Method for reducing power consumption in bluetooth and CDMA modes of operation

• US 9,185,671 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2007
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Pattabiraman, Ganesh, Burke, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Yuwen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sherif, Fatuma
• Application Number:
  US11/759,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20080056169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,078 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/502, 455/343.4, 455/343.1, 455/552.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/707 using direct sequence modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/713 using frequency hopping
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2201/70709 with discontinuous detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0015 one node acting as a reference for the others
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor 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: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Techniques are provided for synchronizing a wakeup schedule for a first module and a wakeup schedule for a CDMA module in a wireless mobile unit operable in a synchronous communication system. In one embodiment, a next CDMA wakeup time is determined. A new wakeup time for the first module can then be synchronized to a next CDMA wakeup time when a next CDMA wakeup time is earlier than a next wakeup time for the first module

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing a wakeup schedule for a first module and a wakeup schedule for a second module in a wireless mobile unit operable in a synchronous communication system, comprising:

determining a first set of wakeup intervals for the first module within a predetermined time period;

determining a second set of wakeup intervals for the second module within the predetermined time period, wherein the first set includes a number of wakeup intervals different from the corresponding number of the second set of wakeup intervals;

determining a time difference between a current time and a next scheduled wakeup time of the second set of wakeup intervals;

setting a next scheduled wakeup time of the first set of wakeup intervals equal to the current time plus the time difference; and

providing the next wakeup time of the first set of wakeup intervals to the first module and the next wakeup time of the second set of wakeup intervals to the second module to substantially synchronize one of the wakeup intervals from the first set to another of the wakeup intervals from the second set within the predetermined time period.

2. The method as in claim 1 wherein the first set further includes a number of wakeup intervals the same as the corresponding number of the second set of wakeup intervals.

3. The method as in claim 1 further including providing the first module as a BLUETOOTH module and the second module as a CDMA module.

10. The method as in claim 1, wherein during the first set of wakeup intervals, the first module scans the surrounding environment for establishing a connection with another device.

11. The method as in claim 1, wherein during the second set of wakeup intervals, the second module accesses a network to synchronize with a system time.

12. The method as in claim 3, further comprising:

determining a system time from a CDMA network based upon a pilot signal; and

synchronizing an internal time of the CDMA module with the system time.

4. An apparatus for synchronizing a wakeup schedule for a first module and a wakeup schedule for a second module in a wireless mobile unit operable in a synchronous communication system, comprising:

means for determining a first set of wakeup intervals for the first module within a predetermined time period;

means for determining a second set of wakeup intervals for the second module within the predetermined time period, wherein the first set includes a number of wakeup intervals different from the corresponding number of the second set of wakeup intervals;

means for determining a time difference between a current time and a next scheduled wakeup time of the second set of wakeup intervals;

means for setting a next scheduled wakeup time of the first set of wakeup intervals equal to the current time plus the time difference; and

means for providing the next wakeup time of the first set of wakeup intervals to the first module and the next wakeup time of the second set of wakeup intervals to the second module to substantially synchronize one of the wakeup intervals from the first set to another of the wakeup intervals from the second set within the predetermined time period.

5. The apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the first set further includes a number of wakeup intervals the same as the corresponding number of the second set of wakeup intervals.

6. The apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said first module includes a BLUETOOTH module and the second module includes a CDMA module.

13. The apparatus as in claim 4, wherein during the first set of wakeup intervals, the first module scans the surrounding environment for establishing a connection with another device.

14. The apparatus as in claim 4, wherein during the second set of wakeup intervals, the second module accesses a network to synchronize with a system time.

15. The apparatus as in claim 6, further comprising:

means for determining a system time from a CDMA network based upon a pilot signal; and

means for synchronizing an internal time of the CDMA module with the system time.

7. An apparatus operable in a synchronous communication system, comprising:

first and second modules; and

a processor configured to;

determine a first set of wakeup intervals for the first module within a predetermined time period,

determine a second set of wakeup intervals for the second module within the predetermined time period, wherein the first set includes a number of wakeup intervals different from the corresponding number of the second set of wakeup intervals,

determine a time difference between a current time and a next scheduled wakeup time of the second set of wakeup intervals,

set a next scheduled wakeup time of the first set of wakeup intervals equal to the current time plus the time difference, and

provide the next wakeup time of the first set of wakeup intervals to the first module and the next wakeup time of the second set of wakeup intervals to the second module to substantially synchronize one of the wakeup intervals from the first set to another of the wakeup intervals from the second set within the predetermined time period.

8. The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the first set further includes a number of wakeup intervals the same as the corresponding number of the second set of wakeup intervals.

9. The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said first module includes a BLUETOOTH module and the second module includes a CDMA module.

16. The apparatus as in claim 7, wherein during the first set of wakeup intervals, the first module scans the surrounding environment for establishing a connection with another device.

17. The apparatus as in claim 7, wherein during the second set of wakeup intervals, the second module accesses a network to synchronize with a system time.

18. The apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a system time from a CDMA network based upon a pilot signal, and

synchronize an internal time of the CDMA module with the system time.

19. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

instructions to determine a first set of wakeup intervals for the first module within a predetermined time period;

instructions to determine a second set of wakeup intervals for the second module within the predetermined time period, wherein the first set includes a number of wakeup intervals different from the corresponding number of the second set of wakeup intervals; and

instructions to determine a time difference between a current time and a next scheduled wakeup time of the second set of wakeup intervals,

instructions to set a next scheduled wakeup time of the first set of wakeup intervals equal to the current time plus the time difference, and

instructions to provide the next wakeup time of the first set of wakeup intervals to the first module and the next wakeup time of the second set of wakeup intervals to the second module to substantially synchronize one of the wakeup intervals from the first set to another of the wakeup intervals from the second set within the predetermined time period.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium as in claim 19 wherein the first set further includes a number of wakeup intervals the same as the corresponding number of the second set of wakeup intervals.

21. The non-transitory machine-readable medium as in claim 19 further including providing the first module as a BLUETOOTH module and the second module as a CDMA module.

22. The non-transitory machine-readable medium as in claim 19, wherein during the first set of wakeup intervals, the first module scans the surrounding environment for establishing a connection with another device.

23. The non-transitory machine-readable medium as in claim 19, wherein during the second set of wakeup intervals, the second module accesses a network to synchronize with a system time.

24. The non-transitory machine-readable medium as in claim 21, further comprising:

instructions to determine a system time from a CDMA network based upon a pilot signal, and

instructions to synchronize an internal time of the CDMA module with the system time.