Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
  • H04W88/02—Terminal devices
  • H04W88/06—Terminal devices adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
  • H04W88/02—Terminal devices
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
  • G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
  • G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
  • G06F1/1633—Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
  • G06F1/1684—Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
  • G06F1/1698—Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B1/00—Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
  • H04B1/38—Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
  • H04B1/3827—Portable transceivers
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
  • H04M1/72—Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection
  • H04M1/724—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
  • H04M1/72403—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
  • H04M1/72409—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality by interfacing with external accessories
  • H04M1/72412—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality by interfacing with external accessories using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W52/00—Power management, e.g. TPC [Transmission Power Control], power saving or power classes
  • H04W52/02—Power saving arrangements
  • H04W52/0209—Power saving arrangements in terminal devices
  • H04W52/0225—Power saving arrangements in terminal devices using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02D—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE
  • Y02D30/00—Reducing energy consumption in communication networks
  • Y02D30/70—Reducing energy consumption in communication networks in wireless communication networks

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a portable communication terminal.
• a radiotelephone may act as a gateway to the public telephone switching network (PTSN) for a local data terminal such as, for example, a PC, a laptop PC, a personal organiser, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a printer, a facsimile machine and the like.
• PTSN public telephone switching network
• a local data terminal such as, for example, a PC, a laptop PC, a personal organiser, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a printer, a facsimile machine and the like.
• RF radio frequency
• Such interfaces may be provided between almost any digital device e.g. computers, phones, scanners, cameras, headsets, keyboards, joysticks etc.
• Low power radio frequency (RF) transmission envisages a power of the order of 1 mW (or 0 dB) for operation over distances in the range of 10cm to 30 meters. Currents of around 8 to 30mA at a voltage around 2.7V are contemplated. Data rates of around 1Mbps are envisaged for communication between devices such as hand-held computers, notebooks and cellular phones. The frequency used in such scenarios is envisaged to be around 2.4 GHz.
• the present invention has particular, but not exclusive, application to the management of the low power radio frequency (RF) link in the above and similar circumstances.
• RF radio frequency
• the present invention provides a terminal comprising a user interface, a radio transceiver for communicating with a telecommunication network, and a low power radio frequency (RF) transceiver by which a low power radio frequency (RF) communication link can be established with a local terminal, wherein, in response to a user input via the user interface, the terminal monitors signals received by the low power radio frequency (RF) transceiver with a view to establishing the low power radio frequency (RF) link.
• RF radio frequency
• the present invention provides a method of communicating between two terminals via a low power radio frequency (RF) link in which at least one of the terminals monitors for low power radio frequency (RF) activity in response to a user input via its user interface.
• RF radio frequency
• the present invention provides a terminal comprising a user interface and a low power radio frequency (RF) transceiver by which a low power radio frequency (RF) communication link can be established with a local terminal, wherein, in response to a user input via the user interface, the terminal monitors signals received by the low power radio frequency (RF) transceiver with a view to establishing the low power radio frequency (RF) link.
• RF radio frequency
• Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a terminal according to the invention
• Figure 2 shows a diagram of the main features in the terminal of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 shows a diagram of the terminal of Figure 1 establishing a low power radio frequency (RF) link with a PC.
• RF radio frequency
• the terminal shown in Figure 1 is a cellular mobile telephone 1 having an 'A' or front cover 3a and a 'B' or rear cover 3b powered by a rechargeable battery pack 2.
• the user interface of the telephone 1 comprises a liquid crystal display 5 having backlighting, a microphone 7, a loudspeaker 8 and a keypad 6.
• the keypad 6 comprises two groups of keys: a first group of alphanumeric keys 6a for entering telephone numbers and text data, and a second group of functions keys 6b for enabling/disabling functions of the telephone 1 or causing operations of the telephone 1 to be executed.
• the telephone includes a transceiver 9 for transmitting and receiving signals to and from a cellular telecommunication network.
• a controller 4 in the form of a microprocessor controls the operation of the telephone 1 including its user-interface, a memory 14, the radio transceiver 9 and a low power radio frequency (RF) transceiver 16 (not visible in the Figure 1 view).
• RF radio frequency
• One of the function keys 66 can be depressed for a relatively long duration (>1 second) to cause the controller 4 to switch the telephone 1 between an off mode in which negligible battery power is consumed to an on mode.
• the telephone 1 can be considered to be in any one of a call processing mode, an active standby mode or a passive standby mode.
• a telephone call is conducted over the (radio) air interface via the radio transceiver 9. Due to heavy use of the air interface during calls, this mode results in high power consumption.
• active standby mode power is consumed as a result of certain user- interface functions of the telephone 1 and the radio transceiver 9.
• passive standby mode power is consumed substantially only as a result of the radio transceiver 9.
• the power consumption of the radio transceiver 9 arises out of the need to access the air interface to maintain registration with the cellular network, specifically, for example, to watch for incoming calls and hand over from one cell to another as the telephone 1 changes location, even though no calls traffic is being processed.
• the difference between the two standby modes lies in the fact that in active standby mode, the user is able to make use of the keypad 6 and the display 5 in order to review or alter the contents of the memory 14, for example, with a view to adding a number to the telephone number store or altering a control
• the display 5 and its backlighting are inactive as is the keypad (except, of course, in response to the sequential pressing of the
• FIG. 3 shows the telephone 1 and a local data terminal in the form of a PC 50.
• the PC comprises a keyboard 52, a cathode ray visual display 54 and a low power radio frequency (RF) transceiver 18.
• RF radio frequency
• the PC 50 and the telephone 1 are arranged such that their low power radio frequency (RF) transceivers 16, 18 are in range of each other.
• the telephone 1 is in passive standby mode.
• the telephone 1 switches from passive standby mode to active standby mode.
• the low power radio frequency (RF) transceiver 16 of the telephone 1 starts to monitor or poll for incoming low power radio frequency (RF) signals with a view to establishing a low power radio frequency (RF) link (20) between the telephone 1 and the PC 50. If during a 20 second period, the PC 50 transmits signals which seek to create a low power radio frequency (RF) link, then a low power radio frequency (RF) link is established permitting the facsimile document data to be transmitted.
• RF radio frequency
• the user input for the low power radio frequency (RF) transceiver 16 to start to monitor low power radio frequency (RF) activity can be actions which are dedicated to or have the sole functional effect of triggering the monitoring activity. Examples include the selection of an option from a menu, the depression of predetermined keys, either in a defined sequential order or simultaneously, or a voice command.
• the low power radio frequency (RF) transceiver 16 When the low power radio frequency (RF) transceiver 16 is not polling for low power radio frequency (RF) activity, it can be either 'on' but not consuming much power by virtue of not actively polling for low power radio frequency (RF) activity, or shut-down into a power-saving or standby mode where it uses negligible power.
• RF radio frequency
• the trigger to start monitoring low power radio frequency (RF) activity can be provided by depression of the ON/OFF key for a relatively short duration which is insufficient to place the telephone 1 into on mode. If during the 20 second interval, no low power radio frequency (RF) link is established then the monitoring activity is discontinued and the telephone 1 remains in off mode. On the other hand, if a low power radio frequency (RF) link is established, then the telephone 1 is switched to the on mode.
• RF radio frequency

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Telephone Function (AREA)
• Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=10838983

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (13)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 1998
  • 1998-09-17 GB GB9820212A patent/GB2341753A/en not_active Withdrawn
• 1999
  • 1999-09-13 AU AU63391/99A patent/AU6339199A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-09-13 WO PCT/EP1999/007721 patent/WO2000018025A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1999-09-13 EP EP99950721A patent/EP1114520A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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