# US 2013/0281139 A1 · Energy-Efficient Detection of Network Connection Requests > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0281139 A1 - Document ID: US20130281139A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/451,088 - Filed: 2012-04-19 - Published: 2013-10-24 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-19 - Assignees: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ) - Inventors: Leif Wilhelmsson; Bengt Lindoff; Thomas Olsson; Anders Wallén - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130281139A1 ## CPC - H04W 52/0245: {according to signal strength} - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract Embodiments herein include a method implemented by a wireless device for detecting requests to connect to a wireless communications network. The method includes determining a receiver sensitivity that is sufficient, given channel conditions at the device, for the device to detect connection requests. The method then entails dynamically selecting, from among different receiver sensitivity configurations of the device, a configuration that has a receiver sensitivity at least as good as the determined sensitivity and that has less energy consumption than at least one other configuration. Finally, the method includes using the selected configuration for request detection. A wireless device herein thereby reduces its energy consumption when it is disconnected from the network, but intelligently limits the extent of that energy consumption reduction in order to maintain an ability to detect network connection requests. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method implemented by a wireless device for detecting requests to connect to a wireless communications network, the method characterized by: determining a receiver sensitivity that is sufficient, given channel conditions at the device, for the device to detect said requests; dynamically selecting, from among different receiver sensitivity configurations of the device, a configuration that has a receiver sensitivity at least as good as the determined receiver sensitivity and that has less energy consumption than at least one other configuration; and using the selected configuration to detect said requests. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said determining comprises determining the substantially worst receiver sensitivity that still permits the device to detect said requests. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting comprises selecting a configuration that has the worst receiver sensitivity at least as good as the determined receiver sensitivity. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting said requests with different receivers when using different receiver sensitivity configurations. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a receiver, and wherein the method further comprises adjusting a receiver sensitivity of the receiver to different levels when using different receiver sensitivity configurations. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising listening for said requests to be received over different signals when using different receiver sensitivity configurations. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising listening for said requests over a first frequency when using a first one of the receiver sensitivity configurations, and listening for said requests over a second frequency using a second one of the receiver sensitivity configurations. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said determining comprises: using a measurement configuration to perform channel measurements, wherein the measurement configuration is a receiver sensitivity configuration that has a better receiver sensitivity than that of at least one other configuration; and calculating the receiver sensitivity that is sufficient, based on the performed channel measurements, for the device to detect said requests. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining said receiver sensitivity comprises determining the receiver sensitivity based on information included in a received message. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising reporting information to the network indicative of the determined receiver sensitivity. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: responsive to the elapse of a first time period since the device began using a first receiver sensitivity configuration that has a worse receiver sensitivity than that of a second receiver sensitivity configuration, forcing the device to use that second configuration; and responsive to the elapse of a second time period since the device was forced to use the second configuration, returning to using the first configuration. ### Claim 12 A wireless device configured to detect requests to connect to a wireless communications network, the device comprising one or more receivers and one or more processing circuits configured to: determine a receiver sensitivity that is sufficient, given channel conditions at the device, for the device to detect said requests; dynamically select, from among different receiver sensitivity configurations of the device, a configuration that has a receiver sensitivity at least as good as the determined receiver sensitivity and that has less energy consumption than at least one other configuration; and use the selected configuration to detect said requests. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the one or more processing circuits are configured to determine the substantially worst receiver sensitivity that still permits the device to detect said requests. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the one or more processing circuits are configured to select a configuration that has the worst receiver sensitivity at least as good as the determined receiver sensitivity. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the one or more processing circuits are configured to detect said requests with different receivers when using different receiver sensitivity configurations. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the one or more processing circuits are configured to adjust a receiver sensitivity of a given receiver to different levels when using different receiver sensitivity configurations. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the one or more processing circuits are further configured to listen for said requests to be received over different signals when using different receiver sensitivity configurations. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the one or more processing circuits are further configured to listen for said requests over a first frequency when using a first one of the receiver sensitivity configurations, and to listen for said requests over a second frequency when using a second one of the receiver sensitivity configurations. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the one or more processing circuits are further configured to: use a measurement configuration to perform channel measurements, wherein the measurement configuration is a receiver sensitivity configuration that has a better receiver sensitivity than that of at least one other configuration; and calculate the receiver sensitivity that is sufficient, based on the performed channel measurements, for the device to detect said requests. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the one or more processing circuits are configured to determine the receiver sensitivity based on information included in a received message. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, further comprising a transmitter, and wherein the one or more processing circuits are further configured to report information to the network, via the transmitter, indicative of the determined receiver sensitivity. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the one or more processing circuits are further configured to: responsive to the elapse of a first time period since the device began using a first receiver sensitivity configuration that has a worse receiver sensitivity than that of a second receiver sensitivity configuration, force the device to use that second configuration; and responsive to the elapse of a second time period since the device was forced to use the second configuration, return to using the first configuration. ### Claim 23 A method implemented by a wireless node for requesting a wireless device to connect to a wireless communications network, the method comprising: generating, using a first set of transmit parameters, a first connection request signal targeted for receipt by the wireless device at a first receiver sensitivity; generating, using a second set of transmit parameters different from the first set, a second connection request signal targeted for receipt by the wireless device at a second receiver sensitivity different from the first receiver sensitivity; and transmitting the first and second connection request signals to the wireless device for requesting that the device connect to the network. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting the first and second connection request signals at least partially overlapping in time. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein said transmitting comprises alternating between transmitting the first and second connection request signals during different request intervals. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, further comprising: determining, based on when a response is received from the device, whether the device responded to the first or second connection request signal; and selectively transmitting the first or second connection request signal during subsequent request intervals, depending respectively on whether the device responded to the first or second connection request signal. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein said transmitting comprises selectively transmitting the first and second connection request signals at different times, based on information indicating a receiver sensitivity that is sufficient, given channel conditions at the device, for the device to detect said first and second connection request signals. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the first receiver sensitivity is worse than the second receiver sensitivity, and wherein said transmitting comprises switching from transmitting the first connection request signal to transmitting the second connection request signal responsive to a defined time period having elapsed without receipt of a response from the first connection request signal. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, comprising generating the first connection request signal targeted for receipt by the wireless device over a first frequency and generating the second connection request signal targeted for receipt by the wireless device over a second frequency different that the first frequency. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein the first receiver sensitivity is worse than the second receiver sensitivity, and wherein the first frequency is lower than the second frequency. ### Claim 31 A wireless node configured to request a wireless device to connect to a wireless communications network, the node comprising one or more transmitters and one or more processing circuits configured to: generate, using a first set of transmit parameters, a first connection request signal targeted for receipt by the wireless device at a first receiver sensitivity; generate, using a second set of transmit parameters different from the first set, a second connection request signal targeted for receipt by the wireless device at a second receiver sensitivity different from the first receiver sensitivity; and transmit the first and second connection request signals to the wireless device for requesting that the device connect to the network. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The node of claim 31, wherein the one or more processing circuits are configured to transmit the first and second connection request signals at least partially overlapping in time. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The node of claim 31, wherein the one or more processing circuits are configured to alternate between transmitting the first and second connection request signals during different request intervals. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The node of claim 33, wherein the one or more processing circuits are configured to: determine, based on when a response is received from the device, whether the device responded to the first or second connection request signal; and selectively transmit the first or second connection request signal during subsequent request intervals, depending respectively on whether the device responded to the first or second connection request signal. ### Claim 35 (depends on 31) The node of claim 31, wherein the one or more processing circuits are configured to transmit the first and second connection request signals at different times, based on information indicating a receiver sensitivity that is sufficient, given channel conditions at the device, for the device to detect said first and second connection request signals. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The node of claim 35, wherein the first receiver sensitivity is worse than the second receiver sensitivity, and wherein the one or more processing circuits are configured to switch from transmitting the first connection request signal to transmitting the second connection request signal responsive to a defined time period having elapsed without receipt of a response from the first connection request signal. ### Claim 37 (depends on 31) The node of claim 31, wherein the one or more processing circuits are configured to generate the first connection request signal targeted for receipt by the wireless device over a first frequency and generate the second connection request signal targeted for receipt by the wireless device over a second frequency different that the first frequency. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The node of claim 37, wherein the first receiver sensitivity is worse than the second receiver sensitivity, and wherein the first frequency is lower than the second frequency.