MX2008010220A - A method for aperiodic mobile assisted sleep mode - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for mobile assisted sleep mode to reduce current drain in packet based mobile systems. The method comprising the step of receiving (102) from a network a channel condition threshold. Then, monitoring (104) a channel condition while in sleep mode. Then exiting (110) sleep mode in response to the determination (108) that the monitored channel condition is greater than the channel condition threshold.

Description

A METHOD FOR THE SLEEPED MODE ASSISTED BY MOBILE APERIODICO FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to the sleep mode and, more particularly, to the sleep mode assisted by aperiodic mobile.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Wireless networks such as Enhanced UMTS, 802.16e and the like are being designed to support packet switched (PS) domain only. Traditionally, the user equipment, also known as a mobile or mobile station, is either in active state with a dedicated connection or in location or inactive state (ie, sleep state). In the location state the mobile supports discontinuous reception where the mobile sleeps and wakes up at predetermined intervals to verify if the network has located it. In 3GPP (UMTS) the mobile has an additional state of CELL_FACH where it continuously monitors the common downlink control channel in search of activity. Location status helps conserve battery charge by reducing current drainage average, however at the cost of some latency for downlink transmissions. The mobile can at any time send an uplink signaling message to indicate the need to transmit on the uplink. In the CELULA_FACH state, the mobile can not conserve battery charge due to continuous monitoring of the control channels. One of the undesirable defects of the location state is that there may be data that will be exchanged with the mobile; however, when the mobile wakes up in the predetermined time or frame, radio conditions are deficient. It may also be possible that the mobile was in good condition while it was in the discontinuous reception state (DRX), that is, location status, and the network could not establish communication with the mobile. This has the undesirable result where the data is exchanged under non-optimal radio conditions leading to the mobile waking up for a potentially longer time as a result of retransmission and, in effect, denying any potential battery savings. Therefore, it is desirable to be able to enter a sleeping pattern that provides sufficient flexibility to the programmer at the same time that allows the mobile to save battery whenever possible. In addition, even if a mobile is in the sleeping state, it can not communicate its channel conditions to the network until after it wakes up. Therefore, the mobile can wake up during undesirable channel conditions so that the mobile phone may not be able to establish communication with the network or require multiple retransmissions to the network. In this case, the mobile wakes up and then returns to the dormant state without any data exchange due to the lack of sufficiently good channel conditions. The various aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art at the time of careful consideration of the following detailed description with the appended figures which are described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The appended figures, in which similar reference numbers refer to functionally similar or identical elements through the various views and which together with the description Detailed below are incorporated into and form part of the description, further serve to illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention. Figure 1 is a first flow chart of the exemplary process for the sleep mode of aperiodic mobile. Figure 2 is a second exemplary process flow diagram for the sleep mode of the aperiodic mobile. Figure 3 is a first time sequence of the exemplary programming mechanism for the sleep mode of the aperiodic mobile. Figure 4 is a second time sequence of the exemplary programming mechanism for the sleep mode of the aperiodic mobile. Figure 5 is a third time sequence of the exemplary programming mechanism for the sleep mode of the aperiodic mobile. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated in relation to other elements to help improve the understanding of the embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Although the present invention can be achieved through various forms of the embodiment, various examples of modalities are shown and described with the understanding that the present description is to be considered an embodiment of the invention. and it will not intend to limit the invention to the specific modalities contained herein as will be more apparent from the following analysis. Furthermore, it is understood that the method for the aperiodic sleep mode of the present invention can be used more generally in any application where it is desirable to provide signaling and current drain reduction. It will be understood that the mobile (mobile) station is a remote station coupled, wirelessly in this exemplary mode, to the network. It can also be referred to as a mobile, remote station, user equipment, user terminal or the like. In the described embodiment, the mobile is connected wirelessly to the network through a plurality of base stations and network controllers. In this exemplary mode, the mobile enters a sleep mode to conserve the charge of Battery. It is understood that these exemplary modalities and that other criteria can be used to enter the state of current drain reduction. In this exemplary embodiment, the device is an electronic device such as a radiotelephone. The radiotelephone described herein is a representation of the type of wireless communication device that can benefit from the present invention. However, it will be understood that the present invention can be applied to any type of portable or manual device including, but not limited to, the following devices: radiotelephones, cordless telephones, tracking devices, personal digital assistants, laptops, hand-held devices on keyboard or pen, remote control units, portable media players (such as an MP3 or DVD player) having the capability for wireless communication and the like. Accordingly, any reference here to radiotelephone 100 should also be considered so that it applies equally to other portable wireless electronic devices. Before describing in detail the exemplary embodiments which are in accordance with the present invention, it should be noted that the modalities they mainly reside in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to the sleep mode of an electronic device. Accordingly, the components of the apparatus and the steps of the method have been represented, in situations where it is judged appropriate, through conventional symbols in the figures, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to the understanding of the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the description with details that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art enjoying the benefit of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is provided to further explain, in a simple manner, the best modes for making and using various embodiments according to the present invention. The description is also offered to allow an understanding and appreciation of the principles of the invention and advantages thereof, instead of limiting it in some way. It will further be understood that the use of related terms, if any, such as first and second, such as a first timer and a second timer, and the like, are used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another without necessarily requiring or imply any relationship or real order between said entities or actions. A method for the aperiodic mobile assisted sleep mode comprising the steps of receiving a threshold of the channel condition from a network is described. The device enters sleep mode and monitors a channel condition. The mobile leaves the sleep mode in response to the determination that the monitored channel condition is greater than the channel condition threshold. Figure 1 illustrates a flow diagram of the exemplary process for the sleep mode of the aperiodic mobile. Sleep mode indicates a low current drain status of the device to conserve battery charge, also known as sleep state, inactive state or location status. In this exemplary embodiment, the mobile receives a channel condition threshold and a value of the first timer from the network. The mobile can also receive a parameter indicating the number of "Y" boxes that should pass from the last packet transmission or from the transition to sleep mode, before the phone can wake up and indicate good channel conditions for the network. Upon entering sleep mode 104, which is the location status in this mode exemplary, the mobile develops minimum tasks including the start-up of a first timer, the count of frames and the monitoring of a channel condition. The mobile initiates the first timer 104 to track the length of time the device is in the sleep state, which is a maximum length of time that the device is in the sleep mode for this exemplary mode. The first timer is associated with the value of the first received timer. The first timer expires 114 at the time of reaching the value of the first timer. Concurrently, that is, while in the sleep state, the mobile station counts the number of frames that have passed since a predefined event occurred. In this exemplary mode, the mobile determines 106 if "Y" frames have passed since the last reception of information. If no "Y" frames have passed, the mobile continues in the dormant state until "Y" frames pass or until the first timer 114. The "Y" frames have passed, then the mobile determines 108 if the channel condition measurement is greater than the channel condition threshold received. The mobile determines this, in this exemplary mode, by turning on a receiver, measuring the condition of the channel, and then turning off the receiver. If the measured channel condition it is above the threshold, the mobile comes out (ie wakes up) 110 from the dormant state. It will be understood that if the mobile is not exchanging data or is in the middle of receiving a plurality of data packets and enters sleep mode, the mobile may or may not count frames in this exemplary mode. As discussed above, once awake, the mobile can then send 112 a message to the indicated network that it is awake (ie, an awake indication message) and that the mobile is ready for data exchange (i.e. , to or from the mobile). In this embodiment, the message includes a channel quality indication report (CQI) indicating the channel quality value (i.e., the measured channel condition) or that the channel quality is above the threshold. Alternatively, in another exemplary embodiment, the awake indication message includes a buffer indication which may be composed of buffer memory information as well as buffer memory QoS information. Continuing with the exemplary modality of Figure 1, the time it takes for "Y" frames to pass, is usually set lower than the value of the first timer. Tracking the number of frames, "And frames "that have passed since the last reception of data ensures that when there are data to be sent, good channel conditions are exploited in this mode by a data transmission programmer, for example," Y "tables are counted to ensure that the mobile does not wake up early when entering sleep mode because it is in good channel condition (ie, greater than the threshold), since the programmer may not be ready to program the mobile immediately after the Last transmission to the mobile The definition of a finite time, that is, "Y" tables, before the programming of a subsequent transmission to the mobile, also helps to maintain equity in opportunities for the transmission and reception of data between different mobile In this mode, the mobile does not specifically count tables but uses a second timer which is then used to determine the number of squares that has happened because in this modality the squares are defined by a finite duration of time. In another example, if the device is receiving a data set and there is a sufficiently long pause in reception between data packets or portions, the mobile can enter the sleep mode due to the need for the read time of the received data ( by example, Web page) by the user in the case of Web browsing and, therefore, the lack of additional requests for more data in the intermediate period. The counter of "Y" frames, for example, second timer, will allow the mobile to wake up, as long as the measured channel conditions are above the threshold, and then receive the rest of the data set. In this mode, the mobile will not wait until the first timer to wake up from sleep mode expires. If the mobile determines that "Y" frames have passed and determines that the monitored channel condition is not greater than or equal to the received channel condition threshold, the mobile will continue to monitor the channel condition and wake up when the channel condition is greater than the threshold or will wake up when the first timer has expired 114. It should be noted that the action of monitoring the channel conditions requires a lower power expenditure in the mobile than when it is fully awake and that the monitoring of control channels for programming messages. In response to the improvement of the channel condition above the threshold, the mobile departs 110 from sleep mode. The mobile can then send 112 a message to the network indicating that it is awake. The mobile also You can include in the message the CQI report, an identity of • channel condition and similar. The channel condition identity indicates to the network which channel condition is being sent in this mode. As discussed above, the first timer starts when the mobile enters sleep mode. If the timer has expired, the mobile wakes up to 120. In this case, it is not necessary to indicate to the network that the mobile is awake because the network has configured the mobile to wake up in these intervals defined by the first timer in this modality. However, the mobile can indicate the condition of its channel at the time of awakening in order to help the network in the programming of data transmissions. This ensures that although the channel conditions may not be desired, the mobile will communicate with the network and will not be in the sleeping state for an undesired length of time and will not lose incoming calls, for example. It will be understood that one skilled in the art will appreciate that a plurality of channel conditions can be monitored. For example, the channel quality may be indicated by the signal to noise ratio, bit error transfer rate, frame error transfer rate or the like. The condition threshold of The channel can be established by the network operator to satisfy the data programming in order to optimize the efficiency of the system and other attributes that are related to the quality of the signal that can be based on a plurality of attributes. For example, the network scheduler may target transmissions to the mobile based on a number of factors and may be based on the channel condition threshold and the value of the first timer in the quality of service (QoS) class of traffic, mobile channel conditions, buffer capacity in the network, the last time the mobile received service (for example, equity criteria) and the like. In another embodiment, the channel condition threshold is adapted by the mobile to a level within pre-set tolerances or channel condition threshold limits. For example, the mobile can be adapted to a channel condition threshold between a higher limit of channel condition threshold and a lower limit of channel condition threshold. Threshold limits can be specified by the network to the mobile. This allows the mobile to consider changes in the nominal channel conditions. For example, if a mobile enters a building with a penetration loss of 15 dB, then the mobile will adapt it or change the threshold of so that a desired average time is achieved between each awakening. In a modality, the mobile receives from the network an upper limit of the channel condition threshold and a lower limit of the channel condition threshold. The mobile can then select the threshold as long as the threshold is located between the upper limit and the lower limit to achieve an average time between each awakening. Once the mobile is awake, it can have data to send to the network or the network can have data to send to the mobile. If the mobile phone has data to send, once awake, the mobile begins the data exchange procedure to send the data, and the mobile indicates to the network that it has data to send. If the mobile phone does not have data to send, the mobile phone must determine if the network has data to send it and if it should re-enter sleep mode. The reception of data from the network can occur through a plurality of methods. In an exemplary embodiment, after the mobile sends the awake indication message, the mobile remains awake to receive data within the following frames. For example, once the network receives the awake indication message, the network will begin sending data to the mobile within the following transmission frame immediately available In this mode, the mobile remains awake and begins to receive the data. If the mobile does not receive data or an indicator of pending data, the mobile will re-enter sleeping mode and continue with the method that was previously analyzed. In an exemplary embodiment, after the mobile sends the awake indication message, the mobile waits for a period of X frames which can be determined by a third timer, for an indication coming from the network with respect to which there is data waiting to be sent to the mobile. As discussed above, if the mobile does not receive anything from the network within X frames, it returns to sleep mode. In this exemplary mode, X is associated with the number of frames that the network needs to process the received CQI report and schedule a transmission of waiting data, for example. It will be understood that the number of frames, X, may be related to other network parameters such as programming due to network congestion, data size, data type or the like. Figure 2 illustrates a flow chart of the exemplary process for data exchange after the mobile leaves the sleep mode. In this exemplary mode, the mobile, after awakening, receives 202 a pending downlink (DL) data indication. In one modality, the network indicates 202, for example, in the "Z" box, that it has data and it will be programmed, based on the knowledge of the condition of the mobile channel. It may be required that the mobile continuously monitors a programming message or that the network may indicate when the mobile will receive a programming message, for example after X frames. After receiving the DL data indication, the mobile can enter sleep mode 204 until the data is received, that is, wait for Z + X frames, then wake up 206 in time to receive the data in Z + X frames. The number of frames, Z + X, represents that the data will be transmitted from the "X" network boxes passing the "Z" box. It should also be noted that "X" can be equal to zero and, therefore, receive that data starting in the "Z" box. Figure 3 illustrates a time sequence of the exemplary programming mechanism for the aperiodic mobile sleep mode. Figure 3 shows the frames 300 of the sequence in which the data is programmed to be transmitted or received by the mobile. Figure 3 illustrates that the mobile wakes up in frame two 302 and indicates to the network that it is awake. The mobile in frame three 304 receives a link data indication descending (DL) slope. In this mode, the mobile phone remains awake at least through frames four to eight 306 and continuously monitors the data coming from the network. Figure 4 illustrates an alternative time sequence of the exemplary programming mechanism for the sleep mode of the aperiodic mobile. Figure 4 shows the frames 400 of the sequence in which the data is programmed to be transmitted or received by the mobile. Figure 4, in conjunction with Figure 2, illustrates that the mobile wakes up in frame two 402 and indicates to the network that it is awake. The mobile in frame three 404 receives an indication of pending downlink (DL) data and the mobile receives an indication as to when the mobile will receive a programming message, for example, in the "X" box. In this mode, the mobile can then enter sleep mode in frame four 406 and wake up in frame "X", which is frame eight 408 in this exemplary mode. In this exemplary mode, the mobile can remain asleep between Tables Z and X, and it can also continue to monitor the channel condition and wake up prior to the predetermined time (for example, when the first timer expires) if the channel condition increases above of the threshold. However, if the first timer expires at any time, without considering the condition of the channel, the mobile wakes up 120 and can send an indication to the network that it is awake and awaits an indication of traffic-in-standby-of-the-mobile. In another exemplary embodiment of tables 500 for a time sequence of the programming mechanism, which is illustrated in FIG. 5, the network can also indicate, with the data indicator pending, the allocation of resources to the mobile. The mobile, after waking up in frame two 502, receives the programming message in frame three, thus allowing faster data delivery, that is, sending the data as quickly as possible with high-speed networks, instead of send the pending data indicator as previously analyzed. Other parameters can be used in addition to the channel condition to determine when the mobile wakes up from sleep mode. In an exemplary embodiment, the mobile can wake up and provide its channel status and an attribute linked to its current speed or estimated Doppler effect of the device. For example, if the device is moving at a high rate of speed, the probability that the condition of the channel will improve rapidly is greater than if the mobile station were It is moving at a slow speed. The network can instruct the mobile to return to the dormant state until there is a certain change in the condition of the channel or until a second timer has expired depending on the received attribute. A shorter timer can be set when the mobile is moving at a relatively high speed rate such as in a moving vehicle on a highway. In another exemplary embodiment, the mobile is stationary and the probability that the channel condition will improve rapidly is lower. In this case, the network can have some data for the mobile and can, when determining that the data is of the QoS class of background traffic, order the mobile to go to the sleeping state until some improvement occurs in the channel conditions due to the current load of the network. In any condition, the mobile can re-establish these parameters when changing the cell in service. In another modality, when the data to be exchanged belongs to a background QoS class, the network can provide an indication to the mobile that there are pending data but that the mobile should wait until the channel condition improves. mobile. The network may require that the channel condition improve above the channel condition threshold or provide another threshold to the mobile.

In this exemplary embodiment, the mobile can also use a third independent value that has been predetermined and stored in the mobile. In this mode, the mobile reports that it is awake to the network once it reaches this value. In this exemplary embodiment, the mobile station exits 120 from the sleep mode after the first time has expired and while the condition of the channel is below the channel condition threshold. The mobile receives an indication of pending data, but the mobile also receives a message to return to sleep mode until the measured channel condition is greater than or equal to the channel condition threshold. In this mode, the network determines that the data is of a lower priority, that is, it is background QoS class data in this exemplary mode, and that the mobile should go to the sleeping state until there are better channel conditions to receive the data . The network can also determine that the data requires a certain level of QoS and, therefore, order the mobile to resume sleeping mode until the channel condition improves to an appropriate level for the required QoS. The mobile station can enter and exit sleep mode after a plurality of sleep and wake patterns that are known as reception modes discontinuous (DRX) in an exemplary communication system where the time the mobile is in sleep mode and the time the mobile is awake is derived from a predefined discontinuous pattern. In this exemplary embodiment, the mobile has a plurality of DRX patterns (also referred to as modes) that are used in the location state to maximize energy efficiency (i.e., drain current in the battery). The DRX mode used, in this exemplary mode, depends on the current calculation of the mobiles (i.e., measurement) of the channel condition and whether the measured value is above or below the channel condition threshold. In addition, this could also be based on the provisioning of the network of the channel condition threshold. The mobile indicates to the network that it is awake, it checks to see if there is data stored in buffer memory and it goes to sleep when it does not receive indication of pending data or the data itself. The mobile indicates to the network that it is awake (including a channel condition report) as opposed to the awake state at some predetermined times. During poor channel conditions, the mobile may prefer to remain in the sleep state for a longer time in order to ensure that much of the battery not be wasted in receiving data through multiple retransmission attempts, especially when the data to be received is from a background QoS class (such as e-mail download). By ensuring more frequent awakenings during good channel conditions, it can be ensured that a smaller amount of data needs to be buffered in the network and also that a smaller amount of such unsent data will need to be sent to the target base station when changing the cell in service. It can be seen that in all modalities, the mobile can have another overlapping DRX cycle that is determined by the network based on the maximum tolerable delay for voice. Then, even when the mobile is in comparatively poor channel conditions, the mobile may still need to be programmed to end a voice call, for example. It is also possible to receive different thresholds based on the type of traffic. For example, a higher threshold being established for high-rate data services and a lower threshold for low-speed data services. For example, for the exchange of voice data, a low data transfer rate service can be delivered, including without the best channel conditions possible. With the voice service, there is little flexibility in terms of having to program the mobile (that is, when a user ends a call, signaling should occur relatively quickly); however, for data applications there is sufficient flexibility that can be exploited due to sufficient mechanisms for communication between the mobile and the network. In this case, at the moment of awakening, the mobile can indicate which of the thresholds of channel quality it is satisfying at that moment. In the case where the mobile has been provided with a first and second channel condition thresholds, corresponding to the different QoS requirements for example, initially the mobile may be in channel conditions that exceed the first channel condition threshold but not the channel threshold. second channel condition threshold. The mobile then indicates to the network that its channel condition exceeds the first threshold and the network can program the mobile in case there is data that has to be transmitted. When the measurement of the mobile with respect to the channel conditions exceeds the second channel condition threshold, it will send another indication that its channel condition has exceeded the second channel condition threshold, followed by which it must be programmed by the network .

It will be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described herein may be composed of, or may be executed by, one or more conventional processors and unique stored program instructions that control one or more processors to execute, in conjunction with some circuits without a processor, some , most, or all functions of the aperiodic mobile sleeping mode described here. Circuits without a processor may include, but are not limited to, a radio receiver, a radio transmitter, signal actuators, clock circuits, power source circuits, and user input devices. Because of this, these functions can be interpreted as steps of a method to execute aperiodic sleep mode. Alternatively, some or all of the functions could be executed by a state machine that does not have stored program instructions, or in one or more specific application integrated circuits (ASICs), in which each function or certain combinations of some the functions are executed as usual logic. Of course, a combination of the two approaches could be used. Therefore, methods and means for these functions have been described here. In addition, one skilled in the art is expected, however possibly the great effort and Many design choices motivated, for example, by available time, current technology, and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles described here, can easily generate such software and program instructions as well as IC with minimal experimentation. Although the present invention and what are currently considered to be the best modes thereof have been described in a manner which establishes the possession of the same by the inventors and which allows those skilled in the art to make and use the invention, will understand and appreciate that there are many equivalents to the exemplary modalities described here and that thousands of modifications and variations can be made to it without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited not by the exemplary modalities, but only by the appended claims.

Claims (19)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, the content of the following is claimed as a priority: CLAIMS

1. - A method for sleep mode assisted by aperiodic mobile comprising; receive a channel condition threshold from a network; monitor a channel condition while in a sleep mode; and exit sleep mode in response to a determination that the monitored channel condition is greater than the channel condition threshold.

2. - The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the reception comprises receiving a channel condition threshold limit.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that an upper limit of the channel condition threshold and a lower limit of the channel condition threshold are received.

4. - The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the threshold of channel condition is adjusted within the threshold limits to achieve a mean time between awakenings.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a message is sent to the network indicating that the mobile is ready for the exchange of data.

6. - The method according to claim 5, characterized in that data is received in response to the message.

7. - The method according to claim 5, characterized in that an indication of pending data is received from the network.

8. - The method according to claim 5, characterized in that a message is received indicating the time at which the data will be transmitted.

9. - The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the sleep mode is entered while the data is to be transmitted.

10. - The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it leaves the sleep mode in response to a determination that AND frames have passed since a last reception of information.

11. - The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it leaves the sleep mode in response to the determination that AND frames have passed since a last reception of information; and it is determined that the monitored channel condition is less than the channel condition threshold.

12. - The method according to claim 11, characterized in that a timer value is received for the first timer from the network; and the timer starts in response to the mobile that enters sleep mode.

13. - The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the sleep mode is a location mode.

14. - A method for mobile-assisted sleeping mode comprising: determining a channel condition of a communication channel while the mobile station is in a sleep mode; establishing a sleep cycle at a first sleep cycle value when the determined channel condition is a first channel condition; and set a sleeping cycle to a second sleeping cycle value when the condition value of Certain channel is a second channel condition.

15. - The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the first channel condition threshold and the second channel condition threshold are received from a network.

16. - The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the first message is sent including an awake indication and a first channel condition report indicating a first channel condition.

17. - The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the first sleep cycle is changed to the second sleep cycle in response to the determination that the determined channel condition has changed from the first channel condition to the second channel condition.

18. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that a first DRX cycle indicator and a second DRX cycle indicator are received from the network.

19. A method for reducing current drainage in a wireless communication device comprising: receiving a channel condition threshold from the network; receive an indication of indication of pending data; enter sleep mode and monitor a channel condition; determine that the channel condition is below the channel condition threshold; Expect to exit sleep mode and send an awake indicator to the network until the channel condition is greater than the channel condition threshold.