Method and apparatus for a battery saver utilizing a sleep and vacation strategy

• US 9,462,545 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kleve, Robert Bruce, Pandya, Ritesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Edouard, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELNOUBI, SAID M
• Application Number:
  US13/828,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20140274223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 455/574
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3838 Arrangements for reducing RF exposure to the user, e.g. by changing the shape of the transceiver while in use
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A cellular communication module utilized within a battery-powered vehicle comprising a processor configured to activate an extended power mode, wherein the extended power mode allows the cellular communication module to establish a data session with a cellular communication network for a first time period. The process if further configured to activate a low power mode, wherein the low power mode allows the cellular communication module to maintain a registered cellular connection with the cellular communication network for a second time period, and activate a sleep mode, wherein the sleep mode maintains a registered cellular connection with the cellular communication network during a reoccurring wake-up cycle or is disconnected from the cellular communication network for a third time period.

Claims

1. A cellular communication module utilized within a battery-powered vehicle, comprising:

a processor configured to;

activate an extended power mode, following a vehicle key-off, wherein the extended power mode allows the cellular communication module to establish a data session with a cellular communication network for a first time period;

activate a low power mode, utilizing less current than the extended power mode, following a time-out of the extended power mode, wherein the low power mode allows the cellular communication module to maintain a registered cellular connection with the cellular communication network for a second time period; and

activate a sleep mode, upon time-out of the low power mode, wherein the sleep mode includes a reoccurring wake-up cycle.

2. The cellular communication module of claim 1, wherein the sleep mode includes a first sleep mode and a second sleep mode, wherein the second sleep mode utilizes less power than the first sleep mode and occurs after a first sleep mode time period lapses, wherein the first sleep mode is operating during the first sleep mode time period.

3. The cellular communication module of claim 2, wherein the second sleep mode includes the reoccurring wake-up cycle initiating less frequently than the reoccurring wake-up cycle of the first sleep mode.

4. The cellular communication module of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to activate a deep sleep mode, wherein the deep sleep mode utilizes less power than the second sleep mode and occurs after a second sleep mode time period elapses, wherein the second sleep mode is operating during the second sleep mode time period.

5. The cellular communication module of claim 4, wherein the deep sleep mode is configured to maintain power to the cellular communication module to power a real time clock and a network wakeup circuit of the cellular communication module, and is further configured to be disconnected from the cellular communication network.

6. The cellular communication module of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to activate the sleep mode upon the low power mode lapsing.

7. The cellular communication module of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to operate upon receiving a signal selected from a group consisting of a car area network wake up signal, a door open signal, a door lock or unlock signal, a key fob signal, a message from a mobile device, or a message from a server.

8. The cellular communication module of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to activate a vacation mode, wherein the vacation mode is configured to activate a deep sleep mode that maintains power to the cellular communication module to power a real time clock during a vacation mode time period.

9. The cellular communication module of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to initiate the low power mode upon activation of the vacation mode but prior to activating the deep sleep mode during the vacation mode time period.

10. The cellular communication module of claim 8, wherein the vacation mode time period is configured via a user interface of a vehicle computer system.

11. The cellular communication module of claim 10, wherein the user interface includes a calendar, a fixed vacation mode time period, or an input to configure the vacation mode time period.

12. The cellular communication module of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to initiate the low power mode at a time after activating the deep sleep mode but prior to the vacation mode time period lapsing.

13. The cellular communication module of claim 8, wherein the vacation mode time period is configured to lapse during an ignition on cycle or activating a network wake up signal.

14. A method of saving power within a vehicle that includes a cellular communication module, comprising:

generating a first signal to activate an extended power mode in the cellular communication module, wherein the extended power mode allows the cellular communication module to establish a data session with a cellular communication network;

generating a second signal to activate a low power mode in the cellular communication module upon the extended power mode lapsing, wherein the low power mode allows the cellular communication module to maintain a registered cellular connection with the cellular communication network and the low power mode utilizes less current than the extended power mode; and

generating a third signal to activate a sleep mode in the cellular communication module upon the low power mode lapsing, wherein the sleep mode is temporarily disconnected from the cellular communication network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further includes generating a fourth signal to activate a deep sleep mode in the cellular communication module that is configured to maintain power to the cellular communication module to power a real time clock and a network wakeup circuit of the cellular communication module, and is further configured to be disconnected from the cellular communication network.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the low power mode maintains a registered cellular connection with the cellular communication network without registering a data session.

17. A vehicle module, comprising:

a processor in a telematics control unit (TCU) configured to;

activate an extended power mode (EPM) including a telecommunication network data session;

activate a low power mode (LPM) utilizing less current than the EPM to maintain a cellular connection with the network upon the EPM lapsing;

activate a sleep mode including a wake-up cycle upon the LPM lapsing; and

activate a TCU deep sleep mode disconnected from the network.

18. The vehicle module of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to activate a vacation mode, wherein the vacation mode is configured to activate the deep sleep mode during a vacation mode time period.

19. The vehicle module of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to initiate the low power mode upon activation of the vacation mode but prior to activating the deep sleep mode during the vacation mode time period.

20. The vehicle module of claim 17, wherein the low power mode maintains a cellular connection with the network without registering a data session.