Method and system for selecting a sleep interval to improve battery life

• US 8,433,374 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2006
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Deshpande, Manoj M., Meylan, Arnaud, Jayaram, Ranjith, Nanda, Sanjiv
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Danh C
• Application Number:
  US11/550,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20070253399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,387 Days
• Field of Search: 370/311, 370/347, 455/414.2, 455/466, 455/522, 455/552.1, 455/574, 455/572, 455/435.1
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• 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

The disclosure is directed to a mobile communication device that is capable of accessing different types of networks such as a circuit-switched network and a packet-switched network. While communicating over the packet-switched network, the device negotiates a sleep interval that is longer than the ordinary interval available using the packet-switched network. In this manner, the device wakes less frequently and thereby conserves power. A buffering system is included so that data directed towards the device while it is asleep may be buffered for later delivery when the device awakens.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a sleep interval in a mobile communications device, comprising:

negotiating a first sleep interval period with an access point;

negotiating a second sleep interval period with one or more entities other than the access point, wherein the second sleep interval period is longer than the first sleep interval period, and wherein the second sleep interval is negotiated after registration with the access point is complete, and wherein at least one of the one or more entities other than the access point is configured to buffer data; and

sending a signal to at least one of the one or more entities other than the access point indicating that buffering of data should cease.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second sleep interval period is an integral multiple of the first sleep interval period.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sleeping through and ignoring beacon transmissions repeated at the first sleep interval and awakening from a stand-by mode upon expiration of the second sleep interval period.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

listening for a beacon signal upon expiration of the second sleep interval period; and

determining if the beacon signal indicates data is available for the mobile communications device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

periodically sending a heartbeat signal to at least one of the one or more entities other than the access point.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more entities other than the access point includes a page buffering function.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the page buffering function is located upstream from the access point relative to the mobile communications device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the page buffering function is configured to buffer at least one of data or signaling destined for the mobile communications device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

awakening from a stand-by mode upon expiration of the second sleep interval period;

receiving buffered data from the at least one of the one or more entities other than the access point.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

awakening from a stand-by mode in time to listen to more than one beacon transmitted from the access point immediately preceding or immediately following the expiration of the second sleep interval period; and

determining if one of the immediately preceding or immediately following beacon signal indicates data is available for the mobile communications device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

estimating a network path delay between the mobile device and the server; and

enabling buffering at the server.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining a failure in receiving a signal from a server due to incorrect scheduling of the signal; and

performing at least one of the following;

negotiating the second sleep interval period;

re-estimating a network path delay between the mobile device and the server;

or

disabling the second sleep interval and buffering at the server.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a signal to at least one of the one or more entities other than the access point, the signal indicating that the mobile communications device is ready to receive data, wherein the data is buffered at the at least one of the one or more entities other than the access point.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving the buffered data.

15. A mobile communications device, comprising:

a transceiver configured to listen for beacon signals from an access point; and

a processor controlling the transceiver and configured to;

negotiate a first sleep interval period with the access point,

change the first sleep interval period to a second sleep interval period based on a negotiation with one or more entities other than the access point, wherein the second sleep interval period is longer than the first sleep interval period, and wherein the second sleep interval is negotiated after registration with the access point is complete, and wherein at least one of the one or more entities other than the access point is configured to buffer data, and

send a signal to at least one of the one or more entities other than the access point indicating that buffering of data should cease.

16. The mobile communications device of claim 15, wherein the second sleep interval period is an integral multiple of the first sleep interval period.

17. The mobile communications device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to awaken from a stand-by mode upon expiration of the second sleep interval period.

18. The mobile communications device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

listen for a beacon signal upon expiration of the second sleep interval period; and

determine if the beacon signal indicates data is available for the mobile communications device.

19. The mobile communications device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to send a heartbeat signal to at least of the one or more entities other than the access point.

20. The mobile communications device of claim 15, wherein the one or more entities other than the access point includes a page buffering function.

21. The mobile communications device of claim 20, wherein the page buffering function is located upstream from the access point relative to the mobile communications device.

22. The mobile communications device of claim 20, wherein the page buffering function is configured to buffer at least one of data or signaling destined for the mobile communications device.

23. The mobile communications device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

awaken from a stand-by mode upon expiration of the second sleep interval period, and

receive buffered data from the at least one of the one or more entities other than the access point.

24. The mobile communications device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

awaken the mobile communications device from a stand-by mode in time to listen to more than one beacon transmitted from the access point immediately preceding or immediately following the expiration of the second sleep interval period, and

determine if one of the immediately preceding or immediately following beacon signal indicates data is available for the mobile communications device.

25. The mobile communications device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

estimate a network path delay between the mobile device and the server; and

enable buffering at the server.

26. The mobile communications device of claim 25, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a failure in receiving a signal from a server due to incorrect scheduling of the signal, and

perform at least one of the following;

negotiating the second sleep interval period;

re-estimating a network path delay between the mobile device and the server;

or

disabling the second sleep interval and buffering at the server.

27. The mobile communications device of claim 15, wherein the access point is associated with a WI-FI.

28. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions stored thereon, the stored instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

negotiating a first sleep interval period with an access point;

changing the first sleep interval period to a second sleep interval period based on a negotiation with one or more entities other than the access point, wherein the second sleep interval period is longer than the first sleep interval period, and wherein the second sleep interval is negotiated after registration with the access point is complete, and wherein at least one of the one or more entities other than the access point is configured to buffer data; and

sending a signal to at least one of the one or more entities other than the access point indicating that buffering of data should cease.

29. A mobile communications device capable of communicating over multiple access networks, comprising:

a transceiver configured to listen for beacon signals from an access point;

means for negotiating a first sleep interval period with the access point;

means for changing the first sleep interval period to a second sleep interval period based on a negotiation with one or more entities other than the access point, wherein the second sleep interval period is longer than the first sleep interval period, and wherein the second sleep interval is negotiated after registration with the access point is complete, and wherein at least one of the one or more entities other than the access point is configured to buffer data; and

means for sending a signal to at least one of the one or more entities other than the access point indicating that buffering of data should cease.

30. A method for buffering data to be delivered to a mobile communications device, comprising:

negotiating a sleep interval with the mobile communications device that is downstream from an access point, wherein the sleep interval is negotiated after registration with the access point is complete;

buffering data destined for the mobile communications device at a server;

receiving a signal from the mobile communications device, the signal indicating that buffering of data should cease; and

transmitting at least a portion of the buffered data to the mobile communications device.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the at least a portion of the buffered data is transmitted to the mobile communications device upon expiration of the sleep interval.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the at least a portion of the buffered data is transmitted to the mobile communications device upon receiving a signal from the mobile communications device.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

transmitting the at least a portion of the buffered data during a predetermined time period before the expiration of the sleep interval.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the predetermined time period is estimated between the server and the mobile communications device by exchanging at least a message between the mobile communications device and the server.

35. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

transmitting the at least a portion of the buffered data multiple times so that at least one of these transmissions reaches the mobile communications device when the mobile communications device is awake.

36. A server, comprising:

a memory;

a processor, coupled with the memory, configured to;

negotiate a sleep interval with a mobile communications device that is downstream from an access point, both of which are downstream from the server, wherein the sleep interval is negotiated after registration with the access point is complete;

estimate a network path delay between the server and the mobile communications device;

buffer data destined for the mobile communications device;

receive a signal from the mobile communications device, the signal indicating that buffering of data should cease; and

transmit at least a portion of the buffered data to the mobile communications device.

37. The server of claim 36, wherein the at least a portion of the buffered data is transmitted to the mobile communications device upon expiration of the sleep interval.

38. The server of claim 36, wherein the at least a portion of the buffered data is transmitted to the mobile communications device upon receiving a signal from the mobile communications device.

39. The server of claim 36, wherein the processor is further configured to exchange a heartbeat signal with the mobile communications device.

40. The server of claim 36, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the at least a portion of the buffered data during a predetermined time period before the expiration of the sleep interval.

41. The server of claim 40, wherein the predetermined time period is approximately an estimated expected network delay to deliver a signal from the server to the mobile communications device.

42. The server of claim 36, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the at least a portion of the buffered data multiple times so that at least one of these transmissions reaches the mobile communications device when the mobile communications device is awake.

43. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions stored thereon, the stored instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

negotiating a sleep interval with a mobile communications device that is downstream from an access point, both of which are downstream from a server, wherein the sleep interval is negotiated after registration with the access point is complete;

buffering data destined for the mobile communications device at the server;

receiving a signal from the mobile communications device, the signal indicating that buffering of data should cease; and

transmitting at least a portion of the buffered data to the mobile communications device.

44. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein the at least a portion of the buffered data is transmitted to the mobile communications device upon expiration of the sleep interval.

45. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein the at least a portion of the buffered data is transmitted to the mobile communications device upon receiving a signal from the mobile communications device.

46. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein the method further comprising:

transmitting the at least a portion of the buffered data during a predetermined time period before the expiration of the sleep interval.

47. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 46, wherein the predetermined time period is estimated between the server and the mobile communications device by exchanging at least a message between the mobile communications device and the server.

48. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein the method further comprising:

transmitting the at least a portion of the buffered data multiple times so that at least one of these transmissions reaches the mobile communications device when the mobile communications device is awake.

49. An apparatus operable in a wireless communications system, comprising:

means for negotiating a sleep interval with a mobile communications device that is downstream from an access point, both of which are downstream from the apparatus, wherein the sleep interval is negotiated after registration with the access point is complete;

means for buffering data destined for the mobile communications device at the apparatus;

means for receiving a signal from the mobile communications device, the signal indicating that buffering of data should cease; and

means for transmitting at least a portion of the buffered data to the mobile communications device.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the at least a portion of the buffered data is transmitted to the mobile communications device upon expiration of the sleep interval.

51. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the at least a portion of the buffered data is transmitted to the mobile communications device upon receiving a signal from the mobile communications device.

52. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising:

means for transmitting the at least a portion of the buffered data during a predetermined time period before the expiration of the sleep interval.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the predetermined time period is estimated between the apparatus and the mobile communications device by exchanging at least a message between the mobile communications device and the apparatus.

54. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising:

means for transmitting the at least a portion of the buffered data multiple times so that at least one of these transmissions reaches the mobile communications device when the mobile communications device is awake.