Control of a short-range wireless terminal
View Patent ↗The invention relates to a method for controlling the operation of a short-range wireless terminal capable of operating in a first beacon-based network and in a second beacon-based network, and having an active state and a power save state in the first beacon-based network. For seamless operation in the two networks, the terminal moves to a power save state with respect to the first beacon-based network if operation in the second beacon-based network is required. However, the first beacon-based network is only informed that the terminal moves to a power save state and instead of powering down, the terminal becomes active in the second beacon-based network.
1. A method comprising:
operating a wireless device in a first beacon-based network;
informing the first beacon-based network that the wireless device enters a power save state with respect to the first beacon-based network so that the wireless device is not present in the first beacon-based network while in the power save state; and
starting operation in a second beacon-based network in response to the informing,
wherein the informing is performed when the wireless device is in an active operation state with respect to the first beacon-based network and when the operation in the second beacon-based network is to be started.
2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
suspending the operation of the wireless terminal device in the second beacon-based network; and
receiving a beacon broadcast of the first beacon-based network during the suspending.
3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the receiving comprises receiving dedicated data for the wireless device.
4. A method according to claim 2 , further comprising
resuming the operation in the second beacon-based network, the resuming being performed in response to the receiving.
5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the starting comprises controlling the wireless device to change from a first radio frequency used in the first beacon-based network to a second radio frequency used in the second beacon-based network.
6. A method according to claim 4 , further comprising:
determining a moment for the resuming, the determining being performed during the suspending.
7. A method according to claim 6 , wherein the determining further comprises:
receiving messages of at least one other wireless device belonging to the second beacon-based network; and
defining said moment based on the messages received.
8. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
maintaining a first timer for the first beacon-based network, the first timer indicating beacon broadcast moments in the first beacon-based network;
maintaining a second timer for the second beacon-based network, the second timer indicating beacon transmission moments in the second beacon-based network; and
maintaining an offset between the first timer and the second timer.
9. A method according to claim 3 , further comprising:
returning the terminal back to the active operation state with respect to the first beacon-based network, the returning-step being performed in response to the receiving of the dedicated data.
10. A method according to claim 3 , further comprising:
resuming the operation in the second beacon-based network, the resuming being performed in response to the receiving of the dedicated data.
11. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the suspending and the receiving are performed at regular intervals according to the beacon broadcast moments in the first beacon-based network.
12. An apparatus comprising:
a first operation mode configured to operate in a first beacon-based network;
a second operation mode configured to operate in a second beacon-based network; and
a first controller configured to inform the first beacon-based network that the apparatus enters a power save state with respect to the first beacon-based network so that the apparatus is not present in the first beacon-based network while in a rower save state,
wherein the first controller is configured to operate in response to a command to assume the second operation mode, the command being received when the apparatus is in the active operation state with respect to the first beacon-based network.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising:
a second controller configured to suspend the operation in the second operation mode substantially at selected beacon broadcast moments of the first beacon-based network.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the second controller is configured to suspend the operation in the second operation mode at substantially regular intervals.
15. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the second controller comprises a first timer synchronized with timing information broadcast in the first beacon-based network.
16. The apparatus according to claim 13 , further comprising:
a controller configured to resume the operation in the second operation mode.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the third controller is configured to control the apparatus from a first radio frequency to a second radio frequency.
18. The apparatus according to claim 15 , further comprising:
a second timer configured to indicate beacon broadcast moments in the second beacon-based network, the second timer being synchronized with the first timer.
19. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium, the computer program being configured to control a processor of an apparatus to cause the apparatus to:
operate in a first beacon-based network;
inform the first beacon-based network that the apparatus enters a power save state with respect to the first beacon-based network so that the apparatus is not present in the first beacon-based network while in the power save state;
start operation in a second beacon-based network in response to the informing;
wherein the informing is performed when the apparatus is in an active operation state with respect to the first beacon-based network and when the operation in the second beacon-based network is to be started.