Multi-mode methods and devices utilizing battery power level for selection of the modes

• US 8,886,261 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2005
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Aerrabotu, Naveen
• Primary Examiner(s): DEAN, RAYMOND S
• Application Number:
  US11/294,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20070129045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,262 Days
• Field of Search: 455/500, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/574, 4553431-3435, 455/404.1, 455/521
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A battery-powered wireless communication device monitors battery power level and switches from operation pursuant to a first wireless communication protocol to a second communication protocol in the event that the battery power level has dropped to a predetermined threshold while operating in idle mode or in active mode.

Claims

1. A method in a battery-powered multimode wireless communication device that operates pursuant to a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol, the method comprising:

determining whether a battery power level has dropped to a predetermined threshold while operating pursuant to the first communication protocol in idle mode; and

switching from the first communication protocol so that the device is operating in accordance with the second communication protocol in the event that the battery power level has dropped to the predetermined threshold while operating pursuant to the first communication protocol in idle mode,

the first communication protocol is a wireless local area network protocol and the second communication protocol is a cellular communication protocol,

switching from the first communication protocol includes switching to the cellular communication protocol in the event that the battery power level has dropped to the predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, operating pursuant to the first communication protocol in idle mode includes operating in a mode during which the device is not in a call.

3. The method of claim 2, beginning scanning for service on a cellular network in the event that the battery power level has dropped to the predetermined threshold.

4. A battery-powered multimode wireless communication device that operates pursuant to a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol, comprising:

a battery power level determination module coupled to the battery; and

a switching module that switches from operation on a first communication protocol transceiver to operation on a second communication protocol transceiver in the event that the battery power level drops to a predetermined threshold while operating the first communication transceiver in an idle mode,

the first communication protocol transceiver is a local area network protocol transceiver,

the switching module switching from operation on the first communication protocol transceiver to operation on the second communication protocol transceiver in the event that the battery power level drops to the predetermined threshold while operating the first communication transceiver in the idle mode.

5. The device of claim 4, the second communication protocol transceiver is a cellular transceiver, the switching module switching from operation on the first communication protocol transceiver to operation on the second communication protocol transceiver in the event that the battery power level drops to the predetermined threshold while operating the first communication transceiver in the idle mode.

6. The device of claim 4, the device further comprising a searching module for searching for service on a cellular network in the event that the battery power level drops to the predetermined threshold while operating the first communication transceiver in the idle mode.

7. The device of claim 4 further comprising:

an emergency call determination module for determining whether the device is in an emergency call activation state when the device is in idle mode pursuant to the first communication protocol; and

a switch avoidance module operable when the device is in an emergency call activation state to avoid breaking emergency communication.

8. A method in a battery-powered multimode wireless communication device that operates pursuant to a first active communication mode and a second active communication mode, the method comprising:

determining whether a battery power level has dropped to a predetermined threshold while operating pursuant to the first active communication mode;

switching from operation of the wireless communication device in the first active communication mode to operation in the second active communication mode in the event that the battery power level drops to the predetermined threshold while operating pursuant in the first active communication mode; and

not switching from the first active communication mode to the second active communication mode in the event that the battery power level drops to the predetermined threshold if the wireless communication device is in an emergency call.

9. The method of claim 8, switching from the first active communication mode includes switching from operation on a cellular communication protocol while in a call to operation on a wireless local area network protocol in the event that the battery power level drops to the predetermined threshold.

10. The method of claim 9, switching from the first active communication mode includes handing off a function performed on the wireless communication device to an external device wherein the external device performs the function performed on the wireless communication device.

11. The method of claim 9, searching for service on the wireless local area network in the event that the battery power level drops to the predetermined threshold while operating pursuant to the cellular communication protocol in the active mode.

12. A battery-powered multimode wireless communication device that operates pursuant to a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol, comprising:

a battery power level determination module coupled to the battery; and

a switching module that switches from operation on a first communication protocol transceiver to operation on a second communication protocol transceiver in the event that the battery power level drops to a predetermined threshold while operating the first communication transceiver in an active mode;

an emergency call determination module for determining whether the device is in an emergency call activation state when the device is in active mode on the first communication protocol transceiver;

a switch avoidance module operable to avoid breaking emergency communication when the device is in an emergency call activation state.

13. The device of claim 12, the first communication protocol transceiver is a cellular communication protocol transceiver, the switching module switching from operation on the first communication protocol transceiver to operation on the second communication protocol transceiver in the event that the battery power level drops to the predetermined threshold while operating the first communication transceiver in the active mode.

14. The device of claim 12, the second communication protocol transceiver is a local area network protocol transceiver, the switching module switching from operation on the first communication protocol transceiver to operation on the second communication protocol transceiver in the event that the battery power level drops to the predetermined threshold while operating the first communication transceiver in the active mode.

15. The device of claim 12, the first communication protocol transceiver is a cellular communication protocol transceiver, the device further comprising:

a searching module for searching for service on a wireless local area network in the event that the battery power level drops to the predetermined threshold while operating pursuant to an active mode.

16. The device of claim 12 further comprising:

an emergency call determination module for determining whether the device is in an emergency call activation state when the device is in active mode pursuant to the second communication protocol;

a switch avoidance module operable when the device is in an emergency call activation state to avoid breaking emergency communication.

17. A battery-powered multimode wireless communication device that operates pursuant to a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol, comprising:

a battery power level determination module coupled to the battery; and

a switching module that switches from operation on a first communication protocol transceiver to operation on a second communication protocol transceiver in the event that the battery power level drops to a predetermined threshold while operating the first communication transceiver in an idle mode,

the second communication protocol transceiver is a cellular transceiver, the switching module switching from operation on the first communication protocol transceiver to operation on the second communication protocol transceiver in the event that the battery power level drops to the predetermined threshold while operating the first communication transceiver in the idle mode.

18. A battery-powered multimode wireless communication device that operates pursuant to a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol, comprising:

a battery power level determination module coupled to the battery;

a switching module that switches from operation on a first communication protocol transceiver to operation on a second communication protocol transceiver in the event that the battery power level drops to a predetermined threshold while operating the first communication transceiver in an idle mode;

an emergency call determination module for determining whether the device is in an emergency call activation state while operating the first communication transceiver in the idle mode; and

a switch avoidance module operable to avoid breaking emergency communication when the device is in an emergency call activation state.