(12) United States Patent
`Ramirez et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7.496,060 B2
`Feb. 24, 2009
`
`USOO7496060B2
`
`(54) EXTENDING BATTERY LIFE IN
`COMMUNICATION DEVICES HAVING A
`PLURALITY OF RECEIVERS
`
`(75) Inventors: Patrials, RS FL
`s
`ghes, Boynton
`Beach, FL (US); Ronald R. Rockwell,
`Lake Worth, FL (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., Austin,
`TX (US)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 608 days.
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 11/134,712
`
`(22) Filed:
`(65)
`
`May 20, 2005
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2006/O262739 A1
`Nov. 23, 2006
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`H04B I/38
`(52) U.S. Cl. ....................... 370/311; 370/318; 370/328;
`455/573; 455/574
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................. 370/310,
`3707310.2, 311. 328, 329, 331338. 334
`455/573,574.132.133.134.343.2,343.5.
`s
`s
`455/552.l. 553, 168.
`See application file for complete search history.
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,943,803 A
`7/1990 Vrijkorte
`5,054,052 A 10, 1991 Nonami
`5,117,449 A
`5, 1992 Metroka et al.
`5,228,053 A
`7, 1993 Miller et al.
`
`(56)
`
`8, 1993 Siwiak et al.
`5,239,306 A
`5,438,701 A * 8/1995 Yamada et al. .............. 455,574
`5,541,976 A
`7, 1996 Ghisler
`5,566,364 A * 10/1996 Mizoguchi et al. .......... 455,132
`5,606,313 A
`2f1997 Allen et al.
`5,735,707 A * 4/1998 O'Groske et al. ........... 439/446
`5,737,707 A
`4/1998 Gaulke et al.
`5,745,860 A
`4, 1998 Kallin ........................ 455,574
`5,790,946 A
`8/1998 Rotzoll
`5,805,989 A * 9/1998 Ushida .................... 455,343.2
`5,838,720 A 11, 1998 Morelli
`6.255,944 B1
`7/2001 Addy
`6,473,601 B1 * 10/2002 Oda ........................... 455,132
`6,678,508 B1* 1/2004 Koilpillai et al. ............ 455,137
`7.024,168 B1 * 4/2006 Gustafsson et al. ......... 455,135
`7,133,702 B2 * 1 1/2006 Amerga et al. .............. 455,574
`2004/0114553 A1* 6/2004 Jiang et al. .................. 370,328
`2005/0181731 A1* 8/2005 Asghar et al. .............. 455,631
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner Jean A Gelin
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Charles W. Bethards
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A method (300) of extending battery life in a communication
`device having a plurality of receivers includes receiving infor
`mation with a primary receiver that is configured to operate
`on a first network (303) and controlling a secondary receiver
`that is configured to operate on a second network that is
`independent from the first network in accordance with the
`information obtained with the primary receiver. A corre
`sponding communication device (201) includes: a primary
`receiver (221) configured to operate on a first network (203);
`a secondary receiver (227, 233) configured and arranged to
`operate as a short range receiver with an access point (205.
`207) that is independent of the first network; and a controller
`(225, 231, 237) that is configured to control the secondary
`receiver in accordance with information obtained from the
`primary receiver.
`
`17 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`101
`
`
`
`2 -
`
`BATTERY
`SUPPLY
`
`WIDE AREA
`NETWORK
`
`y
`103
`
`WAN
`PRIMARY
`RECEIVER/TRANSMITTER
`
`BLUETOOTH
`SECONDARY
`RECEIVER/TRANSMITTER
`
`WLAN
`SECONDARY
`RECEIVER/TRANSMITTER
`
`BLUETOOTH
`ACCESS
`POINT
`
`WLAN
`ACCESS
`POINT
`
`105
`
`IO7
`
`APPLE 1015
`
`1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 24, 2009
`
`Sheet 1 of 5
`
`US 7.496,060 B2
`US 7,496,060 B2
`
`SOT
`
`LOT
`
`HLOOLING
`
`SSIOOV
`
`INIOd
`
`NVM
`
`SSIOOV
`
`INIOd
`
`HLOOLING
`
`AMVONODIS
`
`
`
`MALLINSNVSL/Y3AT3034
`
`NYIM
`
`AMVONODSS
`
`
`
`UALLINSNYYL/Y3ATIO3¥
`
`[OT
`
`AYSLLV
`
`AlddfS
`
`—_—
`
`NVM
`
`AAVINTYd
`
`YALLINSNYSL/YIATIO$
`
`
`
`WAd¥30TM
`
`MYOMLIN
`
`COT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Z '59 ZA/
`
`LTOlA
`
`2
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 24, 2009
`
`Sheet 2 of 5
`
`US 7,496,060 B2
`
`
`G02HLOOLINGtl./\
`
`WATZOSNVYLISITIONINOD‘LozNv——
`wioolameSaTlddN$¥aNOdVag\4
`
`)suinoula1sd)=SiwNSNoWoDdiy|1(1¥N}OTLd0)192
`
`
`INIOd>HLrrowinoaagian496
`NYAYAOMLN
`“NOONIssaqySAAVA
`
` YUOMN.
`feeo02
`——v2
`77Va301M
`
`m0WOMNOTLYANONT
`
`
`
`YAATZOSNVYLITIONINOD
`
`8I¢602
`
`
`
`ONTOYVHOAYSLLVE
`
`WILWHY
`
`YIUV-30TK
`
`3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 24, 2009
`
`Sheet 3 of 5
`
`US 7.496,060 B2
`
`RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM
`PRIMARY RECEIVER WIA
`A FIRST NETWORK
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`301
`
`
`
`RECEIVE DRX INFORMATION
`
`RECEIVE ACCESS POINT
`AVAILABILITY INFORMATION
`FOR ANOTHER NETWORK
`
`CONTROL, E.G., WAKE UP, A SECONDARY
`RECEIVER OPERABLE ON AN INDEPENDENT
`NETWORK IN ACCORDANCE WITH
`INFORMATION OBTAINED WITH
`PRIMARY RECEIVER
`
`
`
`WAKING UP SECONDARY RECEIVER
`ACCORDING TO SECONDARY DUTY CYCLE
`WHERE, E.G., SECONDARY DUTY CYCLE
`SYNCHRONIZED TO DRX CYCLE WITH WAKE
`PERIODS CORRESPONDING TO A FRACTION
`OF DRX WAKE PERIODS
`
`
`
`
`
`WAKING UP SECONDARY RECEIVER WHEN
`APPROPRIATE ACCESS POINTS ARE AWAILABLE
`(ACCESS POINTS ARE WITHIN RANGE AND ARE
`COMPATIBLE). IE, APPROXIMATELY SAME
`LOCATIONS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`300
`
`A77G. 3
`
`4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 24, 2009
`
`Sheet 4 of 5
`
`US 7.496,060 B2
`
`A77G. 4
`400
`
`
`
`401
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`HAS
`INFORMATION
`CHANGED
`
`CALCULATE BT/WLAN SCHEDULE
`PARAMETERS BASED ON NEW
`DRX INFORMATION
`
`407
`
`PROGRAM BT/WLAN
`DUTY CYCLE
`
`A776. A
`
`
`
`501
`
`500
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SLEEP PER
`DRX CYCLE
`
`WAKE PER
`DRX CYCLE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`RESET
`COUNTER
`
`
`
`WAKE
`GSM/UMTS
`
`RESET
`COUNTER
`
`511
`DRX CYCLE
`COUNTER
`
`513
`
`COUNTER
`EXPIRED?
`
`NO
`
`WAKE
`BLUETOOTH
`
`DRX CYCLE
`COUNTER
`
`COUNTER
`EXPIRED?
`
`WAKE
`WLAN
`
`5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 24, 2009
`
`Sheet 5 of 5
`
`US 7.496,060 B2
`
`603
`
`DETERMINE
`MOBILE LOCATION
`
`605
`COMPARE WITH ACCESS POINT
`LOCATION INFORMATION FROM
`WIDE-AREA NETWORK
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`607
`
`IS MOBILE
`WITHIN BT/WLAN
`ACCESS POINT
`RANGE
`
`609
`
`DISABLE BT/WLAN
`TRANSCEIVER
`
`
`
`
`
`ENABLE BT/WLAN
`TRANSCEIVER
`
`600
`
`A77G. 6
`
`6
`
`

`

`US 7,496,060 B2
`
`2
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`1.
`EXTENDING BATTERY LIFE IN
`COMMUNICATION DEVICES HAVING A
`PLURALITY OF RECEIVERS
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates in general to communication devices
`(mobile or portable) and more specifically to methods and
`apparatus for extending battery life in devices where these
`devices have a plurality of receivers.
`
`10
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`In overview, the present disclosure concerns communica
`tion devices, e.g., mobile or portable devices, and more spe
`cifically extending battery life in such devices that include a
`plurality of receivers. More particularly various inventive
`concepts and principles embodied in methods and apparatus,
`e.g. communication devices and integrated circuits, for con
`trolling a secondary receiver in accordance with information
`received from a primary receiver in order to extend battery life
`will be discussed and disclosed.
`The communication units or devices of particular interest
`may vary widely but include cellular handsets, messaging
`devices and other devices with wireless connectivity suitable
`for utilizing a wide area network (WAN), e.g., a public access
`Subscriber network, and short range access, i.e., a personal or
`local area network (PAN, LAN or WLAN) or other Unli
`censed Mobile Access system. By way of example and not
`limitation, the communication unit may have a primary WAN
`receiver arranged for service on a Global System for Mobile
`(GSM) or Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA or
`WCDMA) network and one or more short range receivers,
`arranged for service with one or more access points using,
`e.g., IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15, IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX),
`Bluetooth, IEEE 802.15.3 Ultra Wide Band (UWB), or the
`like access protocols.
`The instant disclosure is provided to further explain in an
`enabling fashion the best modes, at the time of the applica
`tion, of making and using various embodiments in accor
`dance with the present invention. The disclosure is further
`offered to enhance an understanding and appreciation for the
`inventive principles and advantages thereof, rather than to
`limit in any manner the invention. The invention is defined
`solely by the appended claims including any amendments
`made during the pendency of this application and all equiva
`lents of those claims as issued.
`It is further understood that the use of relational terms, if
`any, such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like are
`used solely to distinguish one from another entity or action
`without necessarily requiring or implying any actual Such
`relationship or order between Such entities or actions.
`Much of the inventive functionality and many of the inven
`tive principles are best implemented with or in integrated
`circuits (ICs) including possibly application specific ICs or
`ICs with integrated processing controlled by embedded soft
`ware or firmware. It is expected that one of ordinary skill,
`notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design
`choices motivated by, for example, available time, current
`technology, and economic considerations, when guided by
`the concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readily
`capable of generating Such software instructions and pro
`grams and ICs with minimal experimentation. Therefore, in
`the interest of brevity and minimization of any risk of obscur
`ing the principles and concepts according to the present
`invention, further discussion of such software and ICs, if any,
`will be limited to the essentials with respect to the principles
`and concepts of the various embodiments.
`Referring to FIG. 1, a simplified and representative high
`level diagram of a communication device with a plurality of
`receivers that uses one or more methods and apparatus for
`extending battery life or conserving battery resources or bat
`tery charge will be briefly discussed and described. In FIG. 1,
`a communication device 101 such as a handheld portable or
`mobile cellular handset or phone is shown. The communica
`tion device 101 is arranged to connect with and obtain service
`from a wide area network (WAN) 103 such as cellular net
`work or the like. The device is also arranged and configured to
`
`Communication devices and specifically portable commu
`nication devices such as cellular handsets or devices are
`known. Battery life for these devices is an important attribute
`since that is a major contributor to user satisfaction and con
`venience. Shorter battery life means that a battery will need to
`be recharged more often and that the likelihood of service
`failure due to insufficient battery charge will increase for a
`given user. Larger batteries could be used, but that would have
`a detrimental impact on device size, weight, and cost.
`Typically, battery life is determined by power consumption
`of the device when it is in a standby condition, i.e., simply
`waiting to perform some communication function, since that
`is what the majority of communication devices are doing for
`most of the time. Wide area system architects are familiar
`with this issue and normally design access protocols and the
`like so that devices associated with the network can spend
`much of their time in a sleep mode whereby power consump
`tion is minimized by powering down much of the circuitry of
`the device.
`However, the functionality of communication devices con
`tinues to increase. For example, users are now demanding and
`purveyors of devices are thus including multiple receivers in
`these devices where these receivers are operable on indepen
`dent services and networks. Multiple receivers that may be
`concurrently operable often result in an adverse impact on
`battery life
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The accompanying figures where like reference numerals
`refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout
`the separate views and which together with the detailed
`description below are incorporated in and form part of the
`specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments
`and to explain various principles and advantages all in accor
`dance with the present invention.
`FIG. 1 depicts in a simplified and representative form, a
`high level diagram of a communication device with a plurality
`of receivers in accordance with one or more embodiments;
`FIG. 2 in a simplified and representative form, shows a
`more detailed diagram of a communication device with a
`plurality of receivers that is arranged to extend battery life in
`accordance with one or more embodiments;
`FIG.3 depicts a flow chart of a representative embodiment
`of a method of extending battery life;
`FIG. 4 depicts a flow chart of a representative embodiment
`of a method of providing a secondary duty cycle correspond
`ing to information from a primary network and receiver;
`FIG.5 depicts a flow chart of a representative embodiment
`of a method of providing a secondary duty cycle synchro
`nized to a primary duty cycle; and
`FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of a representative embodiment
`of a method of controlling a secondary receiver according to
`information from a primary network and receiver.
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`7
`
`

`

`US 7,496,060 B2
`
`10
`
`3
`access and obtain service from one or more short range access
`points, such as access points for a Bluetooth or other personal
`area network (PAN) 105, wireless local area network
`(WLAN) 107, UWB (not shown), or the like. The communi
`cation device can be a battery powered device that includes
`capability to access a GSM or CDMA cellular network or
`other public access subscriber network as well as one or more
`of a Bluetooth, 802.11 or other WLAN, UWB or other unli
`censed mobile access (UMA) based network or respective
`access points.
`The communication device 101, as shown, includes a bat
`tery based power supply 109 that provides supply voltages to
`a WAN function or modem 111 that is the primary service
`access apparatus for the communication device. The WAN
`modem 111 includes a primary receiver and transmitter (pri
`15
`mary transceiver) that are configured to operate on or with a
`first, e.g., WAN, network. The supply 109 also provides one
`or more Supply Voltages to one or more secondary functions
`including secondary receivers and transmitters (secondary
`transceivers), such as a Bluetooth transceiver 113, WLAN
`transceiver 115, UWB transceiver (not shown) or the like. The
`secondary transceivers, thus receivers, are configured and
`arranged to operate as short range transceivers, thus receivers,
`with, respective, Bluetooth or WLAN access points 105,107
`or the like. The access points 105,107 are independent from
`and uncorrelated with the first or WAN network 103 or the
`functioning or operation of this network. Furthermore much
`of the time the communication device 101 may not be suffi
`ciently close to an access point to establish a connection
`thereto. In the discussions below it is understood that refer
`ence to a WAN means reference to any public access sub
`scriber network and that reference to a Bluetooth or WLAN
`includes reference to any UMA access point.
`Examples of available communication devices that include
`a primary transceiver and secondary transceiver include 1)
`cellular phones or handsets that normally operate on or access
`a wide area network and that also have access to a wireless
`LAN, when, for example, the communication device is in or
`near to a local coffee house or airport and 2) cellular phones
`that include a Bluetooth transceiver for access, for example,
`to automotive sound systems or other automotive based
`accessory functions when the phone is in or near to a Blue
`tooth equipped automobile. Unfortunately the primary and
`secondary transceivers in available communication devices
`essentially operate independently given that their respective
`45
`networks are independent and uncorrelated, i.e., not com
`monly managed, not common media access procedures, e.g.,
`not synchronized networks. This means that even if the pri
`mary network and secondary network include protocols that
`possibly conserve battery power, the communication device
`must Support at least two independently operating transceiv
`ers or receivers. Thus at least any common functions, such as
`power Supplies, possibly busses, and the like may be enabled
`or awake or powered up much more of the time and much
`more often than if only one transceiver was present.
`In stark contrast and advantageously as reflected by the bus
`117 and discussed in detail below, one or more embodiments
`in accordance with the present invention utilize information
`provided by the primary transceiver via, for example, the first
`or primary network, to facilitate control, e.g. wake up, the
`secondary transceiver. In this manner the secondary receiver
`may not be awake as often or may not be awake when access
`points are not available, or at least the common functions will
`be not be powered up and down as often.
`Referring to FIG. 2, another simplified, representative, and
`more detailed diagram of a communication device 201 with a
`plurality of receivers that is arranged to extend battery life in
`
`55
`
`4
`accordance with one or more embodiments will be briefly
`discussed and described. The communication device 201 is
`similar to device 101, but shown in additional detail. The
`device 201 is a portable or mobile communication device that
`may access a first or WAN network 203 as well as one or more
`access points, e.g., a Bluetooth access point 205 or WLAN
`access point 207. A battery 209 supplies power to a WAN
`function or modem 211 as well as one or more of a Bluetooth
`function or modem 213 and WLAN function or modem 215.
`More specifically the battery 209 supplies battery power to
`power Supplies 217 and other common circuits or functions
`(user interface, etc.). The power Supplies operate to condition
`and regulate the battery power and thus provide various
`power Supply Voltages that are typically device design and
`architecture specific all as known. The battery 209 is charged
`via the charging function 218 when it is supplied at 219 by an
`external power source, e.g., battery charger, car battery or the
`like as is known.
`The power supplies and other common circuitry 217 are
`intercoupled, via one or more busses and control leads 220 as
`needed to the WAN modem 211. The WAN modem includes
`a known WAN transceiver 221 and thus receiver that is the
`primary transceiver for the communication device. The WAN
`transceiver is coupled at an interface 223 to a controller 225,
`e.g., microprocessor or digital signal processor based control
`ler as is known. The primary transceiver and thus primary
`receiver is configured to operate on or with a first network,
`e.g., a GSM, CDMA, WCDMA, or the like WAN in accor
`dance with applicable protocols that may vary with the par
`ticular network.
`For example, the WAN transceiver when operating in
`GSM, CDMA, WCDMA, etc. networks spends most of the
`time (i.e., when not in an active phone call or other data
`exchange) periodically monitoring a paging indicator chan
`nel (PICH) and looking for its particular paging indicator
`(PI). When the PI is detected as set, the following frame of the
`paging channel (PCH) will be monitored by the WAN
`receiver for specifics of the page. During those time periods
`when the WAN transceiver (receiver) is not monitoring the
`PICH for its PI, it and any associated power consuming func
`tions or circuitry can be powered off or sleeping. At the proper
`time the receiver, etc will enter a wake cycle, i.e., wake up or
`be powered up in order to function appropriately. This process
`is referred to as Discontinuous Reception (DRX) mode or a
`DRX cycle. In these system the network infrastructure is
`responsible for determining and notifying respective commu
`nication devices and thus transceivers of the length of the
`DRX cycle as well as their respective schedules (i.e., when
`within the DRX cycle a given device should monitor the
`PICH for its respective PI. Note that, for example, the DRX
`cycle may be as much as 4+ seconds in length with typical
`GSM systems operating with a 1.67 second DRX cycle and
`WCDMA systems using a 1.28 second DRX cycle length.
`The wake time for a typical receiver (monitoring for its PI)
`can be 3-7 milliseconds. Thus a significant portion of time can
`be spent in a sleep mode with corresponding battery conser
`Vation and battery life extension and yet the communication
`device is “connected to' and can still be reached via the WAN
`when or as desired.
`Furthermore, the power Supplies and other common cir
`cuitry 217 are intercoupled, via one or more busses and con
`trol leads 226 as needed to the Bluetooth modem 213. The
`Bluetooth modem includes a known Bluetooth transceiver
`227 and thus secondary receiver that is at least one possible
`secondary transceiver for the communication device 101. The
`Bluetooth transceiver is coupled at an interface 229 to a
`controller 231, e.g., microprocessor or digital signal proces
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`50
`
`60
`
`65
`
`8
`
`

`

`US 7,496,060 B2
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`45
`
`5
`Sor based controller as is known. The secondary transceiver
`and thus secondary receiver is configured and arranged to
`access and operate as a short range receiver with the Blue
`tooth access point 205 or the like in accordance with appli
`cable Bluetooth protocols. It is noted that other personal area
`network (PAN) interconnect protocols have been proposed
`and that additional ones may be proposed and utilized and that
`the concepts and principles discussed and described herein
`are likely applicable to other PAN protocols and transceivers.
`Additionally, the power Supplies and other common cir
`cuitry 217 are intercoupled, via one or more busses and con
`trol leads 232 as needed to the WLAN modem 215. The
`WLAN modem includes a known WLAN transceiver 233 and
`thus secondary receiver (IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.16, etc.)
`that is at least one other possible secondary transceiver for the
`communication device 101. The WLAN transceiver is
`coupled at an interface 235 to a controller 237, e.g., micro
`processor or digital signal processor based controller as is
`known. The secondary transceiver and thus secondary
`receiver is configured to access and operate with the WLAN
`access point 207 or the like in accordance with applicable
`WLAN protocols. It is noted that other local or wireless local
`area network (LAN or WLAN) interconnect protocols have
`been proposed (commonly referred to as WiFi, WildiFi.
`WiMAX, HiperLan) and that additional ones may be pro
`posed and utilized and that the concepts and principles dis
`cussed and described herein are likely applicable to other
`WLAN protocols and transceivers.
`It is noted that the PAN or Bluetooth modem and WLAN
`modem are shown as separate entities, however in practice it
`30
`may be appropriate or desirable to combine these into one
`transceiver entity that may be re-arranged to operate with
`either PAN or WLAN protocols. Furthereither of the modems
`may be arranged to support more than one PAN or WLAN
`protocol as needed. It will also be appreciated by those of
`35
`ordinary skill that the controllers 225, 231, 237, while shown
`as three distinct entities, may in practice be embodied as or
`combined into less than three controllers or even into one
`controller. Some of the discussions below will refer to a
`controller in the context of a combination of two or more of
`40
`the controllers 225, 231, 237.
`One significant distinction between the WAN function or
`modem and network versus the PAN or WLAN function
`results from the observation that the WAN network is nearly
`always available for nearly all of the communication devices
`in the network whereas access points for either a PAN or
`WLAN function or modem may only be available a small
`amount of the time for many if not all of the communication
`devices. Thus it may not be possible for most communication
`devices to be “connected to a PAN or WLAN much of the
`time. Furthermore much of any battery charge or power con
`Sumed in an attempt to locate and access a corresponding
`access point by either the PAN, i.e., Bluetooth modem 213 or
`WLAN modem 215, will be wasted. This is in addition to
`extra power consumed with independent and uncorrelated
`wake up cycles for the PAN or WLAN modems. Note that for
`purposes of this discussion, the primary concern for the sec
`ondary receivers is determining whether an access point is
`providing a signal that is sufficiently strong to form a connec
`tion. Details of forming the connection, i.e., accessing the
`access point, are not further relevant and will not be dis
`cussed.
`The FIG. 2 communication device is arranged and con
`structed so as to mitigate or eliminate some or much of this
`wasted battery power. A controller (225 and 231 or 237) is
`coupled to the primary (WAN) receiver and the secondary
`(Bluetooth or WLAN) receiver and further configured to con
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`trol the secondary receiver in accordance with information
`obtained from the primary receiver as further discussed
`below.
`The FIG. 2 Communication device 201 is further arranged
`in one or more embodiments such that the controller further
`wakes up the secondary receiver in accordance with informa
`tion corresponding to a discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle
`(discussed above) where this information is obtained from the
`primary receiver via the first network, e.g., the WAN 203. As
`suggested above the information related to the DRX cycle is
`used, e.g., by the controller, to control the primary receiver,
`specifically the duty cycle of the primary receiver. The com
`munication device 201, specifically WAN transceiver 221 can
`receive the DRX cycle information from the WAN 203, pro
`cess and provide this information or information correspond
`ing thereto via the controller 225.
`For example, the information related to the DRX cycle
`(schedule and cycle duration) can be used to set or program a
`real time clock 239 via the inter coupling 241 in a known
`manner. As will be appreciated, the real time clock is a known
`function that consumes minimal power, is likely powered
`from the battery 209 or possibly a secondary battery coupled
`to the battery 209 (not shown) with sufficient timing accuracy
`to maintaintime at least for the duration of a DRX cycle. Once
`set or programmed, the real time clock 239 can be used to
`generate a wake signal at 243 that can be used to wake up the
`power supplies, etc. 217 and the controller 225. The real time
`clock can generate other wake signals at 245,247 that may be
`used to wake up or at least provide a wake up signal to the
`secondary receivers, e.g., Bluetooth and WLAN modems
`213, 215 or corresponding controllers 231, 237. Note that
`alternatively the controller via the inter coupling at 249 and
`interfaces 229, 235 can be used to generate appropriate wake
`up signals or to wake up the secondary receivers. Note that the
`wake signals from the real time clock can be sequenced to,
`e.g., wake up the power Supplies slightly before the controller
`(s) or associated transceivers if desired. Thus the communi
`cation device in various embodiments comprises the real time
`clock 239 that can be used to wake up the controller(s) 225,
`231, 237 in accordance with the DRX cycle and one or more
`of the controllers and further synchronize wake periods of the
`secondary receiver to the DRX cycle.
`Alternatively, the communication device, e.g., the control
`ler can obtain, from the primary receiver, information corre
`sponding to availability of one or more access points that are
`configured to Supporta wireless short range protocol and then
`wake up the secondary receiver when access points are avail
`able based on this information. For example, this information
`regarding availability can be provided in an overhead mes
`sage or a short message service (SMS) message either by the
`WAN system operator or another entity using the WAN sys
`tem. This information corresponding to availability may
`comprise location information as well as the type of access
`points (in terms of access protocols and the like) that are
`available at these locations.
`The location information can be in terms of latitude longi
`tude information or be in terms of available signals 251, 253,
`255 from different transmitting sites in the WAN, e.g., iden
`tification information carried by these signals that identifies,
`for example a given transmitting site for the signal. If the
`information is interms of latitude longitude for the location of
`the access points, the communication unit can determine its
`own location by triangulation calculations using the signals
`251, 253, 255 using known techniques. Alternatively, the
`communication device 201 may include a Global Positioning
`System (GPS) receiver 257 or otherwise have available GPS
`location information (from an external source—not shown).
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`In any event, the controller in some embodiments can com
`pare location information for the communication device with
`the information corresponding to availability of one or more
`access points and when the location information compares
`favorably with the information corresponding to availability
`of one or more access points, wake up the secondary receiver
`in a mode that is compatible with the one or more access
`points.
`It will be appreciated that the communication device 201 of
`FIG. 2 or other devices may be implemented at least in part as
`one or more integrated circuits where the integrated circuit is
`arranged and configured to extend battery life in Some device.
`In one embodiment, for example the integrated circuit
`includes a first interface 223 configured to provide an inter
`face to a primary receiver 221 that is operable on a first
`network 203; a second interface 229, 235 configured to pro
`vide an interface to a secondary receiver 227, 233 that is a
`wireless short range receiver; and a controller 225, 231, 237
`coupled to the first interface and the second interface. The
`controller is configured to facilitate operation of the primary
`receiver on the first network, obtain information from the
`primary receiver; and then facilitate operation of the second
`ary receiver, e.g., wake up the secondary receiver in accor
`dance with the information obtained from the primary
`receiver.
`The integrated circuit may further include at least a portion
`of the primary receiver, where, for example, the primary
`receiver is operable on a cellular communication network or
`other public access network. In yet other embodiments, the
`integrated circuit can further comprise at least a portion of the
`secondary receiver, where, for example, the secondary
`receiver includes a wireless local area network (WLAN)
`receiver, a Bluetooth receiver, ultra wideband receiver, or the
`like.
`Similar to the discussions above, the controller in some
`embodiments further obtains information, from the primary
`receiver, corresponding to a discontinuous reception (DRX)
`cycle, facilitates operation of the primary receiver in accor
`dance with the DRX cycle, and only wakes up the secondary
`receiver in accordance with a duty cycle that is synchronized
`to the DRX cycle. The controller may only wake up the
`secondary receiver in accordance with a duty cycle corre
`sponding to a fraction of wake periods for the primary
`receiver. In other embodiments the controller further obtains,
`from the primary receiver, information corresponding to
`availability of one or more access points that are configured to
`Support a wireless short range protocol. The controller in
`Some embodiments may only facilitate wake up of the sec
`ondary receiver when access points that are compatible with
`the secondary receiver are available based on the information
`corresponding to availability of the one or more access points.
`This may be facilitated by some form of location information
`and a comparison with the availability information.
`Referring to FIG. 3, an exemplary embodiment of a flow
`chart of a method embodiment of extending battery life will
`be discussed and described. It will be appreciated that this
`method uses many of the inventive concepts and principles
`discussed in detail above and thus this description will be
`Somewhat in the nature of a Summary with various details
`generally available in the earlier descriptions. This method
`can be implemented in one or more of the structures or appa
`ratus described earlier or other similarly configured and
`arranged structures. FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a
`method 300 of extending battery life in, for example, a com
`munication device where the device has a plurality of receiv
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`ers. The method begins at 301 and then at 303 shows receiving
`information with or using a primary receiver that is config
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