DATA RESUME INDICATOR FOR MOBILE DEVICE POWER CONSERVATION

• US 20120120858A1
• Filed: 11/15/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Das, Soumya, Awoniyi, Olufunmilola O., Lee, Jangwon, Chaubey, Nishith, Soliman, Samir S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,964,611 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/311
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A novel power conservation scheme is provided for conserving power in a wireless client terminal with an established communication session. While in a connected mode, the client terminal may receive data for the communication session via a data channel from an access point. During periods of inactivity over the data channel, the client terminal may switch to a lowered power mode, where the client terminal discontinuously monitors a control channel and does not monitor the data channel. The access point is informed of the operating mode of the client terminal. If a data resume indicator is received over the control channel, the client terminal switches back to the connected mode and resumes the communication session by receiving additional data over the data channel.

Claims

1. A client terminal comprising:

a wireless communication interface for wirelessly communicating with an access point; and

a processing circuit coupled to the wireless communication interface and adapted to receive data messages via the wireless communication interface during a communication session, the wireless communication interface configured to

operate in a connected mode using a data channel during the communication session, where the operating mode of the client terminal is known to the access point;

switch to a lowered power mode after a period of inactivity in the data channel while the communication session remains active; and

monitor a control channel for a data resume indicator from the access point, where the data resume indicator is sent by the access point prior to transmission of data for the communication session.

2. The client terminal of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication interface is further configured to:

switch to the connected mode upon receipt of the data resume indicator; and

monitor the data channel for the data transmission from the access point.

3. The client terminal of claim 2, wherein the wireless communication interface is further configured to:

receive the data transmission from the access point over the data channel.

4. The client terminal of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication interface is further configured to:

receive the data transmission over the control channel while operating in the lowered power mode.

5. The client terminal of claim 1, wherein the data for the communication session is received at a fixed time offset from the reception of the data resume indicator.

6. The client terminal of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication interface is further configured to:

send a data resume indicator acknowledgement to the access point in response, wherein the data for the communication session is only transmitted by the access point after receipt of the data resume indicator acknowledgement.

7. The client terminal of claim 1, wherein the lowered power mode the control channel is monitored discontinuously and the data channel is not monitored to conserve power.

8. The client terminal of claim 1, wherein the lowered power mode the client terminal consumes less power than the connected mode.

9. The client terminal of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication interface is compatible with a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) air interface standard and the connected mode is one of a Radio Resource Control (RRC) Cell Dedicated Channel (CELL_DCH) mode or Cell Forward Access Channel (CELL_FACH) mode.

10. The client terminal of claim 9, wherein the wireless communication interface implements Evolved High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA+) and the control channel is a High Speed—

Shared Control Channel (HS-SCCH).

11. The client terminal of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication interface is compatible with an Evolution-Data Only (EV-DO) air interface standard and the connected mode is an Active mode.

12. The client terminal of claim 11, wherein the control channel is a sub-synchronous control channel, enabling the client terminal to monitor only some control channel slots.

13. The client terminal of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication interface determines that the period of inactivity has exceed a threshold amount of time and independently switches to the lowered power mode.

14. The client terminal of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication interface is further configured to:

send a message to the access point indicating that the client terminal is being switched to the lowered power mode.

15. The client terminal of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication interface is further configured to:

receive a message from the access point causing the client terminal to switch to the lowered power mode.

16. The client terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a secondary communication interface for communicating with a proxy device;

wherein the processing circuit is coupled to the secondary communication interface and configured to;

send a proxy request to the proxy device to monitor one or more control channels on behalf of the client terminal;

power off the wireless communication interface;

monitor a second control channel over the secondary communication interface for a data resume indicator from the proxy device.

17. The client terminal of claim 16 wherein the secondary communication interface is a low power interface relative to the wireless communication interface.

18. The client terminal of claim 16, wherein the data resume indicator from the proxy device precedes transmission of data for the communication session over the wireless communication interface by the access point.

19. The client terminal of claim 16, wherein the second control channel is an asynchronous control channel which is continuously monitored by the client terminal via the secondary communication interface.

20. The client terminal of claim 16, wherein upon receipt of a data resume indicator from the proxy device, the processing circuit is adapted to:

power on the wireless communication interface; and

monitor a traffic channel over the wireless communication interface for an expected data transmission for the communication session.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein the lowered power mode the control channel is monitored discontinuously and the data channel is not monitored to conserve power.

26. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

sending a proxy request to a proxy device to monitor one or more control channels on behalf of the client terminal;

power off a primary communication interface used for the communication session with the access point;

monitor a second control channel with the proxy device over a secondary communication interface for a data resume indicator from the proxy device.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the data resume indicator from the proxy device precedes transmission of data for the communication session over the primary communication interface by the access point.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein upon receipt of a data resume indicator from the proxy device, the method further comprises:

powering on the primary wireless communication interface; and

monitoring a traffic channel over the wireless communication interface for an expected data transmission for the communication session.

21. A method operational on a client terminal comprising:

establishing a communication session with an access point;

operating the client terminal in a connected mode using a data channel during the communication session, where the operating mode of the client terminal is known to the access point;

switching the client terminal to a lowered power mode after a period of inactivity in the data channel while the communication session remains active; and

monitoring a control channel for a data resume indicator from the access point, where the data resume indicator is sent by the access point prior to transmission of data for the communication session.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

switching the client terminal to the connected mode upon receipt of the data resume indicator; and

monitoring the data channel for the data transmission from the access point.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

receiving the data transmission from the access point over the data channel.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving the data transmission over the control channel while operating in the lowered power mode.

29. A client terminal comprising:

means for establishing a communication session with an access point;

means for operating the client terminal in a connected mode using a data channel during the communication session, where the operating mode of the client terminal is known to the access point;

means for switching the client terminal to a lowered power mode after a period of inactivity in the data channel while the communication session remains active; and

means for monitoring a control channel for a data resume indicator from the access point, where the data resume indicator is sent by the access point prior to transmission of data for the communication session.

30. The client terminal of claim 29, further comprising:

switching the client terminal to the connected mode upon receipt of the data resume indicator;

monitoring the data channel for the data transmission from the access point; and

receiving the data transmission from the access point over the data channel.

31. The client terminal of claim 29, wherein the lowered power mode the control channel is monitored discontinuously and the data channel is not monitored to conserve power.

32. A processor-readable medium having one or more instructions operational on a client terminal for conserving power at the client terminal, which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

establish a communication session with an access point;

operate the client terminal in a connected mode using a data channel during the communication session, where the operating mode of the client terminal is known to the access point;

switch the client terminal to a lowered power mode after a period of inactivity in the data channel while the communication session remains active; and

monitor a control channel for a data resume indicator from the access point, where the data resume indicator is sent by the access point prior to transmission of data for the communication session.

33. An access point, comprising:

a wireless communication interface for wirelessly communicating with a client terminal; and

a processing circuit coupled to the wireless communication interface and adapted to send data messages to the client terminal over a data channel via the wireless communication interface during a communication session, the processing circuit configured to

determine that the client terminal has switched to a lowered power mode due to inactivity over the data channel, and

send a data resume indicator to the client terminal over a control channel prior to transmission of additional data for the communication session.

34. The access point of claim 33, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

receive a message from the client terminal indicating that the client terminal is switching to the lowered power mode.

35. The access point of claim 33, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

determine that the data channel has been inactive for a threshold amount of time; and

send a message to the client terminal indicating that the client terminal switch to the lowered power mode.

36. The access point of claim 33, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

receive data for the communication session, wherein the data resume indicator is sent in response to receipt of the data.

37. The access point of claim 33, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

send the data to the client terminal over the data channel after a fixed time offset from sending the data resume indicator.

38. The access point of claim 33, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

send the data to the client terminal over the data channel after the reception of a data resume indicator acknowledgement from the client terminal.

39. The access point of claim 33, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

send the data to the client terminal over the control channel.

40. The access point of claim 33, wherein the access point provides network connectivity to one or more client terminals.

41. The access point of claim 33, wherein the wireless communication interface is compatible with a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) air interface standard and the connected mode is one of a Radio Resource Control (RRC) Cell Dedicated Channel (CELL_DCH) mode or Cell Forward Access Channel (CELL_FACH) mode.

42. The access point of claim 33, wherein the wireless communication interface implements Evolved High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA+) and the control channel is a High Speed—

Shared Control Channel (HS-SCCH).

43. The access point of claim 33, wherein the wireless communication interface is compatible with an Evolution-Data Only (EV-DO) air interface standard and the connected mode is an Active mode.

44. The access point of claim 43, wherein the control channel is a sub-synchronous control channel, enabling the client terminal to monitor only some control channel slots.

45. The access point of claim 33, wherein the access point operates as a femto cell and operates as a proxy for the client terminal, where the data resume indicator is sent to the client terminal via a secondary communication interface distinct from the wireless communication interface.

46. A method operational in an access point, comprising:

establishing a communication session with a client terminal;

wirelessly sending data messages to the client terminal over a data channel during the communication session;

determining that the client terminal has switched to a lowered power mode due to inactivity over the data channel; and

sending a data resume indicator to the client terminal over a control channel prior to transmission of additional data for the communication session.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

receiving a message from the client terminal indicating that the client terminal is switching to the lowered power mode.

48. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

determining that the data channel has been inactive for a threshold amount of time; and

sending a message to the client terminal indicating that the client terminal switch to the lowered power mode.

49. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

receiving data for the communication session, wherein the data resume indicator is sent in response to receipt of the data.

50. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

sending the data to the client terminal over the data channel after a fixed time offset from sending the data resume indicator.

51. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

sending the data to the client terminal over the control channel.

52. The method of claim 46, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

send the data to the client terminal over the data channel after the reception of a data resume indicator acknowledgement from the client terminal.

53. An access point, comprising:

means for establishing a communication session with a client terminal;

means for wirelessly sending data messages to the client terminal over a data channel during the communication session;

means for determining that the client terminal has switched to a lowered power mode due to inactivity over the data channel; and

means for sending a data resume indicator to the client terminal over a control channel prior to transmission of additional data for the communication session.

54. The access point of claim 53, further comprising:

means for receiving a message from the client terminal indicating that the client terminal is switching to the lowered power mode.

55. The access point of claim 53, further comprising:

means for determining that the data channel has been inactive for a threshold amount of time; and

means for sending a message to the client terminal indicating that the client terminal switch to the lowered power mode.

56. The access point of claim 53, further comprising:

means receiving data for the communication session, wherein the data resume indicator is sent in response to receipt of the data.

57. A processor-readable medium having one or more instructions operational in an access point for conserving power at a client terminal, which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

establish a communication session with a client terminal;

wirelessly send data messages to the client terminal over a data channel during the communication session;

determine that the client terminal has switched to a lowered power mode due to inactivity over the data channel; and

send a data resume indicator to the client terminal over a control channel prior to transmission of additional data for the communication session.

58. A proxy device, comprising:

a first communication interface for wirelessly communicating with an access point;

a second communication interface for wirelessly communicating with a client terminal; and

a processing circuit coupled to the first and second communication interfaces and adapted to;

receive a request from a client terminal to operate as a proxy for the client terminal;

monitor for at least one of either;

data on a data channel from the client terminal via the first communication interface for a previously established communication session between the client terminal and the access point; and

a data resume indicator on a control channel for the client terminal via the first communication interface, where the data resume indicator precedes the transmission of additional data for the previously established communication session between the client terminal and the access point; and

send the data resume indicator to the client terminal via the second communication interface for resumption of the previously established communication session.

59. The proxy device of claim 58, wherein the second communication interface has lower power and shorter range transmission relative the first communication interface.

60. The proxy device of claim 58, wherein the access point believes that the client terminal is operating in a lowered power mode where the client terminal is monitoring its control channel for the data resume indicator.

61. The proxy device of claim 58, wherein the processing circuit is further adapted to:

receive a data resume indicator acknowledgment from the client terminal over the second communication interface; and

transmitting the data resume indicator acknowledgement to the access point via the first communication interface.

62. The proxy device of claim 58, wherein the processing circuit is further adapted to:

monitor a data channel for the client terminal over the first communication interface for incoming data for the previously established communication session; and

forward received data to the client terminal.

63. The proxy device of claim 58, wherein the data resume indicator is asynchronously transmitted to the client terminal over a control channel via the second communication interface.

64. A method operational on a proxy device, comprising:

receiving a request from a client terminal to operate as a proxy for the client terminal;

monitoring for at least one of either;

data on a data channel from the client terminal via the first communication interface for a previously established communication session between the client terminal and an access point; and

a data resume indicator on a control channel for the client terminal via a first communication interface of the proxy device, where the data resume indicator precedes the transmission of additional data for the previously established communication session between the client terminal and an access point; and

sending the data resume indicator to the client terminal via a second communication interface of the proxy device for resumption of the previously established communication session.

65. The proxy device of claim 64, further comprising:

receiving a data resume indicator acknowledgment from the client terminal over the second communication interface; and

transmitting the data resume indicator acknowledgement to the access point via the first communication interface.

66. The proxy device of claim 64, further comprising:

monitoring a data channel for the client terminal over the first communication interface for incoming data for the previously established communication session; and

forwarding received data to the client terminal.

67. A proxy device, comprising:

means for receiving a request from a client terminal to operate as a proxy for the client terminal;

means for monitoring for at least one of either;

data on a data channel from the client terminal via the first communication interface for a previously established communication session between the client terminal and the access point; and

a data resume indicator on a control channel for the client terminal via a first communication interface of the proxy device, where the data resume indicator precedes the transmission of additional data for the previously established communication session between the client terminal and an access point; and

means for sending the data resume indicator to the client terminal via a second communication interface of the proxy device for resumption of the previously established communication session.

68. A processor-readable medium having one or more instructions operational in a proxy device for facilitating power conservation in client terminals, which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

receive a request from a client terminal to operate as a proxy for the client terminal;

monitor for at least one of either;

data on a data channel from the client terminal via the first communication interface for a previously established communication session between the client terminal and the access point; and

a data resume indicator on a control channel for the client terminal via a first communication interface of the proxy device, where the data resume indicator precedes the transmission of additional data for the previously established communication session between the client terminal and an access point; and

send the data resume indicator to the client terminal via a second communication interface of the proxy device for resumption of the previously established communication session.