Bandwidth throttle for a wireless device

• US 20030186703A1
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cromer, Daryl Carvis, Locker, Howard Jeffrey, Jakes, Philip John
• Granted Patent: US 7,085,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/450
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/20 Negotiating bandwidth
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and system for conserving battery strength of a client device, such as a laptop computer, on a wireless local area network (WLAN). The client device monitors the addresses of incoming data packet messages while running at a lowest bandwidth permitted by the protocol of the client device. When a data packet is detected that is addressed to the client device, the client device bandwidth is increased to a higher bandwidth to receive subsequent data packets. Subsequent incoming data packets are received by the client device until transmissions cease, after which the client device returns to the lowest bandwidth. By remaining in a lowest bandwidth mode while monitoring incoming packets, the client device is able to extend the life of the client device battery.

Claims

1. A method for conserving power in a network device on a network, said method comprising:

evaluating an address of an incoming message at the network device while the network device operates at a low bandwidth;

determining whether said incoming message is addressed to the network device; and

upon a determination that said incoming message is addressed to the network device, increasing a bandwidth of the network device to a higher bandwidth for receiving subsequent messages addressed to the network device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if said incoming message is a ping packet; and

maintaining said low bandwidth at the network device if said incoming message is said ping packet.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said incoming and subsequent messages are packets.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said address is a medium access control (MAC) address.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said address is a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) address.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said network device is a client device on a network.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said client device is battery powered.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said incoming message is transmitted in a wireless local area network.

9. A client device on a computer network, said client device comprising:

means for evaluating an address of an incoming message while operating at a low bandwidth;

means for determining whether said incoming message is addressed to the client device; and

means for, upon a determination that said incoming message is addressed to the client device, increasing a bandwidth of the client device to a higher bandwidth for receiving subsequent messages addressed to the client device.

10. The client device of claim 9, further comprising:

means for determining if said incoming message is a ping packet; and

maintaining said low bandwidth at the client device if said incoming message is said ping packet.

11. A access point on a computer network, said access point comprising:

means for sending a message to a client device at a low bandwidth, said message packet including an address for said client device;

means for receiving an acknowledgment from said client device; and

transmitting subsequent messages to said client device at a higher bandwidth.

12. The access point of claim 11, wherein said access point is a server.

13. The access point of claim 11, where the computer network is a wireless local area network.

14. The access point of claim 11, further comprising means for transmitting a ping packet to said client device at said low bandwidth.

15. A computer program product, residing on a computer usable medium, for conserving power consumption in a network device on a network, said computer program product comprising:

program code means for evaluating an address of an incoming message at the network device while the network device operates at a low bandwidth;

program code means for determining whether said incoming message is addressed to the network device; and

program code means for, upon a determination that said incoming message is addressed to the network device, increasing a bandwidth of the network device to a higher bandwidth for receiving subsequent messages addressed to the network device.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

program code means for determining if said incoming message is a ping packet; and

program code means for maintaining said low bandwidth at the network device if said incoming message is said ping packet.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said address is a medium access control (MAC) address.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said address is a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) address.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said network device is a client device on the network.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said incoming message is transmitted in a wireless local area network.