METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING POWER CONSUMPTION IN CDMA COMMUNICATION DEVICE

摘要

Methods and apparatus for reducing power consumption of a code divisionmultiple access (CDMA) communication device are described. The CDMAcommunication device operates in a communication session with a base stationduring which information is communicated over an information channel. At somepoint during the communication session, the device identifies that is has noinformation to transmit. In response, the device places its transmitter into alow power state and does not transmit any information that it would normallybe accustomed to transmit (e.g. overhead such as idle frames) provided thatforward RF link is stable. During that time, a receiver of the communicationdevice may remain operative to receive information (e.g. transmitter powervalues). Provided that there is no need to transmit other necessaryinformation, the transmitter is maintained in the low power state for aduration of time that is less than a fade time expiration of the base station.Thus, the communication device imitates a short fade during the communicationsession to conserve battery power.