Power save protocol interoperability detection

• US 8,705,375 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2007
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Jaakkola, Mikko, Torkkel, Jari
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Kiet
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Michael T
• Application Number:
  US11/807,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20080291838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,525 Days
• Field of Search: 455/574, 455/560, 4553431-3436, 455/572, 455/451, 370/328, 370/329, 370/318, 370/311, 370/338, 370/389, 370/242
• US Class Current: 370/242
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus featuring performing detection functionality to determine if a wirelessly connected node, point or terminal in a wireless network configured to operate according a predefined power saving scheme operates incorrectly; and adjusting the predefined power saving scheme when wirelessly connected with the particular node, point or terminal if an incorrect power saving operation is detected. The detection functionality may include probing types of power saving protocol tests and using lower and higher-layer protocol information to detect if the mobile device might be missing some data. The adjusting may include: 1) disabling the predefined power saving scheme, or 2) switching entering into the predefined power savings scheme only after a predefined inactivity period, wherein the predefined inactivity is substantially longer than in “normal” operation.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving packets from a network node and using at least the received packets to detect whether a predefined power saving scheme of said network node operates incorrectly; and

adjusting the predefined power saving scheme to an interoperability power saving communication mode when wirelessly connected with said network node if it is detected that the predefined power saving scheme operates incorrectly;

wherein said detecting comprises probing types of power saving protocol tests and using lower and higher-layer protocol information to detect if some data to be received is missing.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting comprises switching to a new compatible power scheme when the predefined power saving scheme is disabled for the network node in response to detecting that the predefined power saving scheme operates incorrectly.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting comprises entering into the predefined power saving scheme only after a predefined inactivity period, wherein the predefined inactivity is substantially longer than in “

normal”

operation.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said detecting comprises monitoring and registering events that can reveal states where downlink packets are missing.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, in a case it is detected that the predefined power saving scheme operates correctly, turning off a dynamic power saving detection for a length of an active session associated with said network node.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, in a case it is detected that the predefined power saving scheme operates incorrectly, entering into an active mode.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises toggling between a power save enabled mode and an active mode periodically and calculating a number of the received packets during the power save enabled mode and the active mode.

8. The method according to claim 7, comprising:

after entering the power save enabled mode sending data to said network node using a broadcast address or a multicast address as a destination address to make a distinction in a determination engine; and

determining whether the broadcast or the multicast data is received and that unicast data is not received or vice versa in response to the sending.

9. The method according to claim 7, comprising:

after entering the power save enabled mode sending a frame having a proprietary level data-format to the network node in such way that the destination address is the same as the source address so as to cause the frame to be buffered into said network node.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the detecting comprises determining if the frame is echoed back normally in response to the sending.

11. The method according to claim 9, comprising receiving a beacon in response to the sending;

and based on the receiving pulling the frame back from said network node.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises implementing the method via a computer program running in a processor, controller or other suitable module in a mobile device.

13. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor, and

at least one memory including computer program code, and

the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least;

packets from a network node and use at least the received packets detect whether a predefined power saving scheme of said network node operates incorrectly; and

adjust the predefined power saving scheme to an interoperability power saving communication mode when wirelessly connected with said network node if it is detected that the predefined power saving scheme operates incorrectly;

wherein said detecting comprises probing types of power saving protocol tests and using lower and higher-layer protocol information to detect if some data to be received is missing.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is configured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to switch to a new compatible power scheme when the predefined power saving scheme is disabled for the network node in response to detecting that the predefined power saving scheme operates incorrectly.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is configured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to enter into the predefined power saving scheme only after a predefined inactivity period, wherein the predefined inactivity is substantially longer than in “

normal”

operation.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said detecting comprises monitoring and registering events that can reveal states where the apparatus is missing downlink packets.

17. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is configured with the at least one processor to, in the case where the predefined power saving scheme works, cause the apparatus to stop the detecting for a length of an active session associated with said network node.

18. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is configured with the at least one processor to, in a case where it is detected that the predefined power saving scheme does not operate properly, cause the apparatus to enter an active mode.

19. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the detecting comprises toggling between a power save enabled mode and an active mode periodically and calculating a number of the received packets during the power save enabled mode and the active mode.

20. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is configured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to send data to said network node and use a broadcast address or a multicast address as a destination address to make a distinction in a determination engine;

and determine whether the broadcast or the multicast data is received and that unicast data is not received or vice versa in response to the sending.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the data using the broadcast address or a multicast address is sent right after the apparatus goes into a sleep mode for a first time.

22. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is configured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to send frames having a proprietary level data-format to said network node in such way that the destination address is the same as the source address so as to cause a frame to be buffered into said network node.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the detecting comprises detecting if the packet is echoed back normally to the apparatus in the received packets.

24. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the at least one memory including the computer program code is configured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to receive a beacon in response to the sending;

and based on the receiving pull the frame back from said network node.

25. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving packets from a network node and using at least the received packets to detect if a predefined power saving scheme of said network node operates incorrectly; and

means for adjusting the predefined power saving scheme to an interoperability power saving communication mode when wirelessly connected with said network node if it is detected that the predefined poser saving scheme operates incorrectly;

wherein said detecting comprises probing types of power saving protocol tests and using lower and higher-layer protocol information to detect if some data to be received is missing.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the means for adjusting includes one of:

disabling the predefined power saving scheme, and switching entering into the predefined power savings scheme only after a predefined inactivity period, wherein the predefined inactivity is substantially longer than in “

normal”

operation.

27. A device comprising:

one or more processors configured for receiving packets from an associated access point and use at least the received packets to detect whether the associated access point is operating according to rules of a predefined power saving scheme for communicating in a wireless local area network environment, and

switching to an interoperability power saving communication mode in a case of detecting that the associated access point is not operating according to the rules of the predefined power saving scheme;

wherein said detecting comprises probing types of power saving protocol tests and using lower and higher-layer protocol information to detect if some data to be received is missing.

28. The device according to claim 27, wherein the switching to the interoperability power saving communication modes comprises one of disabling power saving scheme, and switching entering into power savings scheme only after a predefined inactivity period, wherein the predefined inactivity is substantially longer than in “

normal”

operation.

29. A chipset comprising:

a first processor configured to receive packets from a wirelessly connected apparatus and use at least the received packets to detect whether a predefined power saving scheme of said wirelessly connected apparatus operates incorrectly; and

a second processor coupled with the first processor and configured to adjust the predefined power saving scheme to an interoperability power saving mode when wirelessly connected with said wirelessly connected apparatus if it is detected that the predefined power saving scheme operates incorrectly;

wherein said detecting comprises probing types of power saving protocol tests and using lower and higher-layer protocol information to detect if some data to be received is missing.

30. The chipset according to claim 29, wherein the adjusting includes switching to a new compatible power scheme when the predefined power saving scheme is disabled for the wirelessly connected apparatus in response to detecting that the predefined power saving scheme operates incorrectly.

31. The chipset according to claim 29, wherein said detecting comprises monitoring and registering events that can reveal states where a mobile device is missing downlink packets.

32. A chipset comprising:

a first processor configured for receiving packets from an associated access point detecting using at least the received packets whether the associated access point is operating according to rules of a predefined power saving scheme for communicating in a wireless local area network environment; and

a second processor coupled with the first processor and configured for switching to an interoperability power saving communication mode in the case of detecting that the associated access point is not operating according to the rules of the predefined power saving scheme;

wherein said detecting comprises probing types of power saving protocol tests and using lower and higher-layer protocol information to detect if some data to be received is missing.

33. The chipset according to claim 32, wherein the switching to the interoperability power saving communication modes comprises one of:

disabling power saving scheme, and switching entering into power savings scheme only after a predefined inactivity period, wherein the predefined inactivity is substantially longer than in “

normal”

operation.