Reduced power consumption in a wireless network device

• US 9,088,948 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2011
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Taylor, Haley April, Spero, Perry J
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Dang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Morlan, Robert M
• Application Number:
  US13/279,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20120106417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,366 Days
• Field of Search: 370/311
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Various techniques for reducing power in a wireless network device are disclosed. In some embodiments, software routines within the device are modified to minimize the time during which the analog circuitry in a radio is powered. In some embodiments, the techniques make use of knowledge of implied delays associated with a particular network protocol. For example, in a CSMA network, there is a defined minimum period before the device can attempt to gain access to the media. The radio may be powered off during this defined period. In other embodiments, modifications to a protocol are disclosed which allow additional power savings.

Claims

1. A method for reducing power consumption in a device, said device comprising circuitry for transmitting and receiving packets, and a processing unit, said method comprising:

receiving a packet from a second device;

parsing said packet, using said processing unit, as said packet is received;

disabling said circuitry upon receipt of data of interest before receipt of entire packet; and

using said processing unit to construct an artificial packet in memory, said artificial packet appearing to be a successfully received packet;

wherein software is executed by said device and said software comprises a low level layer which communicates with hardware, and a higher level layer, wherein said low level layer disables said circuitry.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising passing said artificial packet from said lower level layer to said higher level layer.