Reduced Power Consumption in a Communication Device
A method for controlling power consumption in a communication device is provided. The method includes powering down a receiver of the communication device for a selected period of time and, when the selected period of time expires, powering up the receiver to check for incoming data.
1 - 19 . (canceled)
20 . (canceled)
21 . A method for controlling power consumption in a remote communication device comprising:
powering down at least part of a receiver circuit of a remote communication device for a predetermined power down period based on a transmission;
powering up the at least part of a receiver circuit of the remote communication device after the predetermined power down period; and
determining at a head end when the predetermined power down period has elapsed.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein powering down at least part of a receiver circuit of the remote communication device further comprises:
powering down based on a received transmission.
23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein powering down at least part of a receiver circuit of the remote communication device further comprises:
powering down based on a transmission indicating an end of a data transfer.
24 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
determining an end of a data transfer; and
wherein powering down at least part of a receiver circuit of the remote communication device powers down based on the determined end of the data transfer.
25 . The method of claim 21 , wherein powering up the at least part of a receiver circuit of the remote communication device further comprises:
powering up the at least part of a receiver circuit for at least a predetermined power up period.
26 . The method of claim 25 , further comprising:
powering down the at least a part of a receiver circuit of the remote communication device again when a transmission is not received at the remote communication device while the receiver circuit is powered up.
27 . The method of claim 21 , wherein powering down further comprises:
reducing power consumption of the at least part of the receiver circuit.
28 . The method of claim 21 , wherein powering down further comprises:
cutting off power to the at least part of the receiver circuit.
29 . The method of claim 21 , wherein powering up further comprises:
powering up at least part of the powered down parts of the receiver circuit.
30 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
synchronizing transmission of signals from the head end with the predetermined power down period of the remote communication device.
31 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
synchronizing a control circuit at the head end based on the predetermined power down period of the remote communication device.
32 . The method of claim 31 , wherein synchronizing a control circuit further comprises:
synchronizing a counter in the control circuit based on the predetermined power down period of the remote communication device.
33 . The method of claim 21 , wherein powering down further comprises:
powering down based on a message received at the remote communication device.
34 . The method of claim 21 , wherein powering down further comprises:
powering down based on a signal detected at the remote communication device.
35 . A method for controlling power consumption from a head end comprising:
starting a predetermined time period based on a transmission between a remote communication device and a head end; and
waiting until an end of the predetermined time period to send a transmission to the remote device.
36 . The method of claim 35 , further comprising:
sending a transmission to the remote device; and
wherein starting a predetermined time period is based on the transmission sent to the remote device.
37 . The method of claim 35 , further comprising:
synchronizing the sending of a transmission with the predetermined time period.
38 . The method of claim 35 , further comprising:
synchronizing a control circuit with the predetermined time period.
39 . The method of claim 38 , wherein synchronizing further comprises:
synchronizing a counter in the control circuit with the predetermined time period.
40 . A method for controlling power consumption at a remote communication device comprising:
powering down at least part of a receiver circuit for a predetermined power down period based on a transmission between the remote communication device and a head end;
powering up the at least part of a receiver circuit when the predetermined power down period has elapsed; and
checking for incoming transmissions while the receiver is powered up.
41 . The method of claim 40 , further comprising:
receiving a transmission from a head end; and
wherein powering down powers down based on the transmission received from the head end.
42 . The method of claim 40 , wherein powering down at least part of a receiver circuit, further comprises:
powering down based on a received transmission.
43 . The method of claim 40 , wherein powering down at least part of a receiver circuit further comprises:
powering down based on a transmission indicating an end of a data transfer.
44 . The method of claim 40 , further comprising:
determining an end of a data transfer; and
wherein powering down at least part of a receiver circuit powers down the at least part of a receiver circuit based on the determined end of the data transfer.
45 . The method of claim 40 , wherein powering up the at least part of a receiver circuit further comprises:
powering up the at least part of a receiver circuit for at least a predetermined power up period.
46 . The method of claim 45 , further comprising:
powering down the at least a part of a receiver circuit again when a transmission is not received while the receiver is powered up.
47 . The method of claim 40 , wherein powering down further comprises:
reducing power consumption of the at least part of the receiver circuit.
48 . The method of claim 40 , wherein powering down further comprises:
cutting off power to the at least part of the receiver circuit.
49 . The method of claim 40 , wherein powering up further comprises:
powering up at least a portion of the powered down parts of the receiver circuit.
50 . The method of claim 40 , wherein powering down further comprises:
powering down based on a received message.
51 . The method of claim 40 , wherein powering down further comprises:
powering down based on a detected signal.