Low duty cycle half-duplex mode operation with communication device

• US 20060280198A1
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Rezaiifar, Ramin, Lee, Chong U., Sheynblat, Leonid, Bender, Paul E., Wolf, Jack Keil, Mimran, Arik, Padovani, Roberto, Khazaka, Samir K., Holcman, Alejandro R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,945,234 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7085 using a code tracking loop, e.g. a delay-locked loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/0082 using service channels; using auxiliary channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/16 Half-duplex systems; Simplex/duplex switching; Transmission of break signals non-automatically inverting the direction of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0283 with sequential power up or power down of successive circuit blocks, e.g. switching on the local oscillator before RF or mixer stages
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/44 in connection with interruption of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Operating a communication device in a half-duplex mode using only overhead channels; and substantially free running a timing reference obtained during reception to allow a timing reference value to drift during transmission.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

operating a communication device in a half-duplex mode using only overhead channels; and

substantially free running a timing reference obtained during reception to allow a timing reference value to drift during transmission.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising

substantially freezing a power estimate obtained during said reception for use as a transmit power value during said transmission.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said substantially freezing a power estimate obtained during said reception includes

using a last computed open loop power estimate obtained during said reception to set an output value for a power amplifier during said transmission.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising

transmitting an access probe signal at said last computed open loop power estimate obtained during said reception.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said operating a communication device in a half-duplex mode includes

receiving low duty cycle (LDC) messages during a receive mode;

and

transmitting LDC messages during a transmit mode.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said operating a communication device in a half-duplex mode includes

operating a CDMA device over a CDMA network.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising

receiving a command to turn off power to said communication device for a predetermined period of time.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising

turning off power to said communication device for said predetermined period of time to be monitored by a timing unit coupled to said communication device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising

powering up said communication device when said timing unit determines that said predetermined period of time has elapsed since last power down of said communication device.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising

powering up said communication device when a priority wake up message is received even though said predetermined period of time has not elapsed since last power down of said communication device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said timing reference includes a local oscillator.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising

substantially freezing a frequency tracking loop during said transmission.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said operating a communication device in a half-duplex mode includes

transmitting LDC messages as short data burst (SDB) messages over data burst messaging (DBM).

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said operating a communication device in a half-duplex mode includes

transmitting LDC messages as short message service (SMS) messages over data burst messaging (DBM).

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said operating a communication device in a half-duplex mode includes

transmitting LDC messages as Data over Signaling (DoS).

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said operating a communication device in a half-duplex mode includes

transmitting an access probe signal including LDC messages.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

retransmitting said access probe signal with increased power when no terminating acknowledgement is received within a predefined period of time; and

terminating transmission of said access probe signal when a terminating acknowledgement is received.

18. A communication device comprising:

a receive chain and a transmit chain operating in a half-duplex mode to receive and transmit low duty cycle (LDC) messages using only overhead channels; and

a half-duplex controller coupled to the receive chain and the transmit chain to substantially free run a timing reference obtained during reception to allow a timing reference value to drift during transmission.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said transmit chain includes

a power-amp controller to substantially freeze a power estimate obtained during said reception for use as a transmit power value during said transmission.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein said power-amp controller includes

a power-amp adjusting unit configured to use a last computed open loop power estimate obtained during said reception to set an output value for a power amplifier during said transmission.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein said transmit chain further transmits

an access probe signal at said last computed open loop power estimate obtained during said reception.

22. The device of claim 18, wherein said communication device is

a CDMA device operating over a CDMA network.

23. The device of claim 18, further comprising

a power management unit to power down said communication device for a predetermined period of time and power up when said predetermined period of time has elapsed.

24. The device of claim 23, further comprising

a timing unit coupled to said power management unit to monitor said predetermined period of time,

wherein said communication device is powered up when said timing unit determines that said predetermined period of time has elapsed since last power down of said communication device.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein said power management unit includes

a processor configured to power up said communication device when a priority wake up message is received, even though said predetermined period of time has not elapsed since last power down.

26. The device of claim 18, wherein said timing reference includes a local oscillator.

27. The device of claim 18, wherein said transmit chain outputs

a first signal to transmit said LDC messages as short data burst (SDB) messages over data burst messaging (DBM).

28. The device of claim 18, wherein said transmit chain outputs

a second signal to transmit said LDC messages as short message service (SMS) messages over data burst messaging (DBM).

29. The device of claim 18, wherein said transmit chain outputs

a third signal to transmit said LDC messages as Data over Signaling (DoS).

30. A communication apparatus comprising:

means for operating a communication device in a half-duplex mode using only overhead channels; and

means for substantially free running a timing reference obtained during reception to allow a timing reference value to drift during transmission.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising

means for substantially freezing a power estimate obtained during said reception for use as a transmit power value during said transmission.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said communication apparatus is a fixed apparatus.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said communication apparatus is a mobile apparatus.

34. A tangible storage medium including a computer program for operating a communication device in a half-duplex mode using only overhead channels, the program comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to:

substantially free run a timing reference obtained during reception to allow a timing reference value to drift during transmission; and

substantially freeze a power estimate obtained during said reception for use as a transmit power value during said transmission.

35. The storage medium of claim 34, wherein executable instructions that cause a computer to substantially freeze a power estimate obtained during said reception includes executable instructions that cause a computer to

use a last computed open loop power estimate obtained during said reception to set an output value for a power amplifier during said transmission.

36. The storage medium of claim 35, further comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to

transmit an access probe signal at said last computed open loop power estimate obtained during said reception.

37. The storage medium of claim 34, further comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to

receive a command to turn off power to said communication device for a predetermined period of time.

38. The storage medium of claim 37, further comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to

turn off power to said communication device for said predetermined period of time to be monitored by a timing unit coupled to said communication device.

39. The storage medium of claim 38, further comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to

power up said communication device when said timing unit determines that said predetermined period of time has elapsed since last power down of said communication device.

40. The storage medium of claim 38, further comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to

power up said communication device when a priority wake up message is received even though said predetermined period of time has not elapsed since last power down of said communication device.

41. The storage medium of claim 34, wherein executable instructions that cause a computer to operate said communication device in a half-duplex mode includes executable instructions that cause a computer to

transmit LDC messages as short data burst (SDB) messages over data burst messaging (DBM).

42. The storage medium of claim 34, wherein executable instructions that cause a computer to operate said communication device in a half-duplex mode includes executable instructions that cause a computer to

transmit LDC messages as short message service (SMS) messages over data burst messaging (DBM).

43. The storage medium of claim 34, wherein executable instructions that cause a computer to operate said communication device in a half-duplex mode includes executable instructions that cause a computer to

transmit LDC messages as Data over Signaling (DoS).

44. The storage medium of claim 34, wherein executable instructions that cause a computer to operate said communication device in a half-duplex mode includes executable instructions that cause a computer to

transmit an access probe signal including LDC messages.

45. The storage medium of claim 44, further comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to

retransmit said access probe signal with increased power when no terminating acknowledgement is received within a predefined period of time;

and

terminate transmission of said access probe signal when a terminating acknowledgement is received.