Low power synchronization in a wireless communication network
First Claim
1. A method of wireless communication operable at a wireless communication device, comprising:
- while a first receiver is in a sleep state;
if a timing drift is not predicted to be below a predetermined threshold;
waking a second receiver for a synchronization period to listen for a synchronization signal from a wireless network, wherein the second receiver is configured to utilize less power to receive than the first receiver;
receiving the synchronization signal with the second receiver;
establishing synchronism with the wireless network in accordance with the synchronization signal; and
waking the first receiver from the sleep state to communicate with the wireless network;
if the timing drift is predicted to be below the predetermined threshold;
waking the first receiver to listen for the synchronization signal;
receiving the synchronization signal with the first receiver; and
establishing synchronism with the wireless network in accordance with the synchronization signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Some aspects of the present disclosure provide for methods, apparatus, and computer software for low-power synchronization of wireless communication devices. In one example, an asynchronous code division multiple access (CDMA) channel may be utilized for uplink communication. By utilizing asynchronous CDMA on the uplink, synchronization requirements are relaxed relative to other forms of communication. Accordingly, a synchronization period after coming out of a sleep state can be short, reducing power consumption during re-synchronization. In another example, a low-power companion receiver, rather than the full-power WWAN receiver, may be utilized to acquire a sync signal while the device is in its sleep state. Once synchronism is achieved via the low-power companion receiver, the full-power radio may power up and perform communication with the network. By shifting the synchronization from the full-power radio to the low-power companion radio, power consumption during re-synchronization can be achieved.
18 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of wireless communication operable at a wireless communication device, comprising:
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while a first receiver is in a sleep state; if a timing drift is not predicted to be below a predetermined threshold; waking a second receiver for a synchronization period to listen for a synchronization signal from a wireless network, wherein the second receiver is configured to utilize less power to receive than the first receiver; receiving the synchronization signal with the second receiver;
establishing synchronism with the wireless network in accordance with the synchronization signal; andwaking the first receiver from the sleep state to communicate with the wireless network; if the timing drift is predicted to be below the predetermined threshold; waking the first receiver to listen for the synchronization signal; receiving the synchronization signal with the first receiver; and establishing synchronism with the wireless network in accordance with the synchronization signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A wireless communication device, comprising:
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means for communicating with a wireless network utilizing a first receiver; means for determining whether timing drift is predicted to be below a predetermined threshold; means for receiving a synchronization signal from a wireless network when the timing drift is not predicted to be below the predetermined threshold, wherein the means for receiving the synchronization signal is configured to utilize less power to receive than the means for communicating with the wireless network; while the means for communicating with the wireless network is in a sleep state, means for waking the means for receiving the synchronization signal for a synchronization period to listen for the synchronization signal when the timing drift is not predicted to be below the predetermined threshold; means for establishing synchronism with the wireless network in accordance with the synchronization signal when the timing drift is not predicted to be below the predetermined threshold; means for waking the means for communicating with the wireless network from the sleep state to communicate with the wireless network when the timing drift is not predicted to be below the predetermined threshold; means for waking the means for communicating with the wireless network to listen for the synchronization signal when the timing drift is predicted to be below the predetermined threshold; means for receiving the synchronization signal with the means for communicating with the wireless network when the timing drift is predicted to be below the predetermined threshold; and means for establishing synchronism with the wireless network in accordance with the synchronization signal when the timing drift is predicted to be below the predetermined threshold.
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20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable code, comprising instructions for causing a processor to:
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while a first receiver is in a sleep state; if a timing drift is not predicted to be below a predetermined threshold; wake a second receiver for a synchronization period to listen for a synchronization signal from a wireless network, wherein the second receiver is configured to utilize less power to receive than the first receiver; receive the synchronization signal with the second receiver; establish synchronism with the wireless network in accordance with the synchronization signal; and wake the first receiver from the sleep state to communicate with the wireless network; if the timing drift is predicted to be below the predetermined threshold; wake the first receiver to listen for the synchronization signal; receive the synchronization signal with the first receiver; and establish synchronism with the wireless network in accordance with the synchronization signal.
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21. A wireless communication device, comprising:
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a memory; a first receiver; a second receiver, wherein the second receiver is configured to utilize less power to receive than the first receiver; and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the first receiver, and the second receiver, wherein the at least one processor and the memory are configured to; while the first receiver is in a sleep state; if a timing drift is not predicted to be below a predetermined threshold; wake the second receiver for a synchronization period to listen for the synchronization signal from the wireless network; receive the synchronization signal with the second receiver; establish synchronism with the wireless network in accordance with the synchronization signal; and wake the first receiver from the sleep state to communicate with the wireless network; if the timing drift is predicted to be below the predetermined threshold; wake the first receiver to listen for the synchronization signal; receive the synchronization signal with the first receiver; and establish synchronism with the wireless network in accordance with the synchronization signal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification