Baseband modem implementing communication protocol stack

A method for conserving power in a baseband modem, the baseband modem configured to use a cellular radio access technology having a control channel and a payload channel, the method comprising:

• at the baseband modem:
• operating in a high-power mode using a first set of circuitry, wherein the high-power mode supports full communication traffic by implementing a protocol stack of the cellular radio access technology, the protocol stack being stored in a first memory of the first set of circuitry;
• transitioning from operating in the high-power mode to operating in a sleep mode in response to determining a period of communication inactivity, wherein the sleep mode does not support communication traffic;
• transitioning from operating in the sleep mode to operating in a low-power mode using a second set of circuitry, in response to expiration of a timer, wherein the second set of circuitry uses less power than the first set of circuitry, wherein the low-power mode supports reception of the control channel by implementing a partial version of the protocol stack stored in a second memory of the second set of circuitry, and wherein the partial version of the protocol stack does not support reception of the payload channel;
• disabling the first set of circuitry when transitioning to one of the low-power mode and the sleep mode;
• and
• disabling the second set of circuitry when transitioning to one of the high-power mode and the sleep mode, wherein a third set of circuitry remains enabled in both the low-power mode and the high-power mode.

A non-transitory computer-readable memory medium storing instructions executable by a baseband modem to cause the baseband modem to:

• operate in a high-power mode utilizing a first set of circuitry, wherein the high-power mode supports full communication traffic by implementing a communication protocol stack stored in a first memory of the first set of circuitry;
• transition from operating in the high-power mode to operating in a sleep mode in response to determining a period of communication inactivity, wherein the sleep mode does not support communication traffic;
• and
• transition from operating in the sleep mode to operating in a low-power mode utilizing a second set of circuitry, in response to expiration of a timer, wherein the low-power mode supports reception of a control channel by implementing a partial version of the communication protocol stack stored in a second memory of the second set of circuitry, and wherein the partial version of the protocol stack does not support full communication traffic;
• wherein the first set of circuitry is disabled while the baseband modem is in the low-power mode and while the baseband modem is in the sleep mode;
• and
• wherein the second set of circuitry is disabled while the baseband modem is in the high-power mode and while the baseband modem is in the sleep mode, wherein a third set of circuitry remains enabled in both the low-power mode and the high-power mode.