Deep sleep in 1x m2m devices

Abstract

A wireless apparatus including a machine-to-machine (M2M) device. The M2M device has an applications processing element, RF transceive elements, and a deep sleep controller. The applications processing element executes one or more functions corresponding to an M2M processing environment, and directs the transmission and reception of radio frequency (RF) messages. The RF transceive elements are operationally coupled to the applications processing elements and transmit and receive the RF messages over the one or more wireless communications links. The deep sleep controller is coupled to the applications processing element and the RF transceive elements, and directs the applications processing element to request a sleep time from a corresponding base station, and causes the M2M device to enter a deep sleep mode upon acceptance of the sleep time by the corresponding base station, where the deep sleep mode is entered by removing power from the RF transceive elements.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of the following U.S. Provisional Applications, each of which is herein incorporated by reference for all intents and purposes.SERIAL NUMBERFILING DATETITLE61 / 655,333Jun. 04, 2012DEEP SLEEP IN 1X(VTU.12-0032-US)M2M DEVICESBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]This invention relates in general to the field of wireless communications, and more particularly to apparatus and methods for extending sleep cycles in machine-to-machine (M2M) devices.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]The cell phone industry continues to experience exponential growth, not only in this country, but all over the world. In fact, it is well known that over twenty percent of the adult population in the United States does not have a traditional landline telephone. In addition, is it well known that nearly ninety percent of the adult population owns a wireless phone regardless of whether they have a l...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention offers a better way for machines to sleep for longer periods of time and use less power. This helps to conserve energy and improve efficiency in machine-to-machine interactions.

Problems solved by technology

As a result, the incremental developments in high speed packetized data networks have not always tracked with the development of voice networks.

It is a goal within the industry to field a more unified solution that would provide both reliable voice and high speed data access, however, the industry is not at that point presently.

Consequently, it is common practice to field a mobile system that provides for voice communications over one type of circuit switched network, say cdma200 1xRTT, and high speed data communications over another type of network, say LTE, which provides exclusively for packetized data and does not provide the quality of service that users prefer to support voice communications.

But like mobile phones, a significant number of M2M devices run on batteries or other limited power sources.

In addition, the M2M devices draw a significant amount of power associated with elements (e.g., radio frequency (RF) transceivers, power amplifiers, etc.) that are employed to communicate over wireless communications links.

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