Power savings and interference reduction for multimode devices

• US 8,811,905 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2010
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AirHop Communications, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AirHop Communications, Inc.
• Inventors: Hui, Yan, Park, Edwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Yuwen
• Assistant Examiner(s): AYOTUNDE, AYODEJI O
• Application Number:
  US12/873,173
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/63.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0206 in access points, e.g. base stations access point devices per se H04W88/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/243 taking into account interferences
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Power savings and interference reduction for multimode devices (e.g., base stations and relay nodes) is disclosed. In some embodiments, power savings and interference reduction for multimode devices includes selecting a power state of the multimode device selected from a plurality of power states, in which the multimode device is in a first power state (e.g., an active or serving power state), and in which the selected power state is a second power state (e.g., a reduced power state), and transitioning the multimode device from the first power state to the second power state.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor of a wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication device includes a multimode device, and wherein the multimode device includes an air interface for communicating with one or more terminals, and the multimode device is configured to;

select a power state of the multimode device selected from a plurality of power states including a first power state, a second power state, and a third power state, wherein the multimode device is in the first power state, and wherein the selected power state is the second power state;

transition the multimode device from the first power state to the second power state;

in the event that A) the multimode device is in the second power state and B) the multimode device

     1) receives a transition signal to transition to the first power state or

     2) is not communicating with any terminals and has not communicated with any terminals for a predefined period of time, transition the multimode device from the second power state directly to the first power state;

determine whether interference with another multimode device exceeds a predefined threshold;

in the event that A) the interference with the other multimode device exceeds the predefined threshold and B) the multimode device is not in the third power state, transition the multimode device to the third power state; and

in the event that A) the multimode device detects a terminal is present or receives a request to transition to the first power state and B) the multimode device is in the third power state, transition the multimode device from the third power state to the first power state,

wherein the first power state is a serving power state communicating with one or more terminals;

wherein the second power state is a scan power state communicating with the one or more terminals less frequently than in the first power state and more frequently than in the third power state; and

wherein the third power state is a silent power state; and

a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.

2. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the multimode device includes one or more of the following:

a macrocell, a microcell, a picocell, a femtocell, an access point, a relay node, a repeater device, and a peer-to-peer terminal.

3. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the multimode device'"'"'s transmissions are reduced in power or time in the second power state.

4. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the multimode device'"'"'s transmissions are disabled in the third power state.

5. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the multimode device communicates using fewer channels in the second power state, or wherein the multimode device punctures one or more channels in the second power state.

6. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the multimode device communicates a discontinuous, punctured, or lower power reference signal in the second power state.

7. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the multimode device transitions to the second power state to reduce interference with one or more other multimode devices.

8. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the multimode device is not communicating with any terminals while in the silent power state, and wherein the multimode device'"'"'s transmissions are terminated while in the silent power state.

9. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the multimode device periodically transmits, receives, or a combination thereof as a factor to determine whether to transition the multimode device from the scan power state to the serving power state.

10. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the air interface includes a first transceiver, and wherein the multimode device periodically transmits, receives, or a combination thereof using a second transceiver as a factor to determine whether to transition the multimode device to the serving power state.

11. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of power states includes a scan power state, wherein the multimode device periodically transmits, receives, or a combination thereof using a wired communication as a factor to determine whether to transition the multimode device to the serving power state.

12. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the multimode device periodically transmits, receives, or a combination thereof to determine a wireless communication presence of a terminal, wherein the wireless communication presence of the terminal is used as a factor to determine whether to transition the multimode device to the serving power state.

13. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the multimode device is further configured to:

communicate with a terminal using an air interface.

14. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the multimode device is further configured to:

transition the multimode device from the serving power state to a silent power state.

15. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the multimode device is further configured to:

transition the multimode device from the serving power state to the scan power state.

16. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the multimode device is further configured to:

transition the multimode device from the serving power state to the scan power state, wherein the multimode device periodically determines whether to transition the multimode device to the serving power state.

17. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the multimode device is further configured to:

transition the multimode device from serving power state to a scan power state, wherein the multimode device periodically transmits, receives, or a combination thereof to a plurality of terminals and/or a plurality of other multimode devices to determine whether to transition the multimode device to the serving power state.

18. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the multimode device is further configured to:

transition the multimode device from the serving power state to the silent power state;

transition the multimode device from the silent state to the scan power state; and

transition the multimode device from the scan power state to the serving power state.

19. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the multimode device is further configured to:

transition the multimode device from a non-transparent relay state to a transparent relay state.

20. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the multimode device is further configured to:

transition the multimode device from a non-transparent relay state to a transparent relay state, and

transition the multimode device from a transparent relay state to the silent power state.

21. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the multimode device is further configured to:

implement to a slave mode.

22. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the multimode device is in a first slave mode service state serving as a slave to a first master multimode device, and wherein the processor of the multimode device is further configured to:

switch to a second slave mode service state serving as a slave to a second master multimode device.

23. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the multimode device is a master multimode device in a master mode, wherein a first set of multimode devices are in a slave mode, wherein the first set of multimode devices serve as slaves to the master multimode device, and wherein the processor of the multimode device is further configured to:

communicate with one or more of the first set of multimode devices to determine the power states of each of the first set of multimode devices.

24. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the multimode device is a master multimode device in a master mode, wherein a first set of multimode devices are in a slave mode, wherein the first set of multimode devices serve as slaves to the master multimode device, wherein a second set of multimode devices are in a slave mode, wherein the second set of multimode devices serve as slaves to one of the first set of multimode devices, and wherein the processor of the multimode device is further configured to:

communicate with one or more of the first set of multimode devices to determine the power states of each of the first set of multimode devices; and

periodically communicate a multimode device power state between the one of the first set of multimode devices and one or more of the second set of multimode devices.

25. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the multimode device is a master multimode device in a master mode, wherein a first set of multimode devices are in a slave mode, wherein the first set of multimode devices serve as slaves to the master multimode device, wherein a second set of multimode devices are in a slave mode, wherein the second set of multimode devices serve as slaves to one of the first set of multimode devices, and wherein the processor of the multimode device is further configured to:

communicate with one or more of the first set of multimode devices to determine the power states of each of the first set of multimode devices; and

periodically communicate a multimode device power state between the one of the first set of multimode devices and one or more of the second set of multimode devices, wherein the first set of multimode devices and the second set of multimode devices are overlapping sets.

26. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the multimode device is a master multimode device in a master mode, wherein a first set of multimode devices are in a slave mode, wherein the first set of multimode devices serve as slaves to the master multimode device, wherein a second set of multimode devices are in a slave mode, wherein the second set of multimode devices serve as slaves to one of the first set of multimode devices and the master multimode device, and wherein the processor of the multimode device is further configured to:

communicate with one or more of the first set of multimode devices to determine the power states of each of the first set of multimode devices;

periodically communicate a multimode device power state between the one of the first set of multimode devices and one or more of the second set of multimode devices; and

periodically communicate a multimode device power state between the master multimode device and one or more of the second set of multimode devices.

27. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the multimode device is further configured to:

communicate with the one or more terminals from the multimode device to inform the one or more terminals of a wireless communication presence of one or more other multimode devices.

28. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the multimode device is further configured to:

communicate with the one or more terminals from the multimode device to inform the one or more terminals of a wireless communication presence of one or more other multimode devices, wherein the one or more other multimode devices are currently in the silent power state or the scan power state.

29. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the multimode device is further configured to:

communicate with the one or more terminals from the multimode device to inform the one or more terminals of a power state transition of one or more other multimode devices.

30. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the multimode device is a first multimode device, and wherein the processor of the first multimode device is further configured to:

communicate with a second multimode device to inform the second multimode device of a wireless communication presence of one or more other multimode devices.

31. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the multimode device is a first multimode device, and wherein the processor of the first multimode device is further configured to:

communicate with a second multimode device to inform the second multimode device of a wireless communication presence of one or more other multimode devices, wherein the one or more other multimode devices are currently in the silent power state or the scan power state.

32. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the multimode device is a first multimode device, and wherein the processor of the first multimode device is further configured to:

communicate with a second multimode device to inform the second multimode device of a power state transition of one or more other multimode devices.

33. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the multimode device is further configured to:

communicate with a plurality of other multimode devices to turn on or turn off a cell sector.

34. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the multimode device is further configured to:

communicate with a plurality of other multimode devices to reduce interference in a cell sector.

35. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the multimode device is further configured to:

cease or reduce transmissions from the multimode device while the multimode device is in the second power state.

36. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the multimode device is further configured to:

receive a request to transition the multimode device from the silent power state to a temporary transmission state to allow for a signal strength measurement.

37. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the multimode device is further configured to:

transition the power state of the multimode device based on a schedule or a timer.

38. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the multimode device is further configured to:

transition the power state of the multimode device based on a request from another network device.

39. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the multimode device is further configured to:

transition the power state of the multimode device based on a request from another multimode device.

40. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the multimode device is further configured to:

transition the power state of the multimode device based on a request from a terminal.

47. The system recited in claim 1, wherein in the event that A) the multimode device is in the second power state and B) the multimode device 1) receives a transition signal to transition to the first power state or 2) is not communicating with any terminals and has not communicated with any terminals for a predefined period of time, the transitioning of the multimode device from the second power state is directly to the first power state without transitioning to the third power state.

48. The system recited in claim 1, further comprising:

in the event that the multimode device transitioned to the third power state due to the interference with the other multimode device exceeding the predefined threshold;

periodically determining whether the interference with the other multimode device does not exceed the predefined threshold; and

in the event that the interference with the other multimode device does not exceed the predefined threshold, transition the multimode device to the first power state.

41. A method, comprising:

selecting a power state of the multimode device selected from a plurality of power states including a first power state, a second power state, and a third power state, wherein the multimode device is in the first power state, and wherein the selected power state is the second power state;

transitioning the multimode device from the first power state to the second power state;

in the event that A) the multimode device is in the second power state and B) the multimode device

     1) receives a transition signal to transition to the first power state or

     2) is not communicating with any terminals and has not communicated with any terminals for a predefined period of time, transitioning the multimode device from the second power state directly to the first power state;

determining whether interference with another multimode device exceeds a predefined threshold;

in the event that A) the interference with the other multimode device exceeds the redefined threshold and B the multimode device is not in the third power state transitioning the multimode device to the third power state; and

in the event that A) the multimode device detects a terminal is present or receives a request to transition to the first power state and B) the multimode device is in the third power state, transitioning the multimode device from the third power state to the first power state,

wherein the first power state is a serving power state communicating with one or more terminals;

wherein the second power state is a scan power state communicating with the one or more terminals less frequently than in the first power state and more frequently than in the third power state; and

wherein the third power state is a silent power state.

42. A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

selecting a power state of the multimode device selected from a plurality of power states including a first power state, a second power state, and a third power state, wherein the multimode device is in the first power state, and wherein the selected power state is the second power state;

transitioning the multimode device from the first power state to the second power state;

in the event that A) the multimode device is in the second power state and B) the multimode device

     1) receives a transition signal to transition to the first power state or

     2) is not communicating with any terminals and has not communicated with any terminals for a predefined period of time, transitioning the multimode device from the second power state directly to the first power state;

determining whether interference with another multimode device exceeds a predefined threshold;

in the event that A) the interference with the other multimode device exceeds the predefined threshold and B) the multimode device is not in the third power state, transitioning the multimode device to the third power state; and

in the event that A) the multimode device detects a terminal is present or receives a request to transition to the first power state and B) the multimode device is in the third power state, transitioning the multimode device from the third power state to the first power state,

wherein the first power state is a serving power state communicating with one or more terminals;

wherein the second power state is a scan power state communicating with the one or more terminals less frequently than in the first power state and more frequently than in the third power state; and

wherein the third power state is a silent power state.

43. A system, comprising:

a processor of a wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communications device includes a terminal, and wherein the terminal is configured to;

communicate with one or more multimode devices using an air interface, wherein the one or more multimode devices include wireless base stations;

determine a plurality of power states of the one or more multimode devices, wherein the plurality of states including a first power state, a second power state, and a third power state;

in the event that A) the multimode device is in the second power state and B) the multimode device

     1) receives a transition signal to transition to the first power state or

     2) is not communicating with any terminals and has not communicated with any terminals for a predefined period of time, transition the one or more multimode devices from the second power state directly to the first power state;

determine whether interference with another multimode device exceeds a predefined threshold;

in the event that A) the interference with the other multimode device exceeds the predefined threshold and B) the multimode device is not in the third power state, transition the multimode device to the third power state; and

in the event that A) the multimode device detects a terminal is present or receives a request to transition to the first power state and B) the multimode device is in the third power state, transition the multimode device from the third power state to the first power state,

wherein the first power state is a serving power state communicating with one or more terminals;

wherein the second power state is a scan power state communicating with the one or more terminals less frequently than in the first power state and more frequently than in the third power state; and

wherein the third power state is a silent power state; and

a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.

44. The system recited in claim 43, wherein the processor of the wireless communication device is further configured to:

select a first multimode device of the one or more multimode devices for wireless communication based on the determined power state of the first multimode device.

45. A system, comprising:

a processor of a central wireless network control device configured to;

communicate with one or more multimode devices, wherein the one or more multimode devices include wireless base stations;

determine a plurality of states of the one or more multimode devices, wherein the plurality of states including a first power state, a second power state, and a third power state;

in the event that A) the multimode device is in the second power state and B) the multimode device

     1) receives a transition signal to transition to the first power state or

     2) is not communicating with any terminals and has not communicated with any terminals for a predefined period of time, transition the one or more multimode devices from the second power state directly to the first power state;

determine whether interference with another multimode device exceeds a predefined threshold;

in the event that A) the interference with the other multimode device exceeds the predefined threshold and B) the multimode device is not in the third power state, transition the multimode device to the third power state; and

in the event that A) the multimode device detects a terminal is present or receives a request to transition to the first power state and B) the multimode device is in the third power state, transition the multimode device from the third power state to the first power state,

wherein the first power state is a serving power state communicating with one or more terminals;

wherein the second power state is a scan power state communicating with the one or more terminals less frequently than in the first power state and more frequently than in the third power state; and

wherein the third power state is a silent power state; and

a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.

46. The system recited in claim 45, further comprising:

send a power state transition request to a first multimode device of the one or more multimode devices for wireless communication based on the determined power state of the first multimode device, wherein the power state transition request includes a request instructing the first multimode device to transition from the first power state to the second power state, and wherein the central network control device includes a radio network controller.