Enhanced IEEE power save in ad hoc wireless mode

• US 9,332,496 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2007
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell World Trade Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Jan, James, Lee, Robert, Chow, Long, Huang, Frank, Luo, Xiaohua
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Application Number:
  US11/944,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20080125190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,086 Days
• Field of Search: 455/127.5, 455/574, 4553431-3433, 370/311, 370/318, 370/328, 370/338, 370/329, 370/341
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In accordance with the invention, a method, system and apparatus for saving power consumed by a station in an ad hoc wireless network are presented. The method comprises transmitting or receiving a signal by a station in the ad hoc wireless network during a beacon interval. The station enters a power saving doze state immediately following the transmission or reception of the signal and prior to the end of the beacon interval. Additionally or alternatively, the station may enter power saving doze state following a timed period, according to a counter, or according to a periodic pattern.

Claims

1. A method for saving power by a device in communication with an ad hoc wireless network, the method comprising:

during a beginning portion of each of multiple beacon intervals, transmitting, by the device, a respective beacon; and

for each respective beacon interval of the multiple beacon intervals,

determining whether an announcement traffic identification message (ATIM) is one of (i) transmitted or (ii) received by the device after the transmission of the respective beacon and during the respective beacon interval,

comparing a counter to a threshold,

(A) if the counter is less than the threshold and (B) if no ATIM is one of (i) received or (ii) transmitted during the respective beacon interval, incrementing the counter, and

if the counter is equal to the threshold, having the device enter a power saving doze state during at least a part of the respective beacon interval.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein having the device enter a power saving doze state further comprises:

having the device enter the power saving doze state after transmitting the respective beacon at a beginning of the respective beacon interval.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein having the device enter the power saving doze state further comprises:

having the device remain in the power saving doze state after transmitting the respective beacon at a beginning of the respective beacon interval and for a remaining portion of the respective beacon interval.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

based on entering the power saving doze state, resetting the counter.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

refraining from transmitting or receiving signals while the device remains in the power saving doze state.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the ad hoc wireless network is an independent basic service set (IBBS).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold has a pre-configured value, which remains unchanged irrespective of whether, for the respective beacon interval, ATIM is one of (i) received or (ii) transmitted.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

for each respective beacon interval of the multiple beacon intervals, (A) if the counter is less than the threshold and (B) if no ATIM is one of (i) received or (ii) transmitted during the respective beacon interval, refraining from entering the power saving doze state.

9. A method for saving power by a device in communication with an ad hoc wireless network, the method comprising:

during a beginning portion of each of multiple beacon intervals, transmitting, by the device, a respective beacon; and

for each respective beacon interval of the multiple beacon intervals,

determining whether an announcement traffic identification message (ATIM) is one of (i) transmitted or (ii) received by the device after the transmission of the respective beacon and during the respective beacon interval,

comparing a counter to a threshold,

if the counter is less than the threshold, (i) incrementing the counter and (ii) having the device enter a power saving doze state during at least a part of the respective beacon interval, and

if the counter is equal to the threshold, having the device refrain from entering the power saving doze state during the respective beacon interval.

10. A system for communicating via an ad hoc wireless network, the system comprising:

a transceiver configured to (i) during a beginning portion of each of multiple beacon intervals, transmit a respective beacon, and (ii) transmit and/or receive announcement traffic identification messages (ATIM) during ATIM window of one or more of the multiple beacon intervals;

a monitor configured to determine, for each respective beacon interval of the multiple beacon intervals, whether an ATIM is one of (i) transmitted or (ii) received after the transmission of the respective beacon and during the respective beacon interval;

a counter configured to be incremented for each respective beacon interval during which no ATIM is one of (i) received or (ii) transmitted by the device; and

a comparator configured to compare the counter to a threshold;

wherein for each respective beacon interval of the multiple beacon intervals,

if the counter is less than the threshold and if no ATIM is one of (i) received or (ii) transmitted, the counter is configured to be incremented, and

if the counter is equal to the threshold, the transceiver is configured to enter a power saving doze state during at least a part of the respective beacon interval.