IP Library Granted Patent US 10,862,702
Granted Patent B2
US 10,862,702 · App. 14/695,261 · Granted Dec 8, 2020

Methods and apparatus for intelligent power reduction in communications systems

Inventors: Curtis Ling (Carlsbad, CA); Timothy Gallagher (Encinitas, CA)
Assignee: MAXLINEAR, INC.
H04L12/2863H04L12/12H04L12/2801H04L12/2861H04L12/2865H04L47/10H04L47/22H04L47/41Y02D50/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,862,702
App. No.
14/695,261
Granted
Dec 8, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for power control in communications devices. Bonding of channels in communication devices may be dynamically adjusted, such as responsive to requests for bandwidth adjustment. For example, bonded channel configurations may be adjusted based on power, such as to single channel configurations (or to channel configurations with small number of channels, such as relative to current configurations) for low power operations. Components (or functions thereof) used in conjunction with receiving and/or processing bonded channels may be dynamically adjusted. Such dynamic adjustments may be performed, for example, such as to maintain required synchronization and system information to facilitate rapid data transfer resumption upon demand.

Claims (79)

1. A method comprising:

bonding a plurality of channels to create a first bonded channel set that comprise a primary channel and one or more secondary channels, wherein said primary channel is configurable to operate with minimal or no interruption of service;

responsive to a request for bandwidth adjustment, adjusting a number of channels in said first bonded channel set so as to define a second bonded channel set that comprises said primary channel, wherein said request for bandwidth adjustment is associated with a requirement to reduce data throughput; and

processing data received via said primary channel or a secondary channel using timing related information determined based on said primary channel.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said request for bandwidth adjustment is associated with a requirement to reduce power consumption.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said request for bandwidth adjustment is generated in response to a determination that bandwidth usage on said first bonded channel set is low and is unlikely to increase for a period of time.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a second request for bandwidth adjustment; and

adjusting a number of channels in said second bonded channel set so as to define a third bonded channel set comprising said primary channel and one or more secondary channels.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said second request for bandwidth adjustment is generated in response to a determination that bandwidth usage on said second bonded channel set is likely to increase.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising dynamically adjusting a bandwidth of filtering applied to facilitate processing of said second bonded channel set.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising dynamically adjusting a clock rate of analog-to-digital conversion applied to facilitate processing of said second bonded channel set.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring received traffic;

generating a statistical usage model based on said monitoring; and

controlling a number of bonded channels based on said statistical usage model.

9. A device comprising:

circuitry operable to:

bond a plurality of channels to create a first bonded channel set that comprise a primary channel and one or more secondary channels, wherein said primary channel is configurable to operate with minimal or no interruption of service;

responsive to a request for bandwidth adjustment, adjust a number of channels in said first bonded channel set so as to define a second bonded channel set that comprises said primary channel, wherein said request for bandwidth adjustment is associated with a requirement to reduce data throughput; and

process data received via said primary channel or a secondary channel using timing related information determined based on said primary channel.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein said request for bandwidth adjustment is associated with a requirement to reduce power consumption.

11. The device of claim 9 , wherein said request for bandwidth adjustment is generated in response to a determination that bandwidth usage on said first bonded channel set is low and is unlikely to increase for a period of time.

12. The device of claim 9 , wherein said circuitry is further operable to:

receive a second request for bandwidth adjustment; and

adjust a number of channels in said second bonded channel set so as to define a third bonded channel set comprising said primary channel and one or more secondary channels.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein said second request for bandwidth adjustment is generated in response to a determination that bandwidth usage on said second bonded channel set is likely to increase.

14. The device of claim 9 , wherein said circuitry is further operable to dynamically adjust a bandwidth of a front-end filter in said device so as to facilitate processing of said second bonded channel set.

15. The device of claim 9 , wherein said circuitry is further operable to dynamically adjust a clock rate of an analog-to-digital converter in said device so as to facilitate processing of said second bonded channel set.

16. The device of claim 9 , wherein said circuitry is further operable to:

monitor traffic received in said device;

generate a statistical usage model based on said monitoring; and

control a number of bonded channels based on said statistical usage model.

17. A method comprising:

bonding a plurality of channels to create a first bonded channel set that comprise a primary channel and one or more secondary channels, wherein said primary channel is configurable to operate with minimal or no interruption of service;

responsive to a request for bandwidth adjustment, adjusting a number of channels in said first bonded channel set so as to define a second bonded channel set that comprises said primary channel, wherein said request for bandwidth adjustment is generated in response to a determination that bandwidth usage on said first bonded channel set is low and is unlikely to increase for a period of time; and

processing data received via said primary channel or a secondary channel using timing related information determined based on said primary channel.

18. A method comprising:

bonding a plurality of channels to create a first bonded channel set that comprise a primary channel and one or more secondary channels, wherein said primary channel is configurable to operate with minimal or no interruption of service;

responsive to a request for bandwidth adjustment, adjusting a number of channels in said first bonded channel set so as to define a second bonded channel set that comprises said primary channel;

processing data received via said primary channel or a secondary channel using timing related information determined based on said primary channel; and

dynamically adjusting a bandwidth of filtering applied to facilitate processing of said second bonded channel set.

19. A method comprising:

bonding a plurality of channels to create a first bonded channel set that comprise a primary channel and one or more secondary channels, wherein said primary channel is configurable to operate with minimal or no interruption of service;

responsive to a request for bandwidth adjustment, adjusting a number of channels in said first bonded channel set so as to define a second bonded channel set that comprises said primary channel;

processing data received via said primary channel or a secondary channel using timing related information determined based on said primary channel; and

dynamically adjusting a clock rate of analog-to-digital conversion applied to facilitate processing of said second bonded channel set.

20. A method comprising:

bonding a plurality of channels to create a first bonded channel set that comprise a primary channel and one or more secondary channels, wherein said primary channel is configurable to operate with minimal or no interruption of service;

responsive to a request for bandwidth adjustment, adjusting a number of channels in said first bonded channel set so as to define a second bonded channel set that comprises said primary channel;

processing data received via said primary channel or a secondary channel using timing related information determined based on said primary channel;

monitoring received traffic;

generating a statistical usage model based on said monitoring; and

controlling a number of bonded channels based on said statistical usage model.

21. A device comprising:

circuitry operable to:

bond a plurality of channels to create a first bonded channel set that comprise a primary channel and one or more secondary channels, wherein said primary channel is configurable to operate with minimal or no interruption of service;

responsive to a request for bandwidth adjustment, adjust a number of channels in said first bonded channel set so as to define a second bonded channel set that comprises said primary channel, wherein said request for bandwidth adjustment is generated in response to a determination that bandwidth usage on said first bonded channel set is low and is unlikely to increase for a period of time; and

process data received via said primary channel or a secondary channel using timing related information determined based on said primary channel.

22. A device comprising:

circuitry operable to:

bond a plurality of channels to create a first bonded channel set that comprise a primary channel and one or more secondary channels, wherein said primary channel is configurable to operate with minimal or no interruption of service;

responsive to a request for bandwidth adjustment, adjust a number of channels in said first bonded channel set so as to define a second bonded channel set that comprises said primary channel;

process data received via said primary channel or a secondary channel using timing related information determined based on said primary channel; and

dynamically adjust a bandwidth of a front-end filter in said device so as to facilitate processing of said second bonded channel set.

23. A device comprising:

circuitry operable to:

bond a plurality of channels to create a first bonded channel set that comprise a primary channel and one or more secondary channels, wherein said primary channel is configurable to operate with minimal or no interruption of service;

responsive to a request for bandwidth adjustment, adjust a number of channels in said first bonded channel set so as to define a second bonded channel set that comprises said primary channel;

process data received via said primary channel or a secondary channel using timing related information determined based on said primary channel; and

dynamically adjust a clock rate of an analog-to-digital converter in said device so as to facilitate processing of said second bonded channel set.

24. A device comprising:

circuitry operable to:

bond a plurality of channels to create a first bonded channel set that comprise a primary channel and one or more secondary channels, wherein said primary channel is configurable to operate with minimal or no interruption of service;

responsive to a request for bandwidth adjustment, adjust a number of channels in said first bonded channel set so as to define a second bonded channel set that comprises said primary channel;

process data received via said primary channel or a secondary channel using timing related information determined based on said primary channel;

monitor traffic received in said device;

generate a statistical usage model based on said monitoring; and

control a number of bonded channels based on said statistical usage model.

Assignments (7)
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2021
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: MAXLINEAR, INC.; MAXLINEAR COMMUNICATIONS LLC; EXAR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 057269/0698 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 17, 2021
From: MAXLINEAR, INC.
To: ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 057197/0984 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 9, 2021
From: MAXLINEAR, INC.; MAXLINEAR COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; EXAR CORPORATION
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 056816/0089 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2021
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
To: MAXLINEAR, INC.; EXAR CORPORATION; MAXLINEAR COMMUNICATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 056656/0204 →
SUCCESSION OF AGENCY (REEL 042453 / FRAME 0001) Recorded Jul 1, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053115/0842 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 12, 2017
From: MAXLINEAR, INC.; ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, LLC (F/K/A ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.); EXAR CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 042453/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2015
From: LING, CURTIS; GALLAGHER, TIMOTHY
To: MAXLINEAR, INC.
Reel/Frame 035493/0427 →