Bandwidth throttle for a wireless device
First Claim
1. A method for conserving power in a network device on a network, said method comprising:
- evaluating an address of an incoming message at the network device while the network device operates at a low bandwidth;
determining whether said incoming message is addressed to the network device; and
upon a determination that said incoming message is addressed to the network device, determining whether said incoming message is a ping packet or a data packet, wherein a bandwidth of the network device is increased to a higher bandwidth for receiving subsequent messages addressed to the network device if said incoming message is a data packet, and wherein the bandwidth of the network device is maintained at said low bandwidth if said incoming message is a ping packet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for conserving battery strength of a client device, such as a laptop computer, on a wireless local area network (WLAN). The client device monitors the addresses of incoming data packet messages while running at a lowest bandwidth permitted by the protocol of the client device. When a data packet is detected that is addressed to the client device, the client device bandwidth is increased to a higher bandwidth to receive subsequent data packets. Subsequent incoming data packets are received by the client device until transmissions cease, after which the client device returns to the lowest bandwidth. By remaining in a lowest bandwidth mode while monitoring incoming packets, the client device is able to extend the life of the client device battery.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for conserving power in a network device on a network, said method comprising:
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evaluating an address of an incoming message at the network device while the network device operates at a low bandwidth; determining whether said incoming message is addressed to the network device; and upon a determination that said incoming message is addressed to the network device, determining whether said incoming message is a ping packet or a data packet, wherein a bandwidth of the network device is increased to a higher bandwidth for receiving subsequent messages addressed to the network device if said incoming message is a data packet, and wherein the bandwidth of the network device is maintained at said low bandwidth if said incoming message is a ping packet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A client device on a computer network, said client device comprising:
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means for evaluating an address of an incoming message while operating at a low bandwidth; means for determining whether said incoming message is addressed to the client device; and means for, upon a determination that said incoming message is addressed to the network device, determining whether said incoming message is a ping packet or a data packet, wherein a bandwidth of the network device is increased to a higher bandwidth for receiving subsequent messages addressed to the network device if said incoming message is a data packet, and wherein the bandwidth of the network device is maintained at said low bandwidth if said incoming message is a ping packet.
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9. A access point on a computer network, said access point comprising:
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means for sending a message to a client device at a low bandwidth, said message packet including an address for said client device; means for receiving an acknowledgment from said client device; means for transmitting subsequent messages to said client device, at a higher bandwidth; and means for transmitting a ping packet to said client device at said low bandwidth. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A computer program product, residing on a computer usable medium, for conserving power consumption in a network device on a network, said computer program product comprising:
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program code means for evaluating an address of an incoming message at the network device while the network device operates at a low bandwidth; program code means for determining whether said incoming message is addressed to the network device; program code means for, upon a determination that said incoming message is addressed to the network device, increasing a bandwidth of the network device to a higher bandwidth for receiving subsequent messages addressed to the network device; program code means for determining if said incoming message is a ping packet; and program code means for maintaining said low bandwidth at the network device if said incoming message is said ping packet. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification