Controlling the power in a wireless client device
A system and method in a client device ( 22 ) for controlling the power within the client device ( 22 ). The client device ( 22 ) has a network access device ( 30, 130 ), a programmable timer ( 48 ), and a controller ( 42 ). The network access device ( 30, 130 ) has at least a powered state and a power-off state. The programmable timer ( 48 ) operates the network access device ( 30, 130 ) in the powered state. The controller ( 42 ) is coupled to the programmable timer ( 48 ) and is capable of providing a time period for operating the network access device ( 30, 130 ) in the powered state. The controller ( 42 ) determines the time period based on a discontinuous reception (DRX) parameter obtained from the network access device ( 30, 130 ). The network access device ( 130 ) may include a transceiver. The network access device ( 30 ) may also include a transceiver and a controller. There are also methods of operating the client device ( 22 ) to control the power within the device.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a network-access device;
a programmable timer operatively coupled to the network-access-device;
a controller operatively coupled to the programmable timer, the controller configured to:
obtain a discontinuous-reception parameter that specifies a frequency for checking paging messages,
determine a time period for switching the network-access device to a power-off state based on the discontinuous-reception parameter such that, when the discontinuous-reception parameter specifies a relatively greater frequency for checking paging messages, the time period for switching the network-access device to the power-off state is reduced, and, when the discontinuous-reception parameter specifies a relatively lesser frequency for checking paging messages, the time period for switching the network-access device to the power-off state is increased,
configure the programmable timer to disable power to the network-access device upon expiration of the determined time period.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the discontinuous-reception parameter specifies the frequency for checking paging messages in a way that does not depend upon time-of-day information.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the network-access device is configured to obtain the discontinuous-reception parameter when the network-access device registers with a wireless network in a particular geographic region.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to obtain the discontinuous-reception parameter from the network-access device.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine an on/off duty cycle for the network-access device based on the discontinuous-reception parameter such that, when the discontinuous-reception parameter specifies a relatively greater frequency for checking paging messages, the on/off duty cycle is reduced, and, when the discontinuous-reception parameter specifies a relatively lesser frequency for checking paging messages, the on/off duty cycle is increased; and
configure the programmable timer to cause power to be periodically supplied to the network-access device in accordance with the determined on/off duty cycle.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the discontinuous-reception parameter specifies the frequency for checking paging messages in a way that does not depend upon time-of-day information.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the network-access device is configured to obtain the discontinuous-reception parameter when the network-access device registers with a wireless network in a particular geographic region.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to obtain the discontinuous-reception parameter from the network-access device.
9. An apparatus comprising:
a processor;
a memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
obtain a discontinuous-reception parameter that specifies a frequency for checking paging messages;
determine a time period for switching a network-access device to a power-off state based on the discontinuous-reception parameter such that, when the discontinuous-reception parameter specifies a relatively greater frequency for checking paging messages, the time period for switching the network-access device to the power-off state is reduced, and, when the discontinuous-reception parameter specifies a relatively lesser frequency for checking paging messages, the time period for switching the network access device to the power-off state is increased;
configure a programmable timer to disable power to the network-access device upon expiration of the determined time period.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the discontinuous-reception parameter specifies the frequency for checking paging messages in a way that does not depend upon time-of-day information.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the memory has stored therein additional computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: obtain the discontinuous-reception parameter when the network-access device registers with a wireless network in a particular geographic region.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the memory has stored therein additional computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
determine an on/off duty cycle for the network-access device based on the discontinuous-reception parameter such that, when the discontinuous-reception parameter specifies a relatively greater frequency for checking paging messages, the on/off duty cycle is reduced, and, when the discontinuous-reception parameter specifies a relatively lesser frequency for checking paging messages the on/off duty cycle is increased; and
configure the programmable timer to cause power to be periodically supplied to the network-access device in accordance with the determined on/off duty cycle.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the discontinuous-reception parameter specifies the frequency for checking paging messages in a way that does not depend upon time-of-day information.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the memory has stored therein additional computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to obtain the discontinuous-reception parameter when the network-access device registers with a wireless network in a particular geographic region.
15. A method comprising:
obtaining a discontinuous-reception parameter that specifies a frequency for checking paging messages;
determining a time period for switching a network-access device to a power-off state based on the discontinuous-reception parameter such that, when the discontinuous-reception parameter specifies a relatively greater frequency for checking paging messages, the time period for switching the network access device to the power-off state is reduced, and, when the discontinuous-reception parameter specifies a relatively lesser frequency for checking paging messages, the time period for switching the network-access device to the power-off state is increased;
configuring a programmable timer to disable power to the network-access device upon expiration of the determined time period.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the discontinuous-reception parameter specifies the frequency for checking paging messages in a way that does not depend upon time-of-day information.
17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising: obtaining the discontinuous-reception parameter when the network-access device registers with a wireless network in a particular geographic region.
18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
determining an on/off duty cycle for the network-access device based on the discontinuous-reception parameter such that, when the discontinuous-reception parameter specifies a relatively greater frequency for checking paging messages, the on/off duty cycle is reduced, and, when the discontinuous-reception parameter specifies a relatively lesser frequency for checking paging messages, the on/off duty cycle is increased; and
configuring the programmable timer to cause power to be periodically supplied to the network-access device in accordance with the determined on/off duty cycle.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the discontinuous-reception parameter specifies the frequency for checking paging messages in a way that does not depend upon time-of-day information.
20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising: obtaining the discontinuous-reception parameter when the network-access device registers with a wireless network in a particular geographic region.