TERMINAL DEVICE, COMMUNICATION METHOD, PROGRAM, STORAGE MEDIUM HAVING PROGRAM STORED THEREON, AND RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20150024806A1
• Filed: 03/21/2013
• Published: 01/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nobusawa, Yuichi, Sugahara, Shiro, Ohshima, Akira
• Granted Patent: US 9,326,248 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

There are provided a terminal device capable of reducing power consumption when a plurality of applications perform data communication, a communication method for the terminal device, a program executed by the terminal device, a storage medium having the program stored thereon, and a radio communication system including the terminal device. The terminal device includes: application running means for running a plurality of applications adapted to perform data communication; communication means for performing a procedure necessary for activating data communication to make a state transition to a communicable state, and performing data communication; and management means for controlling execution of subsequent data communication before a transition from the communicable state to another state.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A terminal device configured to perform data communication via a radio signal, comprising:

a communication control unit; and

a processor connected to the communication control unit, configured to

run a plurality of applications adapted to perform data communication,

start, upon receiving a request for data communication, a procedure necessary for activating data communication to make a state transition to a communicable state, and perform data communication, collaborated with the communication control unit, and

control a procedure of data communication so that subsequent data communication is started before a transition from the communicable state to another state, by managing a timing when the request for data communication is given.

14. The terminal device according to claim 13, wherein

the processor is further configured to:

collect, from each application, information about a pattern of use indicating a potential request for data communication;

determine schedule information of data communication for each application, using the collected information about the pattern of use; and

restrict requests for data communication that are generated by the applications, using the determined schedule information.

15. The terminal device according to claim 14, wherein the information about the pattern of use includes at least one of respective settings of:

type of the application;

communication cycle length;

communication timing;

amount of communication data;

communication scheme;

allowable delay time of communication;

contract information; and

user setting.

16. The terminal device according to claim 14, wherein the schedule information includes at least one of respective settings of communication cycle length, communication timing, and communication scheme.

17. The terminal device according to claim 14, wherein

the processor is further configured to:

receive from each application a request for data communication as well as corresponding communication data and storing the request and the communication data; and

start transmission, to the c control unit, the request for data communication including the stored communication data, when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

18. The terminal device according to claim 17, wherein the predetermined condition includes a condition that a predetermined transmission cycle arrives.

19. The terminal device according to claim 17, wherein the predetermined condition includes a condition that the stored communication data attains a predetermined data value.

20. The terminal device according to claim 17, wherein when the processor receives from any of the applications a request for data communication that is set by at least one of a user and a terminal device supplier, the processor causes the communication control unit to perform the procedure necessary for activating data communication and to perform data communication, independently of whether the predetermined condition is satisfied.

21. A communication method for a terminal device configured to perform data communication via a radio signal, comprising the steps of:

running a plurality of applications adapted to perform data communication;

performing a procedure necessary for activating data communication to make a state transition to a communicable state, and performing data communication; and

controlling a procedure of data communication so that subsequent data communication is started before a transition from the communicable state to another state.

24. The communication method according to claim 21, wherein the step of controlling includes:

collecting, from each application, information about a pattern of use indicating a potential request for data communication;

determining schedule information of data communication for each application, using the collected information about the pattern of use; and

restricting requests for data communication that are generated by the applications, using the determined schedule information.

25. The communication method according to claim 24, wherein the information about the pattern of use includes at least one of respective settings of:

type of the application;

communication cycle length;

communication timing;

amount of communication data;

communication scheme;

allowable delay time of communication;

contract information; and

user setting.

26. The communication method according to claim 24, wherein the schedule information includes at least one of respective settings of communication cycle length, communication timing, and communication scheme.

27. The communication method according to claim 24, wherein the step of controlling further includes:

receiving from each application a request for data communication as well as corresponding communication data and storing the request and the communication data; and

starting transmission the request for data communication including the stored communication data, when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

28. The communication method according to claim 27, wherein the predetermined condition includes a condition that a predetermined transmission cycle arrives.

29. The communication method according to claim 27, wherein the predetermined condition includes a condition that the stored communication data attains a predetermined data value.

30. The communication method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of:

when receiving from any of the applications a request for data communication that is set by at least one of a user and a terminal device supplier, causing a communication control unit to perform the procedure necessary for activating data communication and to perform data communication, independently of whether the predetermined condition is satisfied.

22. A non-transitory storage medium having a program stored thereon to be executed by a terminal device configured to perform data communication via a radio signal, the program causing the terminal device to perform the steps of:

running a plurality of applications adapted to perform data communication;

starting, upon receiving a request for data communication, a procedure necessary for activating data communication to make a state transition to a communicable state, and performing data communication; and

controlling a procedure of data communication so that subsequent data communication is started before a transition from the communicable state to another state, by managing a timing when the request for data communication is given to the communication means.

23. A radio communication system comprising:

a base station; and

a terminal device configured to perform data communication with the base station via a radio signal,

the terminal device including a communication control unit and a processor connected to the communication control unit, the processor configured to;

run a plurality of applications adapted to perform data communication;

start, upon receiving a request for data communication, a procedure necessary for activating data communication to make a state transition to a communicable state, and perform data communication, collaborated with the communication control unit; and

control a procedure of data communication so that subsequent data communication is started before a transition from the communicable state to another state, by managing a timing when the request for data communication is given.