SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING A WIRELESS NETWORK

• US 20120250731A1
• Filed: 04/03/2012
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Taghavi Nasrabadi, Mohammad Hossein, Sampath, Hemanth, Van Nee, Didier Johannes Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,867,667 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/147
• 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

Systems, methods, and devices to enable monitoring of wireless networks are described herein. In some aspects, a low power receiver or a receiver operating in a low power mode scans for signals with a moderate or low duty cycle. If a signal identifying a device or user of the receiver, or a signal indicating that there will be a subsequent data communication, is received, a high power receiver or a receiver operating in a high power mode is activated to receive data communications.

Claims

1. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a first receiver configured to wirelessly receive data, the first receiver consuming a first power when activated;

a second receiver configured to receive wireless control information, the second receiver consuming a second power when activated, the second power being less than the first power; and

a processor configured to noncontinously activate the second receiver, and to selectively activate the first receiver based at least in part on the received control information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control information comprises a message identifying one or more devices to which subsequent communications are addressed.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to activate the first receiver when the apparatus is identified by the message.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the message identifies the one or more devices with a hash of a media access control (MAC) address for an intended receiver.

5. The message of claim 2, wherein the one or more devices are identified by one or more waveforms, and wherein the second receiver is configured to receive the message without using a decoder.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first receiver comprises an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) receiver.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second receiver comprises a direct-sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) receiver.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second receiver comprises an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) receiver.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second receiver comprises a 1-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC).

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to activate the second receiver with a duty cycle of approximately 1% or less.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to activate the second receiver with a duty cycle of approximately 0.3% or less.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to activate the second receiver for approximately 3 ms or less, and to thereafter return the second receiver to a sleep mode if a communication is not received identifying the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first power is at least an order of magnitude greater than the second power.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first power is approximately 120 mW or greater, and wherein the second power is approximately 60 mW or less.

15. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

periodically activating a first receiver;

wirelessly receiving control information during one or more periods in which the first receiver is activated, wherein the first receiver consumes a first power when activated;

selectively activating a second receiver based at least in part on the received control information; and

wirelessly receiving data during one or more periods in which the second receiver is activated, wherein the second receiver consumes a second power when activated, the first power being less than the second power.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the control information comprises a message identifying one or more devices to which subsequent communications are addressed.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second receiver is activated when the message identifies an apparatus in which the second receiver is implemented.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the message identifies the one or more devices with a hash of a media access control (MAC) address for an intended receiver.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more devices are identified by one or more waveforms, and wherein the method further comprises processing the received control information without decoding the received control information.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the data is received using orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM).

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the control information is received using in direct-sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) communication.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the control information is received using orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM).

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising converting the receiving control information from analog to digital using a 1-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC).

24. The method of claim 15, wherein the periodically activating the first receiver comprises activating the first receiver with a duty cycle of approximately 1% or less.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein the periodically activating the first receiver comprises activating the first receiver with a duty cycle of approximately 0.3% or less.

26. The method of claim 15, wherein the periodically activating the first receiver comprises activate the first receiver for approximately 3 ms or less, and thereafter returning the first receiver to a sleep mode if a communication is not received identifying an apparatus in which the second receiver is implemented.

27. The method of claim 15, wherein the second power is at least an order of magnitude greater than the first power.

28. The method of claim 15, wherein the second power is approximately 120 mW or greater, and wherein the first power is approximately 60 mW or less.

29. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for wirelessly receiving data, the means for wirelessly receiving data consuming a first power when activated;

means for wirelessly receiving control information, the means for wirelessly receiving control information consuming a second power when activated, the second power being less than the first power;

means for periodically activating the means for wirelessly receiving control information; and

means for selectively activating the means for wirelessly receiving data based at least in part on the received control information.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the means for wirelessly receiving data comprises a first receiver, and wherein the means for wirelessly receiving control information comprises a second receiver that is separate from the first receiver.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the means for wirelessly receiving data and the means for wirelessly receiving control information are implemented as a single receiver, wherein one or more components used during an active mode of the means for wirelessly receiving data are disabled during an active mode of the means for wirelessly receiving control information.

32. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the means for wirelessly receiving data comprises a first receiver, wherein the means for wirelessly receiving control information comprises a second receiver, and wherein the first receiver and the second receiver share one or more components.

33. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein at least one of the means for periodically activation and the means for selectively activating comprise a processor.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the means for wirelessly receiving data or the means for wirelessly receiving control information is implemented in a receiver with the processor.

35. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the means for periodically activating switches the means for wirelessly receiving control information between a sleep mode and an active mode at a duty cycle.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the duty cycle is wirelessly negotiated.

37. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising means for transmitting a message indicating that one or both of the means for wirelessly receiving data and the means for wirelessly receiving control information are entering a sleep mode.

38. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the means for wirelessly receiving data receives the data over a first wireless channel, and wherein the means for receiving control information receives the control information over the first wireless channel.

39. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the means for wirelessly receiving data receives the data over a first wireless channel, and wherein the means for receiving control information receives the control information over a second wireless channel separate from the first wireless channel.

40. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the means for wirelessly receiving data uses an 802.11ac standard.

41. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the means for wirelessly receiving control information uses an 802.11b standard.

42. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the means for wirelessly receiving data uses orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM).

43. A computer readable medium comprising instructions that when executed cause an apparatus to:

periodically activate a first receiver;

wirelessly receive control information during one or more periods in which the first receiver is activated, wherein the first receiver consumes a first power when activated;

selectively activate a second receiver based at least in part on the received control information; and

wirelessly receive data during one or more periods in which the second receiver is activated, wherein the second receiver consumes a second power when activated, the first power being less than the second power.

44. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a receiver configured to wirelessly receive information using a high power mode and a low power mode; and

a processor configured to noncontinuously operate the receiver in the low power mode, and to selectively operate the receiver in the high power mode based at least in part on information received while operating the receiver in the low power mode.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the information received while operating the receiver in the low power mode comprises a user-specific message, and wherein the processor is configured to operate the receiver in the high power mode when the user-specific message identifies the apparatus.

46. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the processor is configured to disable one or more components of the receiver when operating the receiver in the low power mode.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the receiver comprises a decoder, wherein the receiver is configured to decode information using the decoder when operating in the high power mode, and wherein the processor is configured to disable the decoder when operating the receiver in the low power mode.

48. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the receiver comprises an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to operate using a variable number of bits, wherein the ADC is operated with a higher number of bits when the receiver is using the high power mode than when the receiver is using the low power mode.

49. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the receiver is configured to receive a beacon when operating in the low power mode.

50. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the receiver is operated with a duty cycle of approximately 1% or less during the noncontinuous operation.

51. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the processor is configured to operate the receiver in the low power mode for approximately 3 ms or less during the noncontinuous operation, and to thereafter return the receiver to a sleep mode if a communication is not received identifying the apparatus.

52. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the receiver operates at approximately 120 mW or greater in the high power mode, and at approximately 60 mW or less in the low power mode.

53. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the receiver is configured to wirelessly receive the information using orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM).

54. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

noncontinuously operating a receiver in a low power mode;

wirelessly receiving information during one or more periods in which the receiver is operated in the low power mode; and

selectively operating the receiver in a high power mode based at least in part on the information received while operating the receiver in the low power mode.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the information received while operating the receiver in the low power mode comprises a user-specific message, and wherein the receiver in operated in the high power mode when the user-specific message identifies the apparatus.

56. The method of claim 54, comprising disabling one or more components of the receiver when operating the receiver in the low power mode.

57. The method of claim 56, comprising decoding information using the decoder when operating the receiver in the high power mode, and disabling the decoder when operating the receiver in the low power mode.

58. The method of claim 54, comprising operating an ADC with a higher number of bits when the receiver is using the high power mode than when the receiver is using the low power mode.

59. The method of claim 54, wherein the wirelessly receiving information comprises receiving a beacon.

60. The method of claim 54, wherein the noncontinuously operating the receiver comprises operating the receiver with a duty cycle of approximately 1% or less.

61. The method of claim 54, wherein the noncontinuously operating the receiver comprises operating the receiver for approximately 3 ms or less, and thereafter returning the receiver to a sleep mode if a communication is not received identifying the apparatus.

62. The method of claim 54, wherein the receiver operates at approximately 120 mW or greater in the high power mode, and at approximately 60 mW or less in the low power mode.

63. The method of claim 54, wherein the receiver is configured to wirelessly receive the information using orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM).

64. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for wirelessly receiving information using a high power mode and a low power mode;

means for noncontinuously operating the receiving means in the low power mode; and

means for selectively operating the receiving means in the high power mode based at least in part on information received while operating the receiving means in the low power mode.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the receiving means comprises a receiver.

66. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the means for noncontinuously operating or the means for selectively operating comprises a controller.

67. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the information received while operating the receiving means in the low power mode comprises a user-specific message, and wherein the means for selectively operating is configured to operate the receiving means in the high power mode when the user-specific message identifies the apparatus.

68. The apparatus of claim 64, further comprising means for disabling one or more components of the receiving means when operating the receiving means in the low power mode.

69. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the receiving means comprises means for decoding, wherein the receiving means decodes information using the decoding means when operating in the high power mode, and wherein the disabling means disable the decoding means when the receiving means is operating in the low power mode.

70. The apparatus of claim 64, further comprising means for converting the received information from analog to digital using a variable number of bits, wherein the converting means is operated with a higher number of bits when the receiving means is using the high power mode than when the receiving means is using the low power mode.

71. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the receiving means comprises means for receiving a beacon when operating in the low power mode.

72. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the receiving means is operated with a duty cycle of approximately 1% or less during the noncontinuous operation.

73. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the receiving means is configured to wirelessly receive the information using orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM).

74. A computer readable medium comprising instructions that when executed cause an apparatus to:

noncontinuously operate a receiver in a low power mode;

wirelessly receive information during one or more periods in which the receiver is operated in the low power mode; and

selectively operate the receiver in a high power mode based at least in part on the information received while the receiver is operated in the low power mode.