US5128938A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Energy saving protocol for a communication system
Assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1991-03-06
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Granted: 1992-07-07
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Expires: 2011-03-06
Abstract
Abstract A centralized communication system controller (102) measures and stores a historical record of each subscriber unit's communication activity. By examining this historical record, the controller predicts the subscriber unit's communication activity over a future time interval. A code based upon this prediction is transmitted to the subscriber unit (110), which causes the subscriber unit to enter an energy saving mode and deactivate (208) non-essential circuits for a time period represented by the code. In this way, the duration of the "sleep" interval may be optimally varied based upon the subscriber unit's communication history. In another aspect of the invention, unexpected messages for a subscriber unit in the energy saving mode are stored (114) electronically until the conclusion of the "sleep" interval. This message storing function enhances system efficiency when the subscriber unit's communication history does not correlate with actual commuication traffic.
Inventors
- 👤 Jaime A. Borras
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:38
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W84/00; H04W84/02; H04W84/04; H04W84/08; G; G08; G08B; G08B3/00; G08B3/10; G08B3/1008; G08B3/1016; G08B3/1025; G08B3/1066; H04W52/00; H04W52/02; H04W52/0209; H04W52/0225; H04W52/0229; H04W52/0232; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D30/00; Y02D30/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
In a communication system having at least one central station for allocating communication channels among a plurality of subscriber units, a method for temporarily deactivating at least one of the plurality of subscriber units from the central station comprising the steps of: (a) determining which of the plurality of subscriber units should be temporarily deactivated to provide a deactivation subset of one or more subscriber units; (b) examining past communication activity of one or more subscriber units; (c) determining a time interval during which said deactivation subset should be deactivated, said determination being based on: (b1) examining past communication traffic activity of one or more of the subscriber units during a past period of time, said traffic activity including the amount of messages transmitted by or to each of the one or more subscriber units over a predetermined period of time; (b2) determining said time interval during which said deactivation subset should be deactivated; and, (d) transmitting a code representing said time interval to said deactivation subset.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
In a communication system having at least one central station for allocating communication channels among a plurality of subscriber units, a method for temporarily deactivating at least one of the plurality of subscriber units from the central station comprising the steps of: (a) determining which of the plurality of subscriber units should be temporarily deactivated to provide a deactivation subset of one or more subscriber units; (b) examining past communication activity of one or more subscriber units; (c) determining a time interval during which said deactivation subset should be deactivated, said determination being based on: (b1) examining past communication traffic activity of one or more of the subscriber units during a past period of time, said traffic activity including the amount of messages transmitted by or to each of the one or more subscriber units over a predetermined period of time; (b2) determining said time interval during which said deactivation subset should be deactivated; and, (d) transmitting a code representing said time interval to said deactivation subset.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, which includes the step of: (e) updating a list of temporarily deactivated subscriber units.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1, which includes the steps of: (e) determining whether a signal representing a call request code has been received from a subscriber (f) unit contained within said deactivation subset; and, transmitting a signal representing a channel grant code to said subscriber unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, which includes the steps of: (e) determining when said time interval has expired; and, (f) updating a list of temporarily deactivated subscriber units.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises the step of selecting one of said plurality of subscriber units to provide said deactivation subset.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises the step of selecting at least one of said deactivation subset.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, herein step (b1) comprises examining past communication activity in fifteen minute intervals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1, which includes the steps of: (e) receiving, from a requesting subscriber, a signal representing a request to communicate with a subscriber unit contained within said deactivation subset; and, (f) transmitting a signal representing a store message command to said requesting subscriber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 8, which includes the steps of: (g) receiving a message from said requesting subscriber; and, (h) storing said message in a memory means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1, which includes the subscriber unit steps of: (e) receiving a signal representing a command to temporarily deactivate for a time interval; (f) deactivating non-essential circuits for said time interval; and, (g) reactivating said non-essential circuits at the conclusion of said time interval.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 10, which includes the step of: (f1) reactivating said non-essential circuits to transmit a signal representing a call request regardless of whether said time interval has expired.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 10, which includes the step of: (h) receiving a signal from the central station representing a message that was stored during said time interval.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
157 words
In a radio communication system having at least one central station for allocating radio frequency communication channels among a plurality of subscriber units, a method for temporarily deactivating at least one of the plurality of subscriber units, comprising the steps of: (a) determining whether the at least one subscriber unit is non-functional due to a defect or operational fault; (b) deactivating non-essential circuits at the at least one subscriber unit for a time interval in response to a determination that the at least one subscriber is non-functional; (c) reactivating the non-essential circuits by the at least one subscriber unit periodically in order to determine if the fault condition is no longer present at the at least one subscriber unit; and, (d) monitoring the radio communication system if the fault condition is found to be no longer present in step (c) in order to determine if a message has been sent by the at least one central station.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
157 words
In a radio communication system having at least one central station for allocating radio frequency communication channels among a plurality of subscriber units, a method for temporarily deactivating at least one of the plurality of subscriber units, comprising the steps of: (a) determining whether the at least one subscriber unit is non-functional due to a defect or operational fault; (b) deactivating non-essential circuits at the at least one subscriber unit for a time interval in response to a determination that the at least one subscriber is non-functional; (c) reactivating the non-essential circuits by the at least one subscriber unit periodically in order to determine if the fault condition is no longer present at the at least one subscriber unit; and, (d) monitoring the radio communication system if the fault condition is found to be no longer present in step (c) in order to determine if a message has been sent by the at least one central station.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
125 words
In a radio communication system having at least one central station for allocating radio frequency communication channels among a plurality of subscriber units, a subscriber unit comprising: means for determining whether the subscriber unit is non-functional due to a defect or operational fault; means for deactivating non-essential circuits in the subscriber unit for a time interval in response to a determination that the subscriber is non-functional; means for reactivating the non-essential circuits periodically in order to determine if the fault condition is no longer present at the subscriber unit; and means for monitoring the radio communication system if the fault condition is found to be no longer present in order to determine if a message has been sent by the at least one central station.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
125 words
In a radio communication system having at least one central station for allocating radio frequency communication channels among a plurality of subscriber units, a subscriber unit comprising: means for determining whether the subscriber unit is non-functional due to a defect or operational fault; means for deactivating non-essential circuits in the subscriber unit for a time interval in response to a determination that the subscriber is non-functional; means for reactivating the non-essential circuits periodically in order to determine if the fault condition is no longer present at the subscriber unit; and means for monitoring the radio communication system if the fault condition is found to be no longer present in order to determine if a message has been sent by the at least one central station.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
163 words
A communication system having at least one central station for allocating communication channels among a plurality of subscriber units which can receive and transmit messages, the system capable of temporarily deactivating at least one of the plurality of subscriber units from the central station, comprising: means for examining past communication traffic activity of one or more subscriber units, the past communication traffic activity being determined by the amount of messages that have been received or transmitted by the one or more subscriber units as measured by the at least one central station; means for determining which of the plurality of subscriber units should be temporarily deactivated to provide a deactivation subset of one or more subscriber units, the deactivation determination being based on the past communication traffic activity of the one or more subscriber units; means for determining a time interval during which said deactivation subset should be deactivated; and, means for transmitting a code representing said time interval to said deactivation subset.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
163 words
A communication system having at least one central station for allocating communication channels among a plurality of subscriber units which can receive and transmit messages, the system capable of temporarily deactivating at least one of the plurality of subscriber units from the central station, comprising: means for examining past communication traffic activity of one or more subscriber units, the past communication traffic activity being determined by the amount of messages that have been received or transmitted by the one or more subscriber units as measured by the at least one central station; means for determining which of the plurality of subscriber units should be temporarily deactivated to provide a deactivation subset of one or more subscriber units, the deactivation determination being based on the past communication traffic activity of the one or more subscriber units; means for determining a time interval during which said deactivation subset should be deactivated; and, means for transmitting a code representing said time interval to said deactivation subset.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-07-07 | 1996-01-06 | 1996-07-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-07-07 | 2000-01-06 | 2000-07-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-07-07 | 2004-01-06 | 2004-07-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |