Method for determining the status of a wireless network communication device

• US 7,966,009 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2006
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arcadyan Technology Corporation (Compal Electronics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Arcadyan Technology Corporation (Compal Electronics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lee, Chih-Fang
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar; Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kirk; Lameka J
• Application Number:
  US11/612,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20070149133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,645 Days
• Field of Search: 455423-425, 455572-574, 4553431-3435
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/382 for resource allocation, admission control or handover
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0241 where no transmission is received, e.g. out of range of the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for determining the working status of a wireless network communication device. The method includes determining the probe request or broadcast packet or any wireless packet with its destination address equal to this AP address, and then determining whether extending the time interval of signal transmission based on the detection result. Next, when the device does not receive the probe requests or broadcast packet or any wireless packet with its destination address equal to this AP address within the first predetermined interval, the wireless network communication device will switch to the idle mode. Further, the step of the present invention includes determining whether awakening or shutdown the wireless network communication device based on the result of the detection of the probe request or broadcast packet or any wireless packet with its destination address equal to this AP address within the second predetermined interval.

Claims

1. A method for determining a working status of a wireless network communication device, comprising:

detecting a requesting signal or an environment searching signal transmitted from a terminal instrument;

determining if extending an interval of signal transmission or not, according to the result of detection, wherein said interval of signal transmission is adjusted by a signal transmission module of said wireless network communication device;

entering into a delay mode, if said network communication device fails to receive said requesting signal or said environment searching signal transmitted from said terminal instrument in a first predetermined interval, wherein said delay mode is used to extend said interval of signal transmission by a MAC which is commanded by a CPU; and

determining whether said wireless network communication device should be awaken or enter into an idle mode, according to whether detected said requesting signal or said environment searching signal transmitted from terminal instrument in a second predetermined interval.

2. A method for determining a working status of a wireless network communication device of claim 1, comprising:

when detecting said requesting signal or said environment searching signal transmitted from said terminal instrument, said wireless network communication device maintains an current interval for signal transmission.

3. A method for determining the working status of a wireless network communication device of claim 1, wherein the step for extending said interval of signal transmission can repeat for multiple times and extending the span of said interval progressively.

4. A method for determining the working status of a wireless network communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

if detecting said requesting signal or said environment searching signal transmitted from said terminal instrument in the first predetermined interval and then wakening said wireless network communication device;

otherwise said wireless network communication device enters into said delay mode.

5. A method for determining the working status of a wireless network communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

when extending to said second predetermined interval, if detecting said requesting signal or said environment searching signal transmitted from said terminal instrument, wakening said wireless network communication device;

otherwise, shutting down a wireless transmission module of said wireless network communication device to interrupt signal transmission and entering into said idle mode.

6. A method for determining the working status of a wireless network communication device of claim 1, wherein said wireless network communication device comprises a signal transmission module for transmitting signal to said terminal instrument.

7. A method for determining the working status of a wireless network communication device of claim 1, wherein said wireless network communication device comprises a signal detection module for detecting said requesting signal or said environment searching signal transmitted from said terminal instrument.

8. A method for determining the working status of a wireless network communication device of claim 1, wherein said terminal instrument comprises a signal transmission module for transmitting said requesting signal or said environment searching signal to said wireless network communication device.

9. A method for determining the working status of a wireless network communication device of claim 1, wherein said terminal instrument comprises a signal detection module for detecting signals transmitted from said wireless network communication device.

10. A method for determining the working status of a wireless network communication device of claim 1, wherein said idle mode refers to interrupting signal transmission but not shutting said wireless network communication device down.

11. A method for determining the working status of a wireless network communication device of claim 1, wherein said method can apply to wired network environment, including household, public place or office environment.

12. A method for determining the working status of a wireless network communication device of claim 1, wherein said wireless network communication device comprises a router ‘

a gateway’

a bridge or an access point.

13. A method for determining the working status of a wireless network communication device, comprising:

providing said wireless network communication device with different signal transmission modes;

detecting a requesting signal or an environment searching signal transmitted from a terminal instrument; and

according to the signal detection result, adjusting said wireless signal transmission mode or status to reduce the signal interference caused by signals continuously transmitted from said wireless network communication device to lower environment magnetic wave and saving power;

wherein said wireless signal transmission modes comprising a normal mode, an extended mode, and a no-transmission mode;

wherein said extended mode is used to extend said interval of beacons signal transmission.

14. A method for determining the working status of a wireless network communication device of claim 13, wherein said wireless network communication device comprising a router, a gateway, a bridge or an access point.

15. A method for determining the working status of a wireless network communication device of claim 13, wherein said transmitting status of wireless signal including a normal working mode, a delay mode, and an idle mode.

16. A method for determining the working status of a wireless network communication device of claim 15, wherein said idle mode refers to interrupting signal transmission but not shutting said wireless network communication device down.

17. A method for determining the working status of a wireless network communication device of claim 13, wherein said method can apply to a wired environment comprising household, public place or office environment.