Electronic device with reduced power consumption

In order to improve the management of the power consumption of electronic devices (such as cellular telephones), the operating mode of an interface circuit in an electronic device may be changed when certain commands are received. In particular, when one or more commands are received that disable data communication via the interface circuit and a cellular-telephone network and/or enable communication via another interface circuit in the electronic device and a wireless local area network (WLAN), the interface circuit may be transitioned to an operating mode in which data communication via the cellular-telephone network using a communication protocol that supports only data and no voice is disabled. For example, the communication protocol may include a Long Term Evolution (LTE)-compatible communication protocol.

BACKGROUND

Field

The described embodiments relate to techniques for managing power consumption of an electronic device.

Related Art

The increasing functionality and popularity of electronic devices, such as cellular telephones, has resulted in demand for significantly higher data rates. For example, many software applications that execute on these electronic devices provide rich user experiences by receiving and transmitting large amounts of information with other electronic devices.

However, electronic devices with higher data rates typically consume significantly more power. In portable electronic devices, this increased power consumption usually decreases the operating time between recharging of the battery. In turn, the reduced operating time can degrade the user experience, which can be frustrating for consumers, and thus can adversely impact sales and customer retention.

SUMMARY

The described embodiments include an electronic device that includes: a first antenna; a second antenna; an interface circuit, coupled to the antenna, that communicates information via a cellular-telephone network; a second interface circuit, coupled to the second antenna, that communicates second information via a wireless local area network (WLAN); a processor coupled to the interface circuit and the second interface circuit; and memory that stores a program module that is executed by the processor. The program module facilitates management of operating modes of the interface circuit. After the program module receives the command disabling data communication via the cellular-telephone network and/or the second command enabling communication via the WLAN, the program module transitions the interface circuit to an operating mode. In this operating mode, data communication via the cellular-telephone network using a communication protocol having a higher data rate than third-generation cellular technology is disabled.

Note that the communication protocol may include a Long Term Evolution (LTE)-compatible communication protocol. Moreover, communication via the WLAN may involve a Wi-Fi-compatible communication protocol.

In some embodiments, the program module receives a third command enabling data communication via the cellular-telephone network. After the program module receives the third command, the program module transitions the interface circuit to a second operating mode in which data communication via the cellular-telephone network using the communication protocol is enabled. Alternatively or additionally, the program module receives a fourth command disabling communication via the WLAN. After the program module receives the fourth command, the program module transitions the interface circuit to the second operating mode. Note that, when the interface circuit is in the second operating mode, power consumption of the electronic device is increased relative to that in the operating mode.

Another embodiment provides a method that includes at least some of the operations performed by the electronic device.

Another embodiment provides a computer-program product for use with the electronic device. This computer-program product includes instructions for at least some of the operations performed by the electronic device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In order to improve the management of the power consumption of electronic devices (such as cellular telephones), the operating mode of an interface circuit in an electronic device may be changed when certain commands are received. In particular, when one or more commands are received that disable data communication via the interface circuit and a cellular-telephone network and/or enable communication via another interface circuit in the electronic device and a wireless local area network (WLAN), the interface circuit may be transitioned to an operating mode in which data communication via the cellular-telephone network using a communication protocol having a higher data rate than third-generation cellular technology is disabled. Note that third-generation cellular technology is compatible with International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 specifications by the International Telecommunication Union of Geneva Switzerland, such as the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) or Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA). In the discussion that follows, the communication protocol may include a Long Term Evolution (LTE)-compatible communication protocol (such as LTE 4G or LTE Advanced from the 3rdGeneration Partnership Project in Asia, Europe and North America) with data rates between 100 Mb/s and 1 Gb/s, and communication via the WLAN may involve a Wi-Fi-compatible communication protocol (i.e., a communication protocol compatible with one or more of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard 802.11). However, these are illustrative examples, and the communication technique can be used with a variety of communication protocols.

The communication between the electronic devices is shown inFIG. 1, which presents a block diagram illustrating electronic devices110wirelessly communicating. In particular, these electronic devices may wirelessly communicate via a cellular network (using UMTS, LTE, etc.), a WLAN, a Bluetooth™ (from the Bluetooth Special Interests Group of Kirkland, Wash.) network, and/or another type of wireless network. For example, the wireless communication may involve communicating information via an established wireless network, such as via a base station112. Alternatively, the wireless communication may involve electronic devices110: discovering one another by scanning wireless channels; transmitting and receiving advertising frames on wireless channels to enable electronic devices110to make initial contact, followed by exchanging subsequent data/management frames (such as connect requests) to establish a connection; configuring security options (e.g., IPSEC); transmitting and receiving packets or frames via the connection, etc.

As described further below with reference toFIG. 4, each of electronic devices110may include subsystems, such as a networking subsystem, a memory subsystem and a processor subsystem. In addition, electronic devices110may include radios in the networking subsystems. More generally, electronic devices110can include (or can be included within) any electronic devices with the networking subsystems that enable electronic devices110to wirelessly communicate with another electronic device.

As can be seen inFIG. 1, wireless signals114(represented by jagged lines) are transmitted from a radio in electronic device110-1. These wireless signals114are received by radios in one or more of the other electronic devices inFIG. 1, either directly or indirectly (for example, wireless signals114may be relayed by base station112).

In the described embodiments, processing information (such as a packet or frame) in either of electronic devices110-1and110-2includes: receiving wireless signals114with the information; decoding/extracting the information from received wireless signals114to acquire the information; and processing the information (such as a command or a payload in a frame or a packet).

Although we describe the network environment shown inFIG. 1as an example, in alternative embodiments, different numbers or types of electronic devices may be present. For example, some embodiments comprise more or fewer electronic devices. As another example, in another embodiment, different electronic devices are transmitting and/or receiving information.

The wireless communication capabilities of electronic devices110may not be static. For example, a user of one of electronic devices110(such as electronic device110-1) may have a variety of wireless communication services available at their home or office, such as Wi-Fi or WiMax (which are examples of WLANs). These wireless communication services may provide faster data rates than a cellular telephone network. In addition, data communication via these wireless communication services may be less expensive than the data planes offered by cellular-telephone service providers, and this data communication may not be limited (e.g., there may not be expensive overage charges).

As a consequence, when one of the wireless communication services is available, the user may disable data communication via the cellular-telephone network (however, voice communication via the cellular-telephone network may still be enabled so the user can receive incoming phone calls). Furthermore, because high-data-rate data communication via the cellular-telephone network typically consumes significant amounts of power, the user may disable data communication via the cellular-telephone network when their battery is almost discharged, thereby preventing further power consumption by frequent background data traffic on electronic device110-1and, thus, extending the time until the battery needs to be recharged.

For example, many cellular telephones are equipped to communicate using several communication protocols, such as: UTMS, Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), and LTE. While GSM and UMTS support both voice and data communication, in the next few years LTE is expected to only support data communication. Moreover, even when data communication is idle, many cellular telephones default to LTE. However, even periodic background communication via LTE can consume significant amounts of power (e.g., the power consumption is larger than when UMTS or GSM is used). For example, LTE neighbor searches every discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle consume significant amounts of power.

Furthermore, these types of data-driven configuration defaults may result in a cellular telephone staying on a weak signal or communication protocol, even though a stronger (albeit lower data rate) alternative (such as GSM) is available. This can reduce the quality and/or reliability of voice communication. In particular, once electronic device110-1camps on LTE, and the user makes/receives a voice call, electronic device110-1may have to do a circuit-switched fallback to UMTS or GSM to set up the voice call. This procedure can be cumbersome, and often leads to significantly higher voice-call setup delays or even a call drop sometimes.

To address these problems, if cellular data communication is disabled on electronic device110-1(e.g., the user turns it off using a user interface and/or WLAN is available and enabled), LTE radio access technology may be disabled. Note that disabling a radio access technology means that electronic device110-1may not search and look for cells that belong or use the same radio access technology. When electronic device110-1is in this operating mode, it may try to camp on the strongest GSM or UMTS cell which offers the best for voice communication. (Thus, by disabling LTE, the user experience with voice communication may be improved.) Moreover, when cellular data communication is enabled on electronic device110-1(e.g., the user turns it on and/or communication via the WLAN is unavailable or is disabled), electronic device110-1may resume normal operation per the current design and communication standards (i.e., LTE may be enabled).

This communication technique is shown inFIG. 2, which presents a flow diagram illustrating a method200for managing operating modes of an electronic device, such as electronic device400(FIG. 4). During operation, a program module executed by a processor in the electronic device receives (operation210) at least one of: a command disabling data communication via the interface circuit and a cellular-telephone network; and a command enabling communication via another interface circuit in the electronic device and a WLAN. After a program module executed by the processor receives the command disabling data communication via the cellular-telephone network and/or the command enabling communication via the WLAN, the program module transitions the interface circuit to an operating mode (operation212). In this operating mode, data communication via the cellular-telephone network using a communication protocol having a higher data rate than third-generation cellular technology is disabled.

As noted previously, the communication protocol may include an LTE-compatible communication protocol. Moreover, communication via the WLAN may involve a Wi-Fi-compatible communication protocol.

In some embodiments, when the program module receives (operation214) a command enabling data communication via the cellular-telephone network and/or a command disabling communication via the WLAN, the program module transitions the interface circuit to another operating mode (operation216) in which data communication via the cellular-telephone network using the communication protocol is enabled. When the interface circuit is in the other operating mode, power consumption of the electronic device is increased relative to that in the operating mode.

Further detail of the communication technique in an exemplary embodiment is shown inFIG. 3, which presents a flow diagram illustrating a method300for managing operating modes of an electronic device, such as electronic device400(FIG. 4). During operation of the electronic device, a user may turn off cellular-data communication (operation310). In response, the electronic device may disable LTE (operation312), i.e., the interface circuit may be transitioned to the operating mode.

While in the operating mode, the electronic device may rank available cells (operation314), such as GSM or WCDMA cells. Moreover, the electronic device may camp on the cell with the best voice-communication performance (operation316), such as the cell with the strongest signal. As long as cellular-data communication is disabled (operation322), the electronic device may evaluate the voice-communication performance (operation318) and may not perform an LTE-neighbor search (operation320). However, when cellular-data communication is enabled (operation322), the electronic device may resume regular LTE and voice-communication functions (operation324).

Therefore, by selectively transitioning the interface circuit to the operating mode when data communication via the communication protocol (such as LTE) is not needed, the communication technique may reduce the power consumption of the electronic device. Moreover, because the electronic device may camp on the best cell (e.g., among GSM and WCDMA), voice-call reliability may improve. In these ways, the communication technique may improve the user experience, which may improve sales of the electronic device, as well as customer retention.

In some embodiments of methods200(FIG. 2) and300(FIG. 3), there may be additional or fewer operations. Moreover, the order of the operations may be changed, and/or two or more operations may be combined into a single operation.

We now describe embodiments of the electronic device.FIG. 4presents a block diagram illustrating an electronic device400. This electronic device includes processing subsystem410, memory subsystem412, and networking subsystem414. Processing subsystem410includes one or more devices configured to perform computational operations. For example, processing subsystem410can include one or more microprocessors, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), microcontrollers, programmable-logic devices, and/or one or more digital signal processors (DSPs).

Memory subsystem412includes one or more devices for storing data and/or instructions for processing subsystem410and networking subsystem414. For example, memory subsystem412can include dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), and/or other types of memory. In some embodiments, instructions for processing subsystem410in memory subsystem412include: one or more program modules or sets of instructions (such as telephony-interface driver428, which may implement the communication technique), which may be executed by processing subsystem410. Note that the one or more computer programs may constitute a computer-program mechanism. Moreover, instructions in the various modules in memory subsystem412may be implemented in: a high-level procedural language, an object-oriented programming language, and/or in an assembly or machine language. Furthermore, the programming language may be compiled or interpreted, e.g., configurable or configured, to be executed by processing subsystem410.

In addition, memory subsystem412can include mechanisms for controlling access to the memory. In some embodiments, memory subsystem412includes a memory hierarchy that comprises one or more caches coupled to a memory in electronic device400. In some of these embodiments, one or more of the caches is located in processing subsystem410.

In some embodiments, memory subsystem412is coupled to one or more high-capacity mass-storage devices (not shown). For example, memory subsystem412can be coupled to a magnetic or optical drive, a solid-state drive, or another type of mass-storage device. In these embodiments, memory subsystem412can be used by electronic device400as fast-access storage for often-used data, while the mass-storage device is used to store less frequently used data.

Networking subsystem414includes one or more devices configured to couple to and communicate on a wired and/or wireless network (i.e., to perform network operations), including: control logic416, an interface circuit418(such as a cellular-telephone baseband chip), antenna420coupled to interface circuit418, an interface circuit424(such as a Wi-Fi chip), and antenna422coupled to interface circuit424. For example, networking subsystem414can include a Bluetooth™ networking system, a cellular networking system (e.g., a 3G/4G network such as UMTS, LTE, etc.), a universal serial bus (USB) networking system, a networking system based on the standards described in IEEE 802.11 (e.g., a Wi-Fi networking system), an Ethernet networking system, and/or another networking system. In particular, interface circuit418may communicate information via a cellular-telephone network, and interface circuit424may communicate the same or different information via a WLAN.

Networking subsystem414includes processors, controllers, radios/antennas, sockets/plugs, and/or other devices used for coupling to, communicating on, and handling data and events for each supported networking system. Note that mechanisms used for coupling to, communicating on, and handling data and events on the network for each network system are sometimes collectively referred to as a ‘network interface’ for the network system. Moreover, in some embodiments a ‘network’ between the electronic devices does not yet exist. Therefore, electronic device400may use the mechanisms in networking subsystem414for performing simple wireless communication between the electronic devices, e.g., transmitting advertising frames and/or scanning for advertising frames transmitted by other electronic devices as described previously.

As noted previously, during operation of electronic device400, telephony-interface driver428may receive a command disabling data communication from operating system426executing in processing subsystem410and/or a command enabling the WLAN from interface circuit424. In response, telephony-interface driver428(and, more generally, a program module) may transition interface circuit418into the operating mode (e.g., LTE may be disabled). Subsequently, if telephony-interface driver428receives a command enabling data communication from operating system426executing in processing subsystem410and/or a command disabling the WLAN from interface circuit424, telephony-interface driver428may transition interface circuit418into the other operating mode (e.g., LTE may be enabled).

Furthermore, electronic device400may include an optional power subsystem408, such as a battery that includes one or more battery packs and/or one or more battery cells.

Within electronic device400, optional power subsystem408, processing subsystem410, memory subsystem412, and networking subsystem414are coupled together using bus430. Bus430may include an electrical, optical, and/or electro-optical connection that the subsystems can use to communicate commands and data among one another. Although only one bus430is shown for clarity, different embodiments can include a different number or configuration of electrical, optical, and/or electro-optical connections between the subsystems.

In some embodiments, the electronic device includes a display subsystem432for displaying information on a display, which may include a display driver and the display, such as a liquid-crystal display, a touchscreen, etc.

Electronic device400can be (or can be included in) any electronic device with at least one network interface. For example, electronic device400can be (or can be included in): a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a server, a media player (such as an MP3 player), an appliance, a subnotebook/netbook, a tablet computer, a smartphone, a cellular telephone, a piece of testing equipment, a network appliance, a set-top box, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a toy, a controller, a digital signal processor, a game console, a computational engine within an appliance, a consumer-electronic device, a portable computing device, a personal organizer, and/or another electronic device.

Although specific components are used to describe electronic device400, in alternative embodiments, different components and/or subsystems may be present in electronic device400. For example, electronic device400may include one or more additional processing subsystems410, memory subsystems412, networking subsystems414, and/or display subsystems432. Additionally, one or more of the subsystems may not be present in electronic device400. Moreover, in some embodiments, electronic device400may include one or more additional subsystems that are not shown inFIG. 4. For example, electronic device400can include, but is not limited to, a data collection subsystem, an audio and/or video subsystem, an alarm subsystem, a media processing subsystem, and/or an input/output (I/O) subsystem. Also, although separate subsystems are shown inFIG. 4, in some embodiments, some or all of a given subsystem or component can be integrated into one or more of the other subsystems or component(s) in electronic device400. For example, in some embodiments telephony-interface driver428may be included in another software application (not shown) or an operating system426executing on electronic device400.

An integrated circuit may implement some or all of the functionality of networking subsystem414, such as a radio. Moreover, the integrated circuit may include hardware and/or software mechanisms that are used for transmitting wireless signals from electronic device400(FIG. 4) and receiving signals at electronic device400from other electronic devices (FIG. 4). Aside from the mechanisms herein described, radios are generally known in the art and hence are not described in detail. In general, networking subsystem414(FIG. 4) and/or the integrated circuit can include any number of radios. Note that the radios in multiple-radio embodiments function in a similar way to the described single-radio embodiments.

While some of the operations in the preceding embodiments were implemented in hardware or software, in general the operations in the preceding embodiments can be implemented in a wide variety of configurations and architectures. Therefore, some or all of the operations in the preceding embodiments may be performed in hardware, in software or both.