Reduced Power Consumption in a Communication Device

Abstract

A method for controlling power consumption in a communication device is provided. The method includes powering down a receiver of the communication device for a selected period of time and, when the selected period of time expires, powering up the receiver to check for incoming data.

1 - 19 . (canceled)  
     
     
         20 . (canceled)  
     
     
         21 . A method for controlling power consumption in a remote communication device comprising: 
 powering down at least part of a receiver circuit of a remote communication device for a predetermined power down period based on a transmission;    powering up the at least part of a receiver circuit of the remote communication device after the predetermined power down period; and    determining at a head end when the predetermined power down period has elapsed.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein powering down at least part of a receiver circuit of the remote communication device further comprises: 
 powering down based on a received transmission.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein powering down at least part of a receiver circuit of the remote communication device further comprises: 
 powering down based on a transmission indicating an end of a data transfer.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 determining an end of a data transfer; and    wherein powering down at least part of a receiver circuit of the remote communication device powers down based on the determined end of the data transfer.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein powering up the at least part of a receiver circuit of the remote communication device further comprises: 
 powering up the at least part of a receiver circuit for at least a predetermined power up period.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 powering down the at least a part of a receiver circuit of the remote communication device again when a transmission is not received at the remote communication device while the receiver circuit is powered up.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein powering down further comprises: 
 reducing power consumption of the at least part of the receiver circuit.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein powering down further comprises: 
 cutting off power to the at least part of the receiver circuit.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein powering up further comprises: 
 powering up at least part of the powered down parts of the receiver circuit.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 synchronizing transmission of signals from the head end with the predetermined power down period of the remote communication device.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 synchronizing a control circuit at the head end based on the predetermined power down period of the remote communication device.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein synchronizing a control circuit further comprises: 
 synchronizing a counter in the control circuit based on the predetermined power down period of the remote communication device.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein powering down further comprises: 
 powering down based on a message received at the remote communication device.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein powering down further comprises: 
 powering down based on a signal detected at the remote communication device.    
     
     
         35 . A method for controlling power consumption from a head end comprising: 
 starting a predetermined time period based on a transmission between a remote communication device and a head end; and    waiting until an end of the predetermined time period to send a transmission to the remote device.    
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising: 
 sending a transmission to the remote device; and    wherein starting a predetermined time period is based on the transmission sent to the remote device.    
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising: 
 synchronizing the sending of a transmission with the predetermined time period.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising: 
 synchronizing a control circuit with the predetermined time period.    
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein synchronizing further comprises: 
 synchronizing a counter in the control circuit with the predetermined time period.    
     
     
         40 . A method for controlling power consumption at a remote communication device comprising: 
 powering down at least part of a receiver circuit for a predetermined power down period based on a transmission between the remote communication device and a head end;    powering up the at least part of a receiver circuit when the predetermined power down period has elapsed; and    checking for incoming transmissions while the receiver is powered up.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising: 
 receiving a transmission from a head end; and    wherein powering down powers down based on the transmission received from the head end.    
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein powering down at least part of a receiver circuit, further comprises: 
 powering down based on a received transmission.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein powering down at least part of a receiver circuit further comprises: 
 powering down based on a transmission indicating an end of a data transfer.    
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising: 
 determining an end of a data transfer; and    wherein powering down at least part of a receiver circuit powers down the at least part of a receiver circuit based on the determined end of the data transfer.    
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein powering up the at least part of a receiver circuit further comprises: 
 powering up the at least part of a receiver circuit for at least a predetermined power up period.    
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising: 
 powering down the at least a part of a receiver circuit again when a transmission is not received while the receiver is powered up.    
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein powering down further comprises: 
 reducing power consumption of the at least part of the receiver circuit.    
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein powering down further comprises: 
 cutting off power to the at least part of the receiver circuit.    
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein powering up further comprises: 
 powering up at least a portion of the powered down parts of the receiver circuit.    
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein powering down further comprises: 
 powering down based on a received message.    
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein powering down further comprises: 
 powering down based on a detected signal.