Energy budgeted system recovery

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory medium comprising program instructions; and

a processing element coupled to the memory medium, the processing element configured to execute the program instructions to cause a wireless device to:

obtain cellular communication service to a serving cell;

measure a signal strength of the serving cell;

determine that the signal strength of the serving cell is below a threshold;

perform, in response to the determination that the signal strength of the serving cell is below the threshold, a first neighbor cell search;

determine that the first neighbor cell search is not successful;

determine a level of remaining battery power;

determine, based at least in part on the level of remaining battery power, an interval until a second neighbor cell search; and

perform, after the interval, the second neighbor cell search.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the interval until the second neighbor cell search is also based at least in part on an estimated energy consumption of the first neighbor cell search.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 ,

wherein the energy consumption of the first neighbor cell search is estimated based on an energy consumption model for a plurality of possible service recovery activities and service recovery activity parameters and a determination of service recovery activities and service recovery activity parameters used in first neighbor cell search.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 ,

wherein the energy consumption of the first neighbor cell search is estimated using energy consumption measurement circuitry of the wireless device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the interval until the second neighbor cell search is further based at least in part on a total budgeted number of neighbor cell searches over a period of time.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the interval until the second neighbor cell search is also based at least in part on an average power consumption budget for service recovery activities.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the interval until the second neighbor cell search is also based at least in part on a budget for total energy consumed by service recovery activities over a period of time.

8. A wireless device, comprising:

an antenna;

a radio coupled to the antenna; and

a processing element coupled to the radio;

wherein the wireless device is configured to:

obtain cellular communication service to a serving cell in idle mode;

perform a first neighbor cell search;

determine a current battery level;

determine, based at least in part on the current battery level, timing of one or more searches for cellular service based at least in part on the determined current battery level, wherein the timing includes an interval until a second neighbor cell search; and perform, after the interval, the second neighbor cell search.

9. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein a parameter of the second neighbor cell search is based at least in part on a location of the wireless device.

10. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein the interval is based at least in part on a configured minimum interval.

11. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein the interval is based at least in part on a configured maximum interval.

12. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein the interval is based at least in part on an energy allowance over time and a minimum balance of energy allowance credit.

13. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein to determine a current battery level, the wireless device is configured to determine a current battery level range of a plurality of battery level ranges.

14. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein the interval is based at least in part on a total number of neighbor cell searches over a given period of time.

15. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein the interval is based at least in part on a scan scope of the second neighbor cell search.

16. The wireless device of claim 15 , wherein the scan scope includes one of:

an attempt to obtain limited or normal service; or

an attempt to obtain normal service.

17. A method, comprising:

by a wireless device:

establishing a connection to a serving cell;

measuring a signal strength of the serving cell;

determining that the signal strength of the serving cell is below a threshold;

performing, in response to the determination that the signal strength of the serving cell is below the threshold, a first neighbor cell search;

determining that the first neighbor cell search does not find a neighboring suitable cell;

determining a level of remaining battery power;

determining, based at least in part on the level of remaining battery power, an interval until a second neighbor cell search; and

performing, after the interval, the second neighbor cell search.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the interval until the second neighbor cell search is also based at least in part on an estimated energy consumption of the second neighbor cell search.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises:

operating in a reduced power state between the first neighbor cell search and the second neighbor cell search.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the interval until the second neighbor cell search is also based at least in part on an estimated energy consumption associated with the reduced power state.