MULTIPLE DENSITY CONFIGURATIONS AND ALGORITHMS FOR INTELLIGENT POWER SAVINGS INFRASTRUCTURE IN WIRELESS LANS

• US 20130329619A1
• Filed: 08/16/2013
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: METSKER, Corey, Jones, Chad, BOWSER, Robert, CARTY, Clark
• Granted Patent: US 10,251,129 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/311
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3253 Power saving in bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Described in example embodiments herein are techniques for implementing power savings in a wireless local area network (WLAN). In accordance with an example embodiment, a centralized controller can be employed to gather data about network activity and select access points to switch to power save mode. Optionally, the controller may designate certain access points to remain active so as to monitor for clients attempting to access the WLAN. An aspect of an example embodiment is that it allows the controller to configure and manage power consumption based on demands on the overall system. In an example embodiment, techniques for implementing power savings within individual hardware components, such as access points, are disclosed. An aspect of a technique described in an example embodiment is that it provides flexibility to balance power savings and performance.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

processing logic; and

at least one wireless transceiver in communication with the processing logic;

wherein the processing logic is configured to communicate with an associated wireless controller; and

wherein at least one of the processing logic and the at least one wireless transceiver is configured to switch to a power save mode responsive to a signal received from the associated controller to switch to a power save mode.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing logic switches to power save mode.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one wireless transceiver sends a wake up signal to the processing logic responsive to receiving a wireless signal;

and

wherein the processing logic is responsive to the wake up signal to leave the power save mode.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one wireless transceiver comprises two wireless transceivers;

and

wherein one wireless transceiver enters the power save mode while the other wireless transceiver remains operational.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the associated controller comprises an interface for communicating with the processing logic and control logic for controlling the operation of the interface, processing logic, and the at least one wireless transceiver switches to a power save state responsive to a signal from the control logic.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one wireless transceiver is configured to send and receive data from at least one associated client device;

wherein the processing logic is configured to determine if the at least one wireless transceiver has not sent or received data from at least one associated client device for a predetermined time period; and

wherein responsive to a determination by the processing logic that the at least one wireless transceiver has not sent or received data from at least one associated client device for such predetermined time period, at least one of the processing logic and the at least one wireless transceiver are configured to switch to a power save mode.

9. A method of operation for an access point, comprising:

receiving, at an access point having processing logic and at least one wireless transceiver, a signal from an associated controller to switch to a power save mode;

selecting at least one of the processing logic and the at least one wireless transceiver to switch to a power save mode responsive to the signal; and

switching at least one of the processing logic and the at least one wireless transceiver to power save mode.

4. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one wireless transceiver switches to power save mode.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processing logic is responsive to receiving a signal from the associated controller to send a wake up signal to the at least one wireless transceiver;

and

wherein the at least one wireless transceiver is responsive to the wake up signal to leave power save mode.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the processing logic is selected to switch to power save mode and the processing logic is switched to power save mode.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising sending, from the at least one wireless transceiver, a wake up signal to the processing logic responsive to the at least one wireless transceiver receiving a wireless signal, and

in response to the received wake up signal, switching the processing logic to operational.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one wireless transceiver is selected to switch to power save mode and the at least one wireless transceiver is switched to power save mode.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving, at the processing logic a signal from the associated controller to send a wake up signal to the at least one wireless transceiver;

sending, from the processing logic, a wake up signal to the at least one wireless transceiver, and

in response to the wake up signal, switching the at least one wireless transceiver to operational.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one wireless transceiver comprises two wireless transceivers, and further comprising switching one wireless transceiver into power save mode and maintaining the other wireless transceiver as operational.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining, by the processing logic, if the at least one wireless transceiver has not sent or received data from at least one associated client device for a predetermined time period;

responsive to a determination by the processing logic that the at least one wireless transceiver has not sent or received data from at least one associated client device for such predetermined time period, selecting at least one of the processing logic and the at least one wireless transceiver to switch to a power save mode; and

switching at least one of the processing logic and the at least one wireless transceiver to power save mode.

16. Logic encoded in a non-transitory computer readable medium for execution by a processor, and when executed is operable to:

receive, at an access point having processing logic and at least one wireless transceiver, a signal from an associated controller to switch to a power save mode;

select at least one of the processing logic and the at least one wireless transceiver to switch to a power save mode responsive to the signal; and

switch at least one of the processing logic and the at least one wireless transceiver to power save mode.

17. The logic of claim 16, wherein the logic is operable to select the processing logic to switch to power save mode and to switch the processing logic to power save mode.

18. The logic of claim 17, further operable to send, from the at least one wireless transceiver, a wake up signal to the processing logic responsive to the at least one wireless transceiver receiving a wireless signal, and in response to the wake up signal, operable to switch the processing logic to operational.

19. The logic of claim 16, wherein the logic is operable to select the at least one wireless transceiver to switch to power save mode and to switch the at least one wireless transceiver to power save mode.

20. The logic of claim 19, further operable to receive, at the processing logic, a signal from the associated controller to send a wakeup signal to the at least one wireless transceiver;

send, from the processing logic, a wake up signal to the at least one wireless transceiver, and

in response to the wake up signal, switchi the at least one wireless transceiver to operational.

21. The logic of claim 16, further operable to determine, by the processing logic, if the at least one wireless transceiver has not sent or received data from at least one associated client device for a predetermined time period;

responsive to a determination by the processing logic that the at least one wireless transceiver has not sent or received data from at least one associated client device for such predetermined time period, select at least one of the processing logic and the at least one wireless transceiver to switch to a power save mode; and

switch at least one of the processing logic and the at least one wireless transceiver to power save mode.