Signaling over cellular networks to reduce the Wi-Fi energy consumption of mobile devices

• US 8,880,053 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2013
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bahl, Paramvir, Wolman, Alastair, Chandra, Ranveer, Chin, Kevin, Agarwal, Yuvraj
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Chuong A
• Application Number:
  US13/746,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20130128793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455419-4221, 455/432.1, 455/436, 455/442, 455/127.5, 455/500, 455/574, 455/552.1, 455/415, 455/572, 370/310, 370/313, 370/348
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/085 collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• 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: H04W 92/00 Interfaces specially adapted for wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Techniques for increasing the battery life on a mobile device by decreasing the energy consumption of the mobile device'"'"'s wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) interface are described. In one embodiment, the mobile device'"'"'s Wi-Fi interface is automatically disabled when the device is not engaged. When the device receives a wake up call from a server via its Cellular interface, the Wi-Fi interface is enabled if the device answers the wake up call and the Wi-Fi interface is available. Using its Wi-Fi interface, the mobile device then connects to an IP-based network via a Wi-Fi access point.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a first wireless interface;

a second wireless interface;

one or more processors;

one or more mobile device applications executable by the one or more processors to;

set to a first power state the first wireless interface on the mobile device when the mobile device is not engaged in communication across the first wireless interface;

set to a second power state the first wireless interface responsive to receiving a wake up signal via the second wireless interface, the wake up signal being received from a server device communicatively coupled with the mobile device, the wake up signal including an identification (ID) that allows the mobile device to identify the wake up signal as having been sent by the server device, the ID number comprising a number, at least a portion of which is formatted to avoid collisions on the second network, the first power state being a lower power state than the second power state; and

receive data via the first wireless interface after setting to a second power state the first wireless interface responsive to the wake up signal, the data received via the first wireless interface being separate from the wake up signal.

2. The mobile device as recited in claim 1, wherein setting power states of the first wireless interface is facilitated by control features implemented on the mobile device, the control features are facilitated by communication handling rules on a server device communicatively coupled with the mobile device.

3. The mobile device as recited in claim 1, wherein the data received via the first wireless interface comprises data associated with a real-time application.

4. The mobile device as recited in claim 1, the wake up signal being associated with a data packet sent over a network that allows the mobile device to identify the data packet as having been sent by the server device.

5. The mobile device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first wireless interface is set to the second power state responsive to initiating a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) interface communication on the mobile device.

6. The mobile device as recited in claim 5, wherein one or more mobile device applications are executable by the one or more processors to engage in the Wi-Fi communication with the mobile device via an internet protocol (IP)—

based network responsive to the receiving the wake-up signal or responsive to the initiating the Wi-Fi communication.

7. The mobile device as recited in claim 6, wherein the Wi-Fi communication comprises data associated with a real-time application.

8. The mobile device as recited in claim 1, wherein the second wireless interface comprises a cellular network interface.

9. A computer-readable storage device comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, configure the one or more processors to:

set to a first power state a first wireless interface on a mobile device when the mobile device is not engaged in communication across the first wireless interface;

set to a second power state the first wireless interface responsive to receiving a wake up signal via a second wireless interface, the wake up signal being received from a server device communicatively coupled with the mobile device, the wake up signal including an identification (ID) that allows the mobile device to identify the wake up signal as having been sent by the server device, the ID number comprising a number, at least a portion of which is formatted to avoid collisions on the second network, the first power state being a lower power state than the second power state; and

receive data via the first wireless interface after setting to a second power state the first wireless interface responsive to the wake up signal, the data received via the first wireless interface being separate from the wake up signal.

10. The computer-readable storage device as recited in claim 9, wherein setting power states of the first wireless interface is facilitated by control features implemented on the mobile device, the control features facilitated by communication handling rules on a server device communicatively coupled with the mobile device.

11. The computer-readable storage device as recited in claim 9, wherein the data received via the first wireless interface comprises data associated with a real-time application.

12. The computer-readable storage device as recited in claim 9, the wake up signal being associated with a data packet sent over a network that allows the mobile device to identify the data packet as having been sent by the server device.

13. The computer-readable storage device as recited in claim 9, wherein the first wireless interface is set to the second power state responsive to initiating a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) interface communication on the mobile device.

14. The computer-readable storage device as recited in claim 13, wherein one or more mobile device applications are executable by the one or more processors to engage in the Wi-Fi communication with the mobile device via an internet protocol (IP)—

based network responsive to the receiving the wake-up signal or responsive to the initiating the Wi-Fi communication.

15. The computer-readable storage device as recited in claim 14, wherein the Wi-Fi communication comprises data associated with a real-time application.

16. The computer-readable storage device as recited in claim 9, wherein the second wireless interface comprises a cellular network interface.

17. A method comprising:

setting, by a mobile device, to a first power state a first wireless interface on the mobile device when the mobile device is not engaged in communication across the first wireless interface;

setting, by the mobile device, to a second power state the first wireless interface responsive to receiving a wake up signal via a second wireless interface, the wake up signal being received from a server device communicatively coupled with the mobile device, the wake up signal including an identification (ID) that allows the mobile device to identify the wake up signal as having been sent by the server device, the ID number comprising a number, at least a portion of which is formatted to avoid collisions on the second network, the first power state being a lower power state than the second power state; and

receiving, by the mobile device, data via the first wireless interface after setting to a second power state the first wireless interface responsive to the wake up signal, the data received via the first wireless interface being separate from the wake up signal.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein setting power states of the first wireless interface is facilitated by control features implemented on the mobile device, the control features are facilitated by communication handling rules on a server device communicatively coupled with the mobile device.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the data received via the first wireless interface comprises data associated with a real-time application.

20. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein:

the first wireless interface is set to the second power state responsive to initiating a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) interface communication on the mobile device;

one or more mobile device applications are executable by the one or more processors to engage in the Wi-Fi communication with the mobile device via an internet protocol (IP)—

based network responsive to the receiving the wake-up signal or responsive to the initiating the Wi-Fi communication; and

the Wi-Fi communication comprises data associated with a real-time application.