Methods And Apparatus For Reducing Power Consumption In CDMA Communication Device

1 . A method in a code division multiple access (CDMA) communication device comprising the acts of:

operating in a voice call during which voice or audio information is communicated in frames over forward and reverse links;

causing a transmitter to enter and be maintained in a low power state during a voice inactivity period of the voice call, for stopping transmission of lowest rate frames that would otherwise be sent during the voice inactivity period; and

causing the transmitter to be exited from the low power state for resuming transmission for the voice call.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the act of causing the transmitter to enter and be maintained in the low power state causes a transmit power of the CDMA communication device to be reduced.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the act of causing the transmitter to be exited from the low power state is performed in response to identifying voice activity for the voice call.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

repeating the acts of entering and exiting the low power state for additional voice inactivity periods of the voice call.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the act of causing the transmitter to enter and be maintained in the low power state comprises the further act of disabling only a portion of the transmitter.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

maintaining a receiver enabled to receive information during the voice inactivity period while the transmitter is in the low power state.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

during the low power state of the voice call:

maintaining a receiver enabled to receive information; and

receiving one or more power values through the receiver.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the CDMA communication device operates in accordance with a CDMA2000 standard.

9 . A code division multiple access (CDMA) communication device, comprising:

a receiver;

a transmitter which includes a power amplifier (PA);

a processor coupled to the receiver and the transmitter;

the processor being adapted to:

operate the receiver and the transmitter in a voice call during which voice or audio information is communicated in frames over forward and reverse links;

cause the transmitter to enter and be maintained in a low power state during a voice inactivity period of the voice call, for stopping transmission of lowest rate frames that would otherwise be sent via the transmitter during the voice inactivity period; and

cause the transmitter to be exited from the low power state for resuming transmission for the voice call.

10 . The CDMA communication device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further operative to reduce a transmit power of the CDMA communication device by causing the transmitter to enter and be maintained in the low power state.

11 . The CDMA communication device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further operative to cause the transmitter to be exited from the low power state in response to identifying voice activity for the voice call.

12 . The CDMA communication device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further operative to cause the transmitter to enter and be maintained in the low power state by disabling at least a portion of the transmitter.

13 . The CDMA communication device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further operative to cause the transmitter to enter and be maintained in the low power state by disabling only a portion of the transmitter.

14 . The CDMA communication device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further operative to repeat the entering and exiting of the low power state during additional voice inactivity periods of the voice call.

15 . The CDMA communication device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further operative to maintain the receiver enabled to receive information while the transmitter is in the low power state.

16 . The CDMA communication device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further operative to, while the transmitter is in the low power state, maintain the receiver enabled to receive one or more power values during the voice call.

17 . The CDMA communication device of claim 9 , wherein the CDMA communication device operates in accordance with a CDMA2000 standard.

18 . A code division multiple access (CDMA) communication system, comprising:

a base station adapted to communicate in accordance with CDMA communications;

a portable electronic device adapted to communicate with the base station in accordance with CDMA communications;

the portable electronic device being adapted to operate in a voice call during which voice or audio information is communicated in frames over forward and reverse links with the base station;

the portable electronic device being further adapted to, in response to identifying that there is no voice activity at the portable electronic device during the voice call: cause a transmitter to enter and be maintained in a low power state during a voice inactivity period of the voice call, for stopping transmission of lowest rate frames that would otherwise be sent from the portable electronic device during the voice inactivity period; and

the portable electronic device being further operative to cause the transmitter to be exited from the low power state for resuming transmission for the voice call.

19 . The CDMA communication system of claim 18 , wherein the portable electronic device is further operative to cause the transmitter to be exited from the low power state in response to identifying voice activity for the voice call.

20 . The CDMA communication system of claim 18 , wherein the portable electronic device is further operative to maintain a receiver of the portable electronic device enabled to receive information while the transmitter is in the low power state.

21 . The CDMA communication system of claim 18 , wherein the portable electronic device is further operative to maintain a receiver of the portable electronic device enabled to receive one or more power values during the voice call while the transmitter is in the low power state.

22 . The CDMA communication system of claim 18 , adapted for communications in accordance with a CDMA2000 standard.