Power management and packet delivery method for use in a wireless local area network (LAN)
First Claim
1. A power management and packet delivery method for use in a wireless local area network (LAN) having a plurality of mobile battery powered user devices, said user devices in communication with each other, said power management and packet delivery method comprising the steps of:
- establishing a plurality of recurring time intervals, each time interval having a first portion during which all user devices are in the active mode of operation and a second portion for communication of packet data using data packet fragmentation;
transmitting an indicator signal from a user device having data to transmit during a first portion of at least one of a plurality of recurring time intervals prior to transmission of said data;
receiving said transmitted indicator signal at an intended destination device;
determining whether the signal was addressed for use;
remaining in an active mode of operation when the indicator signal is addressed for use and receiving a fragment of a packet of data;
when the indicator signal is not addressed for use, determining whether all packet fragments anticipated for the destination device have been received;
remaining in the active mode of operation when not all packet fragments anticipated for the destination device have been received;
elseentering the sleep mode of operation when sleep mode conditions are satisfied.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power management and packet delivery method for use in a wireless local area network (LAN) having a plurality of mobile battery powered user devices, the user devices in communication with each other, the power management and packet delivery technique for determining when a user device may transition from an active mode of operation to a sleep mode of operation and further for determining when a user device in the sleep mode of operation should transition to the active mode of operation. The method further operative to inform an intended destination device that data is forthcoming, thereby prohibiting that device from entering the sleep mode until after the data has been delivered.
130 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A power management and packet delivery method for use in a wireless local area network (LAN) having a plurality of mobile battery powered user devices, said user devices in communication with each other, said power management and packet delivery method comprising the steps of:
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establishing a plurality of recurring time intervals, each time interval having a first portion during which all user devices are in the active mode of operation and a second portion for communication of packet data using data packet fragmentation; transmitting an indicator signal from a user device having data to transmit during a first portion of at least one of a plurality of recurring time intervals prior to transmission of said data; receiving said transmitted indicator signal at an intended destination device; determining whether the signal was addressed for use; remaining in an active mode of operation when the indicator signal is addressed for use and receiving a fragment of a packet of data; when the indicator signal is not addressed for use, determining whether all packet fragments anticipated for the destination device have been received; remaining in the active mode of operation when not all packet fragments anticipated for the destination device have been received; else entering the sleep mode of operation when sleep mode conditions are satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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4. A power management and packet delivery method for use in a wireless local area network (LAN) having a plurality of mobile battery powered user devices, said user devices in communication with each other, said power management and packet delivery method comprising the steps of:
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establishing a plurality of recurring time intervals, each time interval having a portion during which all user devices are in the active mode of operation; transmitting an indicator signal from a user device having data to transmit during at least one of the plurality of recurring time intervals and prior to transmission of said data; receiving said transmitted indicator signal at an intended destination device; determining whether the signal was addressed for use; remaining in an active mode of operation when the indicator signal is addressed for use; else, determining whether sleep mode conditions are satisfied; establishing a minimum sleep period; estimating an anticipated sleep period; comparing the minimum sleep period of the anticipated sleep period; and entering a sleep mode of operation when sleep mode conditions are satisfied and when the anticipated sleep period exceeds the minimum sleep period.
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11. A power management and packet delivery method for use in a wireless local area network (LAN) having a plurality of mobile battery powered user devices, said user devices in communication with each other, said power management and packet delivery method comprising the steps of:
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establishing a plurality of recurring time intervals, each time interval having a portion during which all user devices are in the active mode of operation; transmitting an indicator signal from a user device having data to transmit during at least one of the plurality of recurring time intervals and prior to transmission of said data; receiving said transmitted indicator signal at an intended destination device; determining whether the signal was addressed for use; remaining in an active mode of operation when the indicator signal is addressed for use; else, entering a sleep mode of operation when sleep mode conditions are satisfied; calculating an arrival time for a next synchronization signal; establishing a minimum transmit time for transmission of data to be transmitted by the user device; comparing the calculated arrival time to the minimum transmit time; transitioning from the sleep mode of operation to the active mode of operation when the arrival time is greater than the minimum transmit time;
elsetransitioning from the sleep mode of operation to the active mode of operation at the arrival time of the next synchronization signal.
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12. A power management and packet delivery method for use in a wireless local area network (LAN) having a plurality of mobile battery powered user devices, including a first user device and a plurality of second user devices, said user devices in communication with each other, said power management and packet delivery method comprising the steps of:
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establishing a plurality of recurring time intervals, each time interval having a first portion during which all user devices are in the active mode of operation and a second portion during which user devices may operate in a sleep mode of operation; prior to data transmission, said first user device determining whether it is in the first or the second portion of a current time interval; when in the first portion of the current time interval, said first user device, transmitting an indicator signal to the plurality of second user devices; said plurality of second user devices receiving said transmitted indicator signal; each user device within said plurality of second user devices determining whether the signal was addressed for use and remaining in an active mode of operation when the indicator signal is addressed for use, else, entering a sleep mode of operation when sleep mode conditions are satisfied; and said first user device transmitting the data when in the second portion of the current time interval, irrespective of any transmission by the first user device in any preceding first portion of the current time interval. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A power management and packet delivery method for use in a wireless local area network (LAN) having a plurality of mobile battery powered user devices, including a first user device and a plurality of second user devices, said user devices in communication with each other, said power management and packet delivery method comprising the steps of:
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establishing a plurality of recurring time intervals, each time interval having a first portion during which all user devices are in the active mode of operation and a second portion during which user devices may operate in a sleep mode of operation; prior to data transmission, said first user device determining whether it is in the first or the second portion of a current time interval; when in the first portion of the current time interval; said first user device transmitting an indicator signal to the plurality of second user devices; said plurality of second user devices receiving said transmitted indicator signal; and each user device within said plurality of second user devices determining whether the signal was addressed for use and remaining in an active mode of operation when the indicator signal is addressed for use, else, entering a sleep mode of operation when sleep mode conditions are satisfied;
butwhen in the second portion of the current time interval said first user device; transmitting the data irrespective of any transmission by the first user device in any preceding first portion of the current time interval; awaiting an acknowledgement that the transmitted data was received by a destination device of the plurality of second user devices; when an acknowledgement is not received within a predetermined period of time, waiting for the arrival of the first portion of a next recurring time interval; transmitting an indicator signal during the first portion of said next recurring time interval; and transmitting the data during the second portion of said next recurring time interval.
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Specification