Power save protocol interoperability detection

• US 20080291838A1
• Filed: 05/24/2007
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Jaakkola, Mikko, Torkkel, Jari
• Granted Patent: US 8,705,375 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/242
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus featuring performing detection functionality to determine if a wirelessly connected node, point or terminal in a wireless network configured to operate according a predefined power saving scheme operates incorrectly; and adjusting the predefined power saving scheme when wirelessly connected with the particular node, point or terminal if an incorrect power saving operation is detected. The detection functionality may include probing types of power saving protocol tests and using lower and higher-layer protocol information to detect if the mobile device might be missing some data. The adjusting may include: 1) disabling the predefined power saving scheme, or 2) switching entering into the predefined power savings scheme only after a predefined inactivity period, wherein the predefined inactivity is substantially longer than in “normal” operation.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

performing detection functionality to determine if a wirelessly connected node, point or terminal in a wireless network configured to operate according a predefined power saving scheme operates incorrectly; and

adjusting the predefined power saving scheme when wirelessly connected with the particular node, point or terminal if an incorrect power saving operation is detected.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the detection functionality includes probing types of power saving protocol tests and using lower and higher-layer protocol information to detect if some data to be received is missing.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting includes switching to a new compatible power scheme when the predefined power saving scheme is disabled for a particular access point.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting includes entering into the predefined power saving scheme only after a predefined inactivity period, wherein the predefined inactivity is substantially longer than in “

normal”

operation.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the detection functionality includes monitoring and registering events that can reveal states where downlink packets are missing.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein in the case where the predefined power saving scheme works, a dynamic power saving detection will be turned off for the length of an active session associated with the particular, node, point or terminal.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein in the case where the predefined power saving scheme does not work, the method includes entering into an active mode

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes toggling between the predefined power saving scheme and an active mode periodically and calculating the number of received packets during an estimated power save enabled mode and the active mode in order to dynamically detect whether the predefined power saving scheme works or not.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes using a destination address to make a distinction in a determination engine, including determining if broadcast data might be arriving normally but unicast isn'"'"'t, or vice versa.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes sending frames having a proprietary level data-format to the particular node, point or terminal in such way that the destination address is the same as the source address so as to cause a frame to be buffered into the particular node, point or terminal, and once a beacon is arriving, the packet can be pulled back.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein if the packet is echoed back normally that information can be used as a strong signal for having good interoperability.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the method includes sending a broadcast/multicast packet to see if the broadcast/multicast power save delivery works as specified, where the destination address would be either a broadcast address or multicast address.

27. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises implementing the step of the method via a computer program running in a processor, controller or other suitable module in mobile device.

13. A device comprising:

one or more modules configured for performing detection functionality to determine if a wirelessly connected node, point or terminal in a wireless network configured to operate according a predefined power saving scheme operates incorrectly; and

adjusting the predefined power saving scheme when wirelessly connected with the particular node, point or terminal if an incorrect power saving operation is detected.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the detection functionality includes probing types of power saving protocol tests and using lower and higher-layer protocol information to detect if the device might be missing some data.

15. A device according to claim 13, wherein the one or more modules are configured for switching to a new compatible power scheme when the predefined power saving scheme is disabled for a particular access point.

16. A device according to claim 13, wherein the one or more modules are configured for switching entering the device into the predefined power saving scheme only after a predefined inactivity period, wherein the predefined inactivity is substantially longer than in “

normal”

operation.

17. A device according to claim 13, wherein the detection functionality includes monitoring and registering events that can reveal states where the mobile device is missing downlink packets.

18. A device according to claim 13, wherein in the case where the predefined power saving scheme works, a dynamic power saving detection will be turned off for the length of an active session associated with the particular, node, point or terminal.

19. A device according to claim 13, wherein in the case where the predefined power saving scheme does not work, the device is configured for entering the into an active mode

20. A device according to claim 13, wherein the one or more modules are configured for toggling between the predefined power saving scheme and an active mode periodically and calculating the number of received packets during an estimated power save enabled mode and the active mode in order to dynamically detect whether the predefined power saving scheme works or not.

21. A device according to claim 13, wherein the one or more modules are configured for using a destination address to make a distinction in a determination engine, including determining if broadcast data might be arriving normally but unicast isn'"'"'t, or vice versa.

22. A device according to claim 13, wherein the one or more modules are configured for triggering test-functionality right after the device goes into a sleep mode for the first time to detect if the predefined power save scheme is working.

23. A device according to claim 22, wherein the one or more modules are configured for sending frames having a proprietary level data-format to the particular node, point or terminal in such way that the destination address is the same as the source address so as to cause a frame to be buffered into the particular node, point or terminal, and once a beacon is arriving, the device can pull the packet back.

24. A device according to claim 23, wherein if the packet is echoed back normally to the device, then that information can be used as a strong signal for having good interoperability.

25. A device according to claim 23, wherein the one or more modules are configured for sending a broadcast/multicast packet to see if the broadcast/multicast power save delivery works as specified, where the destination address would be either a broadcast address or multicast address.

26. A computer program product in a tangible medium with a program code, which program code is stored on a machine readable carrier, for carrying out the steps of a method comprising:

performing detection functionality to determine if a wirelessly connected node, point or terminal in a wireless network configured to operate according a predefined power saving scheme operates incorrectly; and

adjusting the predefined power saving scheme when wirelessly connected with the particular node, point or terminal if an incorrect power saving operation is detected.

28. Apparatus comprising:

means for performing detection functionality to determine if a wirelessly connected node, point or terminal in a wireless network configured to operate according a predefined power saving scheme operates incorrectly; and

means for adjusting the predefined power saving scheme when wirelessly connected with the particular node, point or terminal if an incorrect power saving operation is detected.

29. Apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the means for adjusting includes:

1) disabling the predefined power saving scheme, or

     2) switching entering into the predefined power savings scheme only after a predefined inactivity period, wherein the predefined inactivity is substantially longer than in “

normal”

operation.

30. A method comprising:

receiving and analyzing packets received from an associated access point to determine whether the associated access point is operating according to rules of a predefined power saving scheme for communicating in a wireless local area network environment; and

switching to an interoperability power saving communication mode in the case of detecting that the associated access point is not operating according to the rules of the predefined power saving scheme.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein the interoperability power saving communication modes comprises:

1) disabling power saving scheme, or

     2) switching entering into power savings scheme only after a predefined inactivity period, wherein the predefined inactivity is substantially longer than in “

normal”

operation.

32. A device comprising:

one or more modules configured for receiving and analyzing packets received from an associated access point to determine whether the associated access point is operating according to rules of a predefined power saving scheme for communicating in a wireless local area network environment, and switching to an interoperability power saving communication mode in the case of detecting that the associated access point is not operating according to the rules of the predefined power saving scheme.

33. A device according to claim 32, wherein the interoperability power saving communication modes comprises:

1) disabling power saving scheme, or

     2) switching entering into power savings scheme only after a predefined inactivity period, wherein the predefined inactivity is substantially longer than in “

normal”

operation.

34. A chipset comprising:

a first chipset module configured for performing detection functionality to determine if a wirelessly connected node, point or terminal in a wireless network configured to operate according a predefined power saving scheme operates incorrectly; and

a second chipset module coupled with the first chipset module and configured for adjusting the predefined power saving scheme when wirelessly connected with the particular node, point or terminal if an incorrect power saving operation is detected.

35. A chipset according to claim 34, wherein the adjusting includes switching to a new compatible power scheme when the predefined power saving scheme is disabled for a particular access point.

36. A chipset according to claim 34, wherein the detection functionality includes monitoring and registering events that can reveal states where a mobile device is missing downlink packets.

37. A chipset comprising:

a first chipset module configured for receiving and analyzing packets received from an associated access point to determine whether the associated access point is operating according to rules of a predefined power saving scheme for communicating in a wireless local area network environment; and

a second chipset module coupled with the first chipset module and configured for switching to an interoperability power saving communication mode in the case of detecting that the associated access point is not operating according to the rules of the predefined power saving scheme.

38. A chipset according to claim 37, wherein the interoperability power saving communication modes comprises:

1) disabling power saving scheme, or

     2) switching entering into power savings scheme only after a predefined inactivity period, wherein the predefined inactivity is substantially longer than in “

normal”

operation.