Method and apparatus to optimize off-frequency pilot searching by wireless mobile station

A method for operating a wireless mobile communications device, comprising:

• operating in an idle mode including wakeup cycles and sleep cycles, wherein each of the wakeup cycles includes an on-frequency searching time period and an off-frequency searching time period, wherein the wireless mobile communications device has a first power requirement during the wakeup cycles and has a second power requirement less than the first power requirement during the sleep cycles, wherein the wireless mobile communications device is adapted to enable a receiving function during the wakeup cycles and to disable the receiving function during the sleep cycles, and wherein the wireless mobile communications device is adapted to disable a transmitting function during the idle mode and to enable the transmitting function when not in the idle mode;
• transitioning from a sleep cycle in the idle mode to a wakeup cycle in the idle mode;
• determining whether an off-frequency searching condition is satisfied during the wakeup cycle, the off-frequency searching condition being satisfied when a maximum signal-to-noise ratio for one or more base stations in an active set of the wireless mobile communications device is less than a prescribed level and there are no on-frequency base stations included in a candidate set of the wireless mobile communications device;
• performing off-frequency pilot signal searching during the off-frequency searching time period in the wakeup cycle upon at least one other frequency for at least one neighboring base station not in the active set for the wireless mobile communications device when the off-frequency searching condition is satisfied;
• performing on-frequency pilot signal searching during the on-frequency searching time period in the wakeup cycle upon at least one frequency for at least one base station in the active set for the wireless mobile communications device when the off-frequency searching condition is satisfied or not satisfied;
• and
• transitioning from the wakeup cycle to the sleep cycle if additional communication is not required.

A computer-readable medium embodying computer-executable instructions to perform a method, comprising:

• operating in an idle mode including wakeup cycles and sleep cycles, wherein each of the wakeup cycles includes an on-frequency searching time period and an off-frequency searching time period, wherein the wireless mobile telephone has a first power requirement during the wakeup cycles and has a second power requirement less than the first power requirement during the sleep cycles, wherein the wireless mobile telephone is adapted to enable a receiving function during the wakeup cycles and to disable the receiving function during the sleep cycles, and wherein the wireless mobile telephone is adapted to disable a transmitting function during the idle mode and to enable the transmitting function when not in the idle mode;
• transitioning from a sleep cycle in the idle mode to a wakeup cycle in the idle mode;
• determining whether an off-frequency searching condition is satisfied during the wakeup cycle, the off-frequency searching condition being satisfied when a maximum signal-to-noise ratio for one or more base stations in an active set of the wireless mobile telephone is less than a prescribed level and there are no on-frequency base stations included in a candidate set of the wireless mobile telephone;
• performing off-frequency pilot signal searching during the off-frequency searching time period in the wakeup cycle upon at least one other frequency for at least one neighboring base station not in the active set for the wireless mobile telephone when the off-frequency searching condition is satisfied;
• performing on-frequency pilot signal searching during the on-frequency searching time period in the wakeup cycle upon at least one frequency for at least one base station in the active set for the wireless mobile telephone when the off-frequency searching condition is satisfied or not satisfied, wherein the performing the on-frequency pilot signal searching occurs before or after the performing of the off-frequency pilot signal searching when the off-frequency searching condition is satisfied;
• and
• transitioning from the wakeup cycle to the sleep cycle if additional communication is not required.

A computer-readable medium embodying computer-executable instructions to perform a method, comprising:

• operating in an idle mode including wakeup cycles and sleep cycles, wherein each of the wakeup cycles includes an on-frequency searching time period and an off-frequency searching time period, wherein the wireless communications device has a first power requirement during the wakeup cycles and has a second power requirement less than the first power requirement during the sleep cycles, wherein the wireless communications device is adapted to enable a receiving function during the wakeup cycles and to disable the receiving function during the sleep cycles, and wherein the wireless communications device is adapted to disable a transmitting function during the idle mode and to enable the transmitting function when not in the idle mode;
• transitioning from a sleep cycle in the idle mode to a wakeup cycle in the idle mode;
• determining whether an off-frequency searching condition is satisfied during the wakeup cycle, the off-frequency searching condition being satisfied when a maximum signal-to-noise ratio for one or more base stations in an active set of the wireless mobile communications device is less than a prescribed level and there are no on-frequency base stations included in a candidate set of the wireless mobile communications device;
• performing off-frequency pilot signal searching during the off-frequency searching time period in the wakeup cycle upon at least one other frequency for at least one neighboring base station not in the active set for the wireless communications device when the off-frequency searching condition is satisfied;
• performing on-frequency pilot signal searching during the on-frequency searching time period in the wakeup cycle upon at least one frequency for at least one base station in the active set for the wireless communications device when the off-frequency searching condition is satisfied or not satisfied;
• and
• transitioning from the wakeup cycle to the sleep cycle if additional communication is not required.

Circuitry including multiple interconnected electrically conductive elements configured to perform operations to manage a wireless mobile telephone, the operations comprising:

• operating in an idle mode including wakeup cycles and sleep cycles, wherein each of the wakeup cycles includes an on-frequency searching time period and an off-frequency searching time period, wherein the wireless mobile telephone has a first power requirement during the wakeup cycles and has a second power requirement less than the first power requirement during the sleep cycles, wherein the wireless mobile telephone is adapted to enable a receiving function during the wakeup cycles and to disable the receiving function during the sleep cycles, and wherein the wireless mobile telephone is adapted to disable a transmitting function during the idle mode and to enable the transmitting function when not in the idle mode;
• transitioning from a sleep cycle in the idle mode to a wakeup cycle in the idle mode;
• determining whether a predetermined off-frequency searching condition is satisfied during the wakeup cycle, the off-frequency searching condition being satisfied when a maximum signal-to-noise ratio for one or more base stations in an active set of the wireless mobile communications device is less than a prescribed level and there are no on-frequency base stations included in a candidate set of the wireless mobile communications device;
• performing off-frequency pilot signal searching during the off-frequency searching time period in the wakeup cycle upon at least one other frequency for at least one neighboring base station not in the active set for the wireless mobile telephone when the off-frequency searching condition is satisfied;
• and
• performing on-frequency pilot signal searching during the on-frequency searching time period in the wakeup cycle upon at least one frequency for at least one base station in the active set for the wireless mobile telephone when the off-frequency searching condition is satisfied or not satisfied, wherein the performing the on-frequency pilot signal searching occurs before or after the performing of the off-frequency pilot signal searching when the off-frequency searching condition is satisfied;
• and
• transitioning from the wakeup cycle to the sleep cycle if additional communication is not required.

Circuitry including multiple interconnected electrically conductive elements configured to perform operations to operate a wireless communications device, the operations comprising:

• operating in an idle mode including wakeup cycles and sleep cycles, wherein each of the wakeup cycles includes an on-frequency searching time period and an off-frequency searching time period, wherein the wireless communications device has a first power requirement during the wakeup cycles and has a second power requirement less than the first power requirement during the sleep cycles, wherein the wireless communications device is adapted to enable a receiving function during the wakeup cycles and to disable the receiving function during the sleep cycles, and wherein the wireless communications device is adapted to disable a transmitting function during the idle mode and to enable the transmitting function when not in the idle mode;
• transitioning from a sleep cycle in the idle mode to a wakeup cycle in the idle mode;
• determining whether a predetermined off-frequency searching condition is satisfied during the wakeup cycle, the off-frequency searching condition being satisfied when a maximum signal-to-noise ratio for one or more base stations in an active set of the wireless mobile communications device is less than a prescribed level and there are no on-frequency base stations included in a candidate set of the wireless mobile communications device;
• performing off-frequency pilot signal searching during the off-frequency searching time period in the wakeup cycle upon at least one other frequency for at least one neighboring base station not in the active set for the wireless communications device when the off-frequency searching condition is satisfied;
• performing on-frequency pilot signal searching during the on-frequency searching time period in the wakeup cycle upon at least one frequency for at least one base station in the active set for the wireless communications device when the off-frequency searching condition is satisfied or not satisfied;
• and
• transitioning from the wakeup cycle to the sleep cycle if additional communication is not required.

A wireless mobile telephone, comprising:

• a transceiver;
• a speaker;
• a microphone;
• a user interface;
• a manager, coupled to the transceiver, speaker, microphone, and user interface, and programmed for:
• operating in an idle mode including wakeup cycles and sleep cycles, wherein each of the wakeup cycles includes an on-frequency searching time period and an off-frequency searching time period, wherein the wireless mobile telephone has a first power requirement during the wakeup cycles and has a second power requirement less than the first power requirement during the sleep cycles, wherein the wireless mobile telephone is adapted to enable a receiving function during the wakeup cycles and to disable the receiving function during the sleep cycles, and wherein the wireless mobile telephone is adapted to disable a transmitting function during the idle mode and to enable the transmitting function when not in the idle mode;
• transitioning from a sleep cycle in the idle mode to a wakeup cycle in the idle mode;
• determining whether an off-frequency searching condition is satisfied during the wakeup cycle, the off-frequency searching condition being satisfied when a maximum signal-to-noise ratio for one or more base stations in an active set of the wireless mobile telephone is less than a prescribed level and there are no on-frequency base stations included in a candidate set of the wireless mobile telephone;
• performing off-frequency pilot signal searching during the off-frequency searching time period in the wakeup cycle upon at least one other frequency for at least one neighboring base station not in the active set for the wireless mobile telephone when the off frequency searching condition is satisfied;
• performing on-frequency pilot signal searching during the on-frequency searching time period in the wakeup cycle upon at least one frequency for at least one base station in the active set for the wireless mobile telephone when the off-frequency searching condition is satisfied or not satisfied, wherein the performing the on-frequency pilot signal searching occurs before or after the performing of the off-frequency pilot signal searching when the off-frequency searching condition is satisfied;
• and
• transitioning from the wakeup cycle to the sleep cycle if additional communication is not required.

A wireless communications device, comprising:

• a transceiver;
• a speaker;
• a microphone;
• a user interface;
• and
• a manager, coupled to the transceiver, speaker, microphone, and user interface, comprising:
• means for operating in an idle mode including wakeup cycles and sleep cycles, wherein each of the wakeup cycles includes an on-frequency searching time period and an off-frequency searching time period, wherein the wireless communications device has a first power requirement during the wakeup cycles and has a second power requirement less than the first power requirement during the sleep cycles, wherein the wireless communications device is adapted to enable a receiving function during the wakeup cycles and to disable the receiving function during the sleep cycles, and wherein the wireless communications device is adapted to disable a transmitting function during the idle mode and to enable the transmitting function when not in the idle mode;
• means for transitioning from a sleep cycle in the idle mode to a wakeup cycle in the idle mode;
• means for determining whether an off-frequency searching condition is satisfied during the wakeup cycle, the off-frequency searching condition being satisfied when a maximum signal-to-noise ratio for one or more base stations in an active set of the wireless communications device is less than a prescribed level and there are no on-frequency base stations included in a candidate set of the wireless communications device;
• means for performing off-frequency pilot signal searching during the off-frequency searching time period in the wakeup cycle upon at least one other frequency for at least one neighboring base station not in the active set for the wireless communications device when the off-frequency searching condition is satisfied;
• means for performing on-frequency pilot signal searching during the on-frequency searching time period in the wakeup cycle upon at least one frequency for at least one base station in the active set for the wireless communications device when the off-frequency searching condition is satisfied or not satisfied;
• and
• means for transitioning from the wakeup cycle to the sleep cycle if additional communication is not required.

A wireless mobile telephone, comprising:

• transceiver means for wireless transmitting and receiving signals;
• speaker means for producing audio output;
• microphone means for a microphone;
• user interface means for receiving user input and providing human-readable output;
• and
• manager means, coupled to the transceiver means, speaker means, microphone means, and user interface means, comprising:
• means for operating in an idle mode including wakeup cycles and sleep cycles, wherein each of the wakeup cycles includes an on-frequency searching time period and an off-frequency searching time period, wherein the wireless mobile telephone has a first power requirement during the wakeup cycles and has a second power requirement less than the first power requirement during the sleep cycles, wherein the wireless mobile telephone is adapted to enable a receiving function during the wakeup cycles and to disable the receiving function during the sleep cycles, and wherein the wireless mobile telephone is adapted to disable a transmitting function during the idle mode and to enable the transmitting function when not in the idle mode;
• means for transitioning from a sleep cycle in the idle mode to a wakeup cycle in the idle mode;
• means for determining whether an off-frequency searching condition is satisfied during the wakeup cycle, the off-frequency searching condition being satisfied when a maximum signal-to-noise ratio for one or more base stations in an active set of the wireless mobile telephone is less than a prescribed level and there are no on-frequency base stations included in a candidate set of the wireless mobile telephone;
• means for performing off-frequency pilot signal searching during the off-frequency searching time period in the wakeup cycle upon at least one other frequency for at least one neighboring base station not in the active set for the wireless mobile telephone when the off-frequency searching condition is satisfied;
• means for performing on-frequency pilot signal searching during the on-frequency searching time period in the wakeup cycle upon at least one frequency for at least one base station in the active set for the wireless mobile telephone when the off-frequency searching condition is satisfied or not satisfied, wherein the performing the on-frequency pilot signal searching occurs before or after the performing of the off-frequency pilot signal searching when the off-frequency searching condition is satisfied;
• and
• means for transitioning from the wakeup cycle to the sleep cycle if additional communication is not required.

A wireless communications device, comprising:

• transceiver means for wireless transmitting and receiving signals;
• speaker means for producing audio output;
• microphone means for a microphone;
• user interface means for receiving user input and providing human-readable output;
• manager means, coupled to the transceiver means, speaker means, microphone means, and user interface means, for performing operations comprising:
• operating in an idle mode including wakeup cycles and sleep cycles, wherein each of the wakeup cycles includes an on-frequency searching time period and an off-frequency searching time period, wherein the wireless communications device has a first power requirement during the wakeup cycles and has a second power requirement less than the first power requirement during the sleep cycles, wherein the wireless communications device is adapted to enable a receiving function during the wakeup cycles and to disable the receiving function during the sleep cycles, and wherein the wireless communications device is adapted to disable a transmitting function during the idle mode and to enable the transmitting function when not in the idle mode;
• transitioning from a sleep cycle in the idle mode to a wakeup cycle in the idle mode;
• determining whether a predetermined off-frequency searching condition is satisfied during the wakeup cycle, the off-frequency searching condition being satisfied when a maximum signal-to-noise ratio for one or more base stations in an active set of the wireless communications device is less than a prescribed level and there are no on-frequency base stations included in a candidate set of the wireless communications device;
• performing off-frequency pilot signal searching during the off-frequency searching time period in the wakeup cycle upon at least one other frequency for at least one neighboring base station not in the active set for the wireless communications device when the off-frequency searching condition is satisfied;
• performing on-frequency pilot signal searching during the on-frequency searching time period in the wakeup cycle upon at least one frequency for at least one base station in the active set for the wireless communications device when the off-frequency searching condition is satisfied or not satisfied;
• and
• transitioning from the wakeup cycle to the sleep cycle if additional communication is not required.