Transceiver control with sleep mode operation

A method for controlling a transceiver apparatus having a receiver portion for receiving a packet of information, and a transmitter portion for transmitting information, the transmitter portion being switchable, based on a control input, between a low power consumption mode and an active mode during which information is transmitted, the packet comprising indicia for indicating whether the packet is to be responded to, and the indicia preceding at least one of control information and data also included in the packet, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving the packet via the receiver portion;
• and
• processing the packet received by the receiver portion by evaluating the indicia and providing the control input to the transmitter portion prior to the receiver portion receiving the entire packet to initiate a switching of the transmitter portion from the low power consumption mode to the active mode in the event the packet is to be responded to,
• wherein the packet comprises a length field indicative of the length of the packet, and the step of processing comprises the step of comparing the length of the packet to a predetermined criteria in connection with providing the control input to the transmitter portion.

A cellular communication system, comprising:

• a network;
• a host computer coupled to the network:
• a plurality of base stations coupled to the network and communicating with the host computer, each of the base stations comprising a base station transceiver for transmitting and receiving wireless communications;
• and
• a plurality of mobile terminals each for communicating with the network by way of at least one of the plurality of base stations, each of the plurality of mobile terminals having a mobile terminal transceiver for transmitting and receiving wireless communications with respect to the at least one of the plurality of base stations;
• wherein the transceiver of at least one of the mobile terminals comprises:
• a receiver portion for receiving a packet of information, the packet comprising indicia for indicating whether the packet is to be responded to, and the indicia preceding at least one of control information and data also included in the packet;
• a transmitter portion for transmitting information, the transmitter portion being switchable, based on a control input, between a low power consumption mode and an active mode during which information is transmitted;
• and
• a control circuit coupled to the receiver portion for processing the packet received by the receiver portion to determine whether the packet is to be responded to wherein, prior to the receiver portion receiving the entire packet, the control circuit evaluates the indicia and provides the control input to the transmitter portion to initiate a switch of the transmitter portion from the low power consumption mode to the active mode in the event the packet is to be responded to,
• wherein the packet comprises a length field indicative of the length of the packet, and the control circuit compares the length of the packet to a predetermined criteria in connection with providing the control input to the transmitter portion.

A cellular communication system, comprising:

• a network;
• a host computer coupled to the network:
• a plurality of base stations coupled to the network and communicating with the host computer, each of the base stations comprising a base station transceiver for transmitting and receiving wireless communications;
• and
• a plurality of mobile terminals each for communicating with the network by way of at least one of the plurality of base stations, each of the plurality of mobile terminals having a mobile terminal transceiver for transmitting and receiving wireless communications with respect to the at least one of the plurality of base stations;
• wherein the transceiver of at least one of the base stations comprises:
• a receiver portion for receiving a packet of information, the packet comprising indicia for indicating whether the packet is to be responded to, and the indicia preceding at least one of control information and data also included in the packet;
• a transmitter portion for transmitting information, the transmitter portion being switchable, based on a control input, between a low power consumption mode and an active mode during which information is transmitted;
• and
• a control circuit coupled to the receiver portion for processing the packet received by the receiver portion to determine whether the packet is to be responded to wherein, prior to the receiver portion receiving the entire packet, the control circuit evaluates the indicia and provides the control input to the transmitter portion to initiate a switch of the transmitter portion from the low power consumption mode to the active mode in the event the packet is to be responded to,
• wherein the packet comprises a length field indicative of the length of the packet, and the control circuit compares the length of the packet to a predetermined criteria in connection with providing the control input to the transmitter portion.

A transceiver apparatus, comprising:

• a receiver portion for receiving a packet of information;
• a transmitter portion for transmitting information, the transmitter portion being switchable, based on a control input, between a low power consumption mode and an active mode during which information is transmitted;
• and
• a control circuit coupled to the receiver portion for processing the packet received by the receiver portion, wherein prior to the receiver portion receiving the entire packet, the control circuit provides a control input to the transmitter portion to initiate a switch of the transmitter portion from the low power consumption mode to the active mode,
• wherein the packet comprises a length field indicative of the length of the packet, and the control circuit provides the control input to the transmitter portion substantially immediately after processing the length field in the event a remaining length of the packet in terms of time is not substantially longer than a time period Tsa required by the transmitter portion to transition from the low power consumption mode to the active mode upon receipt of the control input, and delays provision of the control input to the transmitter portion following processing of the length field in the event the remaining length of the packet in terms of time is substantially longer than Tsa.