Mobile device power management

• US 8,755,848 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Jain, Nikhil, Agrawal, Avneesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Edouard, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): GENACK, MATTHEW W
• Application Number:
  US11/241,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20070077960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,182 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.3, 455/574
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• 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, and method for controlling power saving features at the mobile device. A processor in the mobile device may be used to establish a network connection with a server in a first network. The mobile device may also include a transceiver that initiates transmission of a message to the server to determine if an incoming call request has been received via a second network. Advantageously, the transceiver is in a low power mode of operation for a selectable time interval when not communicating with the server.

Claims

1. A mobile communications device, comprising:

a processor configured to establish a network connection with a server via a first network using a first network technology; and

a transceiver, in communication with the processor, configured to transmit a system check message to the server to determine if an incoming call request for the mobile communications device has been received at the server;

wherein the processor is further configured to receive a predetermined time interval input from a user, to set the predetermined time interval according to the received user input, to maintain the mobile communications device in a sleep mode for the predetermined time interval and, upon expiration of the predetermined time interval, to change the mobile communications device from the sleep mode of operation to an active mode of operation to transmit the system check message without transmitting other intervening communication to the server;

wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the incoming call request has been received at the server based on a response to the system check message; and

wherein, if the processor determines that the response is not received, the mobile communications device is configured to establish a connection with a second network using a second network technology based at least in part upon an initial registration with the second network prior to entering the sleep mode, the second network technology being different from the first network technology.

2. The mobile communications device of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive a response message indicating the response from the server via the first network connection.

3. The mobile communications device of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to establish a communications channel through the first network connection with an originator of the incoming call request based on the response message.

4. The mobile communications device of claim 2, wherein the response message includes call set-up information related to the incoming call request.

5. The mobile communications device of claim 1, wherein the incoming call request is one of a data exchange, a voice call, and a text message.

6. The mobile communications device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to establish the network connection with the server via the first network, and wherein the incoming call request has been received at the server from the second network.

7. The mobile communications device of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is further configured to be turned off while the mobile communications device is in the sleep mode and to be turned on while the mobile communications device is in the active mode.

8. The mobile communications device of claim 1, wherein the first network comprises a wireless LAM and the second network comprises a cellular network.

34. The mobile communications device according to claim 1, wherein if no response is received, the processor is configured to enter a troubleshooting mode to determine whether the established network connection is functioning properly.

36. The mobile communications device according to claim 1, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the system check message to the server upon expiration of the sleep mode based upon the initial registration.

44. The mobile communications device of claim 1, wherein:

if the processor determines that the incoming call request has not been received at the server, the mobile communications device returns to the sleep mode for the predetermined time interval until sending a next system check message, and

if the processor determines that the incoming call request has been received at the server, the mobile communications device establishes a connection with the server to receive the incoming call.

9. A mobile communications device, comprising:

a processor configured to;

operate the mobile communications device in at least an active mode and a sleep mode, and communicate with a server via a first network using a first network technology;

a memory accessible to the processor configured to store a selectable sleep mode interval setting; and

a transceiver, controlled by the processor, configured to transmit a system check message to the server to determine if an incoming call request for the mobile communications device has been received at the server from a second network;

wherein the processor is further configured to receive a selectable sleep mode interval input from a user, to set the selectable sleep mode interval according to the received user input, to maintain the mobile communications device in the sleep mode for the selectable sleep mode interval and, upon expiration of the selectable sleep mode interval, to change the mobile communications device from the sleep mode of operation to an active mode of operation to transmit the system check message without transmitting other intervening communication to the server;

wherein the processor is configured to determine whether an incoming call request has been received at the server based on a reply to the system check message; and

wherein, if the processor determines that the reply is not received, the mobile communications device is configured to establish a connection with the second network using a second network technology based at least in part upon an initial registration with the second network prior to entering the sleep mode, the second network technology being different from the first network technology.

10. The mobile communications device of claim 9, wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive the reply in response to the system check message, the reply at least indicating if an incoming call request for the mobile communications device has been received at the server and indicating call setup information for the incoming call request.

11. The mobile communications device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to establish a connection with an originator of the incoming call request based on the reply.

12. The mobile communications device of claim 11, wherein the incoming call request is one of a data exchange, a voice call, and a text message.

13. The mobile communications device of claim 9, wherein the first network comprises a wireless LAN and the second network comprises a cellular network.

37. The mobile communications device according to claim 9, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the system check message to the server upon expiration of the sleep mode based upon the initial registration.

45. The mobile communications device of claim 9, wherein:

if the processor determines that the incoming call request has not been received at the server, the mobile communications device returns to the sleep mode for the selectable sleep mode interval until sending a next system check message, and

if the processor determines that the incoming call request has been received at the server, the mobile communications device establishes a connection with the server to receive the incoming call.

14. A communications system, comprising:

a server configured to store data for a mobile communications device via a first network using a first network technology while the mobile communications device is in a sleep mode; and

a receiver configured to receive a system check message from the mobile communications device upon the mobile communications device changing from a sleep mode to an active mode, without intervening communication, the system check message being configured to indicate the mobile communications device is in the active mode and to request a response indicating whether an incoming call request for the mobile communications device has been received at the server;

wherein the server, in response to receiving the system check message, is further configured to determine whether an incoming call request has been received for the mobile communications device and to transmit the response indicating whether an incoming call request has been received for the mobile communications device, and

if the server fails to provide the response, the mobile communications device is configured to establish a connection with a second network using a second network technology based at least in part upon an initial registration with the second network prior to entering the sleep mode, the second network technology being different from the first network technology.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the mobile communications device and the server communicate via the first network, and the data is received at the server via the second network.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first network comprises a wireless LAN and the second network comprises a cellular network.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the data is received at the server at a first data rate and wherein the server is configured to transmit the data to the mobile communication device at a second data rate different from the first data rate.

38. The communications system according to claim 14, wherein the receiver is configured to receive the system check message based on the initial registration by the mobile communications device and in response to an expiration of the sleep mode on the mobile communications device.

18. A mobile communications device, comprising:

means for establishing a network connection with a server via a first network using a first network technology;

means for transmitting a system check message to the server to determine if an incoming call request for the mobile communications device has been received at the server from a second network;

means for receiving a predetermined time interval input from a user, means for setting the predetermined time interval according to the received user input, means for maintaining the mobile communications device in a sleep mode for a predetermined time interval and, upon expiration of the predetermined time interval, means for changing the mobile communications device from the sleep mode of operation to an active mode of operation to transmit the system check message without transmitting other intervening communication to the server;

means for determining whether an incoming call request has been received at the server based on a response to the system check message; and

if it is determined that the response is not received, means for establishing a connection with the second network using a second network technology based at least in part upon an initial registration with the second network prior to entering the sleep mode, the second network technology being different from the first network technology.

39. The mobile communications device according to claim 18, wherein the transmitting is further configured to transmit the system check message to the server upon expiration of the sleep mode based upon the initial registration.

46. The mobile communications device of claim 18, further comprising:

means for returning to the sleep mode for the predetermined time interval until sending a next system check message if it is determined that the incoming call request has not been received at the server; and

means for establishing a connection with the server to receive the incoming call if it is determined that the incoming call request has been received at the server.

19. A mobile communications device, comprising:

means for establishing a network connection with a server via a first network using a first network technology, the server storing buffered data for transmission to the mobile communications device, said buffered data received at the server via a second network using a second network technology, the second network technology being different from the first network technology;

means for transmitting system check a message to the server to indicate the mobile communications device is in an operating mode able to receive data from the server and to determine if an incoming call request for the mobile communications device has been received at the server;

means for receiving a selectable sleep mode interval input from a user, for setting the selectable sleep mode interval according to the received user input, for maintaining the mobile communications device in a sleep mode for the selectable sleep mode interval and, upon expiration of the selectable sleep mode interval, for changing the mobile communications device from the sleep mode of operation to an active mode of operation to transmit the system check message without transmitting other intervening communication to the server;

means for determining whether an incoming call request has been received at the server based on a response to the system check message; and

if it is determined that the response is not received, means for establishing a connection with the second network using the second network technology based at least in part upon an initial registration with the second network prior to entering the sleep mode.

40. The mobile communications device according to claim 19, wherein the means for transmitting is further configured to transmit the system check message to the server upon expiration of the sleep mode based upon the initial registration.

47. The mobile communications device of claim 19, further comprising:

means for returning to the sleep mode for the selectable sleep mode interval until sending a next system check message if it is determined that the incoming call request has not been received at the server; and

means for establishing a connection with the server to receive the incoming call if it is determined that the incoming call request has been received at the server.

20. A method for conserving power of a mobile communications device, comprising:

establishing a network connection between the mobile communications device and a server via a first network using a first network technology;

receiving a selectable time interval input from a user;

setting the selectable time interval according to the received user input;

maintaining the mobile communications device in a sleep mode of operation during the selectable time interval;

upon expiration of the selectable time interval, changing the mobile communications device to an active mode of operation and transmitting a system check message to the server without transmitting other intervening communication to the server to determine if an incoming call request for the mobile communications device has been received at the server;

determining whether an incoming call request has been received at the server based on a response to the system check message; and

if the server fails to provide the response, the mobile communications device is configured to establish a connection with a second network using a second network technology based at least in part upon an initial registration with the second network prior to entering the sleep mode, the second network technology being different from the first network technology.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising:

in the response to the system check message, receiving from the server call set-up information related to the incoming call request.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the system check message is transmitted via the first network, and the incoming call request is received via the second network.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein the first network comprises a wireless LAN, and the second network comprises a cellular network.

24. The method according to claim 20, further comprising:

establishing a voice call, through the server, with an originator of the incoming call request.

35. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

if no response is received from the server, entering a troubleshooting mode to determine whether the established connection is functioning properly.

41. The method of claim 20, wherein transmitting the system check message to the server upon expiration of the sleep mode is based upon the initial registration.

48. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

if it is determined that the incoming call request has not been received, returning the mobile communications device to the sleep mode for the selectable time interval until sending a next system check message; and

if it is determined that the incoming call request has been received at the server, establishing a connection between the mobile communications device and the server to receive the incoming call.

25. A module residing in a non-transitory storage medium, comprising:

information for establishing a network connection with a server via a first network using a first network technology;

information for transmitting a system check message to the server to determine if an incoming call request for a mobile communications device has been received at the server from a second network;

information for receiving a predetermined time interval input from a user, for setting the predetermined time interval according to the received user input, for maintaining the mobile communications device in a sleep mode for the predetermined time interval and, upon expiration of the predetermined time interval, for changing the mobile communications device from the sleep mode of operation to an active mode of operation to transmit the system check message without transmitting other intervening communication to the server;

information for determining whether an incoming call request has been received at the server based on a response to the system check message; and

if the server fails to provide the response, information for establishing a connection with the second network using a second network technology based at least in part upon an initial registration with the second network prior to entering the sleep mode, the second network technology being different from the first network technology.

49. The module of claim 25, further comprising:

information for returning the mobile communications device to the sleep mode for the predetermined time interval until sending a next system check message if it is determined that the incoming call request has not been received at the server; and

information for establishing a connection with the server to receive the incoming call if it is determined that the incoming call request has been received at the server.

26. A module stored in a non-transitory storage medium, comprising:

information for establishing a network connection with a server via a first network using a first network technology, the server storing buffered data for transmission to a mobile communications device, said buffered data received at the server via a second network; and

information for transmitting a system check message to the server to indicate the mobile communications device is in an operating mode able to receive data from the server and to determine if an incoming call request for the mobile communications device has been received at the server;

information for receiving a selectable sleep mode interval input from a user, for setting the selectable sleep mode interval according to the received user input, for maintaining the mobile communications device in a sleep mode for the selectable sleep mode interval and, upon expiration of the selectable sleep mode interval, and for changing the mobile communications device from the sleep mode of operation to an active mode of operation to transmit the system check message without transmitting other intervening communication to the server;

information for determining whether an incoming call request has been received at the server based on a response to the system check message; and

if the server fails to provide the response, information for establishing a connection with the second network using a second network technology based at least in part upon an initial registration with the second network prior to entering the sleep mode, the second network technology being different from the first network technology.

33. The module according to claim 26, further comprising:

information for receiving the data at the server at a first data rate; and

information for transmitting the data from the server to the mobile communication device at a second data rate different from the first data rate.

50. The module of claim 26, further comprising:

information for returning the mobile communications device to the sleep mode for the selectable sleep mode interval until sending a next system check message if it is determined that the incoming call request has not been received at the server; and

information for establishing a connection with the server to receive the incoming call if it is determined that the incoming call request has been received at the server.

27. A method for indicating the receipt of an incoming call request for a mobile communications device, comprising:

storing data for the mobile communications device at a server while the mobile communications device is in a sleep mode;

receiving, via a first network using a first network technology, a system check message from a mobile communications device upon the mobile communications device changing from a sleep mode to an active mode, without intervening communication, the system check message indicating that the mobile communications device is in the active mode and requesting a response indicating whether an incoming call request for the mobile communications device has been received at the server;

in response to receiving the system check message, determining whether an incoming call request has been received at the server for the mobile communications device; and

transmitting the response indicating whether the incoming call request has been received for the mobile communications device,

wherein, if the server fails to provide the response, the mobile communications device is configured to establish a connection with a second network using a second network technology based at least in part upon an initial registration with the second network prior to entering the sleep mode, the second network technology being different from the first network technology.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving the data at the server via the second network.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the first network comprises a wireless LAN, and the second network comprises a cellular network.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

receiving the data at the server at a first data rate; and

transmitting the data to the mobile communications device at a second data rate different from the first data rate.

31. A module stored in a non-transitory storage medium, comprising:

information for storing data for the mobile communications device at a server while the mobile communications device is in a sleep mode;

information for receiving, via a first network using a first network technology, a system check message from a mobile communications device upon the mobile communications device changing from a sleep mode to an active mode, without intervening communication, the system check message indicating that the mobile communications device is in the active mode and requesting a response indicating whether an incoming call request for the mobile communications device has been received at the server; and

information for determining whether the incoming call request has been received at the server for the mobile communications device and transmitting the response in response to receiving the system check message,

wherein, if the server fails to provide the response, the mobile communications device is configured to establish a connection with a second network using a second network technology based at least in part upon an initial registration with the second network prior to entering the sleep mode, the second network technology being different from the first network technology.

32. The module according to claim 31, further comprising:

information for receiving the data at the server via the second network.

42. A communications system, comprising:

means for storing data for the mobile communications device at a server while the mobile communications device is in a sleep mode;

means for receiving, via a first network using a first network technology, a system check message from a mobile communications device upon the mobile communications device changing from a sleep mode to an active mode, without intervening communication, the system check message indicating that the mobile communications device is in the active mode and requesting a response indicating whether an incoming call request for the mobile communications device has been received at the server;

means for determining whether the incoming call request has been received at the server for the mobile communications device, in response to receiving the system check message; and

means for transmitting the response indicating whether the incoming call request has been received for the mobile communications device,

wherein, if the server fails to provide the response, the mobile communications device is configured to establish a connection with a second network using a second network technology based at least in part upon an initial registration with the second network prior to entering the sleep mode, the second network technology being different from the first network technology.

43. The communications system according to claim 42, wherein the means for receiving is in response to an expiration of the sleep mode on the mobile communications device.