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A way of dynamically modifying error recovery on a communications controller to operate at the lowest power mode allowed by current error rate conditions. When operating conditions are good and a small number of errors are detected, a low power error detection/correction mode is entered saving batte

A way of dynamically modifying error recovery on a communications controller to operate at the lowest power mode allowed by current error rate conditions. When operating conditions are good and a small number of errors are detected, a low power error detection/correction mode is entered saving battery life. The low power error correction mechanism runs at a slower frequency and lower power than the high power mechanism and maintains the same data rate for the controller, thus saving power. Selecting the controller error (power) mode may be externally, such as by a person using a control dial on a cellular telephone when the voice data gets too noisy. Alternatively, the selection can be automatic, a critical error level detector internally making the selection.

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1. A method for controlling power consumption in an electronic device, said device including a data receiver, a data transmitter, and means for performing a plurality of error detection and/or correction techniques at said receiver, said method comprising:receiving data having a given error detectio

1. A method for controlling power consumption in an electronic device, said device including a data receiver, a data transmitter, and means for performing a plurality of error detection and/or correction techniques at said receiver, said method comprising:receiving data having a given error detection and correction coding;determining an error rate corresponding to said data received in said receiving step, said error rate being determined by an initial one of said plurality of error detection and/or correction techniques;comparing said error rate to at least one error threshold value; andselecting, at said receiver, one of said plurality of error detection and/or correction techniques, based on an outcome of said comparing step, having a sufficiently complex and rigorous error detecting and/or correcting algorithm which, when applied to said data having said given error detection and correction coding, will ensure that said selected error detection and/or correction technique is one which consumes a lowest amount of power while maintaining a desired signal-to-noise ratio. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein if said error rate is below said error threshold value, said selecting step includes:selecting an error detection and/or correction technique which is less complex and consumes less power than said initial error detection and/or correction circuit. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein if said error rate exceeds said error threshold value, said selecting step includes:selecting an error detection and/or correction technique which is more complex and consumes more power than said initial error detection and/or correction circuit. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:adjusting at least one controller operating parameter to support performance of said selected error detection and/or correction technique. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:adjusting an output signal level of said data transmitter in accordance with an outcome of said comparing step. 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:receiving an external signal from a user; andselecting one of said plurality of error detection and/or correction technique in accordance with said external signal. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein said external signal causes an error detection and/or correction technique having a higher complexity and power consumption level than said initial error detection and/or correct technique, said external signal thereby improving signal-to-noise ratio at an expense of increased power consumption. 8. The method of claim 6, wherein said external signal causes an error detection and/or correction technique having a lower complexity and power consumption level than said initial error detection and/or correct technique, said external signal thereby improving power consumption at an expense of a lower signal-to-noise ratio. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of error detection and/or correction techniques is at least three, and wherein said comparing step includes:comparing said error rate to a first error threshold value, and if said error rate is less than said first error rate, selecting an error detection and/or correction technique of low complexity and power consumption requirements;if said error rate is greater than said first error rate but lower than a second error threshold value, selecting an error detection and/or correct technique of medium complexity and power consumption requirements; andif said error rate is greater than said second error threshold value, selecting an error detection and/or correction technique of high complexity and power consumption requirements. 10. A method for controlling power consumption in an electronic device, said device including a data receiver, a data transmitter, and means for performing a plurality of error detection and/or correction techniques at said receiver, said method comprising:receiving data having a given error detection and correction coding;receiving an external ma nually entered signal from a user; andselecting, at said receiver, one of a plurality of error detection and/or correction techniques in accordance with said external signal, said plurality of error detection and/or correction techniques consuming different levels of power and having different levels of complexity which, when applied to said data having said given error detection and correction coding produce different rates of error correction;wherein said external signal causes selection of an error detection and/or correction technique which is one of the following:an error detection and/or correction technique having a higher complexity and power consumption level than a currently selected error detection and/or correct technique, said external signal thereby improving signal-to-noise ratio at an expense of increased power consumption; andan error detection and/or correction technique having a lower complexity and power consumption level than said currently selected error detection and/or correct technique, said external signal thereby improving power consumption at an expense of a lower signal-to-noise ratio. 11. A method for controlling power consumption in an electronic device, said device including a data receiver, a data transmitter, and means for performing a plurality of error detection and/or correction techniques at said receiver, said method comprising:receiving a data signal having a given error detection and correction coding at said data receiver from said data transmitter, said data signal containing information for selecting one of a plurality of error detection and/or correction techniques to be performed in said electronic device,decoding said data signal to derive a select signal; andselecting, at said receiver, said one of said plurality of error detection and/or correction techniques, each of which, when applied to said data signal having a given error detection and correction coding, produces a different error correction and power consumption from other error detection and/or correction techniques of said plurality of said error detection and/or correction techniques, in accordance with said select signal. 12. A communications controller for an electronic device, said communications controller comprising:a plurality of error detection and/or correction circuits each capable of performing a different technique for detecting and/or correcting errors on incoming data having a given error detection and correction coding, a selected one of said error detection circuits determining an error rate for said incoming data having said given error detection and correction coding which is different from another of said error detection and/or correction circuits of said plurality of error detection and/or correction circuits;an error comparator for comparing said error rate to an error threshold value, wherein said error threshold value corresponds to an error rate which will ensure that said selected error detection and/or correction circuit is one which consumes a lowest amount of power while maintaining a desired signal-to-noise ratio;a select unit which generates a signal for selecting one of said error detection circuits based on an outcome of the comparison performed by the error comparator; andmeans for selecting one of said plurality of error detection circuits based on the select signal generated by said select unit. 13. The controller of claim 12, further comprising:means for adjusting at least one controller operating parameter to enable operation of said selected error detection and/or correction circuit. 14. The system of claim 12, further comprising:means for adjusting an output signal strength of said electronic device in accordance with the select signal. 15. The system of claim 12, further comprising:means for receiving an external signal initiated by a user, said selecting means selecting one of said plurality of error detection and/or correction circuits based on said external signal. 16. A commun ications controller for an electronic device, said communications controller comprising:means for receiving an external manually entered signal from a user;a plurality of error detection and/or correction circuits having differing degrees of error detection and/or correction complexity and which consume different amounts of power which, when applied to a data signal having a given error detection and correction coding, provide different levels of error detection and/or correction and power consumption compared to others of said plurality of error detection and/or correction circuits; andmeans for selecting one of said plurality of error detection and/or correction circuits in accordance with said external signal,wherein said external signal causes an error detection and/or correction circuit is one of the following:an error detection and/or correction circuit having a higher complexity and power consumption level than a currently selected error detection and/or correct circuit, said external signal thereby improving signal-to-noise ratio at an expense of increased power consumption; andan error detection and/or correction circuit having a lower complexity and power consumption level than said currently selected error detection and/or correct circuit, said external signal thereby improving power consumption at an expense of a lower signal-to-noise ratio. 17. A communications controller for an electronic device, said communications controller comprising:a plurality of error detection and/or correct circuits;means for receiving a data signal containing information for selecting one of said plurality of error detection and/or correction circuits;means for decoding said data signal to derive from said information a select signal; andmeans for selecting said one of said plurality of error detection and/or correction circuits in accordance with said select signal.