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Apple patents low-power wake-up signal for idle phones

Apple describes a method where a phone uses a tiny, low-power receiver to listen for a specific signal before turning on its main radio. This allows the device to stay in a deep sleep state until it actually needs to check for messages, rather than waking up frequently on its own.

Why it mattersThis technique could help smartphones last longer between charges by reducing the energy used while the phone is idle.

In the filing’s own words

A user equipment (UE) includes a transceiver, a wake-up receiver (WUR) operable at a lower power than the transceiver, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine a timing of a wake-up signal (WUS) monitoring occasion, the timing based at least in part on a periodicity anchored to a timing reference, and on an offset based on the timing reference or the periodicity; monitor for a WUS using the WUR during the WUS monitoring occasion; and transition the transceiver from a sleep state to an awake state upon detecting the WUS during the WUS monitoring occasion.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An apparatus comprising memory coupled to a processor, the processor configured to: determine a timing of a wake-up signal (WUS) monitoring occasion, the timing based at least in part on a periodicity anchored to a timing reference, and on an offset based on the timing reference or the periodicity; monitor for a WUS, via a wake-up receiver (WUR) of a user equipment (UE), during the WUS monitoring occasion; and transition a transceiver of the UE from a sleep state to an awake state upon detecting the WUS during the WUS monitoring occasion.

Facts

Company
Apple (Apple Inc.)
Official title
LOW POWER WAKE-UP SIGNAL, LOW POWER WAKE-UP RECEIVER, AND PAGING MONITORING FOR IDLE OR INACTIVE USER EQUIPMENT
Publication number
US20260292694A1
Application number
19472597
Filed
Mar 4, 2024
Published
Sep 24, 2026
Inventors
6
Claims
20

Classified under

H04W 52/0235 Electricity & electronicsH04W 68/02 Electricity & electronicsH04W 72/23 Electricity & electronicsH04W 76/28 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.