Abstract: A mobile radio network comprises a plurality of communication points, each of which are capable of communicating with any other communication point. Each communication point has a proximity sensor, a transmitter/receiver (14), which is able to send signals to and receive signals from the other communication points. Elements for controlling the transmitter/receiver and elements for storing data to identify the communication points is also described.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a sleep mode in a wireless access communication system. The apparatus determines a predetermined number of groups for grouping at least one subscriber terminal according to type information of a paging interval equal to the sum of the sleep interval and the listening interval, and registers the subscriber terminal in one group from among the groups on the basis of the paging interval type of the subscriber terminal. Upon receipt of the group information, the apparatus controls a base station to pre-recognize a terminal woken up at a predetermined time from among a plurality of terminals entering the sleep mode, resulting in reduction of the number of unnecessary paging message transmissions and improved efficiency of the wireless access communication system.

Abstract: A power saving method of the present invention is provide for a wireless sensor network including a plurality of sensor nodes each transiting between a power saving mode and a transmit/receive mode, determines whether or not there is no transmit or receive data, enters the power saving mode if there is no transmit or receive data, and controls power consumption on the basis of signal-to-noise ratios in the power saving mode. In the power saving method of the present invention, it is possible to minimize the power consumption regardless of nodes density and without an adverse effect on the connectivity of the network, since the sojourn times of the sleep and idle states are determined adaptive to the interference level from neighboring nodes.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is related to wireless communication devices with a reduced-noise recording receiver. The recording receiver receives a transmitted signal, converts the received signal to a digital base-band signal and stores the digitized base-band signal in a buffer for subsequent processing. The stored digital signals are subsequently processed to recover the transmitted data signal. The overall signal integrity in the receiver is improved by performing signal processing after reception is complete. The IF processing section of the receiver includes a frequency band translation section. The frequency band translation section translates the frequency band of the IF signal into a non-harmonically related frequency band. Since the IF signal is in an unrelated frequency band, data can be recovered from the transmission signal with improved signal-to-noise characteristics.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus and a carrier medium storing instructions to implement the method. The method is in a first wireless station of a wireless network, and includes wirelessly receiving a signal corresponding to a packet wirelessly transmitted by a second wireless station. The packet includes a subpacket and a check sequence. The method further includes verifying the integrity of the subpacket, the verifying at least using the check sequence. The method further includes, in the case that the subpacket fails the verifying, reducing the power consumption of at least one component in the first wireless station for a time interval.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for conserving power on a mobile device through motion awareness. The method includes a motion model that receives location information from one or more receivers and an accelerometer. The motion model determines whether the mobile device is in motion based on the received information. If the mobile device is in motion, a scanning rate for the one or more receivers is determined based on a velocity vector, the velocity vector being determined from the received information; the determined scanning rate is sent to the one or more receivers to enable them to operate at the determined scanning rate; and the process is repeated. If the mobile device is not in motion, the scanning operations for the one or more receivers are halted while the mobile device is stationary; scanning operations for the one or more receivers are resumed when an indication that the mobile device is moving again is received from the accelerometer; and the process is repeated.

Abstract: A sleep control system and method are provided that permit a reference clock and the direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) modem in a mobile station receiver to be turned off and turned back on at arbitrary points in time while still maintaining accurate base station system time. Accurate timing is made possible through a number of techniques including precise initial calibration using a rising edge/falling edge averaging system, determining the sleep clock and reference clock frequencies, and the determination of the frequency drift of the sleep clock that occurred during the previous sleep interval.

Abstract: To simplify the configuration of functional modules in a software-defined radio apparatus, and facilitate the development of software. The functional modules have input and output terminals of a common configuration. Distributed timing control is performed so that the functional modules operate in their respective timings, and the functional modules have common input/output signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to communications devices for reduced energy communications in an ad hoc network. The communication device includes a first low powered transceiver for initiating communications with other communications devices and a second transceiver for transmitting data messages to the other communications devices once communication is initiated. The communication device also includes a communications control processor for determining times at which the other communications devices will be available to receive communications based on scheduling data received from those communication devices.

Abstract: Provided is a mobile station that a user is able to use without inconvenience, and that is able to realize power consumption saving. The mobile station: records a speech-communication history including information identifying a time at which speech communication occurred; decides a cycle changing time and a cycle-after-change based on the speech-communication history, the cycle changing time being a time at which a paging channel monitoring cycle used by a base station in message transmission is to be changed, and the cycle-after-change being a cycle at which the paging channel is to be monitored after the change; notifies the base station of a slot cycle index indicating the decided cycle-after-change when the decided cycle changing time has come; and starts monitoring the paging channel at the decided cycle-after-change when the decided cycle changing time has come.

Abstract: A satellite positioning system receiver programmed to operate synchronously with an expected time of arrival of information from at least one satellite of a satellite positioning system, and to receive the information from the at least one satellite when the receiver is operating during the expected time of arrival of the information. In one embodiment, the receiver operates synchronously with an expected arrival of specific subframe information from at least one satellite of a satellite positioning system, and receives the specific subframe information when the receiver is operating.

Abstract: A mobile station in an 802.11 wireless network dynamically adjusts a number of 802.11 beacon intervals to sleep based on a power savings level and a required wake-up time to receive packets from an access point. The power savings level is based on data traffic activity in a current period. The mobile station wakes up to receive a beacon, and if a beacon is not received, the mobile station sleeps for one additional beacon period.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement (4) for a PLL to be used in a terminal (50) of a time division cellular network. In a PLL according to the invention, the control voltage (32a) to a VCO (33) in the PLL is kept at a desired value also during time slots in which the terminal is not receiving or transmitting messages. The settling time for a PLL according to the invention is shot and the spurious effects caused by the power up thereof are small. The invention further relates to a method of operation for a PLL.

Abstract: Processing circuitry in a user device detects information concerning periodic station maintenance opportunities provided by a CMTS. The processor determines a quiet interval between the end of one station maintenance opportunity and the beginning of the subsequent opportunity. If offsite power to the user device is lost, the processor counts down a predetermined amount of time with a first timer and then periodically turns off RF circuitry of the device after the ending of a maintenance opportunity that follows the counting down of the first timer. The processor then begins a second timer to count the quiet interval. After counting down the quiet interval, the processor restores battery power to the RF circuitry for the duration of the maintenance opportunity. If an off-hook condition occurs while the second counter counts down the quiet interval, the processor restores battery power to the RF circuitry.

Abstract: A computing device such as a notebook computer comprises a processor and one or more power sources. A plurality of operational states are defined, each with a set of device operation choices for settings (such as power management or configuration) appropriate to that operational state. The processor is adapted to determine a present operational state. The present operational state is not defined solely by the active power source—it may be defined in part by the location of the mobile computing device, its network status, the active power source, the state of battery charge, or by a model of user behavior. The processor is further adapted to implement the device operation choices for the present operational state.

Abstract: A method for reducing current drain in a communication device includes a first step of developing a history of readings of received signal strengths (RSS) of a neighboring broadcast control channel (BCCH). A next step includes monitoring a RSS of the neighboring channel during a wakeup period. A next step includes determining whether the RSS is substantially stable with respect to the history of readings. A next step includes skipping the monitoring of the RSS for at least one of the subsequent wakeup periods if the RSS is substantially stable with respect to the history of readings.

Abstract: Battery operated user equipment is disclosed for use in a radio telecommunications network, including means for monitoring the state of charge of the battery and means for communicating state of charge data to a base station during call set up. The battery data can be used to inform a caller that, for example, a called user's apparatus has reduced or limited battery capacity and thus that the expected duration of a call is limited.

Abstract: In communications systems such as telemetry systems in which a receiver (34) is periodically energised to receive transmissions from a central station, the receiver includes a power control means (12) for controlling the energisation of the receiver, a circuit (48) for detecting the presence of a carrier, which circuit (48) causes the power control means to de-energise the receiver (34) in the event of carrier not being detected, and a signal quality measuring stage (50) for determining if the demodulated signal is decodable, the stage (50) causing the power control means to de-energise the receiver (34) in the event of the signal quality not being acceptable.

Abstract: Techniques to schedule uplink data transmission for a number of terminals in a wireless communication system. In one method, a number of sets of terminals are formed for possible data transmission, with each set including a unique combination of terminals and corresponds to a hypothesis to be evaluated. The performance of each hypothesis is evaluated (e.g., based on channel response estimates for each terminal) and one of the evaluated hypotheses is selected based on the performance. The terminals in the selected hypothesis are scheduled for data transmission. A successive cancellation receiver processing scheme may be used to process the signals transmitted by the scheduled terminals. In this case, one or more orderings of the terminals in each set may be formed, with each terminal ordering corresponding to a sub-hypothesis to be evaluated. The performance of each sub-hypothesis is then evaluated and one of the sub-hypotheses is selected.

Abstract: To reduce the power consumption of a wireless communication hardware device, power conservation scheduling algorithms can be implemented. Reoccurring events, including DTIM intervals and listen intervals can be scheduled as awake times. Similarly expected response intervals can be scheduled as awake times based on information, such as round trip time, that can be passed together with data to be transmitted. The wireless communication hardware device can be placed into a doze state unless it is transmitting data, or unless it is expecting a transmission during one of the scheduled awake times.

Abstract: Data which indicates remaining capacity of a battery in terms of the terminal voltage of the battery is updated by a control unit when necessary, whereby available capacity of the battery is accurately calculated regardless of the extent of deterioration of the battery. In addition to the battery's calculated available capacity, a radio-wave receiving condition and a temperature detected by a temperature detection unit are also taken into consideration to accurately calculate and display an available time. Moreover, the control unit performs the entire process of backing up user data into a non-volatile internal memory (flash memory), which reduces power consumption required for the backup process, resulting in a longer available time.

Abstract: A method for enhanced power saving on DCF based wireless networks is disclosed. The method divides a beacon transmitting section in an Announcement Traffic Indication Message (hereinafter, referred to as “ATIM”) window period defined by IEEE standard 802.11 according as there is a data packet to be sent or not and allows a terminal that has received the beacon to go to a doze state immediately according to beacon reception timing, thereby preventing unnecessary power consumption.

Abstract: A control unit 102 of a mobile telephone 10 sets a radio wave mode to ON or OFF, and stores the setting of the radio wave mode internally. ON shows that radio wave transmission is permitted, and OFF shows that radio wave transmission is prohibited. When the stored radio wave mode setting is OFF, radio wave transmission is suppressed even if input such as that for mail transmission is received. By setting the radio wave mode to OFF, functions that do not require radio wave transmission can be used, even in places where radio wave transmission is prohibited.

Abstract: When a remaining battery power amount of a child appliance is lowered, a battery recharging operation of the child appliance is not quickly carried out, lowering of the remaining battery power amount of the child appliance is displayed on a mother appliance which is owned by a mother. When there is a risk that the remaining battery power amount of the child appliance is lowered and thus operations of the child appliance will be brought into a malfunction condition, a content of a special instruction is stored into a non-volatile memory employed in the child appliance. Otherwise, while the content of the special instruction has been stored in a management server, an operation may be carried out in response to the instructed response after the remaining battery power amount has been recovered to a sufficiently high battery power amount.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing power consumption of a mobile communication terminal operated at a slotted mode in a spread spectrum communication system such as a CDMA cellular mobile communication system. The mobile communication terminal reduces a paging channel monitoring time by entering a sleep mode or a wake-up mode at an arbitrary timing instead of a PN code rollover period, resulting in the increment of a standby time of the terminal.

Abstract: Techniques for cell reacquisition and reselection that increases time spent in low-power mode while effectively monitoring neighbor cells are disclosed. In one aspect, one or more windows around the expected location of the serving cell are searched in the period of time prior to the page indicator. In another aspect, intra-frequency neighbor cells are searched first to determine reselection candidates. Various other aspects are also presented. These aspects have the benefit of increasing time spent in low-power mode, thereby reducing power consumption and increasing standby time.

Abstract: Wireless communication devices and movement monitoring methods are described. In one aspect, a wireless communication device includes a housing, wireless communication circuitry coupled with the housing and configured to communicate wireless signals, movement circuitry coupled with the housing and configured to provide movement data regarding movement sensed by the movement circuitry, and event processing circuitry coupled with the housing and the movement circuitry, wherein the event processing circuitry is configured to process the movement data, and wherein at least a portion of the event processing circuitry is configured to operate in a first operational state having a different power consumption rate compared with a second operational state.

Abstract: In a communication system (SYS) in which a packet data transfer is performed between the network side (NS) and the subscriber terminal side (SS) a physical connection (LC) is maintained during the data packet transfer. An active period detector (AP-DET) detects an active period of data packet generation by evaluating the inter-arrival time (TDIFF) between successively arriving data packets (DP). If the inter-arrival time (TDIFF) falls within a predetermined range a physical connection maintaining device (LC-MAIN) maintains the physical connection (LC) even if a transmitter queue (TR-QUE) temporarily becomes empty. Therefore, within the active period (AP) the transmitter (NS-TR; SS-TR) indicates a non-empty queue. The invention finds particular application in the GPRS/(E)GPRS/GSM environment.

Abstract: A method and related apparatus for reducing power consumption of a cell phone. The method includes: when the cell phone is in an idle state, connecting to a base station after a time interval several times that of the discrete receiving (DRX) time interval assigned by the base station so as to still maintain a logged-in state to the base station but to decrease radio transmissions and save power.

Abstract: In a dual mode Bluetooth/wireless mobile unit, the next sleep mode Bluetooth wakeup time is rescheduled to synchronize with any upcoming idle mode wireless wakeup time that will otherwise precede the Bluetooth wakeup time. The Bluetooth clock is advanced, or other reconfiguration made to the Bluetooth module, as appropriate to prevent the scanning frequency from changing during a sleep mode Bluetooth wakeup/scanning interval commencing at the resynchronized Bluetooth wakeup time.

Abstract: A system for conserving energy in a multi-node network (110) includes nodes (205) configured to organize themselves into tiers (305, 310, 315). The nodes (205) are further configured to produce a transmit/receive schedule at a first tier (310) in the network (110) and control the powering-on and powering-off of transmitters and receivers in nodes (205) in a tier adjacent (315) to the first tier (310) according to the transmit/receive schedule.

Abstract: A digital receiver unit (28) having a backup energy source (214) for use in a vehicle (250) that operates on a primary energy source (216) includes a receiver (203) powered by the primary energy source when the vehicle is operating, a switching mechanism (210 and 212) for switching the receiver between the primary energy source and the backup energy source and a controller (210) coupled to the receiver for controlling the switching mechanism. The receiver receives data during a scheduled predetermined time and the backup energy source powers the receiver during the scheduled predetermined time if the vehicle is not operating.

Abstract: A communication unit (10) can have at least a first receiver (11) and a second receiver (12). The latter typically consumes more power than the former during ordinary operation. Pursuant to one embodiment a communication unit can use the lower-power receiver to detect energy on a monitored channel while the second receiver is retained in a reduced power mode of operation. Upon detecting an absence of channel activity the second receiver can be restored to normal operability to effect such activities as are then presently required.

Abstract: A system and method are presented for actively evaluating and adjusting device energy consumption in a personal area network (PAN). The method comprises: polling devices in the PAN to determine respective energy metrics; and, establishing network communications between devices using the energy metrics. More specifically, a master device establishes network communications rules between the devices as a result of the polling activity. The master device identifies energy metrics including the battery charge status for devices powered by battery and device link energy metrics associated with network link communication operations, determines the priority of operation for the devices, and optimizes device battery life in response to the energy metrics and the priority of operation for the devices.

Abstract: In a wireless communication system such as a CDMA system, a traffic channel supporting two applications running in socket mode on a mobile station is allowed to go dormant and is released when respective idle periods associated with each socket expire, i.e., when there is no transmission over the traffic channel for the longer of two potentially unequal idle periods.

Abstract: A method of coordinating events in a microprocessor-based electronic device having a sleep mode to reduce current drain includes a first step of determining a list of times to perform associated operating system events requiring a wake-up period for the device. A next step includes establishing a timing of fixed events wherein the electronic device enters a wake-up period to perform the fixed events. A next step includes delaying the time for an operating system event to coincide with a fixed event such that the electronic device utilizes one coincident wake-up period to perform both of the operating system event and the fixed event. This removes the current drain associated with entering and exited an additional sleep period.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of accessing a mobile vehicle using a wireless communication system. A vehicle communication device is placed into a first communication service sleep mode of a sleep cycle. It is determined if a first communication service is currently available to the vehicle communication device. If the first communication service is available, the vehicle communication device remains in a first communication service awake mode for a first interval of the sleep cycle. If the first communication service is not available, the vehicle communication device remains in the first communication service sleep mode for the first interval of the sleep cycle. Programs and systems of using the method are also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a tire air pressure monitoring system capable of sufficiently lowering the electric power dissipation in a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit acquires, on the basis of information on transmission intervals included in transmitted signals from sensor units, the next transmission timings of signals to be transmitted from the sensor units and is switched from a sleep mode to a waking-up mode to receive the transmitted signals from the sensor unit in synchronism with the next transmission timings. This can efficiently set the monitoring unit in a waking-up condition, i.e., a signal receivable condition, thereby preventing useless electric power dissipation and reducing the electric power consumption.

Abstract: A portable telephone of the present invention comprises manual keys, a power-on time memory portion 4 for storing the power-on time being input by the manipulation of the key, a power-on time detection portion 5 for detecting whether the time stored in the power-on time memory portion 4 comes, a validation/invalidation memory portion 6 for storing the validation/invalidation of the automatic power-on function set input by the key manipulation, a main control portion 3 for turning on the power upon detecting the power-on time coming only when the validation of the automatic power-on function set is stored in the validation/invalidation memory portion 6. Accordingly, even if the user sets alarm for a plurality of times, the automatic power-on function can be cancelled by the simple manipulation, and the setting of the automatic power-on function can be returned to the original state by the simple manipulation.

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: A portable communication system and a storage medium storing a program for the portable communication system which are capable of temporarily stopping transmissions from the portable communication system, while being capable of using other functions such as information processing function, etc. separately from the transmitting function. The portable communication system comprises a control circuit, a display section, a loudspeaker, a vibrator, a memory, a data input section, a receiving section, a transmitting section, a timer, an antenna, a power circuit, a switch, and a power-supply circuit. When the user inputs a transmission suspension command to the control circuit using the data input section, the timer is activated. The timer generates a power cut-off signal to turn off the switch. As a result, the power supplied to the transmitting section from the power circuit via the power-supply circuit is cut off, to cause the transmitting section to be at recess.

Abstract: In a dual mode Bluetooth/wireless mobile unit, the next sleep mode Bluetooth wakeup time is rescheduled to synchronize with any upcoming idle mode wireless wakeup time that will otherwise precede the Bluetooth wakeup time. The Bluetooth clock is advanced, or other reconfiguration made to the Bluetooth module, as appropriate to prevent the scanning frequency from changing during a sleep mode Bluetooth wakeup/scanning interval commencing at the resynchronized Bluetooth wakeup time.

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 for establishing telecommunications links in a switching system includes the steps of providing terminal devices and a base station having transmitting/receiving devices. The number of terminal devices is greater than the number of transmitting/receiving devices. A transmission of useful information and/or signaling information is performed between a transmitting/receiving device and a given terminal device in a first transmission cycle. The transmission between the transmitting/receiving device and the given terminal device is subsequently interrupted for a given time period. The given time period lasts as long as a transmission period of at least one transmission frequency. The transmission between the transmitting/receiving device and the given terminal device is continued in a second transmission cycle in time after the given time period has elapsed. A switching system is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method is presented for detecting the accidental dialing of telephone numbers on a mobile communications device. Accidental dialing is typically caused by pressing a redial button or a speed dial button. The system works by monitoring the outgoing and incoming voice levels in order to detect an absence of conversation in both directions for a specified time period. An alarm system is activated if an absence of conversation is detected. The alarm system sends a unique audio signal to the earpiece of the mobile communications device and waits for a response. The response might be pressing a particular key sequence or simply resuming the conversation. If a response is not detected after a short period of time, then the telephone call is automatically terminated. If a response is received, then, depending on user preferences, the monitoring system continues to function or can be disabled for the duration of the phone call.

Abstract: A wireless data communication system is operable in a power saving mode wherein stations are synchronized to be in an awake state to receive synchronizing messages (TIM, PSYNC) and traffic indicator information and are changed to a doze state if they are not to receive data messages. In one embodiment all stations (20) communicate via a base station access point (16), which broadcasts synchronizing messages (TIM) at regular intervals identifying stations (20) that are to receive data messages. In another embodiment all stations (220) communicate directly with one another, one station assumes the role of a master station and broadcasts synchronizing messages (PSYNC), and stations (220) desiring to transmit data messages transmit traffic indicator messages (PTIM) to the appropriate destination stations (220), in a synchronized awake period just before the next synchronizing message (PSYNC) is expected to arrive.