Abstract: A light monitoring system provides a sensing unit coupled to a luminaire. The sensing unit monitors both the input and the output of the luminaire for both current and voltage. In this manner, a variety of problems with the luminaire can be detected by the sensor and this information can be passed to monitoring equipment that is either hard-wired or remotely coupled to the sensing unit.

Abstract: An interactive pager docking system includes a docking cradle which is powered by a rechargeable battery, and includes a battery charger module which monitors the status of the battery and recharges it if necessary. It also includes a plurality of external serial ports and a serial port multiplexer, so that a number of different external peripheral devices may be connected to it. A GPS receiver communicates with the pager, so that an automatic vehicle location system may be operated employing the pager. A satellite transceiver may be connected to the docking cradle, together with an external printer, bar code scanner, and/or alarm annunciator. The docking cradle is adapted to be powered by a vehicle battery, but turns off the GPS receiver after a predetermined period of time so as not to run down the vehicle battery if the pager is not in place in the docking cradle.

Abstract: A system and method for notifying a remote device of a low battery capacity condition in a wireless communications system is disclosed. A detector monitors the capacity of the battery in a wireless device receiving operational power from the battery for a low capacity condition. A control system coupled to the detector sends a low battery capacity status signal to the remote device upon detection a low battery capacity condition. While the battery is in a low capacity condition, communications between the wireless device and the remote device may be maintained until the low battery capacity condition is corrected.

Abstract: The system transmits data between terminals of a wireless network. In the system, a base station/central controller (“BS/CC”) controls transmission of data from a transmitting terminal to plural receiving terminals, where the data is ordered in slots of a control data frame (“CDF”), and where each slot is reserved for a data transmission between the transmitting terminal and a specific receiving terminal. Specifically, the BS/CC divides the plural receiving terminals into a set of power-saving terminals and a set of non-power-saving terminals, and then reserves a set of slots in the CDF for data transmission between the transmitting terminal and the power-saving terminals, and another set of slots in the CDF for data transmission between the transmitting terminal and the non-power-saving terminals.

Abstract: A method and system for optimizing energy consumption during data file read/write operations in a battery powered disk-based memory system is provided.

Abstract: A remote door lock controlling apparatus for a vehicle performing a door lock control in response to a response signal received by a vehicle mounted receiver which is transmitted from a portable transmitter/receiver upon receiving a response demand signal from the vehicle is improved wherein the door lock control function is stopped by a request of the user or depending on the magnitude of a terminal voltage of a battery mounted in the vehicle.

Abstract: A multistage voltage multiplying circuit for single chip passive RF tags is provided, wherein the parasitic capacitance of the diodes of each stage of the voltage multiplying circuit is much less than the parasitic capacitance of the diodes of the preceding stage.

Abstract: A power management scheme for use in a wireless device reduces the power consumption of the network interface module of the wireless device by selectively putting the network interface module into a low-power state for an idle time. The length of the idle time is calculated such that the amount of delayed traffic data accumulated is expected to be less than or equal to a pre-selected threshold when the network interface module is put in the low-power state for the calculated idle time. The amount of delayed traffic data as a function of the idle time is modeled using average inter-arrival and service rates that are derived from traffic statistics data.

Abstract: A method and system for mobile device power consumption management decreases the instantaneous power consumption of a mobile device, increasing operational lifetime of the device. In an embodiment of the invention, the mobile device is associated with a plurality of device behavior modification techniques that can be set in response to data collected from a plurality of sensors associated with the device. In an embodiment, the sensors detect the device's motion, tilt, proximity to a user, contact with a user, and orientation with respect to a user. In a further embodiment, the sensors detect a temperature related to the device or its environment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of accessing a quiescent mobile vehicle using a wireless communication system. At least one transmit power parameter of a vehicle communication device is determined. At least one sleep duration value is calculated based on the transmit power parameter. The vehicle communication device is placed into a quiescent state based on the sleep duration value. Programs and systems of using the method are also provided.

Abstract: A self-contained safety and security system and method that performs the multiple functions of theft deterrence, battery saving, battery analysis system, accident protection, and telemetry and control data communication for vehicles is disclosed. The present invention is an electronically-based system for a vehicle having an existing power transmission circuit including a battery that can be readily installed and made operational by an individual having no special training using common household tools. The safety and security system requires the installation of no dedicated wiring in the vehicle. Furthermore, the system preferably installs without any cutting or splicing of the wiring in the vehicle's electrical system.

Abstract: A digital cellular phone suspends power supplies of circuits as many as possible in a predetermined time period during which a signal is neither received nor sent. The predetermined time period is mostly measured by counting a clock signal of a low frequency and measured for a very short time by counting a clock signal of a high frequency. In restarting the suspending power supplies, a symbol clock can be reproduced with the same phase as a suspended phase, because the phone includes a counter 143 to hold phase timing of the symbol clock when the power supply of the related circuit is suspended.

Abstract: The present invention provides an RFID transponder that includes a state holding cell that maintains the present state of the RFID transponder during temporary losses of power. After power is restored to the RFID transponder, the state holding cell restores the present state to the RFID transponder so that transactions with an RFID interrogator can continue without having re-transmit redundant commands. The RFID transponder further comprises an RF front end adapted to receive an interrogating RF signal. An analog circuit is coupled to the RF front end and is adapted to recover analog signals from the received interrogating RF signal. The analog circuit provides state information defining a desired state of the RFID transponder corresponding to the analog signals. A digital state machine is coupled to the analog circuit and adapted to execute at least one command in accordance with the state information.

Abstract: A portable computer is described that contains a circuit for receiving pages and performing security functions based on the received page. Once a page has been received by the portable computer, the computer's hard drive can be automatically reformatted, or the portable computer can be prevented from booting. In addition, the portable computer can be programmed to use a modem to automatically dial a security center and transmit security information such as the Caller ID Tag of the current telephone number.

Abstract: A signal transceiver for transmitting a carrier signal to a transponder and receiving a modulated data signal returned by the transponder is provided. The signal transceiver includes a transistor with a base, a collector and an emitter, a controller being electrically connected to the base and providing a controlling signal for turning on the transistor, an oscillation source being electrically connected to the collector for providing the carrier signal, a capacitor being electrically connected to the base and the oscillation source for forming an oscillation circuit, and a resonator being electrically connected to the collector for transmitting the carrier signal to the transponder and receiving the modulated data signal returned by the transponder, and outputting a demodulated data signal through the emitter.

Abstract: A method and structure of recovering a network time-base for radio data demodulation after an IDLE period of data communication gauges a local low frequency oscillator versus the high frequency local oscillator to compute the IDLE time as an equivalent number of low frequency oscillator clock periods. Depending upon the high frequency oscillator value, the accuracy of the gauging will directly determine the IDLE period duration versus the gauging period duration in order to keep an acceptable gauging error related to the sampling errors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microdisplay system that utilizes a small high resolution active matrix liquid crystal display with an illumination system and a magnifying optical system to provide a hand held communication display device. The system can employ an LED illumination system and cellular communication or processor circuits within a compact housing to provide communication devices such as pagers, telephones, televisions, and hand held computer or card reader devices with a compact high resolution data and/or video display.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a communication device according to the invention includes an accelerometer, and an operational aspect of the communication device is adapted to be influenced by an output of the accelerometer. The communication device may be a telephone, such as a wireless telephone, and the accelerometer may influence the operational aspect of the wireless telephone to advantageously make the wireless telephone operate more like a wired telephone. An exemplary wireless handset according to the invention may include a wireless transceiver, a controller, and an accelerometer, wherein the controller is adapted to receive an output from the accelerometer and affect a state of the wireless transceiver based thereon. In another embodiment according to the invention, a method of operating a communication device includes the steps of determining a motion characteristic of the communication device, and affecting an operational aspect of the communication device based on the motion characteristic.

Abstract: A transponder (1) and an integrated circuit (4) have at least one signal channel (5, 6, 7), each signal channel (5, 6, 7) having at least two signal processing stages (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31) and at least one signal processing stage (26, 27, 29) configured such as to be activatable and deactivatable, while an associated bypass branch (32, 33, 34), which is also activatable and deactivatable, is provided for each activatable and deactivatable signal processing stage (26, 27, 29), and a microcomputer (36) and a control register (37) controllable by the microcomputer (36) are provided, by means of which each activatable and deactivatable signal processing stage (26, 27, 29) and the associated bypass branch (32, 33, 34) are activatable and deactivatable in counterphase.

Abstract: A communication control processor controls communication of a portable communication terminal with an exterior thereof. A data processing control processor performs communication with the communication control processor, and controls a ROM, a RAM, an operating unit, and a display unit. The data processing control processor is supplied with a first clock signal, while the communication control processor is supplied with a second clock signal based on the first clock signal from the data processing control processor. Thus, each of the processors can transmit UART data even when the other processor is in a sleep state without knowing it, and the other processor can receive the data without an error in reception. Furthermore, the data processing control processor and the communication control processor can turn on/off a high-speed clock (sleep control) independently of each other. Thus, sleep time can be maximized, and consequently power consumption can be reduced.

Abstract: The invention provides a personal data assistant terminal with radio having data transmission and reception functions by a radio wave wherein the applied power supply mode of a CPU can be changed over to a power supply mode required by a peripheral circuit to the CPU. When a power supply mode change-over signal representing a power supply mode which is to be entered subsequently and a power supply mode defining signal for defining the power supply mode represented by the power supply mode change-over signal are inputted from the outside to a power supply control section of a CPU, a CPU core in the CPU changes over the applied power supply mode of the CPU to the power supply mode represented by the power supply mode change-over signal.

Abstract: Household appliances such as televisions require the continuous supply of power to a remote control receiving circuit and microcomputer to receive remote control signals when turned off. To reduce power consumption, charge is stored in a battery or capacitor to supply power to the microcomputer and remote control receiving circuit without continuous operation of an AC-DC converter. Before a voltage of the charge storing device is reduced below a given level, such as the lowest operating voltage of the microcomputer and remote control receiving circuit, the AC-DC converter is activated to charge the charge storing device. When the voltage rises to a given level, such as the highest operating voltage of the microcomputer and the remote control receiving circuit, the AC-DC converter stops charging the charge storing device, so that the operating frequency of the AC-DC converter is reduced.

Abstract: To address the need for a communication unit, a communication infrastructure, and method that extend battery life, the present invention provides a special page message (200) that is transmitted toward the beginning of a paging slot to indicate what groups of messages will be transmitted in the paging slot. This message allows communication units (e.g., 102-104) to determine near the beginning of the paging slot whether they need to continue monitoring the paging slot for messages or pages directed or of interest to them. The message also allows communication units that continue monitoring the paging slot to determine when they can cease the monitoring. Thus, communication units can return to a power-saving sleep mode more quickly than the prior art.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for demodulating a communication signal transmitted at a first rate is provided, wherein the communication signal includes a plurality of addresses and corresponding data packets. The demodulating method includes the steps of receiving the communication signal at a user terminal, identifying which of the plurality of data packets are destined to the receiving user terminal, and demodulating, at a second rate less than the first rate, only the data packets identified as being destined to the receiving user terminal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for saving power during punctured transmission in a CDMA mobile communication system. The apparatus comprises a baseband device, a mixed signal portion, a radio frequency (RF) frontend and a power supply. The baseband device comprises a variable rate voice coder (vocoder) which reduces the rate of voice data transmission to the mixed signal portion when voice activity by a user is low during a two-way conversation. When the rate of voice data transmission is reduced, there are one or more periods in which no voice data is transmitted. The system provides a signal from the baseband device to power OFF certain portions of the mixed signal portion during the periods of transmission with no voice data. This reduces the amount of power consumed by the mixed signal portion and enhances the life of the power supply.

Abstract: On instructions obtained from a subscriber, a wireless terminal service provider sends a power-down signal to a wireless terminal. Upon receipt of the power-down signal, the wireless terminal goes into a sleep state. In this state, all monitoring functions other than time, date and elapsed time are turned off. The power-down signal sets a clock, which can be located within the wireless terminal, to awaken the wireless terminal at the end of a discrete interval of time by powering-up the monitoring circuits. The wireless terminal service provider, by knowing the power-down/power-up time cycle of the wireless terminal, can alert a party attempting to contact the wireless terminal during the power-down period that the called party cannot be reached.

Abstract: An information display device can be structured as an electronic book which has a first screen and a second screen made of liquid crystal with a memory effect. A dry battery can be used as its power source section. The remaining electric power of the battery is detected by measuring the voltage, and immediately before the remaining electric power becomes a minimum voltage necessary for erasure of the screens, the first and second screens are reset so that the images displayed thereon can be erased.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a system for operating a communication device (20) for reception of scheduled intermittent information messages (22) with a dual mode timer (70) that extends battery life. A controller (50) schedules the timer (70) to power down all idle components of the device (20) between message receptions in a power saving sleep mode to conserve battery power. During active mode when the device is fully active in reception of messages, the timer (70) uses a reference oscillator (90) with a relatively high frequency to support digital processing by the receiver (26). During sleep mode when only the timer is powered on, a much lower frequency sleep oscillator (96) is used to maintain the lowest possible level of power consumption within the timer itself. The timer (70) has provision for automatic temperature calibration to compensate for timing inaccuracies inherent to the low-power low-frequency crystal oscillator (96) used for the sleep mode.

Abstract: The invention refers to methods for power saving in a mobile terminal comprising a NIC, wireless Network Interface Card, used in a wireless LAN, WLAN or the like having at least one access point AP, said card either externally plugged in or built in or integrated in the PC, wherein the WLAN uses HIPERLAN Type 2 or IEEE 802.11 power save procedures and in which the mobile terminal uses an operating system supporting device power states, e.g. the OnNow device power states (D0-D3), in which method the mobile terminal requests a transition from an active state D0 to a less active state, upon which request the NIC requests the access point AP to be entered into WLAN sleep state, and on acknowledgement from the access point the mobile terminal enters WLAN sleep state.

Abstract: In a unique paging time slot format, each of the allocated paging time slots occurs periodically and is split into several prescribed paging time slots including at least one first type paging time slot having a relatively short duration and at least one second type paging time slot having a longer duration. The at least one first type paging time slots is of relatively short duration and transports an indication whether a particular associated wireless terminal was paged. The second type paging time slot is of longer duration than the first type time slot and transports the entire paging message. Specifically, a wireless terminal that is normally in a standby mode only has to enter a monitor mode, i.e., “wake up”, to monitor the relatively short first type paging time slot to determine whether it has been paged.

Abstract: The invention concerns a receiver designed to pick up an electromagnetic signal, comprising:

Abstract: The condition of batteries 4 used to power one or more mobile radio units 3 of a mobile radio telecommunications fleet is automatically monitored. The mobile radio units 3 provide information regarding the condition of the battery 4 powering the respective unit 3, together with an identifier identifying the associated battery, to a data store 7. The data store 7 stores the information. This is done automatically, without the need for user input.

Abstract: A selective caller receiver which can facilitate easy setting of a test mode without using an exclusive jig and also easy management and adjustment of a receiving unit. In the selective caller receiver, a memory for storing therein test mode setting data is provided and turning ON of a control switch causes the data to be read out from the memory. When a test mode is judged to be present on the basis of the read-out data, a battery saving operation is released and the receiving unit is continuously operated to set the receiving unit in the test mode. When a test mode is judged not to be present, the receiving unit is operated in its battery saving mode.

Abstract: A novel and improved method and system for paging a cellular telephone or other wireless terminal using two paging channels that reduces standby mode power consumption described. In one embodiment of the invention, a minimally encoded quick paging channel is established over which short, quick page messages are transmitted during one of a set of quick paging slots. The quick page message indicates that a communications request has been received, and that the receiving communication terminals should process a highly encoded full paging channel over which more detailed, full page messages are transmitted during the next full paging slot. A terminal monitors full paging channel only after a quick page message has been received on the quick paging channel.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling the level of subscriber unit transmission power in a two-way paging network. The ability to adjust the transmission power of individual subscriber units saves critical subscriber unit resources while still ensuring that a subscriber unit's transmissions are received at a base station in a paging network system. Transmission power-level control further facilitates eliminating interference among subscriber units that transmit to the same base station.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the invention, in a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) configured in accordance with the HIPERLAN Type 2 standard where an Access Point (AP) and Mobile Terminals (MTs) use a duplex airlink having a MAC frame structure to communicate with each other, when an MT fails to properly perceive and decode a wakeup announcement in the MAC frame that is directed to it by the AP, the MT will remain awake and continue to decode and monitor subsequent MAC frames until it either receives a wakeup announcement directed to it, or until a predetermined number of MAC frames transpire. Where the MT fails to correctly decode a wakeup announcement and/or fails to send an acknowledgment signal back to the AP when the wakeup announcement includes a polling request, the AP will continue to resend the wakeup announcement and any appropriate, associated downlink data pending for the AP, in subsequent MAC frames.

Abstract: A method and system for providing an enhanced sleep mode for remote units in a radio communication system are described. Measurement periodicity for control channels of neighboring cells is optimized. Paging frame classes can also be temporarily modified to extend sleep periods.

Abstract: An approach for synchronizing operation of a first communications terminal with operation of a second communications terminal involves establishing a communications link between the first communications terminal and the second communications terminal, the communications link being defined by a communication standard; and synchronizing a first clock coupled to the first communications terminal with a second clock coupled to the second communications terminal by receiving a time standard signal into the first communications terminal independently of the communication standard. This approach can be implemented using a first clock; a first communications terminal coupled to the first clock; a second clock; a second communications terminal coupled to the second clock; a communications link defined by a communication standard; and a transmitter transmitting a time standard signal independently of the communication standard to the first clock and setting the first clock in response to the time standard signal.

Abstract: A portable computer is described that contains a circuit for receiving pages and performing security functions based on the received page. Once a page has been received by the portable computer, the computer's hard drive can be automatically reformatted, or the portable computer can be prevented from booting. In addition, the portable computer can be programmed to use a modem to automatically dial a security center and transmit security information such as the Caller ID Tag of the current telephone number.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a communications system comprising a first communications device for receiving data and a wake up signal. The first communications device comprises an active mode of operation and a sleep mode of operation for reducing power consumption. Further, the system comprises means for switching the first communications device to and from sleep mode in response to receiving the wake up signal. Further, the system comprises a second communications device for transmitting data to the first device during its active mode, while transmitting the wake up signal to the first device during its sleep mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for scheduling the paging wake-up time in a wireless mobile station. The decision to wake-up a mobile station in order to decode a slotted paging message is determined probabilistically. An initial missed page rate constant, M, is loaded within the mobile station. A measurement of the particular mobile station paging rate, R, is made over a time period T. The measured paging rate R is compared to the initial missed page rate constant M. If the missed page rate M is greater than the measured paging rate R the mobile station does not respond to the next paging slot. If the missed page rate M is less than the measured paging rate R a number based on the ratio of M to R is used as an input to a uniform random number generator. The output of the uniform random number generator determines whether or not to wake-up during the next paging slot. The measured paging rate R is updated as a running average.

Abstract: A method of reducing power consumption in a communication device includes a step of acquiring a signal on a common pilot channel of a radio communication system. A next step includes detecting predetermined bits in the signal on the common pilot channel indicating activity on paging channels of the radio communication system. When no paging channel activity is indicated in the second step, a last step includes powering down portions of the electrical circuitry of the communication device so as to reduce power consumption, and when paging channel activity is indicated in the second step, a next step includes powering up portions of the electrical circuitry of the communication device such that those paging channels indicating activity are monitored by the communication device.

Abstract: The system transmits data between terminals of a wireless network. In the system, a base station/central controller (“BS/CC”) controls transmission of data from a transmitting terminal to plural receiving terminals, where the data is ordered in slots of a control data frame (“CDF”), and where each slot is reserved for a data transmission between the transmitting terminal and a specific receiving terminal. Specifically, the BS/CC divides the plural receiving terminals into a set of power-saving terminals and a set of non-power-saving terminals, and then reserves a set of slots in the CDF for data transmission between the transmitting terminal and the power-saving terminals, and another set of slots in the CDF for data transmission between the transmitting terminal and the non-power-saving terminals.

Abstract: An approach for synchronizing operation of a first communications terminal with operation of a second communications terminal involves establishing a communications link between the first communications terminal and the second communications terminal, the communications link being defined by a communication standard; and synchronizing a first clock coupled to the first communications terminal with a second clock coupled to the second communications terminal by receiving a time standard signal into the first communications terminal independently of the communication standard. This approach can be implemented using a first clock; a first communications terminal coupled to the first clock; a second clock; a second communications terminal coupled to the second clock; a communications link defined by a communication standard; and a transmitter transmitting a time standard signal independently of the communication standard to the first clock and setting the first clock in response to the time standard signal.