Classifications

• • 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
• • 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
  • H04B1/40—Circuits
• • 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 generally to a multi-mode portable terminal that supports access to at least two different networks. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for reducing power consumption by minimizing activation of a communication unit for a heterogeneous mode operation in a multi-mode portable terminal.
• a mobile communication system evolves from the second-generation (2G) system, which is focused on a wireless service, into the current third-generation (3G) system that can provide a high-speed Internet service and a multimedia service based on the integration of wired and wireless environments.
• the mobile communication system is further evolving into the fourth-generation (4G) system featuring ultra high speed, large volume, and mobility.
• multi-mode portable terminals that can be used for both mobile communication services and portable Internet services have been brought into the market.
• people can access the Internet and acquire diverse and vast amounts of information and content at a high data transmission rate anytime and anywhere, regardless of whether they stand still or they are in motion.
• the terminal when the multi-mode portable terminal is in a mobile communication coverage area, the terminal provides a mobile communication service.
• the terminal can use a wireless Internet and thus provide a wireless Internet service less expensive than an Internet service through a mobile communication network.
• the multi-mode portable terminal While using a wireless Internet service network, the multi-mode portable terminal operates in a slot mode for searching a paging channel in a mobile communication unit activation state, and reduces power consumption.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an operation process of a slot mode implemented to reduce power consumption in a conventional multi-mode portable terminal.
• the multi-mode portable terminal performs a slot mode for searching a paging channel in a mobile communication unit activation state while using a wireless Internet service network.
• the slot mode which is a mode in which the portable terminal communicates with a Base Station (BS) while informing its own position, is a mode for performing the minimum operation in order to identify a paging channel of a mobile communication system and determine the absence or presence of traffic.
• BS Base Station
• the portable terminal acquires a pilot synchronization of a BS every constant slot mode cycle in a state of activating an operation of the mobile communication unit when using the wireless Internet service, and then searches a paging channel of a mobile communication system.
• Such a method has a problem that the portable terminal operates every regularly allocated slot mode cycle and receives a signal for the use of a mobile communication service, thus causing power consumption. If the slot mode cycle is set long, the power consumption problem may be solved, but there is another problem that the portable terminal receives late a call from a BS due to the long-set slot mode cycle. Disclosure of Invention Technical Solution
• An aspect of the present invention is to substantially solve at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages below. Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for solving a power consumption problem in a multi-mode portable terminal.
• Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for, when providing a wireless Internet service, minimizing activation of a mobile communication unit and reducing power consumption in a multi-mode portable terminal.
• a further another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for activating a mobile communication unit and reducing power consumption, if acquiring a paging channel of a mobile communication system through a broadband communication unit for a wireless Internet service in a multi-mode portable terminal.
• an apparatus for reducing power consumption in a multi-mode portable terminal includes a mobile communication unit, a broadband communication unit, and a controller.
• the mobile communication unit is a PHYsical (PHY) interface module for accessing a mobile communication access network.
• the broadband communication unit is a physical interface module for accessing a broadband communication network, and receives a paging channel of a mobile communication system.
• the controller processes and inactivates an operation of the mobile communication unit and, if acquiring a paging channel of a mobile communication system through the broadband communication unit, processes and activates the mobile communication unit.
• a method for reducing power consumption in a multi-mode portable terminal includes processing and inactivating an operation of a mobile communication unit when providing a service through a broadband communication network, searching a paging channel of a mobile communication system during provision of a service through the broadband communication network, and, if searching the paging channel, processing and activating an operation of the mobile communication unit.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an operation process of a slot mode performed to reduce power consumption in a conventional portable terminal
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a construction of a multi-mode portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a process of reducing power consumption when providing a Wireless Broadband Internet (Wibro) service in a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
• the heterogeneous network means inclusion of all networks excepting the mobile communication network.
• a broadband network e.g., a Wireless Broadband Internet (Wibro)
• HSDPA High Speed Downlink Packet Access
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a construction of a multi-mode portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• an upper level in a communication system being connected to the portable terminal via a base station may have one paging channel controller for controlling both a paging channel for a first communication network and a paging channel for a second communication network, or have separate paging channel controllers for the first network and the second network.
• the paging channel controllers are cooperating in exchanging paging channel information of the communication networks.
• the multi-mode portable terminal can include a controller 200, a paging channel acquisition unit 201, a memory unit 202, an input unit 204, a display unit 206, a mobile communication unit 208, and a broadband communication unit 210.
• the controller 200 of the multi-mode portable terminal controls a general operation of the multi-mode portable terminal.
• the controller 200 performs a process and control for voice telephony and data communication.
• the controller 200 maintains the mobile communication unit 208 in an inactivation state and, if identifying acquisition of a paging channel of a mobile communication system through the broadband communication unit 210, activates the inactivated mobile communication unit 208, thus making it possible to provide a mobile communication service through the mobile communication unit 208.
• the controller 200 activates the mobile communication unit 208 if acquiring a paging channel through a paging channel search process of a mobile communication system through an antenna (not shown) of the broadband communication unit 210. Then, if detecting the end of service provision through the mobile communication unit 208, the controller 200 processes and reduces power consumption as processing and inactivating the mobile communication unit 208, thus minimizing activation of the mobile communication unit 208 in the multi-mode portable terminal.
• the controller 200 controls the paging channel acquisition unit 201 to acquire the paging channel.
• the paging channel acquisition unit 201 acquires a paging channel of a mobile communication system through the broadband communication unit 210 under control of the controller 200.
• the memory unit 202 includes a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access
• the ROM stores a microcode of a program for processing and controlling the controller 200 and the paging channel acquisition unit 201 and a variety of kinds of reference data.
• the RAM a working memory of the controller 200, stores temporary data generated in execution of a variety of kinds of programs.
• the flash ROM stores a diversity of kinds of updateable safekeeping data such as a phone book, an outgoing message, and an incoming message.
• the input unit 204 includes numeral key buttons '0' to '9', a menu button, a cancel button (delete), an OK button, a talk button, an end button, an Internet button, navigation key (or direction key) buttons, and a plurality of function keys such as a character input key.
• the input unit 204 provides key input data corresponding to a key pressed by a user to the controller 200.
• the display unit 206 displays state information (or indicators) generated during operation of the multi-mode portable terminal, characters input by a user, moving pictures and still pictures, etc.
• the display unit 206 can be a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), and can be also operated as an input unit when the LCD is realized as a touch screen.
• LCD Liquid Crystal Display
• the broadband communication unit 210 which is a PHYsical (PHY) interface module for accessing a Wibro network, acquires the paging channel through a paging channel search process of a mobile communication system under control of the controller 200 of the multi-mode portable terminal.
• PHY PHYsical
• the mobile communication unit 208 which is a PHY interface module for accessing a mobile communication access network, performs a function of transmitting/receiving and processing a wireless signal of data that is input/output through an antenna (not shown). For example, in a transmission mode, the mobile communication unit 208 performs a function of channel-coding and spreading data to be transmitted and then RF processing and transmitting the resultant data. In a reception mode, the mobile communication unit 208 performs a function of converting a received RF signal into a baseband signal, despreading and channel-decoding the baseband signal, and restoring data to the original state.
• a function of the paging channel acquisition unit 201 can be implemented by the controller 200 of the portable terminal.
• the controller 200 of the portable terminal is an exemplary construction for description convenience and never intend to limit the scope of the present invention. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications of construction can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, it can be also constructed for the controller 200 to process all of these functions.
• FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a process of reducing power consumption when providing a Wibro service in a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A description is made assuming that the portable terminal performs an operation providing a wireless Internet service, that is, a Wibro service through a broadband communication unit.
• the upper level in a communication system being connected to the portable terminal via a base station may have one paging channel controller for controlling both a paging channel for a first communication network and a paging channel for a second communication network, or have separate paging channel controllers for the first network and the second network.
• the paging channel controllers are cooperating in exchanging paging channel information of the communication networks.
• a controller 200 of the portable terminal operates and processes a broadband communication unit 210 such that it provides the Wibro service which is a broadband communication while maintaining an operation of a mobile communication unit 208 in an inactivation state.
• step 303 the controller 200 performs a paging channel search process of a mobile communication system through the broadband communication unit 210 of the portable terminal. Then, in step 305, the controller 200 determines if it acquires a paging channel of the mobile communication system.
• step 303 If identifying that it does not acquire the paging channel of the mobile communication system, the controller 200 again performs step 303.
• step 307 If identifying that it acquires the paging channel of the mobile communication system, the controller 200 goes to step 307 and activates the mobile communication unit 208 that is in an inactivation state, thus making it possible to provide a service of the mobile communication system.
• step 309 the controller 200 determines if it detects completion of the service of the mobile communication system, that is, the end of service provision through the mobile communication system. If not detecting the end of the service provision through the mobile communication system, the controller 200 again performs step 307 and processes and maintains the service provision through the mobile communication system.
• the controller 200 processes and inactivates the activated mobile communication unit 208 in step 311 and then, again performs step 303.
• an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can reduce power consumption of a multi-mode portable terminal, by operating a mobile communication unit if acquiring a paging channel of a mobile communication system using the broadband communication unit at the time of providing a wireless Internet service in the multi-mode portable terminal that is available to both a service of a mobile communication system and a broadband communication service.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
• Telephone Function (AREA)

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Citations (5)

• 2007
  • 2007-10-26 KR KR1020070108250A patent/KR101427851B1/ko active IP Right Grant
• 2008
  • 2008-10-24 WO PCT/KR2008/006312 patent/WO2009054703A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (5)

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