Wireless local area network infrastructure mode for reducing power consumption
First Claim
1. A client station that communicates with an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (LAN), the client station comprising:
- a media access control (MAC) device configured to control transitions between an active mode and a low power mode;
a radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to communicate with the MAC device,wherein subsequent to the MAC device transitioning the client station to the active mode, the RF transceiver is configured to transmit data to the AP when at least one of (i) the AP finishes transmitting directed data to the RF transceiver and (ii) the AP transmits a null data frame to the RF transceiver, andwherein the MAC device is configured to transition the client station to the low power mode when the RF transceiver finishes transmitting data to the AP;
a first voltage regulator configured to regulate supply voltage during the active mode, wherein the first voltage regulator is powered down during the low power mode;
a second voltage regulator configured to dissipate less power than the first voltage regulator, wherein the second voltage regulator is configured to supply voltage during the low power mode,wherein the MAC device is configured to select (i) the first voltage regulator during the active mode and (ii) the second voltage regulator during the low power mode;
a baseband processor (BBP) configured to (i) perform radio frequency mixing and (ii) communicate with the MAC device and the RF transceiver;
a first phase locked loop (PLL) configured to generate a first clock signal for the BBP during the active mode; and
a crystal oscillator configured to output a timing signal to the first PLL during the active mode,wherein the RF transceiver is in communication with the BBP and includes a second PLL configured to (i) receive the timing signal from the crystal oscillator during the active mode and (ii) generate a second clock signal for the RF transceiver.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A client station that communicates with an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (LAN) includes a media access control (MAC) device that controls transitions between an active mode and a low power mode. A radio frequency (RF) transceiver communicates with the MAC device. After the MAC device transitions the client station to the active mode, the RF transceiver transmits data to the AP when at least one of the AP finishes transmitting directed data to the RF transceiver and the AP transmits a null data frame to the RF transceiver. The MAC device transitions the client station to the low power mode when the RF transceiver finishes transmitting data to the AP. The AP uses at least one of a random order and a rotating order to access the client station. The client station and the AP are implemented in a console gaming system.
27 Citations
98 Claims
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1. A client station that communicates with an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (LAN), the client station comprising:
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a media access control (MAC) device configured to control transitions between an active mode and a low power mode; a radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to communicate with the MAC device, wherein subsequent to the MAC device transitioning the client station to the active mode, the RF transceiver is configured to transmit data to the AP when at least one of (i) the AP finishes transmitting directed data to the RF transceiver and (ii) the AP transmits a null data frame to the RF transceiver, and wherein the MAC device is configured to transition the client station to the low power mode when the RF transceiver finishes transmitting data to the AP; a first voltage regulator configured to regulate supply voltage during the active mode, wherein the first voltage regulator is powered down during the low power mode; a second voltage regulator configured to dissipate less power than the first voltage regulator, wherein the second voltage regulator is configured to supply voltage during the low power mode, wherein the MAC device is configured to select (i) the first voltage regulator during the active mode and (ii) the second voltage regulator during the low power mode; a baseband processor (BBP) configured to (i) perform radio frequency mixing and (ii) communicate with the MAC device and the RF transceiver; a first phase locked loop (PLL) configured to generate a first clock signal for the BBP during the active mode; and a crystal oscillator configured to output a timing signal to the first PLL during the active mode, wherein the RF transceiver is in communication with the BBP and includes a second PLL configured to (i) receive the timing signal from the crystal oscillator during the active mode and (ii) generate a second clock signal for the RF transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97)
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22. A wireless local area network (LAN), comprising:
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an access point (AP); a first client station (i) configured to selectively operate in a low power mode and an active mode and (ii) subsequent to transitioning to the active mode, is in communication with the AP; and a second client station (i) configured to selectively operate in the low power mode and the active mode and (ii) subsequent to transitioning to the active mode, is in communication with the AP, wherein the AP uses at least one of a random order or a rotating order to access the first client station and the second client station, wherein when the AP accesses the first client station prior to the second client station, the first client station is configured to transition to the low power mode prior to the AP completing access of the second client station, wherein the first client station comprises a first voltage regulator configured to regulate supply voltage during the active mode, wherein the first voltage regulator is powered down during the low power mode; a second voltage regulator configured to dissipate less power than the first voltage regulator, wherein the second voltage regulator is configured to supply voltage during the low power mode; a media access control (MAC) device configured to select (i) the first voltage regulator during the active mode and (ii) the second voltage regulator during the low power mode; a baseband processor (BBP) configured to (i) perform radio frequency mixing and (ii) communicate with the MAC device and a radio frequency (RF) transceiver; a first phase locked loop (PLL) configured to generate a first clock signal for the BBP during the active mode; and a crystal oscillator configured to output a timing signal to the first PLL during the active mode, wherein the RF transceiver is in communication with the BBP and includes a second PLL configured to (i) receive the timing signal from the crystal oscillator during the active mode and (ii) generate a second clock signal for the RF transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 98)
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38. A client station configured to communicate with an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (LAN), the client station comprising:
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media access controlling means for controlling transitions between an active mode and a low power mode; radio frequency transceiving means for (i) transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals and (ii) for communicating with the media access controlling means, wherein subsequent to the media access controlling means transitioning the client station to the active mode, the radio frequency transceiving means transmits data to the AP when at least one of (i) the AP finishes transmitting directed data to the radio frequency transceiving means and (ii) the AP transmits a null data frame to the radio frequency transceiving means, and wherein the media access controlling means transitions the client station to the low power mode when the radio frequency transceiving means finishes transmitting data to the AP; first voltage regulating means for regulating supply voltage during the active mode, wherein the first voltage regulating means is powered down during the low power mode; second voltage regulating means (i) for dissipating less power than the first voltage regulating means and (ii) for regulating supply voltage during the low power mode, wherein the media access controlling means selects (i) the first voltage regulating means during the active mode and (ii) the second voltage regulating means during the low power mode; baseband processing means for performing radio frequency mixing and for communicating with the media access controlling means and the radio frequency transceiving means; first means for generating a first clock signal for the baseband processing means during the active mode; and first means for outputting a timing signal to the first means during the active mode, wherein the radio frequency transceiving means communicates with the baseband processing means and includes second means (i) for receiving the timing signal during the active mode and (ii) for generating a second clock signal. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A method for operating a client station configured to communicate with an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (LAN), the method comprising:
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controlling transitions of the client station between an active mode and a low power mode; transitioning the client station to the active mode; transmitting data to the AP when at least one of (i) the AP finishes transmitting directed data to the client station or (ii) the AP transmits a null data frame to the client station; transitioning the client station to the low power mode when the client station finishes transmitting data to the AP; regulating a supply voltage during the active mode via a first voltage regulator, wherein the first voltage regulator is powered down during the low power mode; dissipating, via a second voltage regulator, less power than the first voltage regulator, wherein the second voltage regulator is configured to supply voltage during the low power mode; selecting, via a media access controller (MAC) device, (i) the first voltage regulator during the active mode and (ii) the second voltage regulator during the low power mode; performing radio frequency (RF) mixing; communicating with the MAC device and a RF transceiver via a baseband processor (BBP); generating a first clock signal for the BBP during the active mode via a first phase locked loop (PLL); outputting a timing signal to the first PLL during the active mode via a crystal oscillator; receiving the timing signal from the crystal oscillator during the active mode via a second PLL; and generating a second clock signal for the RF transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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75. A method for operating a wireless local area network (LAN), the method comprising:
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selectively operating a first client station and a second client station in a low power mode and an active mode; establishing communications between the first and second client stations and an access point (AP) of the wireless LAN subsequent to transitioning the first and second client stations, respectively, to the active mode; using at least one of a random order or a rotating order to access the first client station and the second client station; accessing the first client station prior to the second client station; transitioning the first client station to the low power mode prior to the AP completing access of the second client station; and via the first client station regulating a supply voltage during the active mode via a first voltage regulator, wherein the first voltage regulator is powered down during the low power mode; dissipating, via a second voltage regulator, less power than the first voltage regulator, wherein the second voltage regulator is configured to supply voltage during the low power mode; selecting, via a media access controller (MAC) device, (i) the first voltage regulator during the active mode and (ii) the second voltage regulator during the low power mode; performing radio frequency mixing; communicating with the MAC device and a radio frequency (RF) transceiver via a baseband processor (BBP); generating a first clock signal for the BBP during the active mode via a first phase locked loop (PLL); outputting a timing signal to the first PLL during the active mode via a crystal oscillator; receiving the timing signal from the crystal oscillator during the active mode via a second PLL; and generating a second clock signal for the RF transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90)
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Specification