Reducing idle mode power consumption for monitoring neighboring base stations
First Claim
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1. A method for reducing idle mode power consumption by a mobile device, comprising:
- entering an idle mode, wherein the mobile device is not communicating and yet continues monitoring wireless signals from one or more other wireless communication devices while in the idle mode;
measuring, when a selected neighboring base station is assigned a high-frequency monitoring mode, a signal strength of the selected neighboring base station, wherein more than a minimum number of power monitors per paging cycle are performed when at least one neighboring base station is in the high-frequency monitoring mode;
assigning, by the mobile device while in the idle mode, a low-frequency monitoring mode to the selected neighboring base station upon determining the signal strength of the selected neighboring base station has been below a power threshold for longer than a time threshold;
measuring, when the selected neighboring base station is assigned the low-frequency monitoring mode, the signal strength of the selected neighboring base station when it is time to measure the signal strength, wherein the minimum number of power monitors per paging cycle are performed when all neighboring base stations are in the low-frequency monitoring mode; and
assigning the selected neighboring base station to the high-frequency monitoring mode when the signal strength of the selected neighboring base station is above the power threshold.
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Abstract
A method for reducing idle mode power consumption is disclosed. An idle mode is entered. A neighboring base station is selected. If the selected neighboring base station is assigned a high-frequency monitoring mode, a signal strength of the neighboring base station is measured. A low-frequency monitoring mode is assigned to the selected neighboring base station if the signal strength of the selected neighboring base station has been below a power threshold for longer than a time threshold. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.
14 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for reducing idle mode power consumption by a mobile device, comprising:
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entering an idle mode, wherein the mobile device is not communicating and yet continues monitoring wireless signals from one or more other wireless communication devices while in the idle mode; measuring, when a selected neighboring base station is assigned a high-frequency monitoring mode, a signal strength of the selected neighboring base station, wherein more than a minimum number of power monitors per paging cycle are performed when at least one neighboring base station is in the high-frequency monitoring mode; assigning, by the mobile device while in the idle mode, a low-frequency monitoring mode to the selected neighboring base station upon determining the signal strength of the selected neighboring base station has been below a power threshold for longer than a time threshold; measuring, when the selected neighboring base station is assigned the low-frequency monitoring mode, the signal strength of the selected neighboring base station when it is time to measure the signal strength, wherein the minimum number of power monitors per paging cycle are performed when all neighboring base stations are in the low-frequency monitoring mode; and assigning the selected neighboring base station to the high-frequency monitoring mode when the signal strength of the selected neighboring base station is above the power threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A wireless communication device for reducing idle mode power consumption, comprising:
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a processor; memory in electronic communication with the processor; instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to enter an idle mode, wherein the wireless communication device is not communicating and yet continues monitoring wireless signals from one or more other wireless communication devices while in the idle mode; select, while in the idle mode, a neighboring base station; measure, when the selected neighboring base station is assigned a high-frequency monitoring mode, a signal strength of the neighboring base station, wherein more than a minimum number of power monitors per paging cycle are performed when at least one neighboring base stations is in the high-frequency monitoring mode; assign, by the wireless communication device while in the idle mode, a low-frequency monitoring mode to the selected neighboring base station upon determining the signal strength of the selected neighboring base station has been below a power threshold for longer than a time threshold; measure, when the selected neighboring base station is assigned the low-frequency monitoring mode, the signal strength of the neighboring base station when it is time to measure the signal strength, wherein the minimum number of power monitors per paging cycle are performed when all neighboring base stations are in the low-frequency monitoring mode; and assign the high-frequency monitoring mode to the selected neighboring base station when the signal strength of the selected neighboring base station is above the power threshold. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A wireless communication device for reducing idle mode power consumption, comprising:
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means for entering an idle mode, wherein the wireless communication device is not communicating and yet continues monitoring wireless signals from one or more other wireless communication devices while in the idle mode; means for selecting, while in the idle mode, a neighboring base station; means for measuring, when the selected neighboring base station is assigned a high-frequency monitoring mode, a signal strength of the selected neighboring base station, wherein more than a minimum number of power monitors per paging cycle are performed when at least one neighboring base stations is in the high-frequency monitoring mode; means for assigning, by the wireless communication device while in the idle mode, when the selected neighboring base station is assigned the high-frequency monitoring mode, a low-frequency monitoring mode to the selected neighboring base station upon determining the signal strength of the selected neighboring base station has been below a power threshold for longer than a time threshold; means for measuring, when the selected neighboring base station is assigned the low-frequency monitoring mode, the signal strength of the selected neighboring base station when it is time to measure the signal strength, wherein the minimum number of power monitors per paging cycle are performed when all neighboring base stations are in the low-frequency monitoring mode; and means for assigning the high-frequency monitoring mode to the selected neighboring base station when the signal strength of the selected neighboring base station is above the power threshold. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. In a wireless system that comprises a plurality of wireless communication devices configured to communicate with at least one other wireless communication device, a power saving wireless device configured for reducing idle mode power consumption, said power saving wireless device comprising:
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a receiver module configured to receive wireless communication signals from one or more of the plurality of wireless communication devices; a processor module, in electronic communication with said receiver module and operating in an idle mode, wherein the power saving wireless device is not communicating and yet continues monitoring wireless signals from one or more other wireless communication devices, the processor module configured to determine a signal strength, while in the idle mode, for each received wireless communication signal, said signal strength determination being based on comparison with a predetermined threshold; the processor module being further configured to assign a frequency state for one or more of the plurality of wireless communication devices based on each determined signal strength that corresponds to said one or more of the plurality of wireless communication devices; the processor module being further configured to adjust a frequency monitoring mode, while the processor module is in the idle mode, of said power saving wireless device for each of the one or more of a plurality of wireless communication devices in communication with wireless device, wherein a low frequency state is assigned to one or more of the plurality of wireless communication devices when a first corresponding signal strength is determined to be below the predetermined threshold for longer than a time threshold, wherein a high frequency state is assigned to one or more of the plurality of wireless communication devices when a second corresponding signal strength is above the predetermined threshold; and the processor module is configured to monitor received signal strengths of a minimum number of power monitors per paging cycle when the frequency state is in a low-frequency monitoring mode and to monitor received signal strengths of more than the minimum number of power monitors per paging cycle when the frequency state is in a high-frequency monitoring mode. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification