ADJUSTMENT OF BACKGROUND SCANNING INTERVAL BASED ON NETWORK USAGE
First Claim
1. A method for power management in a mobile station in a wireless local area network, the method comprising:
- periodically determining the mobile station'"'"'s immediate requirement for network connectivity performance while the mobile station is associated to an access point of the network;
determining a background scanning interval for the mobile station based on the immediate requirement for network connectivity performance; and
ensuring that background scanning to check for neighboring access points is performed at the background scanning interval.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), roaming from one access point to another by a mobile station without interruption to network service may be facilitated by frequently performing background scans to find neighboring access points while the mobile station is associated to the WLAN. Frequent background scanning, however, depletes battery life. By dynamically adjusting the background scanning interval during the mobile station'"'"'s association to the WLAN, the mobile station'"'"'s immediate need for network connectivity performance may be met, while simultaneously prolonging battery life. For example, by using a shorter background scanning interval during a telephone conversation, network connectivity performance may be maintained throughout the call. Longer background scanning intervals may be used during periods when interruptions to network connectivity may be better tolerated.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A method for power management in a mobile station in a wireless local area network, the method comprising:
-
periodically determining the mobile station'"'"'s immediate requirement for network connectivity performance while the mobile station is associated to an access point of the network;
determining a background scanning interval for the mobile station based on the immediate requirement for network connectivity performance; and
ensuring that background scanning to check for neighboring access points is performed at the background scanning interval. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A computer -readable medium having computer-executable instructions thereon which, when executed by a processor of a mobile station, result in:
-
periodically determining the mobile station'"'"'s immediate requirement for network connectivity performance while the mobile station is associated to an access point of the network;
determining a background scanning interval for the mobile station based on the immediate requirement for network connectivity performance; and
ensuring that background scanning to check for neighboring access points is performed at the background scanning interval.
-
-
10. A mobile station comprising:
-
an antenna;
a radio coupled to the antenna through which the mobile station is able to communicate over a wireless local area network;
a wireless local area network controller coupled to the radio, which is able to control a background scanning process while the mobile station is associated to the network, the background scanning process occurring periodically according to an adjustable background scanning interval;
a processor coupled to the wireless local area network controller; and
a memory to store code which, when executed by the processor, is to periodically determine the mobile station'"'"'s immediate requirement for network connectivity performance while the mobile station is associated to the network, and is to adjust the background scanning interval according to the immediate network connectivity performance requirement. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification