Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
LA ~
Data Terminal Battery Saver Arrangement
Background Of The Invention
This invention relates generally to battery powered
data terminals including but not limited to such terminals
with a battery saver arrangement.
Wireless communications systems hav0 evolved in
10 different directions with the strengths and weaknesses of
various systems and equipment reflecting the differing
system needs that practitioners have focused on.
Wireless data systems, protocols, and equipment
have evolved to service a growing user base on both
15 outbound and inbound channels, on a sporadic, highly
interactive basis where message lengths, content, and
protocols may be complex and processing intensive.
Premiums consequently may have been placed on
processing speed, accuracy, and user interaction often at
20 the expense of power consumption. Recently the
marketplace has been demanding battery powered portable
data terminals that are the functional equivalent of a
portable computer combined with a portable two way
radio. This market requirement has focused attention on
2 5 battery life.
In contrast, personal paging systems, protocols, and
equipment have evolved to service a large user base on
outbound channels only, on a non real time critical basis,
where message lengths and content are limited. Premiums
30 are placed on low system cost message delivery and
subscriber unit battery life.
Clearly a need exists for a battery powered data
terminal with significantly extended battery life.
Summary Of The Invention
This invention addresses the aforementioned needs
5 by teaching a wireless data communications system having
a network controller, operating on one or more radio
frequency channels, and a plurality of data terminals, some
which are battery powered and normally operable in at
least one low power consumption (Idle) state but
10 controllably operable in at least one high power
consumption (active) state, such system further having an
arrangement to extend the battery life of the battery
powered data terminals. The system transmits a data
terminal address corresponding to a battery powered data
15 terminal to a receiver, associated with said battery
powered data terminal and operable in an Idle state, for
and only for receiving said data terminal address to
provide a received address. Control logic, responding to
the received address, provides a data enable signal. A
20 transceiver associated with the battery powered data
terminal responding to the data enable signal operates only
in an active state, for processing of data messages. A data
terminal battery saver arrangement for use in the data
communications system and a method of extending data
2 5 terminal battery life is disclosed.
Brief Description Of The Drawings
The features of the present invention which are
believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the
appended claims. The invention, itself, however together
with further advantages thereof, may best be understood
by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless data
communications system constructed in accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a wireless battery
5 powered data terminal that may be used in the FIG. 1
system.
FIG. 3 is a process flow diagram illustrative of the
process executed by the FIG. 2 data terminal.
1 0
Detailed Description
Referring to FIG. 1, an RF data base station (10) is
coupled, by way of outbound and inbound RF signal paths
15 (12), that may be, for illustration purposes, in a frequency
in the 450, 800, or 900 Mhz frequency bands, to a plurality
of data tsrminals, one or more of which is a battery
powered data terminal (14). Similarly an RF paging base
station (16) is coupled, by way of an outbound RF signal
20 path (18) that may be on the same or a different frequency,
to the data terminals (14). The data base station (10) and
the paging base station (16) are connected to a network
controllsr (20).
In operation, when the network controller (20) has a
25 data message for a particular battery powered data
terminal (14) a corresponding data terminal address is
transmittsd as a paging message by the paging base
station (16), utilizing a paging signaling protocol, such as
multitons, POCSAC;, etc. over the outbound RF signal path
30 (18). The battery powered data terminal (14), normally
operable in a low power consumption (Idle) state, utilizing
an associated low power consumption paging receiver (22)
and/or paging receiver power conserving techniques, will
receive (receive and decode) the corresponding data
terminal address. Thereafter, controllably operating in a
high power consumption (Active) state entered by
activating other portions of the battery powered data
terminal (14), including a comparatively high power
5 consumption data transceiver (24), the battery powered
data terminal (14) will process ensuing data message(s).
This, naturally, includes transceiving and processing all
required inbound and outbound data traffic including data
messages, overhead, and other included information, using
10 appropriate data signaling protocols. The network
controller (20) via data base station (10), after a
sufficient time lapse or the receipt of an acknowledge
message from the battery powered data terminal (14), will
establish a data link via RF signal path (12) and transmit
15 the data message.
The block diagram of FIG. 2, where like reference
numerals refer to like segments from FIG. 1, is referenced
in the following detailed explanation of the battery
powered data terminal embodiment of the instant
20 invention. An antenna (26) is coupled to both the
associated paging receiver (22) and the data transceiver
(24). The paging receiver (22) may in practice represent a
low power consumption integrated subpart of the data
transceiver (24), itself or it may be provided as a
25 separate, independent unit. In any event paging receiver
(22), supplied by a power source (32), such as a battery,
receives the data terminal address and provides the
received address at input (28) to control logic (30). The
control logic (30), also coupled to power source (32), in
30 response to the received address at input (28) will provide
a data enable signal at output (34) to activate or enable,
for example by switching power on at input (36), the data
transceiver (24). With the data transceiver (24) now
enabled, Active state, the battery powered data terminal
5 ~ ~ .3 ' ~ ~
is no longer in an Idle state and processing of data
messages may occur.
After all processing of data messages has been
completed, as determined by, for example control logic
5 (30) detecting no data activity for a predetermined period
of time, the data transceiver (24) may be disabled by
control logic (30) sending a disable signal at output (34)
and/or removing power at input (36). Alternatively the
data transceiver (24) may be permitted to disable itself.
1 0 In either event, the data transceiver (24), may optionally
notify the network controller (20) by sending a disabled
(I'm Idle) message, and send an indication at output (38) to
control logic (30). In any event, the data terminal is
caused to reenter the "Idle" state where power
1 5 consumption is again comparatively low.
When the battery powered data terminal (14),
specifically control logic (30), detects user activity, by
for example the keyboard (40) being used, all such user
interface elements, keyboard (40), display (42), etc., may
20 be activated at "I/O"s (44, 46). If the user activity
requires processing of data messages, the data enable
signal may be provided and the data transceiver (24) thus
enabled as above described. After all user activity and
required data messages are processed the battery powered
25 data terminal (14) reenters the "Idle" state.
The instant invention, viewed as a method, may be
further appreciated by referring to FIG. 3 and the following
discussion. The flow chart information is intended as
appropriate programming flow for a microprocessor (not
3 0 specifically shown) portion of control logic (30) .
The battery powered data terminal battery saving
arrangement, is intended to normally operate in an Idle
state (100), comparatively low power consumption state,
with a data terminal address receiver (paging receiver
6 k ' O~
(22)) enabled, e. g. powered up, etc. As long as the specific
data terminal address has not been received (102) nor a
user interface, e. g. keyboard, used (104), the arrangement
remains in the Idle state (100). If the keyboard, for
5 example, is used (104), the user interface elements are
enabled at step (106) (data terminal (14) enters an Active
state) and processing of data messages may be required as
indicated at (108). If such processing is required (108), or
the data terminal address is received (102), the control
10 logic (30) provides a data enable signal indicated at (110)
and the data transceiver (24) is effectively enabled at
(112). The data transceiver (24) is now in another active
state that may also include supplying power to user
interface elements and processing of data messages may
15 occur (114). Optionally, an acknowledgment of the
received data terminal address may be transmitted. When
an absence of user and data activity is detected, an
optional disable message is transmitted as shown at step
(118) and the data transceiver (24) and/or user interface
20 elements are disabled at (120), thereby returning the data
terminal battery saving arrangement to the "Idle" state
(100). Accordingly, by operating the comparatively high
power consumption portions of the battery powered data
terminal (14) only when and if required, effective data
25 communications may be provided and a substantial
improvement in battery life realized.
