Adaptive power cycling for a cordless telephone

A method of communicating with a cordless telephone having a base unit with a first transmitter and a first receiver, and a handset unit with a second transmitter and a second receiver for respectively transmitting to the first receiver and receiving from the first transmitter in the base unit, the method comprising the steps of:

• deactivating the second transmitter and reducing the on-time state of the second receiver while the handset unit is located remote from the base unit and in a standby state wherein no user initiated communications exists between the base unit and the handset unit;
• and
• measuring a period of time for which said handset unit is continually in the standby state, in response to said measured time period being less than a predetermined first time period, the deactivating step including the step of deactivating the second transmitter and cycling between the on-time state and an off-time state of the second receiver for a predetermined third time period, and in response to said measured time period being greater than the predetermined first time period, the deactivating step including the step of deactivating the second transmitter and cycling between the on-time state and the off-time state of the second receiver for a predetermined fourth time period, said fourth time period being greater than said third time period.

In a cordless telephone including a base unit with a first transmitter and a first receiver and a handset unit with a second transmitter and a second receiver for respectively transmitting to the first receiver and receiving from the first transmitter in the base unit, the handset unit comprising:

• control means for deactivating the second transmitter and reducing an on-time state of the second receiver while located remote from the base unit and in a standby state wherein no user initiated communications exists between the base unit and the handset unit;
• and
• timer means for measuring a period of time for which said handset unit is continually in the standby state, in response to said measured time period being less than a predetermined first time period, the control means deactivating the second transmitter and cycling between the on-time state and an off-time state of the second receiver for a predetermined third time period, and in response to said measured time period being greater than the predetermined first time period, the control means deactivating the second transmitter and cycling between the on-time state and the off-time state of the second receiver for a predetermined fourth time period, said fourth time period being greater than said third time period.

In a cordless telephone including a base unit with a first transmitter and a first receiver and a handset unit with a second transmitter and a second receiver for respectively transmitting to the first receiver and receiving from the first transmitter in the base unit, the base unit comprising:

• timer means for measuring a period of time for which said handset unit is continually in a standby state, said handset unit being in the standby state while located remote from the base unit and while no user initiated communications exists between the base unit and the handset unit;
• and
• control means responsive to user initiated communications at the base unit for establishing communications with the handset unit while the handset unit is in the standby state, in response to said measured time period being less than a predetermined first time period, the control means causing said first transmitter to transmit a first header signal having a first period length, and in response to said measured time period being greater than the predetermined first time period, the control means causing said first transmitter to transmit a second header signal having a second period length, said second period length of said second header signal being greater than said first period length of said first header signal.

A method of communicating with a cordless telephone having a base unit with a first transmitter and a first receiver, and a handset unit with a second transmitter and a second receiver for respectively transmitting to the first receiver and receiving from the first transmitter in the base unit, the method comprising the steps of:

• deactivating the second transmitter and reducing an on-time state of the second receiver while located remote from the base unit and in a standby state wherein no user initiated communications exists between the base unit and the handset unit;
• and
• measuring a period of time for which said handset unit is continually in the standby state, in response to said measured time period being less than a predetermined first time period, the deactivating step deactivating the second transmitter and cycling between the on-time state and an off-time state of the second receiver for a predetermined third time period, and in response to said measured time period being greater than the predetermined first time period, the deactivating step deactivating the second transmitter and cycling between the on-time state and the off-time state of the second receiver for a predetermined fourth time period, said fourth time period being greater than said third time period.

A method of communicating with a cordless telephone having a base unit with a first transmitter and a first receiver, and a handset unit with a second transmitter and a second receiver for respectively transmitting to the first receiver and receiving from the first transmitter in the base unit, the method comprising the steps of:

• measuring in the base unit a period of time for which said handset unit is continually in a standby state, said handset unit being in the standby state while located remote from the base unit and while no user initiated communications exists between the base unit and the handset unit;
• and
• establishing communications with the handset unit responsive to user initiated communications at the base unit while the handset unit is in the standby state, in response to said measured time period being less than a predetermined first time period, the establishing step causing said first transmitter to transmit a first header signal having a first period length, and in response to said measured time period being greater than the predetermined first time period, the establishing step causing said first transmitter to transmit a second header signal having a second period length, said second period length being greater than said first period length.