Power manager and method
A power manager for a mobile device comprises a traffic shaping unit ( 30 ) and a management unit ( 26 ). The traffic shaping unit is incorporated into a networking layer ( 8 ) of a mobile device architecture. The traffic management unit spans application layer ( 7 ) and networking layer ( 8 ) of the mobile device architecture. The traffic shaping unit and management unit are connected via a feed path ( 73 ). The management unit ( 26 ) is provided with inputs ( 74 ) to receive measurements of external parameters ( 65 to 69 ). The management unit further comprises a processor ( 20 ) to process the received measurements and a traffic shaping function generator ( 21 ) to receive the processed measurements and generate a traffic shaping function. The management unit ( 26 ) inputs the generated traffic shaping function to the traffic shaping unit ( 30 ) via the feed path ( 73 ), whereby the traffic management unit controls transmissions from the mobile device.
1. A mobile device comprising:
a processor configured to implement a traffic manager configured to control transmissions from the mobile device;
wherein the traffic manager is configured to receive data from a plurality of uncoordinated user applications;
the traffic manager is further configured to receive external parameters, the external parameters including at least user preferences and battery level,
the user preferences including battery life and quality of service preferences for predetermined battery level thresholds;
the traffic manager is further configured to compare the battery level to the predetermined battery level thresholds to determine the user preferences for a current battery level;
the traffic manager is further configured to aggregate the received data from the plurality of uncoordinated user applications based on the determined user preferences; and
the traffic manager is further configured to output a signal comprising the aggregated data for transmission, wherein the signal is scheduled to be output based on a scheduled transmission time of a transmission associated with one of the plurality of uncoordinated user applications.
2. The mobile device according to claim 1 , wherein the traffic manager is configured to generate a respective traffic shaping function for each of the plurality of uncoordinated user applications in response to at least one of the external parameters.
3. The mobile device according to claim 1 , wherein the traffic manager is configured to generate a single traffic shaping function to apply to the plurality of user applications.
4. The mobile device according to claim 3 , wherein the single traffic shaping function has an effect of reducing regularity of transmission of signals.
5. The mobile device according to claim 4 , wherein the single traffic shaping function is configured to align signal transmissions with control traffic of the mobile device.
6. The mobile device according to claim 1 , wherein the signal is aligned with control traffic of the mobile device.
7. The mobile device according to claim 1 , wherein the traffic manager is configured to generate a traffic shaping function based on at least one of wireless link quality, low layer radio traffic, battery state, and application behavior.
8. The mobile device according to claim 1 , wherein the traffic manager is configured to determine user requirements from the external parameters.
9. The mobile device according to claim 1 , wherein the traffic manager spans a radio interface layer.
10. The mobile device according to claim 1 , wherein the traffic manager is configured to monitor transmission control protocol internet protocol (TCP-IP) user traffic acknowledgements and the traffic manager is configured to block transmission of the acknowledgments.
11. The mobile device according to claim 1 , wherein the traffic manager is further configured to control an output of the mobile device to offer options or warnings to a user.
12. The mobile device according to claim 11 , wherein the output is configured to provide an audible, or visual, or tactile warning.
13. The mobile device according to claim 11 , wherein the output is a loud speaker, a display or a motive unit of the mobile device.
14. A method of traffic management in a mobile device, the method comprising:
receiving data from a plurality of uncoordinated user applications at a traffic manager of the mobile device;
receiving external parameters at the traffic manager of the mobile device, the external parameters comprising at least user preferences and battery level, the user preferences including battery life and quality of service preferences for predetermined battery level thresholds;
comparing, via the traffic manager, the battery level to the predetermined battery level thresholds to determine the user preferences for a current battery level;
aggregating the data received from the plurality of uncoordinated user applications based on the determined user preferences; and
outputting, via the traffic manager, a signal comprising the aggregated data for transmission, wherein the signal is scheduled to be output based on a scheduled transmission time of a transmission associated with one of the plurality of uncoordinated user applications.
15. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising:
checking predetermined settings for each of the external parameters;
comparing requirements for a requested service with the predetermined settings and the battery level; and
generating a traffic shaping function based on the comparison.
16. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising applying the traffic shaping function to the data to modify format of transmission.
17. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the generating the traffic shaping function is further based on two or more of radio link quality, application behavior, radio interface control-traffic requirements, and battery state.
18. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the external parameters comprise user quality of service levels.
19. The method according to claim 15 , wherein transmissions are scheduled to start aligned with control traffic or on receipt of downlink traffic.
20. The method according to claim 15 , wherein an uplink transmission time is determined from a combination of one or more of application requirements, battery charge level, radio propagation conditions, presence of downlinks traffic and system specific parameters.
21. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the mobile device operates a modified transmission control protocol (TCP) protocol, whereby transmission of TCP control information is reduced during periods of high data volumes.
22. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising selecting an interface for transmission according to the external parameters.
23. The method according to claim 15 , wherein an interface selection function determines which of a number of wireless interfaces are available for use.
24. The method according to claim 23 , wherein the wireless interface selected is chosen to provide a lowest demand from a power source of the mobile device for a total time required to communicate instantaneous traffic demands.