Deep sleep mode for WLAN communication systems
First Claim
1. A WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) communication device for performing communication in a WLAN network, the WLAN communication device comprising:
- a physical connection unit configured to provide a physical connection of the WLAN communication device to a wireless communication medium;
a physical connection oscillator connected to the physical connection unit configured to provide a physical connection clock signal to the physical connection unit; and
a control unit connected to the physical connection unit and the physical connection oscillator, the control uniting being configured to control operation of the physical connection oscillator;
wherein the WLAN communication device is operable in a communication mode for transmitting and/or receiving data packets and in a first standby mode;
wherein the control unit is adapted to deactivate the physical connection oscillator when the WLAN communication device enters the first standby mode;
wherein the WLAN communication device is configured to negotiate a duration of the first standby mode with a WLAN communication counterpart within the WLAN network and to abandon the first standby mode after the negotiated duration; and
wherein the physical connection unit comprises a frequency divider configured to generate a main clock signal by dividing the frequency of the physical connection clock signal, and wherein the physical connection unit is configured to provide said main clock signal to the control unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) communication device for performing communication in a WLAN network is provided that comprises a physical connection unit, a physical connection oscillator, and a control unit. The physical connection unit is for providing a physical connection of the WLAN communication device to a wireless communication medium. The physical connection oscillator is for providing a physical connection clock signal to the physical connection unit. The control unit is for controlling operation of the physical connection oscillator. The WLAN communication device is operable in a communication mode and in a deep sleep mode. The control unit is adapted to deactivate the physical connection oscillator when the deep sleep mode is entered. Embodiments may provide an extended reduction of the power consumption of the WLAN communication device.
32 Citations
90 Claims
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1. A WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) communication device for performing communication in a WLAN network, the WLAN communication device comprising:
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a physical connection unit configured to provide a physical connection of the WLAN communication device to a wireless communication medium; a physical connection oscillator connected to the physical connection unit configured to provide a physical connection clock signal to the physical connection unit; and a control unit connected to the physical connection unit and the physical connection oscillator, the control uniting being configured to control operation of the physical connection oscillator; wherein the WLAN communication device is operable in a communication mode for transmitting and/or receiving data packets and in a first standby mode; wherein the control unit is adapted to deactivate the physical connection oscillator when the WLAN communication device enters the first standby mode; wherein the WLAN communication device is configured to negotiate a duration of the first standby mode with a WLAN communication counterpart within the WLAN network and to abandon the first standby mode after the negotiated duration; and wherein the physical connection unit comprises a frequency divider configured to generate a main clock signal by dividing the frequency of the physical connection clock signal, and wherein the physical connection unit is configured to provide said main clock signal to the control unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of operating a WLAN communication device for performing communication in a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) network, comprising:
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operating a physical connection unit for providing a physical connection of the WLAN communication device to a wireless communication medium; operating a physical connection oscillator for providing a physical connection clock signal to the physical connection unit, wherein operating the physical connection unit comprises operating a frequency divider for generating a main clock signal by dividing the frequency of the physical connection clock signal; operating a control unit connected to the physical connection unit and the physical connection oscillator, wherein said operating the control unit includes controlling operation of the physical connection oscillator; operating the WLAN communication device in a communication mode for transmitting and/or receiving data packets and a first standby mode; negotiating a duration of the first standby mode with a WLAN communication counterpart within the WLAN network; deactivating the physical connection oscillator when the operation of the WLAN communication device enters the first standby mode; and abandoning the first standby mode after the negotiated duration; wherein operating the physical connection unit further comprises providing the main clock signal to the control unit. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88)
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89. An integrated circuit chip for performing communication in a WLAN network, the integrated circuit chip comprising:
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a physical connection circuit configured to provide a physical connection of the integrated circuit chip to a wireless communication medium; a physical connection oscillator circuit connected to the physical connection circuit and configured to provide a physical connection clock signal to the physical connection circuit; and a control circuit connected to the physical connection circuit and the physical connection oscillator circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to control operation of the physical connection oscillator circuit; wherein the integrated circuit chip is operable in a communication mode for transmitting and/or receiving data packets; wherein, in a first standby mode, the control circuit is adapted to deactivate the physical connection oscillator circuit when the integrated circuit chip enters the first standby mode; wherein the integrated circuit chip is configured to negotiate a duration of the first standby mode with a WLAN communication counterpart within the WLAN network and to abandon the first standby mode after the negotiated duration; and wherein the physical connection unit comprises a frequency divider configured to generate a main clock signal by dividing the frequency of the physical connection clock signal, and wherein the physical connection circuit is configured to provide said main clock signal to the control circuit.
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90. A computer system for performing communication in a WLAN network, the computer system comprising:
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a physical connection device configured to provide a physical connection of the computer system to a wireless communication medium; a physical connection oscillator connected to the physical connection device and configured to provide a physical connection clock signal to the physical connection device; and a control device connected to the physical connection device and physical connection oscillator, wherein the control device is configured to control operation of the physical connection oscillator; wherein the computer system is operable in a communication mode for transmitting and/or receiving data packets; wherein, in a first standby mode, the control device is adapted to deactivate the physical connection oscillator when the computer system enters the first standby mode; wherein the computer system is configured to negotiate a duration of the first standby mode with a WLAN communication counterpart within the WLAN network and to abandon the first standby mode after the negotiated duration; and wherein the physical connection unit comprises a frequency divider configured to generate a main clock signal by dividing the frequency of the physical connection clock signal, and wherein the physical connection device is configured to provide said main clock signal to the control device.
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Specification