Discontinuous receive operation in a wireless terminal

Abstract

An approach for synchronizing operation of a first communications terminal with operation of a second communications terminal involves establishing a communications link between the first communications terminal and the second communications terminal, the communications link being defined by a communication standard; and synchronizing a first clock coupled to the first communications terminal with a second clock coupled to the second communications terminal by receiving a time standard signal into the first communications terminal independently of the communication standard. This approach can be implemented using a first clock; a first communications terminal coupled to the first clock; a second clock; a second communications terminal coupled to the second clock; a communications link defined by a communication standard; and a transmitter transmitting a time standard signal independently of the communication standard to the first clock and setting the first clock in response to the time standard signal.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of synchronizing operation of a first communications terminal with operation of a second communications terminal comprising: 
 establishing a communications link between the first communications terminal and the second communications terminal, the communications link being defined by a communication standard; and    synchronizing a first clock coupled to the first communications terminal with a second clock coupled to the second communications terminal by receiving a time standard signal into the first communications terminal independently of the communication standard.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said establishing comprises: 
 communicating via an air communication channel between a base station infrastructure and said first communications terminal; and  
 communicating via a public switched telephone network between the base station infrastructure and said second communications terminal.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising: 
 transmitting from said second communications terminal and via said base station infrastructure a command signal; and  
 receiving the command signal at the first communications terminal.  
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said synchronizing comprises: 
 transmitting a time standard signal from a transmitter via a time standard communication channel;  
 receiving the time standard signal into said first clock; and  
 setting said first clock in response to the time standard signal.  
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said synchronizing further comprises: 
 receiving the time standard signal into said second clock; and  
 setting said second clock in response to the time standard signal.  
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising: 
 transmitting said time standard signal from a satellite transmitter via said time standard communication channel.  
 
     
     
         7 . A system for synchronizing a first clock with a second clock comprising: 
 said first clock;    a first communications terminal coupled to the first clock;    said second clock;    a second communications terminal coupled to the second clock;    a communications link defined by a communication standard; and    a transmitter transmitting a time standard signal independently of the communication standard to the first clock and setting the first clock in response to the time standard signal.    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 a satellite coupled to said transmitter, said transmitter transmitting said time standard signal independently of said communication standard to the second clock and setting the second clock in response to the time standard signal.  
 
     
     
         9 . A communications system comprising: 
 a communications transceiver;    a controller coupled to the transceiver;    a clock coupled to the controller, the controller including means for powering on and powering off the communications transceiver in response to the clock; and    a time standard receiver, independent of the communications transceiver, receiving a time standard signal and setting the clock in response to the time standard signal.    
     
     
         10 . The communications system of  claim 9  wherein said time standard receiver is a Global Positioning System receiver.  
     
     
         11 . The communications system of  claim 10  wherein said communications transceiver is a cellular telephone transceiver.  
     
     
         12 . The communications system of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 an interface coupled to the controller, receiving control signals from the controller; and  
 a controlled system controlled by the interface in response to the control signals.