Power saving Wi-Fi tethering
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computing device comprising:
- one or more processors;
a Wi-Fi network interface; and
one or more computer memories, coupled to the one or more processors and storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;
exchange data packets with a Wi-Fi tethering device that provides an Internet connection to the computing device;
receive a sleep request packet from the Wi-Fi tethering device;
in an instance when the computing device lacks further data packets to communicate to the Wi-Fi tethering device, respond to the sleep request packet by;
extracting a sequence number from the sleep request packet;
including the sequence number in a sleep response packet; and
sending the sleep response packet to the Wi-Fi tethering device; and
in another instance when the computing device has the further data packets to communicate to the Wi-Fi tethering device, respond to the sleep request packet by sending the further data packets to the Wi-Fi tethering device without sending the sleep response packet to the Wi-Fi tethering device.
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Abstract
The techniques discussed herein reduce the power consumption of a Wi-Fi tethering device by switching the Wi-Fi functionality of the Wi-Fi tethering device from a normal operational mode to a sleep mode during idle intervals. The techniques implement a sleep protocol where a Wi-Fi tethering device and the Wi-Fi client device coordinate and establish a sleep schedule. Moreover, the techniques describe a sleep interval adaptation algorithm to establish sleep duration intervals based on data packet exchange patterns associated with different applications executing on the Wi-Fi client device and/or different operations being performed by the Wi-Fi client device.
24 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computing device comprising:
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one or more processors; a Wi-Fi network interface; and one or more computer memories, coupled to the one or more processors and storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to; exchange data packets with a Wi-Fi tethering device that provides an Internet connection to the computing device; receive a sleep request packet from the Wi-Fi tethering device; in an instance when the computing device lacks further data packets to communicate to the Wi-Fi tethering device, respond to the sleep request packet by; extracting a sequence number from the sleep request packet; including the sequence number in a sleep response packet; and sending the sleep response packet to the Wi-Fi tethering device; and in another instance when the computing device has the further data packets to communicate to the Wi-Fi tethering device, respond to the sleep request packet by sending the further data packets to the Wi-Fi tethering device without sending the sleep response packet to the Wi-Fi tethering device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method performed by a tethered computing device, the method comprising:
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communicating data packets via a wireless connection with a tethering computing device that provides a network connection to the tethered computing device; receiving a sleep request packet from the tethering computing device; in an instance when the tethered computing device has at least one data packet to communicate to the tethering computing device, responding to the sleep request packet by sending the at least one data packet to the tethering computing device without sending a sleep response packet to the tethering computing device; and in another instance when the tethered computing device does not have data packets to communicate to the tethering computing device; extracting a sequence number from the sleep request packet; including the sequence number in a sleep response packet; sending the sleep response packet to the tethering computing device; entering a block mode while the tethering computing device is not available for wireless communication with the tethered computing device for a sleep interval; during the sleep interval, buffering further data packets at the tethered computing device; and when the sleep interval ends, exiting the block mode and sending the buffered further data packets to the tethering computing device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computing device comprising:
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one or more processors; a wireless network interface; and one or more computer memories, coupled to the one or more processors and storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to; exchange data packets with a wireless tethering device that provides an Internet connection to the computing device; receive a sleep request packet from the wireless tethering device, the sleep request packet including a sequence number and a specified sleep interval; in an instance when the computing device lacks further data packets to send to the wireless tethering device; copy the sequence number from the sleep request packet into a sleep response packet; send the sleep response packet to the wireless tethering device; and cease exchanging the data packets with the wireless tethering device for the specified sleep interval; and in another instance when the computing device has at least one data packet to communicate to the wireless tethering device, respond to the sleep request packet by sending the at least one data packet to the wireless tethering device without sending a sleep response packet to the wireless tethering device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification