POWER-SAVING METHOD FOR A WLAN STATION

• US 20060056377A1
• Filed: 09/16/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Inventec Appliances Corporation (Inventec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Inventec Appliances Corporation (Inventec Corporation)
• Inventors: Chang, Ju-Nan, Wu, Chiung-hsien
• Application Number:
  US10/711,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20060056377A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/345
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A power-saving method for a station used in a WLAN where an access point sends out a plurality of beacons with a fixed period. When the station receives each fragment from the access point at different time points, it is determined if the station is set to a power saving mode by comparing the time difference of the received fragment and the beacon immediately prior to the fragment with a predetermined time.

Claims

1. A power-saving method for a station used in a WLAN, an access point sending a plurality of fragments to the station during an interval which is between a first beacon and a second beacon adjacent to the first beacon, the station receiving the plurality of fragments at different time points after receiving the first beacon, the power-saving method comprising:

if a period between the first beacon and a fragment of the plurality of fragments received by the station after the first beacon is smaller than a predetermined time, setting a MORE DATA BIT as enabled and the station is in an active mode; and

if a period between the first beacon and a fragment of the plurality of fragments received by the station after the first beacon is not smaller than a predetermined time, setting the MORE DATA BIT as disabled and the station is in a power saving mode.

2. The power-saving method of the claim 1 further comprising informing the access point that the station is in the power saving mode.

3. The power-saving method of the claim 1 further comprising the access point delivering a traffic indication to the station through the first beacon.

4. The power-saving method of the claim 1 further comprising the station delivering a PS-Poll control packet to the access point.

5. The power-saving method of the claim 4 further comprising the access point recognizing the PS-Poll control packet and sending a buffer packet to the station.

6. The power-saving method of the claim 1 further comprising dividing a packet into the plurality of fragments.

7. The power-saving method of the claim 6 further comprising sending the plurality of fragments to a single-packet MAC buffer.

8. The power-saving method of the claim 7 further comprising sending the plurality of fragments to a WLAN from the single-packet MAC buffer.

9. The power-saving method of the claim 1 wherein the plurality of fragments comprises sound information.

10. The power-saving method of the claim 1 wherein the wireless communication system is wireless IP phone.

11. The power-saving method of the claim 1 wherein a ratio of the predetermined time to the interval between the first beacon and the second beacon is between 0 and 1 inclusive.

12. A wireless communication system with a power-saving function, the wireless communication system comprising:

an access point for sending a plurality of periodic beacons and sending a plurality of fragments during an interval between a first beacon and a second beacon adjacent to the first beacon, the first beacon comprising a traffic indication; and

a station for receiving the first beacon and receiving the plurality of fragments at different time points after the first beacon is received, the station comprising;

a processor for setting a MORE DATA BIT as enabled and the station is in an active mode if a period between the first beacon and a fragment of the plurality of fragments received by the station after the first beacon is smaller than a predetermined time, and setting a MORE DATA BIT as disabled and the station is in a power saving mode if a period between the first beacon and a fragment of the plurality of fragments received by the station after the first beacon is not smaller than the predetermined time.

13. The wireless communication system of the claim 12 wherein the station further comprises a transmitter for sending a PS-Poll control packet to the access point.

14. The wireless communication system of the claim 13 wherein the access point further comprises a logic unit for recognizing the PS-Poll control packet.

15. The wireless communication system of the claim 13 wherein the access point is further used for sending a buffer packet.

16. The wireless communication system of the claim 12 wherein the access point further comprises a packet division unit for dividing a packet into a plurality of fragments.

17. The wireless communication system of the claim 16 wherein the access point further comprises a single-packet MAC buffer for storing the plurality of fragments.