Power managing method applied to a wireless network apparatus and power management thereof

• US 8,107,378 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2009
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
• Original Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
• Inventors: Lu, Yi-Hua, Jou, Geng-Shing, Chiu, Ting-Yao, Hsu, Chia-Hua
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Tri H
• Application Number:
  US12/411,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20090245152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 370229-2362, 370310-350, 370445-462, 375/222, 375/230, 455/13.4, 455/522, 455/574, 455/127.5, 455/343.2
• US Class Current: 370/236
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A power managing method applied to a wireless network apparatus includes the steps of periodically detecting whether the wireless network apparatus is operated in a non-link status to determine whether to enter a first power-saving mode when the wireless network apparatus powered on; and determining the wireless network apparatus whether to enter a second power-saving mode according to an information of a beacon received by the wireless network apparatus when the wireless network apparatus is operated in a link status. When the wireless network apparatus is detected to be operated in the non-link status, control the wireless network apparatus to enter the first power-saving mode by a power mode controlling circuit. The first power-saving mode is an inactive power-saving mode, and the second power-saving mode is a linked power-saving mode.

Claims

1. A power managing method applied to a wireless network apparatus, the wireless network apparatus operated in a non-link status or a link status, the power managing method comprising:

when the wireless network apparatus powered on, periodically detecting whether the wireless network apparatus is operated in the non-link status to determine whether to enter a first power-saving mode by a detecting unit;

wherein when the wireless network apparatus is detected to be operated in the non-link status, controlling the wireless network apparatus to enter the first power-saving mode; and

when the wireless network apparatus is operated in the link status, determining the wireless network apparatus whether to enter a second power-saving mode according to an information of a beacon received by the wireless network apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of controlling the wireless network apparatus to enter the first power-saving mode further comprises:

turning off a baseband circuit or a radio frequency (RF) circuit disposed in the wireless network apparatus.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless network apparatus is disposed in a universal serial bus (USB) device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

notifying a host controller to stop a polling mechanism.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is a delivery traffic information message (DTIM).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is a DTIM number.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is a DTIM interval.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first power-saving mode is an inactive power-saving mode;

and the second power-saving mode is a linked power-saving mode.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting unit is implemented by a firmware.

10. A power management for controlling a power mode of a wireless network apparatus, the wireless network apparatus operated in a non-link status or a link status, the power management comprising:

a detecting unit, for detecting an operating status of the wireless network apparatus to generate a detecting result; and

a power mode controlling unit, coupled to the detecting unit, for controlling the power mode of the wireless network apparatus according to the detecting result of the detecting unit;

wherein when the detecting result of the detecting unit indicates that the wireless network apparatus is operated in the non-link status, the power mode controlling unit controls the wireless network apparatus to enter a first power-saving mode; and

when the detecting result of the detecting unit indicates that the wireless network apparatus is operated in the link status, the power mode controlling unit controls the wireless network apparatus to enter a second power-saving mode according to an information of a beacon received by the wireless network apparatus.

11. The power management of claim 10, wherein when the wireless network apparatus powered on, the detecting unit periodically detects whether the wireless network apparatus is operated in the non-link status to determine whether to enter the first power-saving mode.

12. The power management of claim 10, wherein when the wireless network apparatus enters the first power-saving mode, the power mode controlling unit turns off a baseband circuit or a RF circuit disposed in the wireless network apparatus.

13. The power management of claim 10, wherein the wireless network apparatus is disposed in a USB device.

14. The power management of claim 13, wherein when the wireless network apparatus enters the first power-saving mode, the power mode controlling unit notifies a host controller to stop a polling mechanism.

15. The power management of claim 10, wherein the information is a delivery traffic information message (DTIM).

16. The power management of claim 10, wherein the information is a DTIM number.

17. The power management of claim 10, wherein the information is a DTIM interval.

18. The power management of claim 10, wherein the first power-saving mode is an inactive power-saving mode;

and the second power-saving mode is a linked power-saving mode.