wireless service provider network; and

couple to the radio such that providing the plurality of endpoints with access to the wireless network utilizes the Internet service provider network.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is further operable to cause the base station to transition from the low power mode to the active mode in response to the base station receiving a message from the wireless network indicating that the base station needs to communicate with at least one endpoint.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the radio is further operable to notify at least one endpoint of the transition of the base station from the active mode to the low power mode such that the endpoint may determine the first predetermined time in response to the notification.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the wireless network comprises a WiMAX network.

20. A system for wireless communication, comprising:

a radio operable to;

provide a plurality of endpoints with access to a wireless network;

cease providing the plurality of endpoints with access to the wireless network while a base station is in a low power mode; and

receive at least one ranging code from at least one endpoint; and

at least one processor operable to;

determine that at least that at least one of the received ranging codes corresponds to at least one ranging code of a predetermined set of ranging codes; and

cause the base station to exit the low power mode in response to determining that at least one received ranging code corresponds to at least one predetermined ranging code.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein:

determining that at least one received ranging code corresponds to at least one predetermined ranging code further comprises;

(a) determining that a first received ranging code corresponds to a first predetermined ranging code;

(b) increasing the amplification of received signals at the base station in response to the determination in step (a) prior to exiting the low power mode; and

(c) determining that a second received ranging code corresponds to a second predetermined ranging code, wherein the second received ranging code is received at the base station after increasing the amplification of received signals at the base station; and

causing the base station to exit the low power mode further comprises causing the base station to exit the low power mode in response to the determination in step (c).

22. The system of claim 21, wherein:

determining that at least one received ranging code corresponds to at least one predetermined ranging code further comprises (d) determining that a time delay associated with the first received ranging code is approximately equal to a time delay associated with the second received ranging code; and

causing the base station to exit the low power mode further comprises causing the base station to exit the low power mode in response to the determination in steps (c) and (d).

23. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

an interface operable to;

couple the base station to a network access device, the network access device providing the base station access to the wireless network via an Internet service provider network wherein the wireless network comprises a wireless service provider network; and

couple to the radio such that providing the plurality of endpoints with access to the wireless network utilizes the Internet service provider network.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is further operable to cause the base station to transition from the low power mode to the active mode in response to the base station receiving a message from the wireless network indicating that the base station needs to communicate with at least one endpoint.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is further operable to cause the base station to notify the wireless network of the transition from the active mode to the low power mode such that the wireless network may update network load information.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein the wireless network comprises a WiMAX network.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein the radio is further operable to send a notification from the base station to at least one endpoint indicating the transition from an active mode to a low power mode, wherein the notification comprises a cryptographic parameter that may be utilized to determine at least one predetermined ranging code.

28. The system of claim 20, wherein determining that at least one of the received ranging codes corresponds to at least one ranging code of a predetermined set of ranging codes further comprises determining that the ranging slot of the at least one ranging code corresponds to the ranging slot of the at least one predetermined ranging code.