Method and arrangement for reducing power consumption in a mobile communication network

• US 9,119,148 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2014
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Frenger, Pl, Magnusson, Per, Parkvall, Stefan, Wiberg, Niclas
• Primary Examiner(s): GESESSE, TILAHUN
• Application Number:
  US14/187,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20140161013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 455/574, 455/343.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0055 Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0206 in access points, e.g. base stations access point devices per se H04W88/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0238 where the received signal is an unwanted signal, e.g. interference or idle signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/28 using user profile, e.g. mobile speed, priority or network state, e.g. standby, idle or non transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/286 during data packet transmission, e.g. high speed packet access [HSPA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/287 when the channel is in stand-by
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/02 Arrangements for increasing efficiency of notification or paging channel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for reducing power consumption of a receiver in a mobile communication network comprising a sender transmitting packet data on a downlink channel to one or more receivers over a radio interface. Inactive time instants and listening time instants are defined according to provided rules. The receiver is arranged to listen for information from the sender during the listening time instants and to sleep during the inactive time instants. Thus, less power will be consumed during the inactive time instants.

Claims

1. A method of operating a receiver in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

transitioning, in a receiver, from a first mode to a second mode, wherein the receiver does not listen for downlink data transmissions while operating in the first mode, and wherein the receiver listens for downlink data transmissions while operating in the second mode;

while the receiver is operating in the second mode, receiving one or more packets from a transmitter as part of a packet data transmission;

in response to determining that a packet of the packet data transmission has been received in error;

transmitting a negative acknowledgement to the transmitter; and

adjusting a length of time for the second mode based, at least in part, on a time period associated with retransmitting the packet received in error; and

transitioning, in the receiver, from the second mode to the first mode based, at least in part, on the adjusted length of time for the second mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

transitioning from the first mode to the second mode is based, at least in part, on one or more sleep rules; and

transitioning from the second mode to the first mode is based, at least in part, on one or more sleep rules.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising exchanging control signaling between the transmitter and the receiver to set the one or more sleep rules.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transitioning, in the receiver, from one of the first mode and the second mode to a third mode, wherein the receiver listens only to a paging channel while operating in the third mode.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the third mode comprises a paging state.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

while the receiver is operating in the third mode, receiving a paging message; and

transitioning, in the receiver, from the third mode to one of the first mode and the second mode based, at least in part, on the receiver receiving the paging message.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the receiver uses a first type of identifier while operating in the third mode, and wherein transitioning from the third mode to one of the first mode and the second mode comprises receiving signaling indicating a second type of identifier for use by the receiver while the receiver is operating in the first mode or the second mode.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the receiver uses a first type of identifier while operating in the first mode and while operating in the second mode, and wherein the receiver uses a second type of identifier while operating in the third mode.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein identifiers of the first type are shorter than identifiers of the second type.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first type of identifier comprises a short Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI), and wherein the second type of identifier comprises a long RNTI.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein transitioning to the third mode is based, at least in part, on a timer.

12. A receiver operating in a wireless communication system, the receiver comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, said memory containing instructions executable by said processor, whereby said receiver is operative to;

transition from a first mode to a second mode, wherein the receiver does not listen for downlink data transmissions while operating in the first mode, and wherein the receiver listens for downlink data transmissions while operating in the second mode;

while operating in the second mode, receive one or more packets from a transmitter as part of a packet data transmission;

in response to determining that a packet of the packet data transmission has been received in error;

transmit a negative acknowledgement to the transmitter; and

adjust a length of time for the second mode based, at least in part, on a time period associated with retransmitting the packet received in error; and

transition from the second mode to the first mode based, at least in part, on the adjusted length of time for the second mode.

13. The receiver of claim 12, wherein:

the transition from the first mode to the second mode is based, at least in part, on one or more sleep rules; and

the transition from the second mode to the first mode is based, at least in part, on one or more sleep rules.

14. The receiver of claim 12, wherein said receiver is further operative to exchange control signaling between the transmitter and the receiver to set the one or more sleep rules.

15. The receiver of claim 12, wherein said receiver is further operative to transition from one of the first mode and the second mode to a third mode, wherein the receiver listens only to a paging channel while operating in the third mode.

16. The receiver of claim 15, wherein the third mode comprises a paging state.

17. The receiver of claim 15, wherein the receiver is further operative to:

while operating in the third mode, receive a paging message; and

transition from the third mode to one of the first mode and the second mode based, at least in part, on receiving the paging message.

18. The receiver of claim 17, wherein the receiver uses a first type of identifier while operating in the third mode, and wherein the transition from the third mode to one of the first mode and the second mode comprises receiving signaling indicating a second type of identifier for use by the receiver while the receiver is operating in the first mode or the second mode.

19. The receiver of claim 15, wherein the receiver uses a first type of identifier while operating in the first mode and while operating in the second mode, and wherein the receiver uses a second type of identifier while operating in the third mode.

20. The receiver of claim 19, wherein identifiers of the first type are shorter than identifiers of the second type.

21. The receiver of claim 19, wherein the first type of identifier comprises a short Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI), and wherein the second type of identifier comprises a long RNTI.

22. The receiver of claim 15, wherein the transition to the third mode is based, at least in part, on a timer.