LOWER POWER DISCOVERY AND WAKE UP USING SERVICE SET IDENTIFIER PROBABILISTIC SCANNING SYNCHRONIZATION VERIFICATION AND OPTIONAL SENSOR

• US 20100141400A1
• Filed: 11/17/2009
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Radulescu, Andrei, Nanda, Sanjiv, Rauber, Peter H.
• Application Number:
  US12/620,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20100141400A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.330
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Processes to achieve low power discovery and wake-up in the presence of desired 802.11 coverage are disclosed. In one aspect, probabilistic scanning for 802.11 SSID triggers is provided. In another aspect, the 802.11 Access Point (AP) is equipped with a Bluetooth inquiring device, which initiates the wake-up process with a special inquiry access code (IAC). The special IAC can comprise the AP'"'"'s 802.11 channel. Additional optional sensors (GPS, Gyroscope, odometer, etc) are provided such that probabilistic scanning reduces power consumption and improves the likelihood that an 802.11 channel scan will find a desired SSID. A Bluetooth inquiry allows a discovery process to either wake-up immediately, or ascertain the need for host wake-up by exchanging further information with the AP. Probabilistic scanning allows the use of sensors and historical or pre-loaded information to improve the probability that 802.11 scanning is not required on individual channels, further driving down power needs.

Claims

1. A method for low power discovery and wakeup comprising:

performing probalistic channel scanning for a wakeup trigger based on sensor information;

determining if wakeup and/or synchronization is required by a Bluetooth device equipped with an 802.11 interface; and

conserving power in the Bluetooth device by initiating wakeup and/or synchronization of the Bluetooth device only when required.

2. The method of low power discovery and wakeup of claim 1 wherein sensor information comprises information from GPS, gyroscope, odometer, Bluetooth or cellular signals.

3. The method of low power discovery and wakeup of claim 1 wherein the determining if wakeup and/or synchronization is required is based on information contained in a synchronization token exchanged between the Bluetooth device and a network coverage Access Point.

4. The method of low power discovery and wakeup of claim 1 wherein the wakeup trigger comprises a Service Set Identifier, desired encryption, a special packet format from a network coverage Access Point, or wake-up necessity indicated through a synchronization token.

5. The method of low power discovery and wakeup of claim 1 wherein the wakeup trigger comprises a Bluetooth Inquiry Access Code.

6. The method of low power discovery and wakeup of claim 4 wherein a response to the Inquiry Access code is made from the Bluetooth device via a Bluetooth communication channel and a wake up packet is received by the Bluetooth device via an 802.11 communication channel.

7. The method of low power discovery and wakeup of claim 4 wherein a response to the Inquiry Access code is made by the Bluetooth device via an 802.11 communication channel and a wake up packet is received by the Bluetooth device via an 802.11 communication channel.

8. A processor for low power discovery and wakeup, the processor configured to:

perform probalistic channel scanning for a wakeup trigger based on sensor information;

determine if wakeup and/or synchronization is required by a Bluetooth device equipped with an 802.11 interface; and

conserve power in the Bluetooth device by initiating wakeup and/or synchronization of the Bluetooth device only when required.

9. The processor for low power discovery and wakeup of claim 8 wherein sensor information comprises information from GPS, gyroscope, odometer, Bluetooth or cellular signals.

10. The processor for low power discovery and wakeup of claim 8 wherein the determining if wakeup and/or synchronization is required is based on information contained in a synchronization token exchanged between the Bluetooth device and a network coverage Access Point.

11. The processor for low power discovery and wakeup of claim 8 wherein the wakeup trigger comprises a Service Set Identifier, desired encryption, a special packet format from a network coverage Access Point, or wake-up necessity indicated through a synchronization token.

12. The processor for low power discovery and wakeup of claim 8 wherein the wakeup trigger comprises a Bluetooth Inquiry Access Code.

13. The processor for low power discovery and wakeup of claim 12 wherein a response to the Inquiry Access code is made from the Bluetooth device via a Bluetooth communication channel and a wake up packet is received by the Bluetooth device via an 802.11 communication channel.

14. The processor for low power discovery and wakeup of claim 12 wherein a response to the Inquiry Access code is made by the Bluetooth device via an 802.11 communication channel and a wake up packet is received by the Bluetooth device via an 802.11 communication channel.

15. A wireless communications device, comprising:

a processor for performing probalistic channel scanning for a wakeup trigger based on sensor information and determining if wakeup and/or synchronization is required by a Bluetooth device equipped with an 802.11 interface; and

a power management circuit for conserving power in the Bluetooth device by initiating wakeup and/or synchronization of the Bluetooth device only when required.

16. The wireless communications device of claim 15 wherein sensor information comprises information from GPS, gyroscope, odometer, Bluetooth or cellular signals.

17. The wireless communications device of claim 15 wherein the determining if wakeup and/or synchronization is required is based on information contained in a synchronization token exchanged between the Bluetooth device and a network coverage Access Point.

18. The wireless communications device of claim 15 wherein the wakeup trigger comprises a Service Set Identifier, desired encryption, a special packet format from a network coverage Access Point, or wake-up necessity indicated through a synchronization token.

19. The wireless communications device of claim 15 wherein the wakeup trigger comprises a Bluetooth Inquiry Access Code.

20. The wireless communications device of claim 19 wherein a response to the Inquiry Access code is made from the Bluetooth device via a Bluetooth communication channel and a wake up packet is received by the Bluetooth device via an 802.11 communication channel.

21. The wireless communications device of claim 19 wherein a response to the Inquiry Access code is made by the Bluetooth device via an 802.11 communication channel and a wake up packet is received by the Bluetooth device via an 802.11 communication channel.

22. An apparatus for low power discovery and wakeup comprising:

means for performing probalistic channel scanning for a wakeup trigger based on sensor information and determining if wakeup and/or synchronization is required by a Bluetooth device equipped with an 802.11 interface; and

means for power management for conserving power in the Bluetooth device by initiating wakeup and/or synchronization of the Bluetooth device only when required.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein sensor information comprises information from GPS, gyroscope, odometer, Bluetooth or cellular signals.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the determining if wakeup and/or synchronization is required is based on information contained in a synchronization token exchanged between the Bluetooth device and a network coverage Access Point.

25. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the wakeup trigger comprises a Service Set Identifier, desired encryption, a special packet format from a network coverage Access Point, or wake-up necessity indicated through a synchronization token.

26. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the wakeup trigger comprises a Bluetooth Inquiry Access Code.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein a response to the Inquiry Access code is made from the Bluetooth device via a Bluetooth communication channel and a wake up packet is received by the Bluetooth device via an 802.11 communication channel.

28. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein a response to the Inquiry Access code is made by the Bluetooth device via an 802.11 communication channel and a wake up packet is received by the Bluetooth device via an 802.11 communication channel.

29. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for performing probalistic channel scanning for a wakeup trigger based on sensor information;

code for determining if wakeup and/or synchronization is required by a Bluetooth device equipped with an 802.11 interface; and

code for conserving power in the Bluetooth device by initiating wakeup and/or synchronization of the Bluetooth device only when required.

30. The computer program product of claim 29 wherein sensor information comprises information from GPS, gyroscope, odometer, Bluetooth or cellular signals.

31. The computer program product of claim 29 wherein the determining if wakeup and/or synchronization is required is based on information contained in a synchronization token exchanged between the Bluetooth device and a network coverage Access Point.

32. The computer program product of claim 29 wherein the wakeup trigger comprises a Service Set Identifier, desired encryption, a special packet format from a network coverage Access Point, or wake-up necessity indicated through a synchronization token.

33. The computer program product of claim 29 wherein the wakeup trigger comprises a Bluetooth Inquiry Access Code.

34. The computer program product of claim 33 wherein a response to the Inquiry Access code is made from the Bluetooth device via a Bluetooth communication channel and a wake up packet is received by the Bluetooth device via an 802.11 communication channel.

35. The computer program product of claim 33 wherein a response to the Inquiry Access code is made by the Bluetooth device via an 802.11 communication channel and a wake up packet is received by the Bluetooth device via an 802.11 communication channel.