Battery life assisted scheduling

• US 9,699,685 B1
• Filed: 03/14/2016
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Zhou, Yan, Merlin, Simone, Barriac, Gwendolyn Denise, Cherian, George, Asterjadhi, Alfred, Ding, Gang, Tian, Qingjiang
• Primary Examiner(s): Sobutka, Philip
• Application Number:
  US15/069,861
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 4553431-3435
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0221 power availability or consumption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/02 Power saving arrangements in wired systems H04L12/12; signaling of mobile application services, e.g. low battery notifications H04W4/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/566 of the information or information source or recipient
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In certain aspects, an apparatus for wireless communication comprises an interface configured to receive reports from wireless nodes, wherein each of the reports includes an indication of a battery life of a respective one of the wireless nodes. The apparatus also comprises a processing system configured to determine a schedule for communication based on the reported battery lives of the wireless nodes. The interface is further configured to output data for transmission to the wireless nodes based on the schedule or to output signals for transmission to the wireless nodes based on the schedule, each of the signals instructing a respective one of the wireless nodes to transmit data to the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

an interface configured to receive reports from wireless nodes, wherein each of the reports includes an indication of a battery life of a respective one of the wireless nodes and a battery charging status indicating whether the respective one of the wireless nodes is in a process of being charged by a battery charger; and

a processing system configured to determine a schedule for communication based on the indications of the battery lives of the wireless nodes and the battery charging statuses of the wireless nodes;

wherein the interface is further configured to output data for transmission to the wireless nodes based on the schedule or to output signals for transmission to the wireless nodes based on the schedule, each of the signals instructing a respective one of the wireless nodes to transmit data to the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indication of the battery life of each of the wireless nodes includes an indication of at least one of a remaining battery charge, a time of remaining battery life, or a percentage of remaining battery life.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to:

determine whether a first one of the wireless nodes has a lower battery life than a second one of the wireless nodes based on the indication of the battery life of the first one of the wireless nodes and the indication of the battery life of the second one of the wireless nodes; and

schedule a transmission for the first one of the wireless nodes no later than a transmission for the second one of the wireless nodes if a determination is made that the first one of the wireless nodes has a lower battery life than the second one of the wireless nodes.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to:

receive scheduling requests from the wireless nodes via the interface;

wherein the processing system determines the schedule after receiving the scheduling requests.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the interface is configured to receive the report for at least one of the wireless nodes in at least one of the scheduling requests.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the battery charging status indicates a type of the battery charger, the type of the battery charger including at least one of a portable charger, a wall charger, or a car charger.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one antenna via which the data or the output signals are transmitted, wherein the apparatus is configured as a wireless node.

8. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

an interface configured to receive reports from wireless nodes, wherein each of the reports includes an indication of a battery life of a respective one of the wireless nodes; and

a processing system configured to;

output to the interface a beacon for transmission to the wireless nodes, wherein the beacon indicates that data is awaiting transmission to each of the wireless nodes;

receive, after the beacon transmission, messages from the wireless nodes via the interface, wherein each of the messages indicates that a respective one of the wireless nodes is ready to receive the data awaiting transmission to the wireless node; and

determine, after receiving the messages, a schedule for communication based on the indications of the battery lives of the wireless nodes;

wherein the interface is further configured to output the data for transmission to the wireless nodes based on the schedule.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the messages comprise power save poll (PS-Poll) frames.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the interface is configured to receive the report for at least one of the wireless nodes in at least one of the messages.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising at least one antenna via which the data is transmitted, wherein the apparatus is configured as a wireless node.

12. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

an interface configured to receive reports from wireless nodes, wherein each of the reports includes an indication of a battery life of a respective one of the wireless nodes; and

a processing system configured to;

determine a schedule for communication based on the indications of the battery lives of the wireless nodes;

determine whether a first one of the wireless nodes has a battery life equal to or below a battery threshold based on the indication of the battery life of the first one of the wireless nodes;

assign a first resource to a transmission for the first one of the wireless nodes if a determination is made that the first one of the wireless nodes has a battery life equal to or below the battery threshold, wherein the first resource is not being reused by a neighboring wireless communication system; and

assign a second resource to the transmission for the first one of the wireless nodes if a determination is made that the first one of the wireless nodes does not have a battery life equal to or below the battery threshold, wherein the second resource is being reused by the neighboring wireless communication system;

wherein the interface is further configured to output data for transmission to the wireless nodes based on the schedule or to output signals for transmission to the wireless nodes based on the schedule, each of the signals instructing a respective one of the wireless nodes to transmit data to the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising at least one antenna via which the data or the output signals are transmitted, wherein the apparatus is configured as a wireless node.

14. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

an interface configured to receive reports from wireless nodes, wherein each of the reports includes an indication of a battery life of a respective one of the wireless nodes; and

a processing system configured to;

determine a schedule for communication based on the indications of the battery lives of the wireless nodes;

determine whether a first one of the wireless nodes has a battery life equal to or below a battery threshold based on the indication of the battery life of the first one of the wireless nodes;

assign a first frequency band to a transmission for the first one of the wireless nodes if a determination is made that the first one of the wireless nodes has a battery life equal to or below the battery threshold, wherein the first frequency band has lower path loss than a second frequency band; and

assign the second frequency band to the transmission for the first one of the wireless nodes if a determination is made that the first one of the wireless nodes does not have a battery life equal to or below the battery threshold;

wherein the interface is further configured to output data for transmission to the wireless nodes based on the schedule or to output signals for transmission to the wireless nodes based on the schedule, each of the signals instructing a respective one of the wireless nodes to transmit data to the apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising at least one antenna via which the data or the output signals are transmitted, wherein the apparatus is configured as a wireless node.

16. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

an interface configured to receive reports from wireless nodes, wherein each of the reports includes an indication of a battery life of a respective one of the wireless nodes; and

a processing system configured to;

determine a schedule for communication based on the indications of the battery lives of the wireless nodes;

determine whether a first one of the wireless nodes has a battery life equal to or below a battery threshold based on the indication of the battery life of the first one of the wireless nodes; and

reduce an access delay for the first one of the wireless nodes if a determination is made that the first one of the wireless nodes has a battery life equal to or below the battery threshold, wherein the access delay is an amount of time to access one or more resources for a transmission for the first one of the wireless nodes;

wherein the interface is further configured to output data for transmission to the wireless nodes based on the schedule or to output signals for transmission to the wireless nodes based on the schedule, each of the signals instructing a respective one of the wireless nodes to transmit data to the apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processing system is configured to reduce the access delay for the first one of the wireless nodes by selecting at least one of a shorter minimum contention window (CWmin), a shorter maximum contention window (CWmax), a shorter arbitration inter-frame space number (AIFSN), or a longer transmission opportunity (TXOP) for the first one of the wireless nodes.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processing system is configured to reduce the access delay for the first one of the wireless nodes by selecting at least one of a higher energy detection threshold or a higher channel clearance assessment threshold for the first one of the wireless nodes.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processing system is configured to reduce the access delay for the first one of the wireless nodes by selecting a higher random access probability for the first one of the wireless nodes.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising at least one antenna via which the data or the output signals are transmitted, wherein the apparatus is configured as a wireless node.

21. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a processing system configured to generate a report including an indication of a battery life of the apparatus and a battery charging status indicating whether the apparatus is in a process of being charged by a battery charger; and

an interface configured to;

output the report for transmission to a wireless node; and

after transmission of the report, receive data from the wireless node or a signal from the wireless node, the signal instructing the apparatus to transmit data to the wireless node.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the indication of the battery life includes an indication of at least one of a remaining battery charge, a time of remaining battery life, or a percentage of remaining battery life.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein:

the processing system is configured to generate a message including a request to transmit the data to the wireless node and the report; and

the interface is configured to output the message for transmission to the wireless node, wherein the interface receives the signal instructing the apparatus to transmit the data after transmission of the message.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processing system is configured to:

determine whether the battery life is equal to or below a battery threshold; and

generate the report if a determination is made that the battery life is equal to below the battery threshold.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the battery charging status indicates a type of the battery charger, the type of the battery charger including at least one of a portable charger, a wall charger, or a car charger.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising at least one antenna via which the report is transmitted, wherein the apparatus is configured as a wireless node.

27. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

an interface configured to receive a beacon from a wireless node, wherein the beacon indicates that the data is awaiting transmission to the apparatus; and

a processing system configured to;

generate a message after reception of the beacon, the message indicating that the apparatus is ready to receive the data; and

generate a report including an indication of a battery life of the apparatus;

wherein the interface is further configured to;

output the message and the report for transmission to the wireless node; and

after transmission of the report, receive the data from the wireless node.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the message includes the report.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising at least one antenna via which the report is transmitted, wherein the apparatus is configured as a wireless node.