Patent ID: 6044282
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: H04W,Y02D

Abstract:
In a wireless network of communicating player units having a predetermined rest interval between player unit communications, wherein the rest interval includes a predetermined first wait time and a predetermined second wait time, significantly longer than the first wait time, a system for a player unit to conserve power between communications comprising:a high speed clock having an input to energize said high speed clock, and an output operatively connected to communication circuits to provide a high speed clock period, T.sub.1, whereby said clock is used to execute procedures during a communication;a low speed clock with a rate of power consumption that is low compared to said high speed clock, and having an output to provide a low speed clock period T.sub.2 ;a first counter circuit having a first input operatively connected to said high speed clock output to determine the first waiting time by counting a predetermined number, n.sub.1, of high speed clock periods, said first counter circuit having an output to provide a first wait time signal after the first wait time is counted;a second counter circuit having an input operatively connected to said low speed clock output to determine the second wait time by counting a predetermined number, n.sub.2 of low speed clock periods, said second counter circuit having an output to provide a second wait time signal after the second wait time is counted;a power controller circuit having a first input operatively connected to said first counter circuit output, a second input operatively connected to said second counter circuit output, and an output operatively connected to said high speed clock input, to de-energize said high speed clock during the counting of the second wait time, and to energize said high speed clock when the second wait time signal is received, whereby the rest interval is precisely timed despite said high speed clock being de-energized for a majority of the rest interval.