Method and device for transponder aided wake-up of a low power radio device

• US 20060270382A1
• Filed: 05/24/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Antti Lappetelainen, Jari Hyyrylainen, Mauri Honkanen, Tapani Ryhanen
• Original Assignee: Antti Lappetelainen, Jari Hyyrylainen, Mauri Honkanen, Tapani Ryhanen
• Inventors: Hyyrylainen, Jari, Honkanen, Mauri, Lappetelainen, Antti, Ryhanen, Tapani
• Granted Patent: US 7,613,484 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/343.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method, software tool, computer program product and low power radio device are provided for transponder aided wake-up and connection set-up by detecting a wake up event in a sleep mode of the low power radio device, putting the radio device into an operative state, transmitting at least one advert message by radio transmission, wherein the low power radio devices put into a passive mode for a predetermined period of time in case no answer is received in response to the at least one transmitted advert message.

Claims

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. Method in a communication comprising:

detecting a wake up event through a radio frequency sensor interface of low power radio device,

putting said radio device into an operative state including powering a radio frequency communication interface in response to detection of said wake up event,

transmitting at least one advertising message via the radio frequency communication interface,

determining whether a response to said at least one advertising message is received through the radio frequency communication interface; and

putting said low power radio device into a passive operation mode for a predetermined period of time, in the passive operation mode including shutting down the radio frequency communication interface, if it is determined that no response to said at least one transmitted advertising message is received, and ignoring subsequent wake up events detected during said predetermined period of time of passive operation mode so as to avoid using power to put said radio device into said operative state to transmit another advertising message via the radio frequency communication interface during said predetermined period of time of passive mode operation.

23. Method according to claim 22, further comprising:

setting up a connection and transmitting data to a device, if an answer is received from said device.

24. Method according to claim 22, further comprising activating only necessary radio components, which are needed to detect said wake up event prior to said detection of said wake up event, measure said energy level over the whole operational frequency band of said low power device.

25. Method according to claim 22, further comprising:

putting said radio device into an operative state, after said predetermined period of time has expired.

26. Method according to claim 25, further comprising:

transmitting an advertising message, after putting said radio device into an operative state.

27. Method according to claim 22, wherein said detecting said wake up event comprises

receiving energy transmitted from another device in a determined frequency band,

amplifying said received energy, and

detecting the increased energy level after amplifying.

28. Method according to claim 22, wherein said detecting said wake up event comprises

receiving transmitted energy from another device, and

utilizing the received energy for putting said device into an operational state.

29. Method according to claim 22, wherein said detecting of said wake up event comprises receiving a sensor output from a sensor provided in said radio device in response to physical contact of a person or another device.

30. Method according to claim 22, wherein said detecting of said wake up event comprises receiving a sensor output from a proximity sensor provided in said radio device in response to the proximity of a person or another device.

31. Software tool comprising program code means stored on a computer readable medium for carrying out the method of claim 22 when said software tool is run on a computer.

32. Computer program product comprising program code means stored on a computer readable medium for carrying out the method of claim 22 when said program product is run on a computer.

34. Computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing a program that instructs a computer to perform the method of claim 22.

33. Computer program product comprising program code, downloadable from a server for carrying out a method for transponder aided wake up and connection set up when said program product is run on a computer by carrying out:

detecting a wake up event through a radio frequency sensor interface of said low power radio device,

putting said radio device into an operative state including powering a radio frequency communication interface in response to detection of said wake up event,

transmitting at least one advertising message via the radio frequency communication interface,

determining whether a response to said at least one advertising message is received through the radio frequency communication interface, and

putting said low power radio device into a passive operation mode for a predetermined period of time, in the passive operation mode including shutting down the radio frequency communication interface, if it is determined that no response to said at least one transmitted advertising message is received, and ignoring subsequent wake up events detected during said predetermined period of time of passive operation mode so as to avoid using power to put said radio device into said operative state to transmit another advertising message via the radio frequency communication interface during said predetermined period of time of passive mode operation.

35. Apparatus comprising:

a transponder adapted to respond to received radio transmission for setting up a radio connection for transmitting data, said transponder comprising;

a transceiver adapted to transmit and receive data and a transponder controller connected to said transceiver,

a state controller adapted to control the operative state of said apparatus, said state controller comprising;

a detector adapted to detect a wake up event in a sleep mode of said apparatus and to notify said state controller to put said apparatus into an operative state if a wake up event is detected,

wherein said state controller is connected to said transponder and is adapted to put said apparatus to a sleep mode, according to signals received from said transponder,

wherein said

state controller further comprises a timer, said timer being adapted to be active for a predetermined period of time, wherein said timer is adapted to be activated by said state controller when the apparatus is put to a passive mode, and said state controller is adapted to be inactive while said timer is active so as to avoid said transponder responding to said received radio transmission while in said passive mode.

36. Apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising a data interface connected to said transponder controller, being adapted to exchange data with components connected to said transponder controller.

37. Apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising a battery and a power switch connected to said state controller, and said battery, adapted to connect and disconnect a battery to said low power radio device.

38. Apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said apparatus comprises a fully operative state, a fully powered down state and at least one partially operative state.

39. Apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said state controller further comprises at least one sensor responding to physical proximity.

40. Apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said transceiver further comprises an antenna switch connected between said transceiver, said detector and an antenna of said transceiver, being adapted to connect said antenna with said transceiver or with said detector, and wherein said state controller is connected to said antenna switch to operate said antenna switch.

41. Apparatus according to claim 40 further comprising an amplifier connected between said antenna and said antenna switch.

42. Apparatus comprising:

transponder means adapted to respond to received radio transmission for setting up a radio connection for transmitting data, said transponder means comprising;

transceiver means adapted to transmit and receive data and a transponder controller means connected to said transceiver means,

state controller means adapted to control the operative state of said apparatus, said state controller means comprising;

detector means adapted to detect a wake up event in a sleep mode of said apparatus and to notify said state controller means to put said apparatus into an operative state if a wake up event is detected,

wherein said state controller means is connected to said transponder means and is adapted to put said apparatus to a sleep mode, according to signals received from said transponder means,

wherein said

state controller means further comprises timer means, said timer means being adapted to be active for a predetermined period of time, wherein said timer means is adapted to be activated by said state controller means when the apparatus is put to a passive mode, and said state controller means is adapted to be inactive while said timer means is active so as to avoid said transponder responding to said received radio transmission while in said passive mode.