IP Library Granted Patent US 9,167,521
Granted Patent B2
US 9,167,521 · App. 13/282,420 · Granted Oct 20, 2015

Wireless communication method with low power consumption

Inventor: Yung-Sen Lin (New Taipei, TW)
Assignee: ACER INCORPORATED
H04W52/0229Y02B60/50
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,167,521
App. No.
13/282,420
Granted
Oct 20, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wireless communication device includes a Wi-Fi module for operating in WLAN system and a Bluetooth module for operating in Bluetooth system. After entering a power-saving mode, the wireless communication device is configured to turn off the Wi-Fi module and periodically scan an operational frequency band of a network using the Bluetooth module. When detecting a radio frequency signal having the same bandwidth as the network in the operational frequency band, the wireless communication device is configured to enter a normal mode.

Claims (15)

1. A wireless communication method with low power consumption, comprising:

turning off a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) module of a wireless communication device after the wireless communication device switches from a normal mode to a power-saving mode;

periodically scanning an operational frequency band of a network during a predetermined period using a Bluetooth module of the wireless communication device when the Bluetooth module is in an active mode and the wireless communication device is in the power-saving mode;

switching the Bluetooth module to a low-power mode from the active mode for periodically scanning the operational frequency band of the network at a predetermined interval when no radio frequency signal is detected within the operational frequency band during the predetermined period, wherein:

a scan frequency of the Bluetooth module in the active mode is the same as a scan frequency of the Bluetooth module in the low-power mode; and

an interval at which the Bluetooth module scans the operational frequency band of the network in the low-power mode is kept unchanged; and

activating the Wi-Fi module when the Bluetooth module detects a first radio frequency signal within the operational frequency band and the wireless communication device is in the power-saving mode, wherein a bandwidth of the first radio frequency signal is equal to a bandwidth of the network.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

switching the wireless communication device from the power-saving mode to the normal mode when the Wi-Fi module detects an access point.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

detecting a service set identifier (SSID) of the access point and determining whether the SSID is included in a candidate list; and

switching the wireless communication device from the power-saving mode to the normal mode when the SSID is included in the candidate list.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the low-power mode includes a sniff mode, a hold more or a park mode.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

switching the Bluetooth module to the low-power mode from the active mode when detecting a second radio frequency signal within the operational frequency band, wherein a bandwidth of the second radio frequency signal is different from the bandwidth of the network.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2011
From: LIN, YUNG-SEN
To: ACER INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 027128/0718 →
Priority Claims (1)
TW 100128593 A · Aug 10, 2011 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130039239A1 · Feb 14, 2013