Delegated network connection management and power management in a wireless device
First Claim
1. In a communications system comprising a host and a wireless communications module coupled to said host, a method for network discovery and connection management comprising:
- delegating from a processor of said host a communications task, wherein said communications task comprises at least one of;
a task to automate an establishment of a network connection;
a task to optimize a network connection; and
a task to report on a network environment;
receiving at said wireless communications module said communications task; and
performing at said wireless communications module said communications task.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for advanced media access control delegated from a host device, such as a WiFi device, to a smart wireless communications module. In an embodiment, the host signals to the wireless module a list of one or more preferred networks. The wireless module offloads from the host the processing required to scan for the preferred network(s), as well as possibly other management tasks. The wireless communications module may automatically reassign the network connection from an existing network to a preferred network, or may report to the host when a preferred network is discovered. In either case, the wireless communications module may monitor the wireless environment, and scan for preferred networks, in parallel with maintaining an existing connection. The method and system allows rapid adaptation to a changing network environment, and enables lower system power consumption by distributing management functions between the host and the lower-powered wireless communications module.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. In a communications system comprising a host and a wireless communications module coupled to said host, a method for network discovery and connection management comprising:
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delegating from a processor of said host a communications task, wherein said communications task comprises at least one of; a task to automate an establishment of a network connection; a task to optimize a network connection; and a task to report on a network environment; receiving at said wireless communications module said communications task; and performing at said wireless communications module said communications task. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for media access control, said system receiving a delegated communications task from a host device, comprising:
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a media access control (MAC) device constructed and arranged to receive said delegated communications task; said MAC device further constructed and arranged to manage a process of network discovery and network connection management according to said delegated communications task, said delegated communications task comprising at least one of; a task to automate an establishment of a network connection; a task to optimize a network connection; and a task to report on a network environment. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A system for media access control, comprising:
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a host module constructed and arranged to delegate a communications task; and a media access control (MAC) device coupled to said host module; said MAC device constructed and arranged to receive said delegated communications task; said MAC device further constructed and arranged to manage a process of network discovery and network connection management according to said delegated communications task; wherein said host module switches to a low power mode after offloading said delegated communications task to said MAC device. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. In a communications system comprising a host and a wireless communications module coupled to said host, a method for network discovery and connection management comprising:
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delegating from a processor of said host a communications task, wherein said communications task comprises at least one of; a task to automate an establishment of a connection to a preferred network; a task to detect a preferred network; and a task to automatically switch a network connection to a preferred network; receiving at said wireless communications module said communications task; and performing at said wireless communications module said communications task.
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29. In a communications system comprising a host and a wireless communications module coupled to said host, a method for network discovery and connection management comprising:
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delegating from a processor of said host a communications task; receiving at said wireless communications module said communications task; and performing at said wireless communications module said communications task. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. A system for media access control, said system receiving a delegated communications task from a host device, comprising:
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a media access control (MAC) device constructed and arranged to receive said delegated communications task; said MAC device further constructed and arranged to manage a process of network discovery and network connection management according to said delegated communications task.
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Specification