Wireless communication device having reduced power consumption

摘要

A wireless communication device is disclosed that is capable of reduced power consumption. Uplink and downlink sub-frames in a WiMAX, 802.16m or LTE environment often include several vacant symbols during which power-hungry hardware and software components need not operate at full power. By analyzing a physical layer beacon and control information of a received signal, the specific locations of data bursts can be determined, as well as periods of needed operation of a receiver module to effectively decode those data bursts. The receiver module can otherwise be controlled to operate in a LOW power state during remaining periods of vacant time, thereby conserving power consumption and extending battery life.

主权项

1. A wireless communication device, comprising:
a receiver module configured to receive a signal; a power reduction module configured to reduce a power consumption of the receiver module based on the received signal, the power reduction module including:
a signal analysis module configured to decode a control information portion of the received signal associated with a control information time period in the received signal, and to determine a location of needed information in the received signal based on decoded control information; anda power control module configured to control the receiver module to operate in a HIGH power state during a time period that includes an entirety of the associated control information time period and an additional time period immediately after the control information time period, and during an information time period corresponding to the location of the needed information, and to control the receiver module to operate in a LOW power state during another time period of the received signal; a measurement module configured to measure a signal characteristic; and a decoder module configured to decode the needed information based on the measured signal characteristic; wherein when the needed information is separated from the control information portion by a predetermined delay, the measurement module is configured to measure the signal characteristic based only on wake-up signals received during a second period of time that immediately precedes the needed information, and wherein when the needed information is separated from the control information portion by less than the predetermined delay, the measurement module is configured to measure the signal characteristic after the information time period.