HK1177370A

HK1177370A - Wireless device and method for use in the wireless device

Info

Publication number: HK1177370A
Application number: HK13104261.9A
Authority: HK
Inventors: 史蒂芬．杰弗里．金伯格
Original assignee: 美商内数位科技公司
Priority date: 2002-05-01
Filing date: 2013-04-09
Publication date: 2013-08-16

Abstract

A wireless device and a method for use in the wireless device are provided, the method comprising: the wireless device receiving a message listing via a wireless interface, wherein the message listing includes a plurality of message pointers, wherein each message pointer from the plurality of message pointers points to a respective different message; the wireless device detecting a message pointer from the plurality of message pointers that corresponds to the wireless device; and the wireless device receiving, via the wireless interface, data pointed to by the detected message pointer.

Description

Wireless device and method used in wireless device

The present application is a divisional application of the chinese patent application entitled "method and system for optimizing power resources in a wireless device" with an application date of 29/4/2003 and an application number of 03809806.7.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of wireless communications. More particularly, the present invention relates to optimization of power resources of a wireless device in a wireless communication system.

Background

Portable electronic devices often run out of batteries. The data transmitted to the device is often short (e.g., email, instant message, digital update, status change). When the devices seek transmissions directed to them, the power consumed by the devices often exceeds the power required to receive such transmissions. Moreover, the devices typically only occasionally have transmissions directed to them. Only if most devices only occasionally have transmissions directed to them, the device must maintain the awake state throughout the notification. This means that many devices lose power during the entire notification, even in the general absence of data to them.

It is desirable for devices to be able to quickly determine whether data is to be transmitted to them and, if not, to return to sleep mode to conserve energy.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention relates to a method and system for optimizing power resources in a wireless device. The present invention utilizes a message list adapted to allow a device to quickly determine whether a message for the device is contained in the message list, thereby reducing the amount of time the device must wake up when searching for messages.

The present invention provides a method for use in a wireless device, the method comprising: the wireless device receiving a message list via a wireless interface, wherein the message list comprises a plurality of message pointers, wherein each message pointer of the plurality of message pointers points to a respective different message; the wireless device detecting a message pointer of the plurality of message pointers that corresponds to the wireless device; and the wireless device receiving, via the wireless interface, data pointed to by the detected message pointer.

The present invention also provides a wireless device, comprising: a receiver configured to receive a message list, wherein the message list comprises a plurality of message pointers, wherein each message pointer of the plurality of message pointers points to a respective different message; and a processor configured to detect a message pointer of the plurality of message pointers corresponding to the wireless device; wherein the receiver is further configured to receive data pointed to by the detected message pointer.

The present invention also provides a method for use in a wireless device, the method comprising: the wireless device receiving a message list, wherein the message list comprises a plurality of message pointers, wherein each message pointer of the plurality of message pointers points to a respective different message; the wireless device determining that a message pointer of the plurality of message pointers corresponds to the wireless device; and the wireless device receiving data pointed to by the message pointer corresponding to the wireless device.

The present invention also provides a wireless device, comprising: a receiver configured to receive a message list, wherein the message list comprises a plurality of message pointers, wherein each message pointer of the plurality of message pointers points to a respective different message; and a processor configured to determine that a message pointer of the plurality of message pointers corresponds to the wireless device; and wherein the receiver is further configured to receive data pointed to by the message pointer corresponding to the wireless device.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a message list in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, wherein a count of the number of destination identifiers contained in the message list is provided at the beginning of the message list, and further wherein all destination identifiers are listed before all respective pointers.

Fig. 2 is a message list in which a count of the number of destination identifiers contained in the message list is provided at the beginning of the message list, and further in which each destination identifier and its associated pointer are listed together in increasing numerical order, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating method steps by which an apparatus determines whether the message list shown in fig. 1 or fig. 2 includes any messages intended for the apparatus for which it is expected that the apparatus has a message in the message list, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating method steps by which an apparatus determines whether the message list shown in fig. 1 or fig. 2 includes any messages intended for the apparatus in which the apparatus is expected to have more than one message with the same identifier in the message list, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a flow chart illustrating method steps by which an apparatus determines whether the message list shown in fig. 1 or fig. 2 includes any messages intended for the apparatus in which the apparatus is expected to have more than one message with the same identifier or identifiers within the message list, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a list of messages in which a list terminator is included at the end of the message, and further in which each destination identifier and its associated pointer are listed together in ascending numerical order, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a flow chart illustrating method steps by which a device determines whether the message list shown in fig. 6 includes any messages intended for the device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a system for optimizing power resources in a wireless device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like elements.

Referring initially to fig. 1, a message list 10 is shown. The wireless device typically synchronizes with the network so that the device knows to wake up for a predetermined period and checks for any messages intended for these devices. To conserve battery, the wireless device preferably not only sleeps between predetermined periods, but also spends as little time as possible determining whether there is a message intended for the device. Wireless devices typically determine whether they are the intended recipients of a message by examining a list of messages. The message list in the related art includes not only a plurality of identifiers indicating destinations of each message included in the list and counts of the number of messages therein, but also the message itself. Including the message itself in the message list increases the time that the wireless device must remain awake when determining whether the message list has a message for the device. For example, in the case where the message list includes 10 messages listed in ascending order of destination identifiers and there are messages sent to device one through device four, a wireless device with device identifier "5" must remain awake not only for the first four message identifiers, but also for the first four messages themselves. Once device "5" receives its message, it goes back to sleep until the next list of messages is received, which, as mentioned, occurs at a predetermined interval.

To reduce the time that devices must remain awake when determining whether that particular message list contains messages to be delivered to them, the present invention arranges the message lists as shown in fig. 1, 2 and 6. These message lists may be modified as desired/needed to maximize the message determination process without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Referring initially to fig. 1, a first embodiment of a message list 10 in accordance with the present invention is shown. The message list 10 comprises a count of the number of destination identifiers contained in the message list and is provided at the beginning of the message list 10. In this embodiment, the count is denoted by reference numeral 12 and is labeled "count of listed identifiers". A destination identifier, generally indicated by reference numeral 14_1-NListed in ascending numerical order. Each destination identifier_1-NWith an associated message pointer. In this embodiment, the message pointer_1-NAre also listed in ascending numerical order and are generally represented by reference numeral 16.

In an alternative embodiment, the message list 10 may be configured such that the message pointer is a pointer to a message, as shown in FIG. 2_1-N16 follow their associated destination identifier_1-N14 after. It should be noted that in fig. 1 and 2, the destination identifier_1-N14 associated with it message pointer_1-N16 are organized in monotonically increasing numerical order, but may also be organized in monotonically decreasing numerical order.

A logic diagram illustrating a method 30 for determining whether a message has arrived at a wireless device is shown in fig. 3. The wireless device may be any form of wireless device such as a wireless telephone, a personal digital assistant, or a pocket personal computer. The methods shown in fig. 3, 4 and 5 can be applied to both embodiments of the message lists shown in fig. 1 and 2.

The method 30 begins at step 32 by initializing the device's search pointer to the first identifier and loading the count of the listed identifier into a count variable (i.e., the entry or memory location containing the count). The method 30 then proceeds to step 34 to determine whether the count is equal to zero. If the count is equal to zero, the method 30 proceeds to step 36, where the message flag is cleared. If the count is not equal to zero, the method proceeds to step 38, where the destination identifier pointed to by the pointer search is loaded by the device at method 38. The device is preferably a processing component that loads the destination identifier into the device, and once the destination identifier is loaded by the device, the method 30 proceeds to step 40 where the destination identifier is compared to the device identifier to determine if the destination identifier is greater than the device identifier. If so, there is no subsequent message for the device and the method 30 proceeds to step 36 where the message flag is cleared, as described above. If not, the method 30 proceeds to step 42 where it is determined whether the destination identifier is equal to the device identifier. If the destination identifier is equal to the device identifier, there is a message for the device and the method 30 proceeds to step 44. At step 44, the message flag is set and a pointer to the message corresponding to the destination identifier is loaded, and if the destination identifier is not equal to the device identifier, then method 30 proceeds from step 42 to step 46. At step 46 the search pointer is advanced to the next destination identifier and at step 48 the count is decremented.

Referring now to fig. 4, a method 50 of determining whether a message has arrived at the wireless device is shown. In this embodiment, the device is expected to have more than one message with the same device identifier in the message list. The method 50 begins with step 52, wherein a search pointer for the wireless device is initiated to a first identifier, a count of listed identifiers is loaded to a count variable, and the listed messages and message flags are cleared. From step 52, the method proceeds to step 54 where it is determined whether the listed identifier count is equal to zero, if the count is equal to zero, the method 50 ends at step 56, if the count is not equal to zero, the method 50 proceeds to step 58 where the destination identifier pointed to by the search pointer is loaded by the wireless device. From step 58, the method proceeds to step 60 where it is determined whether the destination identifier is greater than the device identifier. If the destination identifier is greater than the device identifier, the method 50 proceeds to step 56, where the method ends, as described above. If the destination identifier is not greater than the device identifier, the method 50 proceeds to step 62, where it is determined whether the destination identifier is equal to the device identifier.

If the destination identifier is equal to the device identifier, step 62, the message flag is set and a pointer to the message corresponding to the destination identifier is added to the list of messages for the particular wireless device performing method 50 (step 64). From step 64, the method proceeds to step 66, where the search pointer is advanced to the next destination identifier, and if, at step 62, the destination identifier is not equal to the device identifier, then the method 50 proceeds directly from step 62 to step 66. After step 66, the count for the listed identifier is decremented by an amount that may be determined as desired.

Referring now to fig. 5, a method 70 of determining whether a message has arrived at the wireless device is shown. In this embodiment, the device is expected to have more than one message with the same device identifier or identifiers in the message list. Multiple device identifiers for a single device may be used, for example, where a user of a particular device registers for several wireless multicast services. By way of illustration, a device may have one message identifier that is specific to the device and it has another identifier that accompanies a set of devices. In this way, the entire group can send out only a single identifier and a message. A device may also seek transmissions that are propagated to an arbitrary number of devices, such as sports game data and stock reports.

The method 70 begins with step 72 in which a search pointer to a first device identifier is initiated, a count of listed identifiers is loaded into a count variable, and the flag and listed messages are cleared and the first test identifier from the list of test messages is loaded into a processing component of the wireless device. The list of test messages contains all identifiers of the device's potential to accept messages from this during the time the window is awake to check. The test list should be a monotonic order suitable for searching for received identifiers. From step 72, the method 70 proceeds to step 74, where it is determined whether the listed identifier count is equal to zero, if so, the method 70 ends at step 76, if not, the method 70 proceeds to step 78, where the destination identifier pointed to by the search pointer is loaded into the processing component of the device. Proceed to step 80 where it is determined whether the destination identifier is greater than the test identifier. If so, the method proceeds to step 82 where it is determined whether there is another test identifier in the test list, if so, the next test identifier is loaded at step 84 and the method returns to step 74, if there is no other test identifier, the method 70 ends at step 86.

Returning to step 80, if the destination identifier is not greater than the test identifier, the method 70 proceeds to step 88 where it is determined whether the destination identifier is equal to the test identifier at step 88. If so, a message flag is set and a pointer to the message corresponding to the destination identifier is added to the message list (step 90). From step 90, the method 70 proceeds to step 92. If, conversely, the destination identifier is not equal to the test identifier, the method 70 proceeds directly to step 92. At step 92, the search pointer is advanced to the next destination identifier and at step 94, the count of the listed identifiers is decremented by an amount that may be determined as desired.

Referring now to fig. 6, another embodiment of a message list 100 is shown in accordance with the present invention, in which no count of identifiers is listed, but a list terminator 102 is listed, wherein the message list is terminated by a unique number at the location of the generic identifier. In the incremental identifier embodiment, the valid value of this terminator is zero. In this way, only the pointer must be changed during the search, and a comparison of identifiers greater than the identifier in the list ends the search.

A method by which a device can determine whether a message list as shown in fig. 6 includes messages for any of these devices is shown in fig. 7. The method 120 begins by initializing 122 a search pointer to a first destination identifier, loading 124 the destination identifier pointed to by the search pointer to a processing component of the device, and determining 126 whether the destination identifier is equal to the termination value (i.e., the value of the list terminator). If the destination identifier is equal to the termination value, the method proceeds to step 128, where the message flag is cleared and the method 120 ends. If the destination identifier is not equal to the termination value, the method 120 proceeds to step 130 where it is determined whether the destination identifier is greater than the device identifier of the particular device, i.e., whether the message list includes messages for that device. If the destination identifier is greater than the device identifier, the method 120 proceeds to step 128 where the message flag is cleared and the method 120 ends. If the destination identifier is less than or equal to the device identifier, the method 120 proceeds to step 132.

At step 132, it is determined whether the destination identifier is equal to the device identifier. If so, the message flag is set and a pointer to the message corresponding to the destination identifier is loaded to the processing component of the device (step 134), if not, the search pointer is advanced to the next destination identifier in step 136 and the method 120 continues at step 124.

The previous form is used or some variations of the form represented are based on the efficiency attendant to making the identifier and message pointer, and processing device, searchable for the value of the message. The pointer to the message may be a simple program language pointer to data defining the existence of the actual message transmission, or it may be the data itself. The actual data may be in the form: carrier channel, broadcast time period, and channel decoding. If the message data is very short (e.g., a telephone number), it is often more efficient to insert the message into the normal location of the message pointer. In this case, one or more bits of the message pointer portion of the data stream must be reserved as defining bits for the other bits present. For example, two bits may be encoded such that one encoding shows the remaining bits as an encoding for the message, followed by an encoding for a pointer to the message, and a third encoding as a pointer to the data defining where to find the following message, a fourth encoding possibility being a backup for some future use.

Regarding the implementation of the present invention in 3G radio access networks, there are two basic methods for identifying "destination" and "message pointer" -broadcast (BCCH on BCH/P-CCPCH) or dedicated (DCH/DPCCH + DCCH on DPDCH) signaling. If dedicated signaling is applied, the signaling is dedicated to the "destination" and there is no application or benefit to ordering the control information since it is for the destination device. If broadcast signaling is applied, the existing mechanism to recover this data is not relevant to the processing of the data.

The above embodiments are typically the fastest methods for locating or determining that there are no messages for the device-less device when the number of messages is small. However, when the list is long, a fast method may be used to search for a list of monotonically increasing or decreasing messages. For example, the binary arithmetic protocol requires 10g2 (count) tests on average. These calculations are more complex and different processors may perform these calculations at different speeds. In general, if there are more than about 32 received identifiers, the binary algorithm is faster for a single identifier under test. If there are many identifiers under test, sequential testing is more efficient for large counts. The selection of the protocol may also be selected based on the value of the identifier or identifiers being tested. If the single number to be searched is low and the received sequence (i.e., message list) monotonically increasing, the best approach is to start the search at the beginning of the received data. If the signal number is high and the received sequence monotonically increasing, the best approach is to start the search at the end of the received data. (data is often transmitted in sectors in a wireless system and is subject to paging for error correction reasons, so all sector data must be received and decoded before any data can be checked.) so a preferred embodiment of the present invention considers the number of identifiers received, whether one or more identifiers are to be found, and the numerical distribution of the found identifiers at the choice of search protocol for each search event.

Referring now to fig. 8, a system 200 is shown for optimizing power resources in a wireless device. The system 200 includes at least one Radio Network Controller (RNC), at least one Base Station (BS), and at least one wireless device (206). The wireless device 206 includes a processor 208 to search for messages of a message list where the device 206 is the intended recipient. To maximize the amount of time that the device 206 is asleep (i.e., clock-only, which tells the device to wake up periodically), the message list is employed as described above. The device 206 determines whether a particular message list includes the device's messages based on the form of the message list using the methods described above.

Although specific processing functions have been described as being performed by specific components, it should be appreciated that the performance of processing functions may be distributed among system components as desired.

Although the present invention has been described in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for use in a wireless device, the method comprising:

the wireless device receives a list of messages over a wireless interface,

wherein the message list comprises a plurality of message pointers,

wherein each message pointer of the plurality of message pointers points to a respective different message;

the wireless device detecting a message pointer of the plurality of message pointers that corresponds to the wireless device; and

the wireless device receives data pointed to by the detected message pointer via the wireless interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message list comprises a plurality of destination identifiers;

wherein each message pointer of the plurality of message pointers is associated with a destination identifier from the plurality of destination identifiers;

wherein detecting the message pointer comprises comparing the destination identifier from the plurality of destination identifiers to an identifier of the wireless device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of messages and the message are received from a base station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each message pointer of the plurality of message pointers indicates when a message will be suitable for reception.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of message pointers indicates a time slot during which a message will be suitable for reception.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of message pointers comprises carrier channel information, timing information, and channel coding information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the message list further comprises a count of destination identifiers in the message list.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the message list further comprises a list terminator.

9. A wireless device, the wireless device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a message list, wherein the message list comprises a plurality of message pointers, wherein each message pointer of the plurality of message pointers points to a respective different message; and

a processor configured to detect a message pointer of the plurality of message pointers corresponding to the wireless device;

wherein the receiver is further configured to receive data pointed to by the detected message pointer.

10. The wireless device of claim 9, wherein the message list comprises a plurality of destination identifiers,

wherein each message pointer of the plurality of message pointers is associated with a destination identifier from the plurality of destination identifiers,

wherein the processor is configured to detect the message pointer by comparing the destination identifier from the plurality of destination identifiers to an identifier of the wireless device.

11. The wireless apparatus of claim 9, wherein the receiver is configured to receive the list of messages and the message from a base station.

12. The wireless device of claim 9, wherein each message pointer of the plurality of message pointers indicates when a message will be suitable for reception.

13. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein each message pointer of the plurality of message pointers indicates a time slot during which a message will be suitable for reception.

14. The wireless apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of message pointers comprises carrier channel information, timing information, and channel coding information.

15. The wireless device of claim 9, wherein the message list further comprises a count of destination identifiers in the message list.

16. The wireless device of claim 9, wherein the message list further comprises a list terminator.

17. A method for use in a wireless device, the method comprising:

the wireless device receives a list of messages,

wherein the message list comprises a plurality of message pointers,

the wireless device determining that a message pointer of the plurality of message pointers corresponds to the wireless device; and

the wireless device receives data pointed to by the message pointer corresponding to the wireless device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the message list comprises a plurality of destination identifiers;

wherein determining a destination identifier corresponding to the wireless device comprises comparing the destination identifier to an identifier associated with the wireless device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of message pointers indicates when a message will be suitable for reception.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of message pointers comprises carrier channel information, timing information, and channel coding information.

21. A wireless device, the wireless device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a list of messages,

wherein the message list comprises a plurality of message pointers,

wherein each message pointer of the plurality of message pointers points to a respective different message; and

a processor configured to determine that a message pointer of the plurality of message pointers corresponds to the wireless device; and

wherein the receiver is further configured to receive data pointed to by the message pointer corresponding to the wireless device.

22. The wireless device of claim 21, wherein the message list comprises a plurality of destination identifiers;

wherein the processor is configured to determine a destination identifier corresponding to the wireless device by comparing the destination identifier to an identifier associated with the wireless device.

23. The wireless device of claim 21, wherein each message pointer of the plurality of message pointers indicates when a message will be suitable for reception.

24. The wireless apparatus of claim 21, wherein each message pointer of the plurality of message pointers comprises carrier channel information, timing information, and channel coding information.