Power conservation in wireless client terminals and system latency reduction using a proxy device

A method operational on a client terminal, comprising:

• sending a message including a request for a proxy device to operate as a proxy by monitoring a signaling/control channel for the client terminal and forwarding incoming messages from the signaling/control channel to the client terminal via a second communication interface;
• sending a message including an indication for an access node that the signaling/control channel is being monitored by a first communication interface at a short cycle rate;
• powering down the first communication interface while an access node still believes that the client terminal is monitoring with the first communication interface at the indicated short cycle rate;
• and
• monitoring the second communication interface for forwarded incoming messages from the proxy device.

A client terminal, comprising:

• means for sending a message to a proxy device requesting it to operate as a proxy by monitoring a signaling/control channel for the client terminal and forwarding incoming messages from the signaling/control channel to the client terminal via the second communication interface;
• means for sending a message to an access node indicating that the signaling/control channel is being monitored by a first communication interface at a short cycle rate;
• means for powering down the first communication interface while the access node still believes that the client terminal is monitoring with the first communication interface at the indicated short cycle rate;
• and
• means for monitoring the second communication interface for forwarded incoming messages from the proxy device.

A processor-readable medium having one or more instructions operational on a client terminal for conserving power at the client terminal and reducing latency, which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

• send a message to a proxy device requesting it to operate as a proxy by monitoring a signaling/control channel for the client terminal and forwarding incoming messages from the signaling/control channel to the client terminal via the second communication interface;
• send a message to an access node indicating that the signaling/control channel is being monitored by a first communication interface at a short cycle rate;
• power down a first communication interface while the access node still believes that the client terminal is monitoring with the first communication interface at the indicated short cycle rate;
• and
• monitor the second communication interface for forwarded incoming messages from the proxy device.

A proxy device, comprising:

• a first communication interface for communicating with an access node;
• a second communication interface for wirelessly communicating with a client terminal;
• and
• a processing circuit coupled between the first communication interface and the second communication interface, the processing circuit adapted to:
• receive a request from the client terminal to operate as a proxy for the client terminal while the client terminal powers down its own first communication interface;
• send an acknowledgement to the client terminal that it will operate as a proxy for the client terminal;
• monitor for incoming messages on a signaling/control channel for the client terminal via the first communication interface at a cycle rate indicated by the client terminal, wherein the same cycle rate is also communicated to an access node to indicate that the signaling/control channel is being monitored by a first communication interface of the client terminal at the cycle rate, even though the first communication interface of the client terminal is powered down;
• and
• forward an incoming message received via the first communication interface to the client terminal via the second communication interface.

A method operational on a proxy device, comprising:

• receiving a request from a client terminal to operate as a proxy for the client terminal while the client terminal powers down its own first communication interface;
• monitoring for incoming messages on a signaling/control channel for the client terminal via a first communication interface of the proxy device at a cycle rate indicated by the client terminal, the same cycle rate also being communicated to an access node to indicate that the signaling/control channel is being monitored by a first communication interface of the client terminal at the cycle rate, even though the first communication interface of the client terminal is powered down;
• and
• forwarding an incoming message received via the first communication interface to the client terminal via a second communication interface.

A proxy device, comprising:

• means for receiving a request from the client terminal to operate as a proxy for the client terminal while the client terminal powers down its own first communication interface;
• means for monitoring for incoming messages on a signaling/control channel for the client terminal via a first communication interface at a cycle rate indicated by the client terminal, wherein the same cycle rate is also communicated to an access node to indicate that the signaling/control channel is being monitored by a first communication interface of the client terminal at the cycle rate, even though the first communication interface of the client terminal is powered down;
• and
• means for forwarding an incoming message received from the access node via the first communication interface to the client terminal via a second communication interface.

A processor-readable medium having one or more instructions operational on a proxy device for facilitating power conservation in client terminals and reducing system latency, which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

• receive a request from the client terminal to operate as a proxy for the client terminal while the client terminal powers down its own first communication interface;
• monitor for incoming messages on a signaling/control channel for the client terminal via a first communication interface of the proxy device at a cycle rate indicated by the client terminal, wherein the same cycle rate is also communicated to an access node to indicate that the signaling/control channel is being monitored by a first communication interface of the client terminal at the cycle rate, even though the first communication interface of the client terminal is powered down;
• and
• forward an incoming message received via the first communication interface to the client terminal via the second communication interface.