AD-HOC NETWORK POWER SAVE SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20080069021A1
• Filed: 09/13/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell World Trade Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Chhabra, Kapil
• Granted Patent: US 8,315,193 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/311
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Symmetrical and asymmetrical ad-hoc, wireless networks and a method for saving power in the same may include causing a first station to determine whether a second station has a master capability to buffer data traffic for the first station. A first station requests the second station to buffer the data traffic intended for the first station for a first predetermined period. The first station enters a first power save mode, and the second station buffers the data traffic for the first station for the first predetermined period. The first station exits the first power save mode after the first predetermined period and the second station sends the buffered data traffic to the first station. Both the first and second stations may have master capabilities, or only one of the first and second stations may have a master capability.

Claims

1. A method for saving power in an ad-hoc network including first and second stations each having a wireless capability to directly communicate with each other, said method comprising:

issuing a request to the second station to buffer data traffic intended for the first station for a first predetermined period;

granting the request to buffer data traffic;

causing the first station to enter a first power save mode for the first predetermined period; and

enabling the second station to buffer data traffic intended for the first station for the first predetermined period.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

causing the first station to exit the first power save mode after the first predetermined period elapses; and

sending the buffered data traffic to the first station.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein sending the buffered data traffic comprises sending the buffered data traffic from the second station to the first station.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising causing the first and second stations to simultaneously enter a second power save mode for a second period time.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising advertising a master capability of the second station to buffer data traffic intended for the first station.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising causing the second station to exit the second power save mode before the first station exits the second power save mode.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the ad-hoc network is a wireless network using protocol selected from the group consisting of IEEE 802.11 standards and Bluetooth standards.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the second station has a capability to buffer data traffic intended for the first station.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

issuing a request to the first station to buffer data traffic intended for the second station for a second predetermined period;

granting the request to buffer data traffic intended for the second station;

causing the second station to enter a second power save mode for the second predetermined period; and

enabling the first station to buffer the data traffic intended for the second station for the second predetermined period.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

causing the second station to exit the second power save mode after the second predetermined period elapses; and

sending the buffered data traffic to the second station.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein sending the buffered data traffic to the second station comprises sending the buffered data traffic from the first station to the second station.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining whether the first station has a capability to buffer data traffic intended for the second station.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

preventing the first station from entering the first power save mode if the second station requests the first station to buffer the data traffic intended for the second station; and

preventing the second station from entering the second power save mode if the first station requests the second station to buffer the data traffic intended for the first station.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein preventing the first station from entering the first power save mode if the request is received within a predetermined period of time from when the first station sends such a request;

and

preventing the second station from entering the second power save mode occurs if the request is received within a predetermined period of time from when the second station sends such a request.

15. A method for saving power in an ad-hoc network including a plurality of stations, the plurality of stations including a master station and at least one slave station incapable of buffering traffic for other stations, each station having a wireless capability to directly communicate with other stations, said method comprising:

issuing a request to the master station to buffer data traffic intended for the slave station for a predetermined period;

granting the request to buffer data traffic;

causing the slave station to enter a power save mode for the predetermined period; and

enabling the master station to buffer data traffic intended for the slave station for the predetermined period.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

causing the slave station to exit the power save mode after the predetermined period elapses; and

causing the master station to send the buffered data traffic to the slave station.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

advertising a master capability of the master station to buffer data traffic intended for any of the plurality of stations in the ad-hoc network; and

determining if the master station has the master capability to buffer data traffic intended for one of the plurality of stations.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the ad-hoc network is a wireless network using a protocol selected from the group consisting of IEEE 802.11 standards and Bluetooth standards.

19. An ad-hoc network, comprising:

a first station having wireless communication capabilities and configured to determine if there is any station in the ad-hoc network having a master capability to buffer data traffic intended for other stations in the ad-hoc network for a first predetermined period;

a second station having wireless communication capabilities and the master capability and configured to grant a request from said first station to allow said first station to enter a first power save mode, and

wherein said first station enters the first power save mode for the first predetermined period when said second station grants the request and said second station sends the buffered data traffic to said first station after the first predetermined period elapses.

20. The ad-hoc network of claim 19, wherein said first station has a master capability to buffer data traffic intended for other stations in the ad-hoc network for a second predetermined period and is configured to grant a request from said second station to allow said second station to enter a second power save mode, and

wherein said second station is configured to determine if there is any station having the master capability in the ad-hoc network.

21. The ad-hoc network of claim 20, wherein said second station enters the second power save mode for the second predetermined period when said first station grants the request from said second station, and said first station sends the buffered data traffic to said second station after the second predetermined period elapses.

22. The ad-hoc network of claim 21, wherein said first station is configured not to enter the first power save mode if said second station requests said first station to buffer the data traffic intended for said second station, and said second station is configured not to enter the second power save mode if said first station requests said second station to buffer the data traffic intended for said first station.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said first station not entering the first power save mode occurs if the request is received within a predetermined period of time from when said first station sends such a request;

and

wherein said second station not entering the first power save mode occurs if the request is received within a predetermined period of time from when said second station sends such a request.

24. The ad-hoc network of claim 19, wherein the ad-hoc network is a wireless network using a protocol selected from the group consisting of IEEE 802.11 standards and Bluetooth standards.

25. An ad-hoc network comprising:

a master station having wireless communication capabilities and a master capability to buffer data traffic intended for other stations in the ad-hoc network for a predetermined period;

at least one slave station incapable of buffering the traffic for other stations having wireless communication capabilities and configured to determine whether the master station is available in the ad-hoc network; and

wherein said slave station enters a power save mode for the predetermined period when said master station grants a request issued by said slave station to allow said slave station to enter the power save mode, and said master station sends the buffered data traffic to said slave station after the predetermined period elapses.

26. The ad-hoc network of claim 25, wherein said master and slave stations are configured to simultaneously enter a second power save mode for a second period time.

27. The ad-hoc network of claim 26, wherein said master station is configured to exit the second power save mode before said slave station exits the second power save mode.

28. The ad-hoc network of claim 25, wherein the ad-hoc network is a wireless network using a protocol selected from the group consisting of IEEE 802.11 standards and Bluetooth standards.

29. A system for saving power in an ad-hoc network including first and second stations each having a wireless capability to directly communicate with each other, said system comprising:

means for issuing a request to the second station to buffer data traffic intended for the first station for a first predetermined period;

means for granting said request to buffer data traffic;

means for causing the first station to enter a first power save mode for the first predetermined period; and

means for enabling the second station to buffer data traffic intended for the first station for the first predetermined period.

30. A machine-readable medium comprising stored instructions, which, when executed by a processor cause the processor to implement power saving in an ad-hoc network having a plurality of stations, said instructions comprising:

instructions for determining whether a first one of the stations has a capability to buffer data traffic intended for a second station;

instructions for requesting the at least one station to buffer data traffic intended for the second station for a first predetermined period;

instructions for granting a request to buffer data traffic intended for the second station;

instructions for causing the second station to enter a first power save mode for the first predetermined period; and

instructions for enabling the first one station to buffer data traffic intended for the second station for a second predetermined period;

instructions for causing the second station to exit the first power save mode after the first predetermined period elapses; and

instructions for sending the buffered data traffic to the second station.