KR101727042B1 - Method for controlling suspend mode in dual modem device and apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dual modem device. And a second processor for communicating with a second communication network, the first processor including a first processor for communicating with a first communication network and a host module for controlling the first processor. Wherein the first processor includes a first processor-side Inter-Processor Communication (IPC) interface module for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the second processor, and the second processor is a second processor for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the second processor, Side IPC interface module, the second processor transfers an operation suspension message to the first processor to stop the operation of the second processor-side IPC interface module to transition to the suspend mode, When the operation stop message is received, transmits an operation stop response message to the second processor and stops the operation of the first processor-side IPC interface module.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a method for controlling a suspend mode in a dual-

The present invention relates to a dual modem device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of controlling a suspend mode in a dual modem device and an apparatus therefor.

In the wireless mobile communication field, not only voice communication but also data transmission and reception have been steadily evolving. Currently, 4th generation mobile communication technology, for example, LTE (Long Term Evolution) wireless communication system is attracting attention. However, in the situation where the fourth generation communication network and the third generation communication network that have been commercialized are mixed, the mobile communication terminal or the mobile communication data card is not only used for the fourth generation mobile communication technology but also for the 3G mobile communication technology At the same time. Therefore, a mobile terminal or a data card type device (hereinafter referred to as a dual modem device) having a dual modem processor is required to simultaneously support the next generation mobile communication technology and the existing generation mobile communication technology.

Dual modem devices are equipped with two modems with different communication methods and support wireless communication using each, and are mainly used in areas where heterogeneous communication networks are mixed. 2. Description of the Related Art As a typical example of a dual modem device, a device that can use both LTE (Long Term Evolution) wireless communication and CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) wireless communication is attracting attention. In the present invention, a dual modem device capable of communicating with both the LTE network and the CDMA network is exemplified, but other types of wireless communication can also be applied to those skilled in the art. It is true.

Based on the above discussion, a method of controlling a suspend mode in a dual modem device and an apparatus therefor are proposed.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dual modem device including: a first processor for communicating with a first communication network; And a second processor for communicating with a second communication network, wherein the first processor comprises: a first processor-side IPC for interfacing the signal with the second processor, Inter Wherein the second processor comprises a second processor-side IPC interface module for sending and receiving signals to and from the first processor, Side IPC interface module, the first processor transmits an operation suspension message to the second processor, and when the first processor receives the operation suspension message, the first processor transmits an operation suspension response message to the second processor, And stops the operation of the first processor-side IPC interface module. The data communicated with the first communication network is passed through the host module of the second processor.

Preferably, each of the first processor and the second processor further comprises a hardware module for transmitting and receiving the operation stop message and the operation stop response message. Here, when the first processor receives data from the first communication network during operation stop, the first processor transmits an operation suspension release message to the second processor through the hardware module and operates the second processor-side IPC interface module, And the second processor receiving the operation suspension release message operates the first processor-side IPC interface module. The second processor receives the data from the first processor after operating the first processor-side IPC interface module.

If the second processor transitions to the suspend mode, the first processor disconnects at least one of the packet data networks connected to the first network through the first processor after a predetermined time elapses do. If the second processor transitions to the suspend mode, the first processor interrupts the data transmission of the packet data network that is transmitting / receiving data among the packet data networks connected to the first communication network through the first processor, And stores a breakpoint of the transmission.

Here, the plurality of packet data networks include an IP Multimedia Subsystem (PDSN) PDN, an Internet PDN, an Administrative PDN, and a PDN for a service provider. Preferably, the packet data network to be disconnected after the lapse of the predetermined time is at least one of the Internet PDN and the business application dedicated PDN.

The first processor-side IPC interface module and the second processor-side IPC interface module are SDIO (Secure Digital Input Output) modules.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the dual modem device can effectively control the transition from the dual modem device to the suspend mode or wake-up from the suspend mode.

The effects obtained by the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description will be.

1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a communication system composed of a dual modem device and a PC according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a diagram illustrating a signal flow for a dual modem device to transition to a suspend mode according to an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is another diagram illustrating a signal flow for a dual modem device to transition to a suspend mode according to an embodiment of the present invention;
4 is a diagram illustrating a signal flow for a dual modem device to wake up in suspend mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is another diagram illustrating a signal flow for a dual modem device according to an embodiment of the present invention to wake up in a suspend mode.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following detailed description, together with the accompanying drawings, is intended to illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. The following detailed description includes specific details in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. For example, the following detailed description assumes that the main mobile communication system is a 3GPP LTE system, but it is applicable to any other mobile communication system except for the specific aspects of 3GPP LTE.

In some instances, well-known structures and devices may be omitted or may be shown in block diagram form, centering on the core functionality of each structure and device, to avoid obscuring the concepts of the present invention. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the specification.

In the following description, it is assumed that a terminal or a device collectively refers to a mobile or stationary user equipment such as a UE (User Equipment) and an MS (Mobile Station). It is also assumed that the base station collectively refers to any node at a network end that communicates with a terminal or device such as a Node B, an eNode B, or a Base Station.

1 is a block diagram of a dual-modem device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, in FIG. 1, a dual-modem device is illustrated as a device including a host processor for communicating with an LTE modem and a CDMA network. However, it is to be understood that any type of device It will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Referring to FIG. 1, a dual modem device 100 of a communication system of the present invention includes an LTE modem 110 for communicating with an LTE communication network responsible for communication with a CDMA communication network, and a host And a host processor 120. The host processor 120 may include a host module for processing applications and controlling an LTE modem, i.e., an application processor 130 and a modem processor 140 for communicating with a CDMA network . In addition, a NAND flash memory 150 is included as storage means of the device, and is connected to the host processor 120.

The LTE modem 110 transmits signals through the host processor 120 and the IPC interface 160. The types of the IPC interface 160 include SDIO (Secure Digital Input Output), UART, and the like. In particular, the LTE modem 110 transmits and receives LTE data signals and control signals to and from the application processor 130 of the host processor 120 through the SDIO, and is connected to the modem processor 140 via the UART, It can transmit and receive.

In addition, the modem processor 140 of the host processor 120 may perform various functions such as inter-RAT (Radio Access Technology) handover control, inter-RAT signal quality control, service, QoS (Quality of Service) (session) control.

Meanwhile, a UICC (Universal Integrated Circuit Card) 170 is connected to the host processor 120, and a modem processor 140 included in the host processor 120 controls the UICC 170. The UICC 170 includes a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM), a CDMA Subscriber Identity Module (CSIM), and an IP Multimedia Services Identity Module (ISIM). In general, the USIM includes network parameters and authentication related applications related to the LTE communication network And CSIM includes network parameters and authentication related applications related to the CDMA communication network. The ISIM also includes parameters and applications for providing IP multimedia services.

Hereinafter, for the convenience of explanation, the configuration of the dual modem device shown in FIG.

Generally, in the LTE network, there is a concept of a Packet Data Network (PDN) for providing a service, whereby a device is allocated an IP and can set QoS (Quality of Service) according to the service.

With the development of smart phones, there has been a need for multitasking, that is, a plurality of applications must be executed at the same time. The services provided by each application may be connected to different PDNs with different QoS. Examples of the PDN include an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) PDN, an Internet PDN, an Administrative PDN, and a provider-specific application PDN.

Meanwhile, in the case of a dual modem device, especially a smart phone having a dual modem, there is a hibernation mode, that is, a suspend mode, for power management. When a dual-modem device transitions to suspend mode, the host processor goes into hibernation mode and stops all functions to control the LTE processor.

In this situation, the dual modem device must be able to wake up the host processor due to the data received from the LTE network, while maintaining only the PDNs that need to maintain the connection when transitioning to suspend mode. In order to add such a function, the following method is proposed in the present invention.

2 to 5 illustrate a signal flow diagram between an LTE modem and an application processor (AP) of a host processor. The AP includes an LTE modem (Connection Manager) for controlling an LTE modem and an LTE CM Device driver.

2 is a diagram illustrating a signal flow for a dual modem device to transition to a suspend mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, it is assumed that the AP and the LTE modem receive data from the LTE network or transmit data to the LTE network as in step 201. That is, it is assumed that the LTE modem is in an active state. Data that must be received or transmitted from the LTE network is not handled directly by the LTE processor, but is processed via the host processor. In this case, in step 202, an instruction to enter the suspend mode is transmitted to the device driver according to a request of the user or according to a predetermined time elapse.

The device driver informs the LTE CM in step 203 that it is entering the process for transition to the suspend mode. In response to this, in step 204, the LTE CM transmits an RRC IDLE command to the device driver in order to stop data transmission / reception with the LTE network, and the device driver transmits the RRC IDLE command to the LTE modem Forward.

Subsequently, the LTE modem interrupts the processing of the LTE data and transits to the IDLE state, and in step 207, transmits the RRC IDLE response signal to the device driver via the IPC interface SDIO. Further, in step 208, the device driver forwards the RRC IDLE response signal to the LTE CM.

On the other hand, the LTE CM having received the RRC IDLE response signal transmits a command to the suspend mode to the device driver in step 209. [ In this case, the device driver transmits a message to stop the operation to the LTE modem, that is, an "Enter PS" In step 211, the LTE modem that has received the "Enter PS" message delivers an "Enter PS Done" response to the device driver indicating that it enters the hibernation mode. .

Subsequently, the device driver that has received the "Enter PS Done" message sets the IPC interface of the host processor side to not operate in step 213 and sends a response to the LTE CM that the transition to the suspend mode is completed in step 214.

In particular, the "Enter PS" message and the "Enter PS Done" message in steps 210 and 211 are transmitted and received via a separate hardware signal, not through the IPC interface, Quot; PS Done "message, i.e., a hardware module.

3 is another diagram illustrating a signal flow for a dual modem device to transition to a suspend mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the LTE modem is in a rest state in which data is not transmitted to or received from the LTE network. In this case, in step 301, an instruction to enter the suspend mode is transmitted to the device driver according to a request from the user or according to a predetermined time elapse.

The device driver informs the LTE CM in step 302 that it is entering the process for transition to the suspend mode. In step 303, the LTE CM, which has received the command, transmits a command to the suspend mode to the device driver. In this case, the device driver transmits a message to stop the operation to the LTE modem, that is, an "Enter PS" The LTE modem that has received the "Enter PS" message transmits a "Enter PS Done" message to the device driver as a response indicating that the mobile terminal enters the hibernation mode in step 305. At the same time, in step 306, the IPC interface of the LTE processor side Set it not to work.

Subsequently, the device driver, which has received the "Enter PS Done" message, sets the IPC interface of the host processor side to not operate in step 307 and transmits a response to the LTE CM in step 308 that the transition to the suspend mode is completed.

2, the "Enter PS" message and the "Enter PS Done" message in steps 304 and 305 are transmitted and received via separate hardware signals, not through the IPC interface, And a pin for an "Enter PS Done" message may be separately provided.

4 is a diagram illustrating a signal flow for a dual modem device to wake up in a suspend mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, in step 401, the LTE CM receives an instruction to wake up from the suspend mode from the user. For example, the user can generate such a command signal by operating a separately set key (e.g., a power key) to awaken from the suspend mode.

 The LTE CM forwards the Resume command to the device driver in step 402, and the device driver transmits an "Exit PS" message to the LTE modem in step 403 to awaken from the suspended state. The LTE modem that has received the "Exit PS" message sets the IPC interface of the LTE processor side to operate in step 404, and at the same time, the "Exit PS Done" .

Finally, the device driver receiving the message "Exit PS Done " sets the IPC interface of the host processor to operate.

Similarly, the "Exit PS" message and the "Exit PS Done" message are transmitted and received via a separate hardware signal rather than through the IPC interface, which causes the processor to send an "Exit PS" message and an "Exit PS Done" And a plurality of pins may be separately provided.

5 is another diagram illustrating a signal flow for a dual modem device according to an embodiment of the present invention to wake up in a suspend mode.

Referring to FIG. 5, an idle LTE modem receives data from the LTE network at step 501. [0054] FIG. For example, an SMS message may be received from an LTE network. In step 502, the LTE modem sets the IPC interface of the LTE processor to operate and transmits a command for waking up from the suspend mode, that is, a "PS Wake up" message to the device driver.

The device driver receiving the message "PS Wake up" may set the IPC interface of the host processor side to operate in step 504 and may transmit the message "PS Wake up done" to the LTE modem in step 505 in response.

Then, the LTE modem set to operate the IPC interface transits to the active state. In step 506, the data received from the LTE network is transferred to the device driver of the host processor through the IPC interface SDIO. Finally, in step 507, the device driver transfers the received data to the LTE CM and controls it to be processed in the IP stack.

5, the "PS Wake up" message and the "PS Wake up done" message are not transmitted through the IPC interface, but are transmitted and received via separate hardware signals, A " Wake up done "message may be separately provided.

Hereinafter, a connection control method of connected PDNs when the dual modem device of the present invention transitions to the suspend mode will be described. As described above, the LTE modem may be connected to an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) PDN, an Internet PDN, an Administrative PDN, a provider-specific application PDN, and the like in order to perform a service.

First, when transitioning to the suspend mode, a method of maintaining connection to all existing connected PDNs can be considered. Specifically, it is a method of interrupting the operation of the AP by blocking SDIO, which is an IPC interface between the application processor and the LTE processor, and keeping all connections to the LTE network.

However, since the PDN having the lower priority among the four PDNs is the Internet PDN and the application-specific application PDN, it is preferable that the connection between the Internet PDN and the provider-specific application PDN is terminated when a predetermined time elapses.

Meanwhile, when transitioning to the suspend mode, if a specific application is operating, the PDN for the specific application may consider maintaining the connection regardless of the priority. Alternatively, it is also possible to consider disconnecting the PDNs other than the IMS PDN and the Administrative PDN from the LTE modem only by using the RRC IDLE command.

Finally, there may be a problem when the IMS PDN / Administrative PDN data is being transmitted when transitioning to the suspend mode. In such a case, it is preferable to stop the data transmission, store the transmission breakpoint, and then transit to the suspend mode. And then enters suspend mode.

The embodiments described above are those in which the elements and features of the present invention are combined in a predetermined form. Each component or feature shall be considered optional unless otherwise expressly stated. Each component or feature may be implemented in a form that is not combined with other components or features. It is also possible to construct embodiments of the present invention by combining some of the elements and / or features. The order of the operations described in the embodiments of the present invention may be changed. Some configurations or features of certain embodiments may be included in other embodiments, or may be replaced with corresponding configurations or features of other embodiments. It is clear that the claims that are not expressly cited in the claims may be combined to form an embodiment or be included in a new claim by an amendment after the application.

In this document, the embodiments of the present invention have been mainly described with reference to the data transmission / reception relationship between the terminal and the base station. The specific operation described herein as being performed by the base station may be performed by its upper node, in some cases. That is, it is apparent that various operations performed for communication with a terminal in a network including a plurality of network nodes including a base station can be performed by a network node other than the base station or the base station. A base station may be replaced by terms such as a fixed station, a Node B, an eNode B (eNB), an access point, and the like. In addition, the terminal may be replaced by terms such as a UE (User Equipment), a Mobile Station (MS), and a Mobile Subscriber Station (MSS).

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention may be implemented by various means, for example, hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof. In the case of hardware implementation, an embodiment of the present invention may include one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs) field programmable gate arrays, processors, controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, and the like.

In the case of an implementation by firmware or software, an embodiment of the present invention may be implemented in the form of a module, a procedure, a function, or the like which performs the functions or operations described above. The software code may be stored in a memory unit or a recording medium and be driven by the processor. The memory unit may be located inside or outside the processor, and may exchange data with the processor by various well-known means.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the above description should not be construed in a limiting sense in all respects and should be considered illustrative. The scope of the present invention should be determined by rational interpretation of the appended claims, and all changes within the scope of equivalents of the present invention are included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims (10)

A first processor for communicating with a first communication network;
A second processor for communicating with a second communication network, the second processor including a host module for controlling the first processor; And
And a hardware module for transmitting and receiving messages between the first processor and the second processor,
Wherein the first processor includes a first processor-side Inter-Processor Communication (IPC) interface module for transmitting and receiving signals with the second processor,
Wherein the second processor includes a second processor-side IPC interface module for transmitting and receiving signals with the first processor,
The second processor
Side IPC interface module to suspend operation of the second processor-side IPC interface module, and to suspend the operation of the second processor-side IPC interface module,
The first processor
Side IPC interface module to stop the operation of the first processor-side IPC interface module when the operation stop message is received,
Wherein at least one of the packet data networks connected to the first communication network is disconnected after a predetermined time elapses when the second processor transitions to the suspend mode,
The data transmission and reception of data in the packet data network in which data is being transmitted and received among the packet data networks connected to the first communication network is stopped and a breakpoint of the data transmission is stored.
Dual modem device. delete The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the first processor comprises:
When receiving data from the first communication network during the suspension of operation, transmits an operation suspend cancel message to the second processor through the hardware module and operates the first processor-side IPC interface module,
And the second processor receiving the operation suspension release message operates the second processor-side IPC interface module.
Dual modem device. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the second processor comprises:
Side IPC interface module, and receives the data from the first processor after operating the second processor-side IPC interface module.
Dual modem device. delete delete The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the first processor-side IPC interface module and the second processor-side IPC interface module are SDIO (Secure Digital Input Output) modules.
Dual modem device. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein data to be transmitted / received to /
And the host module of the second processor.
Dual modem device. The method according to claim 1,
The Packet Data Network (PDSN)
An IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) PDN, an Internet PDN, an Administrative PDN, and a provider-specific application PDN.
Dual modem device. 10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein the packet data network is disconnected after the predetermined time elapses,
And the Internet PDN and the provider-specific application PDN.
Dual modem device.

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