Wireless Devices and Base Stations and Methods of Operating

Abstract

In one aspect, a wireless device sends a synchronisation group identifier to a network control apparatus identifying a synchronisation group of wireless devices. If the wireless device is notified that no other devices of the synchronisation group are connected to the control apparatus, the wireless device transmits a timing reference to and agrees an extended discontinuous reception time period with the control apparatus. Otherwise, the wireless device receives a timing reference and an extended discontinuous reception time period from the control apparatus. The wireless device periodically enters an idle state and powers up for reception in accordance with at least the timing reference and the extended discontinuous reception time period. In another aspect, plural base stations each use a common timing reference and a common extended discontinuous reception time period in controlling the operation of extended discontinuous reception by a synchronisation group of wireless devices.

1 . A method of operating a wireless device, the method comprising:
 a wireless device sending a synchronisation group identifier to a control apparatus of a wireless network, the synchronisation group identifier identifying a synchronisation group of wireless devices to which the wireless device belongs;   if the wireless device is notified that no other devices of said synchronisation group are connected to the control apparatus, the wireless device transmitting a timing reference to the control apparatus and agreeing an extended discontinuous reception time period with the control apparatus, said extended discontinuous reception time period being longer than an ordinary discontinuous reception time period used by the device during ordinary discontinuous reception;   else, the wireless device receiving a timing reference and an extended discontinuous reception time period from the control apparatus;   the wireless device periodically entering an idle state and powering up for reception in accordance with at least the timing reference and the extended discontinuous reception time period.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the wireless device is notified that no other devices of said synchronisation group are connected to the control apparatus by receiving a notification transmitted by the control apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the timing reference is used by the wireless device to determine when the wireless device enters the idle state and powers up so as to take into account time periods when other wireless devices of the same synchronisation group connected to said control apparatus are powered up for at least one of transmission and reception. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the timing reference sent by the wireless device is a timestamp held by the wireless device. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising the wireless device receiving an updated timing reference from the wireless network. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the wireless device is a gateway device for a capillary network of further devices which at least one of transmit data to and receive data from a wireless network via said wireless device. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor;   and at least one memory including computer program code;   the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause a wireless device that includes the apparatus at least:   to send a synchronisation group identifier to a control apparatus of a wireless network, the synchronisation group identifier identifying a synchronisation group of wireless devices to which the wireless device belongs;   to transmit a timing reference to the control apparatus and agree an extended discontinuous reception time period with the control apparatus in the case that the wireless device is notified that no other devices of said synchronisation group are connected to the control apparatus, said extended discontinuous reception time period being longer than an ordinary discontinuous reception time period used by the device during ordinary discontinuous reception;   otherwise to receive a timing reference and an extended discontinuous reception time period from the control apparatus in the case that other devices of said synchronisation group are already connected to the control apparatus;   to periodically enter an idle state and power up for reception in accordance with at least the timing reference and the extended discontinuous reception time period.   
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the processing system is constructed and arranged such that the wireless device is notified that no other devices of said synchronisation group are connected to the control apparatus by receiving a notification transmitted by the control apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the processing system is constructed and arranged such that the timing reference is used to determine when the wireless device enters the idle state and powers up so as to take into account time periods when other wireless devices of the same synchronisation group connected to said control apparatus are powered up for at least one of transmission and reception. 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the processing system is constructed and arranged such that the timing reference sent by the wireless device is a timestamp held by the wireless device. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the processing system is constructed and arranged such that the wireless device is adapted to receive an updated timing reference from the wireless network. 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the processing system is constructed and arranged such that the wireless device is capable of operating as a gateway device for a capillary network of further devices which at least one of transmit data to and receive data from a wireless network via the wireless device. 
     
     
         13 . A method of operating plural base stations, the method comprising:
 operating plural base stations, which each provide wireless service for a plurality of wireless devices, so that each base station uses a common timing reference and a common extended discontinuous reception time period in controlling the operation of extended discontinuous reception by each wireless device of a synchronisation group of wireless devices which are serviced by the plural base stations.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the common timing reference for a synchronisation group of wireless devices is received from a first wireless device of said synchronisation group of wireless devices to connect to one of the base stations. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the common timing reference is a timestamp held by the first wireless device. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the common extended discontinuous reception time period for a synchronisation group of wireless devices is obtained by negotiation between one of the base stations and a first wireless device of said synchronisation group of wireless devices to connect to said one of the base stations. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 13 , comprising each base station transmitting a paging message for reception by a wireless device during a paging window of the wireless device when the wireless device is not in discontinuous reception. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 13 , comprising operating the plural base stations so that:
 each base station uses a first common timing reference and a first common extended discontinuous reception time period in controlling the operation of extended discontinuous reception by each wireless device of a first synchronisation group of wireless devices which are serviced by the plural base stations; and so that:   each base station uses a second common timing reference and a second common extended discontinuous reception time period in controlling the operation of extended discontinuous reception by each wireless device of a second synchronisation group of wireless devices which are serviced by the plural base stations.   
     
     
         19 . Apparatus for controlling operation of plural base stations, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor;   and at least one memory including computer program code;   the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause each of plural base stations, which each provide wireless service for a plurality of wireless devices, to use a common timing reference and a common extended discontinuous reception time period in controlling the operation of extended discontinuous reception by each wireless device of a synchronisation group of wireless devices which are serviced by the plural base stations.   
     
     
         20 . Apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the processing system is constructed and arranged such that the common timing reference for a synchronisation group of wireless devices is received from a first wireless device of said synchronisation group of wireless devices to connect to one of the base stations. 
     
     
         21 . Apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the processing system is constructed and arranged such that the common extended discontinuous reception time period for a synchronisation group of wireless devices is obtained by negotiation between one of the base stations and a first wireless device of said synchronisation group of wireless devices to connect to said one of the base stations. 
     
     
         22 . Apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the processing system is constructed and arranged to cause each base station to transmit a paging message for reception by a wireless device during a paging window of the wireless device when the wireless device is not in discontinuous reception. 
     
     
         23 . Apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the processing system is constructed and arranged such that:
 each base station uses a first common timing reference and a first common extended discontinuous reception time period in controlling the operation of extended discontinuous reception by each wireless device of a first synchronisation group of wireless devices which are serviced by the plural base stations; and such that:   each base station uses a second common timing reference and a second common extended discontinuous reception time period in controlling the operation of extended discontinuous reception by each wireless device of a second synchronisation group of wireless devices which are serviced by the plural base stations.