Abstract:
The present invention relates to a communication apparatus and a method for controlling the same, which controls an operation mode of a communication unit in a portable terminal capable of supporting the portable Internet (Wibro). In the present invention, when the communication unit of the portable terminal that provides the Wibro service is in a sleep mode, the communication unit is not periodically switched (waken up) to a normal mode but is switched to the normal mode only when a traffic indication message containing a mode-setting value for returning to the normal mode is received from a base station. Then, the portable terminal can receive a signal transmitted from the base station through the Wibro. Therefore, the present invention has an advantage in that power consumption of the portable terminal is reduced when the Wibro service is not used.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a communication apparatus (Wibro), and more particularly, to a communication apparatus and a method for controlling the same, wherein a communication unit of the communication apparatus is switched from a sleep mode to a normal mode in accordance with a mode-setting value received from a base station.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     With the remarkable development in electronic communication technology, a variety of wireless communication services using wireless networks are provided. Accordingly, services provided by mobile communication systems using wireless communication networks are developed into multimedia communication services for transmitting circuit data, packet data and the like as well as into voice services.  
         [0005]     Accordingly, the Wireless Broadband (Wibro), which is a high-speed portable Internet service that guarantees portability and mobility while providing communication services at an inexpensive price, has come to the front.  
         [0006]     In order to use the Wibro service, a communication unit that is a portable Internet unit should be provided within various types of portable terminals such as a notebook computer and a personal digital assistant (PDA). Therefore, a user can connect to the Internet and receive a variety of information and contents not only in an indoor or outdoor stand-still environment, but also in a mobile environment of a walking-speed level or a medium- or low-speed level. Furthermore, techniques for providing services even in a high-speed mobile environment are being developed.  
         [0007]     Here, the communication unit is set to be automatically switched to a sleep mode if data transmission is blocked for a predetermined period of time in order to save power consumed by a portable terminal.  
         [0008]     However, there is inconvenience in that data containing information on a sleep interval need to be provided to a base station to switch the communication unit to the sleep mode.  
         [0009]     Furthermore, since the communication unit automatically wakes up after a predetermined period of time is elapsed even though it has been switched to the sleep mode, power is supplied to the communication unit even while the Wibro service is not used, resulting in unnecessary power consumption.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication apparatus and a method for controlling the same, wherein a communication unit of the communication apparatus is switched to a normal mode in accordance with a mode-setting value contained in a traffic indication message received from a base station.  
         [0011]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a communication apparatus and a method for controlling the same, wherein a communication unit of the communication apparatus is simply switched from a sleep mode to a normal mode.  
         [0012]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a communication apparatus and a method for controlling the same, wherein power consumption is reduced by minimizing power applied to a communication unit of the communication apparatus.  
         [0013]     According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the objects, there is provided a communication apparatus comprising a communication unit for performing communication with a base station, and a mode control unit for performing control such that a mode state of the communication unit is selectively switched in accordance with a message received from the base station.  
         [0014]     The communication unit may comprise an RF transceiver unit for performing communication with the base station; and a storage unit for temporarily storing a mode-setting value contained in a traffic indication message received through the RF transceiver unit.  
         [0015]     The communication unit may transmit a sleep request message to the base station and perform switching to a sleep mode in accordance with a response message corresponding to the sleep request message.  
         [0016]     The communication unit may be a portable Internet unit.  
         [0017]     The storage unit may be a buffer memory that automatically deletes the mode-setting value if the mode-setting value is applied to the mode switching.  
         [0018]     The mode control unit may comprise a trigger generation unit for generating a trigger signal to switch the mode state of the communication unit in accordance with a mode-setting value contained in the received message.  
         [0019]     The mode control unit may be an embedded controller for performing control such that the mode state of the communication unit is switched in accordance with a mode-setting value contained in the received message.  
         [0020]     The mode control unit may be a microcomputer for performing control such that the mode state of the communication unit in accordance with a mode-setting value contained in the received message.  
         [0021]     The mode control unit may maintain the communication unit in a sleep mode if the mode-setting value is a first mode value (negative), and perform control such that the communication unit is switched to a normal mode if the mode-setting value is a second mode value (positive).  
         [0022]     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a communication apparatus, comprising the steps of receiving a communication service request message from a communication unit of the communication apparatus that is in a sleep mode; checking a mode-setting value contained in the communication service request message; and performing control such that a mode state of the communication unit is selectively switched in accordance with the mode-setting value.  
         [0023]     The method may further comprise the step of receiving a sleep response message from a base station in response to a sleep request message, and switching the mode state of the communication unit from a normal mode to the sleep mode.  
         [0024]     The method may further comprise the steps of transmitting a data transmission request message to a base station if the communication unit is switched to a normal mode; and receiving data transmitted from the base station.  
         [0025]     The mode-setting value may be either a first mode value (negative) for maintaining the communication unit in the sleep mode or a second mode value (positive) for switching the communication unit to a normal mode.  
         [0026]     The step of performing control of switching of the mode state may comprise the step of, if it is checked that the mode-setting value is the first mode value, continuously maintaining the sleep mode of the communication unit.  
         [0027]     The step of performing control of switching of the mode state may comprise the steps of, if it is checked that the mode-setting value is the second mode value, generating a trigger signal for switching the communication unit to the normal mode; and performing control such that the communication unit is switched to the normal mode in response to the trigger signal.  
         [0028]     The checking step may comprise the step of checking the mode-setting value in a polling scheme.  
         [0029]     According to the present invention constructed as above, since the communication unit that is currently in a sleep mode is switched to a normal mode in accordance with a mode-setting value contained in a traffic indication message transmitted from a base station, it can be seen that power is supplied only while a communication service is provided. Therefore, there is an advantage in that power consumed by the communication unit can be reduced. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0030]     The above and other objects, features and advantages of he present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0031]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a communication apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0032]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram illustrating a method for controlling a communication apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0033]     Hereinafter, a communication apparatus and a method for controlling the same according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0034]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the configuration of a communication apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0035]     The present invention provides a communication apparatus (e.g., terminal)  100  for transmitting and receiving data to and from a base station  110  that serves as a repeater.  
         [0036]     The terminal  100  is provided with a portable Internet unit  120  as a communication unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from the base station  110 . The portable Internet unit  120  has an RF transceiver unit  122  for receiving a traffic indication message MOB_TRF-IND even when the terminal  100  is in a sleep mode.  
         [0037]     In addition, the portable Internet unit  120  has a buffer memory  124  for receiving the traffic indication message transmitted from the base station  110  through the RF transceiver unit  122  and temporarily storing a mode-setting value contained in the traffic indication message. The buffer memory  124  can temporarily store data information provided by the base station  110  even when the terminal  100  is in a sleep mode, thereby preventing loss of data. Here, it is preferred that the mode-setting value stored in the buffer memory  124  be automatically deleted when the mode of the portable Internet unit  120  has been switched in accordance with the mode-setting value.  
         [0038]     Two types of mode-setting values are selectively included in the traffic indication message. The mode-setting values are a first mode value (negative) for maintaining the portable Internet unit  120  in a sleep mode and a second mode value (positive) for switching the portable Internet unit  120  to a normal mode.  
         [0039]     The terminal  100  is provided with a mode control unit  130  for switching a mode state of the portable Internet unit  120  in accordance with the mode-setting value stored in the buffer memory  124 . Here, the mode control unit  130  has a trigger circuit (not shown), which is a trigger generation unit for selectively generating a trigger signal in accordance with the mode-setting value. In addition, the mode control unit  130  may be an embedded controller or a microcomputer for reading the mode-setting value stored in the buffer memory  124  and generating a mode-switching signal to directly switch the portable Internet unit  120  to a normal mode in accordance with a result of the reading. Although the trigger generation unit, the embedded controller or the microcomputer is selectively provided as the mode control unit  130 , the function of switching the mode state of the portable Internet unit  120  is the same in any case. However, since signals generated to perform the switching function and processes of controlling the switching are different from one another in the trigger generation unit, the embedded controller and the microcomputer, they will be separately described below.  
         [0040]     Next, a method for controlling a communication apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 2  shows a flow diagram illustrating respective steps of a method for controlling the communication apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0042]     First, a description will be made in connection with a case where a trigger generation unit is employed as the mode control unit  130 .  
         [0043]     In this case, if a communication service is not used, the terminal  100  transmits a sleep request message MOB_SLP-REQ to the base station  110  through the RF transceiver unit  122  in order to switch the portable Internet unit  120  of the terminal  100  to a sleep mode (step S 200 ). Then, the base station  110  determines whether to approve the transmitted sleep request message MOB_SLP-REQ and transmits a sleep response message MOB_SLP-RSP for switching the portable Internet unit  120  to the sleep mode to the terminal  110  (step S 202 ).  
         [0044]     Accordingly, the terminal  100  switches the power state of the portable Internet unit  120  to the sleep mode in step S 204 .  
         [0045]     Thereafter, the base station  110  transmits a traffic indication message MOB_TRF-IND containing a mode-setting value to the terminal  100  in which the portable Internet unit  120  is in the sleep mode. Accordingly, descriptions will be described in connection with two cases where the terminal  100  is continuously maintained in the sleep mode and is switched to a normal mode in accordance with the traffic indication message MOB_TRF-IND containing the mode-setting value.  
         [0046]     First, a case where the mode-setting value of the transmitted traffic indication message MOB_TRF-IND is the first mode value (negative) will be described.  
         [0047]     In step S 206 , if the traffic indication message MOB_TRF-IND of the first mode value (negative) is transmitted, the RF transceiver unit  122  provided in the portable Internet unit  120  receives the traffic indication message MOB_TRF-IND. Then, the buffer memory  124  temporarily stores the first mode value (negative) contained in the traffic indication message MOB_TRF-IND (step S 208 ).  
         [0048]     Then, in step S 210 , the trigger generation unit  130  does not generate a trigger signal in accordance with the first mode value (negative) stored in the buffer memory  124 . Therefore, the terminal  100  is continuously maintained in the sleep mode. Here, the RF transceiver unit  122  can receive the traffic indication message or the like even while the portable Internet unit  120  is in the sleep mode.  
         [0049]     Second, a case where the mode-setting value of the transmitted traffic indication message MOB_TRF-IND is the second mode value (positive) will be described.  
         [0050]     In step S 212 , if the traffic indication message MOB_TRF-IND of the second mode value (positive) is transmitted, the RF transceiver unit  122  provided in the portable Internet unit  120  receives the traffic indication message MOB_TRF-IND. Then, the buffer memory  124  temporarily stores the second mode value (positive) contained in the traffic indication message MOB_TRF-IND (step S 214 ).  
         [0051]     Then, the trigger generation unit  130  generates a trigger signal and switches the portable Internet unit  120  to the normal mode in accordance with the second mode value (positive) stored in the buffer memory  124 , i.e., a value that instructs the terminal to be ready since there are data to be transmitted (steps S 216  and S 218 ). That is, if the base station  110  has data to be transmitted to the terminal  100 , the traffic indication message has the second mode value (positive). At this time, if mode switching is completed, the buffer memory  124  preferably deletes the second mode value temporarily stored in step S 214 .  
         [0052]     If the portable Internet unit  120  is switched to the normal mode in step S 218 , the terminal  100  transmits a data transmission request message to the base station  110  through the portable Internet unit  120  to notify that the portable Internet unit  120  is currently in the normal mode (step S 220 ).  
         [0053]     Accordingly, the base station  110  transmits certain data to be transmitted to the portable Internet unit  120  of the terminal  100  (step S 222 ).  
         [0054]     Next, although not shown in the drawings, a case where an embedded controller or a microcomputer is employed as the mode control unit  130  will be briefly described.  
         [0055]     If a communication service is not used, the terminal  100  transmits a sleep request message MOB_SLP-REQ to the base station  110  through the RF transceiver unit  122  in order to switch the portable Internet unit  120  of the terminal  100  to the sleep mode.  
         [0056]     Then, the base station  110  determines whether to approve the transmitted sleep request message MOB_SLP-REQ and transmits a sleep response message MOB_SLP-RSP to the terminal  110  in order to switch the portable Internet unit  120  to the sleep mode.  
         [0057]     In response thereto, the terminal  100  switches the portable Internet unit  120  to the sleep mode.  
         [0058]     Next, the base station  110  transmits a traffic indication message containing a mode-setting value to the terminal  100  in a state where the portable Internet unit  120  is in the sleep mode. That is, the base station  110  transmits a traffic indication message containing a mode-setting value of either the first mode value (negative) or the second mode value (positive) to the terminal  100 .  
         [0059]     Then, the RF transceiver unit  122  provided in the portable Internet unit  120  receives the traffic indication message, and the buffer memory  124  temporarily stores the mode-setting value contained in the traffic indication message.  
         [0060]     Accordingly, the embedded controller or the microcomputer reads the mode-setting value temporarily stored in the buffer memory  124  and generates a mode-switching signal in accordance with the mode-setting value.  
         [0061]     If the mode-setting value is the second mode value (positive), the embedded controller or the microcomputer generates a mode-switching message, i.e., a wake-up signal, to switch the portable Internet unit  120  to the normal mode. On the contrary, if the mode-setting value is the first mode value (negative), the embedded controller or the microcomputer maintains the sleep mode. Here, the embedded controller or the microcomputer, which is the mode control unit  130 , consecutively checks the mode-setting value stored in the buffer memory  124  in a polling scheme.  
         [0062]     If the portable Internet unit  120  is switched to the normal mode, the terminal  100  transmits a data transmission request message to the base station  110  through the portable Internet unit  120  to notify that the portable Internet unit  120  is currently in the normal mode.  
         [0063]     In response thereto, the base station  110  transmits certain data to the portable Internet unit  120  of the terminal  100 .  
         [0064]     It is understood from the aforementioned steps in the present invention that the portable Internet unit  120  currently in a sleep mode is switched to a normal mode in accordance with a mode-setting value contained in a traffic indication message transmitted from the base station  110 , thereby supplying power only when a portable Internet service is used. Accordingly, the present invention has an advantage in that power consumed by the portable Internet unit  120  can be reduced.  
         [0065]     It is expected to obtain the following effects from the communication apparatus and the method for controlling the same according to the present invention described above in detail.  
         [0066]     According to the present invention, since a communication unit of the communication apparatus currently in a sleep mode is switched to a normal mode in accordance with a mode-setting value contained in a traffic indication message transmitted from a base station, power can be supplied only when a communication service is provided. Thus, the present invention has an advantage in that power supplied to the communication unit can be saved.  
         [0067]     Furthermore, the present invention has an advantage in that the communication unit in the sleep mode can be simply switched to the normal mode.  
         [0068]     Although the present invention has been described above in connection with the specific preferred embodiments, it is only for illustrative purposes. It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, changes and equivalents can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the true technical scope of the present invention should be defined by the appended claims.