Power saving by limiting use of advanced signal processing

• US 8,521,237 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2011
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Mohseni, Jafar, O'Shea, Helena Deirdre, Stancer, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tu X
• Application Number:
  US13/009,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20120052858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 455/674, 455/127.5, 455/226.1, 455/574, 455/135, 455/134, 455/127.1, 455/277.2
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0245 according to signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/028 switching on or off only a part of the equipment circuit blocks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices are described for power saving techniques in mobile devices. A signal quality metric of a received wireless signal may be monitored. A determination is made when the signal quality metric exceeds a threshold quality level for a time period. A subset of the signal processing functionality may be de-activated responsive to the determination. There may be different thresholds depending on whether the mobile device is in idle or connected mode. There may also be different thresholds for various signal processing algorithms.

Claims

1. A method for signal processing performed by a mobile device, comprising:

initiating, by a processor of the mobile device, a timer for a time period when a mobile device transitions to idle mode;

monitoring, by the processor, a signal quality metric associated with a received wireless signal;

determining, by the processor, that the signal quality metric exceeds a threshold quality level for the time period, the threshold quality level comprising a first threshold quality level when a mobile device is in idle mode, and a second threshold quality level, of higher quality than the first threshold quality level, when the mobile device is in connected mode; and

de-activating a subset of signal processing functionality responsive to the determination.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

suspending a timer for the time period when the mobile device transitions to connected mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the time period comprises:

a first time period when a mobile device is in idle mode; and

a second time period, longer than the first time period, when the mobile device is in connected mode.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold quality level and the time period comprise:

a first threshold quality level and a first time period when a mobile device is in idle mode; and

a second threshold quality level and a second time period, different from the first threshold quality level and the first time period, when the mobile device is in connected mode.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining when the signal quality metric drops below a re-activation threshold quality level for a re-activation time period; and

re-activating the subset of signal processing functionality responsive to the determination.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the threshold quality level and the re-activation threshold quality level comprise different levels.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the re-activation threshold quality level and the re-activation time period comprise:

a first re-activation threshold quality level and a first re-activation time period when a mobile device is in idle mode; and

a second re-activation threshold quality level and a second re-activation time period, different from the first re-activation threshold quality level and the first re-activation time period, when the mobile device is in connected mode.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset of signal processing includes signal processing functionality comprising interference cancellation, equalization, amplification, adjacent channel interference correction, Doppler shift correction, frequency error correction, or phase error correction.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold quality level and the time period comprise:

a first threshold quality level and a first time period for a first type of signal processing functionality; and

a second threshold quality level and a second time period, different from the first threshold quality level and the first time period, for a second type of signal processing functionality.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reducing requirements for signal lock responsive to the determination.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

delaying activation of signal processing functionality responsive to the determination.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal quality metric comprises an averaged signal quality metric.

13. A device for signal processing comprising:

means for initiating a timer for a time period when a mobile device transitions to idle mode;

means for monitoring a signal quality metric associated with a received wireless signal;

means for determining that the signal quality metric exceeds a threshold quality level for the time period, the threshold quality level comprising a first threshold quality level when a mobile device is in idle mode, and a second threshold quality level, of higher quality than the first threshold quality level, when the mobile device is in connected mode; and

means for de-activating a subset of signal processing functionality responsive to the determination.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising:

means for determining when the signal quality metric drops below a re-activation threshold quality level for a re-activation time period; and

means for re-activating the subset of signal processing functionality responsive to the determination.

15. A mobile device for signal processing, comprising:

a receiver module configured to receive a wireless signal;

a measurement module configured to measure a signal quality metric of the received wireless signal; and

a de-activation module, communicatively coupled with the measurement module, and configured to;

initiate a first timer for a time period when the mobile device transitions to idle mode;

monitor the measured signal quality;

determine when the signal quality metric exceeds a threshold quality level for the time period, the threshold quality level comprising a first threshold quality level when a mobile device is in idle mode, and a second threshold quality level, of higher quality than the first threshold quality level, when the mobile device is in connected mode; and

de-activate a subset of baseband signal processing functionality responsive to the determination.

16. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the mobile device executes the de-activation module in connected mode or idle mode.

17. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the time period comprises:

a first time period when a mobile device is in idle mode; and

a second time period, longer than the first time period, when the mobile device is in connected mode.

18. The mobile device of claim 15, further comprising:

a re-activation module, communicatively coupled with the measurement module, and configured to;

determine that the signal quality metric has dropped below a re-activation threshold quality level for a re-activation time period; and

re-activate the subset of signal processing functionality responsive to the determination.

19. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the threshold quality level and the re-activation threshold quality level comprise different levels.

20. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the re-activation threshold quality level and the re-activation time period comprise:

a first re-activation threshold quality level and a first re-activation time period when the mobile device is in idle mode; and

a second re-activation threshold quality level and a second re-activation time period, different in quality level or time from the first re-activation threshold quality level and the re-activation first time period, when the mobile device is in connected mode.

21. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the subset of signal processing includes signal processing functionality comprising interference cancellation, equalization, amplification, adjacent channel interference correction, Doppler shift correction, frequency error correction, phase error correction, or any combination thereof.

22. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein requirements for signal lock are reduced responsive to the determination.

23. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein activation of signal processing functionality is delayed responsive to the determination.

24. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium comprising:

code for causing a computer to initiate a timer for a time period when a mobile device transitions to idle mode;

code for causing a computer to monitor a signal quality metric associated with a wireless signal;

code for causing a computer to determine that the signal quality metric exceeds a threshold quality level for the time period, the threshold quality level comprising a first threshold quality level when a mobile device is in idle mode, and a second threshold quality level, of higher quality than the first threshold quality level, when the mobile device is in connected mode; and

code for causing a computer to de-activate a subset of signal processing functionality responsive to the determination.

25. The computer program product according to claim 24, wherein the mobile device executes the code in idle or connected mode.

26. The computer program product according to claim 24, wherein the threshold quality level comprises:

a first threshold quality level and a first time period when the mobile device is in idle mode; and

a second threshold quality level and a second time period, different from the first threshold quality level and the first time period, when the mobile device is in connected mode.

27. The computer program product according to claim 24, wherein the time period comprises:

a first time period when a mobile device is in idle mode; and

a second time period, longer than the first time period, when the mobile device is in connected mode.

28. The computer program product according to claim 24, wherein the computer-readable storage medium further comprises:

code for causing a computer to determine that the signal quality metric has dropped below a re-activation threshold quality level for a re-activation time period; and

code for causing a computer to re-activate the subset of signal processing functionality responsive to the determination.

29. The computer program product according to claim 28, wherein the threshold quality level and the re-activation threshold quality level comprise different levels.

30. The computer program product according to claim 24, wherein the subset of signal processing includes signal processing functionality comprising interference cancellation, equalization, amplification, adjacent channel interference correction, Doppler shift correction, frequency error correction, or phase error correction.

31. The computer program product according to claim 24, wherein the threshold quality level and the time period comprise:

a first threshold quality level and a first time period for a first type of signal processing functionality; and

a second threshold quality level and a second time period, different from the first threshold quality level and the first time period, for a second type of signal processing functionality.

32. The computer program product according to claim 24, wherein the computer-readable storage medium further comprises:

code for causing a computer to reduce requirements for signal lock responsive to the determination;

or

code for causing a computer to delay activation of signal processing functionality responsive to the determination.

33. A wireless communication method performed by a mobile device, comprising:

monitoring a signal quality metric associated with a received wireless signal;

determining that the signal quality metric exceeds a threshold quality level for a time period, the time period comprising a first time period length when a mobile device is in idle mode; and

a second time period length, longer than the first time period length, when the mobile device is in connected mode; and

de-activating a subset of signal processing functionality responsive to the determination.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

initiating a timer for the time period when a mobile device transitions to idle mode.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

suspending a timer for the time period when the mobile device transitions to connected mode.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the threshold quality level comprises:

a first threshold quality level when a mobile device is in idle mode; and

a second threshold quality level, of higher quality than the first threshold quality level, when the mobile device is in connected mode.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the threshold quality level and the time period comprise:

a first threshold quality level and a first time period when a mobile device is in idle mode; and

a second threshold quality level and a second time period, different from the first threshold quality level and the first time period, when the mobile device is in connected mode.

38. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

determining when the signal quality metric drops below a re-activation threshold quality level for a re-activation time period; and

re-activating the subset of signal processing functionality responsive to the determination.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the threshold quality level and the re-activation threshold quality level comprise different levels.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the re-activation threshold quality level and the re-activation time period comprise:

a first re-activation threshold quality level and a first re-activation time period when a mobile device is in idle mode; and

a second re-activation threshold quality level and a second re-activation time period, different from the first re-activation threshold quality level and the first re-activation time period, when the mobile device is in connected mode.

41. The method of claim 33, wherein the subset of signal processing includes signal processing functionality comprising interference cancellation, equalization, amplification, adjacent channel interference correction, Doppler shift correction, frequency error correction, or phase error correction.

42. The method of claim 33, wherein the threshold quality level and the time period comprise:

a first threshold quality level and a first time period for a first type of signal processing functionality; and

a second threshold quality level and a second time period, different from the first threshold quality level and the first time period, for a second type of signal processing functionality.

43. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

reducing requirements for signal lock responsive to the determination.

44. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

delaying activation of signal processing functionality responsive to the determination.

45. The method of claim 33, wherein the signal quality metric comprises an averaged signal quality metric.

46. A mobile device configured for wireless communication, comprising:

a receiver module configured to receive a wireless signal;

a measurement module configured to measure a signal quality metric of the received wireless signal; and

a de-activation module, communicatively coupled with the measurement module, and configured to;

monitor the measured signal quality;

determine when the signal quality metric exceeds a threshold quality level for a time period, the time period comprising a first time period length when a mobile device is in idle mode; and

a second time period length, longer than the first time period length, when the mobile device is in connected mode; and

de-activate a subset of baseband signal processing functionality responsive to the determination.

47. The mobile device of claim 46, wherein the de-activation module is further configured to:

initiate a first timer for the time period when the mobile device transitions to idle mode.

48. The mobile device of claim 46, wherein the mobile device executes the de-activation module in connected mode or idle mode.

49. The mobile device of claim 46, wherein the threshold quality level comprises:

a first threshold quality level when the mobile device is in idle mode; and

a second threshold quality level, of higher quality than the first threshold quality level, when the mobile device is in connected mode.

50. The mobile device of claim 46, further comprising:

a re-activation module, communicatively coupled with the measurement module, and configured to;

determine that the signal quality metric has dropped below a re-activation threshold quality level for a re-activation time period; and

re-activate the subset of signal processing functionality responsive to the determination.

51. The mobile device of claim 50, wherein the threshold quality level and the re-activation threshold quality level comprise different levels.

52. The mobile device of claim 50, wherein the re-activation threshold quality level and the re-activation time period comprise:

a first re-activation threshold quality level and a first re-activation time period when the mobile device is in idle mode; and

a second re-activation threshold quality level and a second re-activation time period, different in quality level or time from the first re-activation threshold quality level and the re-activation first time period, when the mobile device is in connected mode.

53. The mobile device of claim 46, wherein the subset of signal processing includes signal processing functionality comprising interference cancellation, equalization, amplification, adjacent channel interference correction, Doppler shift correction, frequency error correction, phase error correction, or any combination thereof.

54. The mobile device of claim 46, wherein requirements for signal lock are reduced responsive to the determination.

55. The mobile device of claim 46, wherein activation of signal processing functionality is delayed responsive to the determination.

56. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium comprising:

code for causing a computer to monitor a signal quality metric associated with a wireless signal;

code for causing a computer to determine that the signal quality metric exceeds a threshold quality level for a time period, the time period comprising a first time period length when a mobile device is in idle mode; and

a second time period length, longer than the first time period length, when the mobile device is in connected mode; and

code for causing a computer to de-activate a subset of signal processing functionality responsive to the determination.

57. The computer program product according to claim 56, wherein the computer-readable storage medium further comprises:

code for causing a computer to initiate a timer for the time period when a mobile device transitions to idle mode.

58. The computer program product according to claim 56, wherein the mobile device executes the code in idle or connected mode.

59. The computer program product according to claim 56, wherein the threshold quality level comprises:

a first threshold quality level and a first time period when the mobile device is in idle mode; and

a second threshold quality level and a second time period, different from the first threshold quality level and the first time period, when the mobile device is in connected mode.

60. The computer program product according to claim 56, wherein the computer-readable storage medium further comprises:

code for causing a computer to determine that the signal quality metric has dropped below a re-activation threshold quality level for a re-activation time period; and

code for causing a computer to re-activate the subset of signal processing functionality responsive to the determination.

61. The computer program product according to claim 60, wherein the threshold quality level and the re-activation threshold quality level comprise different levels.

62. The computer program product according to claim 56, wherein the subset of signal processing includes signal processing functionality comprising interference cancellation, equalization, amplification, adjacent channel interference correction, Doppler shift correction, frequency error correction, or phase error correction.

63. The computer program product according to claim 56, wherein the threshold quality level and the time period comprise:

a first threshold quality level and a first time period for a first type of signal processing functionality; and

a second threshold quality level and a second time period, different from the first threshold quality level and the first time period, for a second type of signal processing functionality.

64. The computer program product according to claim 56, wherein the computer-readable storage medium further comprises:

code for causing a computer to reduce requirements for signal lock responsive to the determination;

or

code for causing a computer to delay activation of signal processing functionality responsive to the determination.

65. A method for signal processing performed by a mobile device, comprising:

monitoring, by a processor, a signal quality metric associated with a received wireless signal;

determining, by the processor, that the signal quality metric exceeds a threshold quality level for a time period, the threshold quality level comprising a first threshold quality level when a mobile device is in idle mode, and a second threshold quality level, of higher quality than the first threshold quality level, when the mobile device is in connected mode;

de-activating a subset of signal processing functionality responsive to the determination that the signal quality metric exceeds the threshold quality level for the time period;

determining, by the processor, when the signal quality metric drops below a re-activation threshold quality level for a re-activation time period; and

re-activating the subset of signal processing functionality responsive to the determination that the signal quality metric has dropped below the re-activation threshold quality level for the re-activation time period.

66. The method of claim 65, further comprising:

initiating a timer for the time period when a mobile device transitions to idle mode.

67. The method of claim 66, further comprising:

suspending a timer for the time period when the mobile device transitions to connected mode.

68. The method of claim 65, wherein the time period comprises:

a first time period when a mobile device is in idle mode; and

a second time period, longer than the first time period, when the mobile device is in connected mode.

69. The method of claim 65, wherein the threshold quality level and the time period comprise:

a first threshold quality level and a first time period when a mobile device is in idle mode; and

a second threshold quality level and a second time period, different from the first threshold quality level and the first time period, when the mobile device is in connected mode.

70. The method of claim 65, wherein the threshold quality level and the re-activation threshold quality level comprise different levels.

71. The method of claim 65, wherein the re-activation threshold quality level and the re-activation time period comprise:

a first re-activation threshold quality level and a first re-activation time period when a mobile device is in idle mode; and

a second re-activation threshold quality level and a second re-activation time period, different from the first re-activation threshold quality level and the first re-activation time period, when the mobile device is in connected mode.

72. The method of claim 65, wherein the subset of signal processing includes signal processing functionality comprising interference cancellation, equalization, amplification, adjacent channel interference correction, Doppler shift correction, frequency error correction, or phase error correction.

73. The method of claim 65, wherein the threshold quality level and the time period comprise:

a first threshold quality level and a first time period for a first type of signal processing functionality; and

a second threshold quality level and a second time period, different from the first threshold quality level and the first time period, for a second type of signal processing functionality.

74. The method of claim 65, further comprising:

reducing requirements for signal lock responsive to the determination.

75. The method of claim 65, further comprising:

delaying activation of signal processing functionality responsive to the determination.

76. The method of claim 65, wherein the signal quality metric comprises an averaged signal quality metric.