Application-aware radio power saving
First Claim
1. An electronic device, comprising:
- an antenna;
an interface circuit, coupled to the antenna, configured to communicate with another electronic device using a connection in the wireless network;
a processor; and
memory, wherein the memory stores applications and a program module, wherein the applications are configured to be executed by the processor, and wherein the program module is configured to be executed by the processor to select a wake policy of the electronic device, the program module including;
instructions for monitoring a subset of the applications currently executed by the processor, wherein the subset can include zero or more of the applications; and
instructions for selecting the wake policy of the interface circuit based on the subset, wherein, when the subset includes an application that uses multicast/broadcast data and unicast data,the wake policy specifies a first wake period wherein, when the subset includes one or more applications that only use unicast data, the wake policy specifies a second wake-time period that is different than the first wake-time period.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In order to facilitate reduced power consumption of an electronic device (such as a smartphone) when communicating with another electronic device (such as an access point) in a wireless network, the electronic device may change a wake policy based on the applications executing on the electronic device. In particular, the electronic device may monitor a subset of the applications currently executed by a processor in the electronic device, where the subset can include zero or more of the applications. Based on the subset, the wake policy of an interface circuit in the electronic device may be changed. This wake policy may specify a frequency of wake ups to receive information from the other electronic device and/or monitoring of unicast or multicast bits in a Traffic Indication Map element. In this way, the time that the electronic device is in the active mode can be reduced, thereby reducing power consumption.
21 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. An electronic device, comprising:
-
an antenna; an interface circuit, coupled to the antenna, configured to communicate with another electronic device using a connection in the wireless network; a processor; and memory, wherein the memory stores applications and a program module, wherein the applications are configured to be executed by the processor, and wherein the program module is configured to be executed by the processor to select a wake policy of the electronic device, the program module including; instructions for monitoring a subset of the applications currently executed by the processor, wherein the subset can include zero or more of the applications; and instructions for selecting the wake policy of the interface circuit based on the subset, wherein, when the subset includes an application that uses multicast/broadcast data and unicast data, the wake policy specifies a first wake period wherein, when the subset includes one or more applications that only use unicast data, the wake policy specifies a second wake-time period that is different than the first wake-time period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A computer-program product for use in conjunction with an electronic device, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and a computer-program mechanism embedded therein, to select a wake policy of an electronic device, the computer-program mechanism including:
-
instructions for monitoring a subset of applications currently executed by a processor in the electronic device, wherein the subset can include zero or more of applications; and instructions for selecting the wake policy of an interface circuit in the electronic device based on the subset, wherein, when the subset includes an application that uses multicast/broadcast data and unicast data, the wake policy specifies a first wake period wherein, when the subset includes one or more applications that only use unicast data, the wake policy specifies a second wake-time period that is different than the first wake-time period. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method for selecting a wake policy of an electronic device, wherein the method comprises:
-
monitoring a subset of applications currently executed by a processor in the electronic device, wherein the subset can include zero or more of applications; and selecting the wake policy of an interface circuit in the electronic device based on the subset, wherein, when the subset includes an application that uses multicast/broadcast data and unicast data, the wake policy specifies a first wake period wherein, when the subset includes one or more applications that only use unicast data, the wake policy specifies a second wake-time period that is different than the first wake-time period. - View Dependent Claims (18)
-
Specification