Reducing power consumption in a wireless communication system
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- transitioning a network interface of a first wireless communication device from a low power state to an active state, whereinwhen the network interface is in the low power state, the network interface is unable to at least one of (i) transmit signals via a wireless communication medium and (ii) receive signals via the wireless communication medium, andwhen the network interface is in the active state, the network interface is capable of both (i) transmitting signals via the wireless communication medium and (ii) receiving signals via the wireless communication medium;
after transitioning the network interface to the active state, determining whether a communication channel is available;
generating a first data unit that includes a request for a second wireless communication device to transmit to the first wireless communication device data for the first wireless communication device that is buffered at the second wireless communication device;
in response to determining that the communication channel is available, transmitting to the second wireless communication device, via the communication channel, the first data unit that includes the request;
receiving from the second wireless communication device, via the communication channel, a second data unit that includesi) only a subset of non-zero bits of a traffic indication map (TIM), the subset having multiple bits including a bit corresponding to the first wireless communication device, wherein the bit corresponding to the first wireless communication device serves as an indication that there is data for the first wireless communication device buffered at the second wireless communication device, andii) timing information to facilitate the first wireless communication device to determine a subsequent time at which the second wireless communication device will transmit data for the first wireless communication device that is buffered at the second wireless communication device,wherein the second data unit is responsive to the first data unit;
determining, based on the timing information in the second data unit, a wakeup time at which the network interface of the first wireless communication device is to subsequently transition from the low power state to the active state in order to receive a subsequent transmission from the second wireless communication device;
transitioning the network interface of the first wireless communication device from the active state to the low power state after receiving the second data unit;
at the determined wakeup time, transitioning the network interface of the first wireless communication device from the low power state to the active state;
receiving, from the second wireless communication device and after the determined wakeup time, a beacon data unit;
processing the beacon data unit to determine the subsequent time at which the second wireless communication device will transmit data for the first wireless communication device that was buffered at the second wireless communication device;
transitioning the network interface of the first wireless communication device from the active state to the low power state after receiving the beacon data unit;
at the determined subsequent time, transitioning the network interface of the first wireless communication device from the low power state to the active state; and
receiving, from the second wireless communication device and after the determined subsequent time, data for the first wireless communication device that was buffered at the second wireless communication device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
After transitioning a network interface of a first wireless communication device from a low power state to an active state, transmitting a request for a second wireless communication device to transmit data for the first wireless communication device that is buffered at the second wireless communication device. An indication of whether there is data for the first wireless communication device buffered at second wireless communication device is received. When there is data for the first wireless communication device buffered at second wireless communication device, data for the first wireless communication device that was buffered at the second wireless communication device is received from the second wireless communication device.
54 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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transitioning a network interface of a first wireless communication device from a low power state to an active state, wherein when the network interface is in the low power state, the network interface is unable to at least one of (i) transmit signals via a wireless communication medium and (ii) receive signals via the wireless communication medium, and when the network interface is in the active state, the network interface is capable of both (i) transmitting signals via the wireless communication medium and (ii) receiving signals via the wireless communication medium; after transitioning the network interface to the active state, determining whether a communication channel is available; generating a first data unit that includes a request for a second wireless communication device to transmit to the first wireless communication device data for the first wireless communication device that is buffered at the second wireless communication device; in response to determining that the communication channel is available, transmitting to the second wireless communication device, via the communication channel, the first data unit that includes the request; receiving from the second wireless communication device, via the communication channel, a second data unit that includes i) only a subset of non-zero bits of a traffic indication map (TIM), the subset having multiple bits including a bit corresponding to the first wireless communication device, wherein the bit corresponding to the first wireless communication device serves as an indication that there is data for the first wireless communication device buffered at the second wireless communication device, and ii) timing information to facilitate the first wireless communication device to determine a subsequent time at which the second wireless communication device will transmit data for the first wireless communication device that is buffered at the second wireless communication device, wherein the second data unit is responsive to the first data unit; determining, based on the timing information in the second data unit, a wakeup time at which the network interface of the first wireless communication device is to subsequently transition from the low power state to the active state in order to receive a subsequent transmission from the second wireless communication device; transitioning the network interface of the first wireless communication device from the active state to the low power state after receiving the second data unit; at the determined wakeup time, transitioning the network interface of the first wireless communication device from the low power state to the active state; receiving, from the second wireless communication device and after the determined wakeup time, a beacon data unit; processing the beacon data unit to determine the subsequent time at which the second wireless communication device will transmit data for the first wireless communication device that was buffered at the second wireless communication device; transitioning the network interface of the first wireless communication device from the active state to the low power state after receiving the beacon data unit; at the determined subsequent time, transitioning the network interface of the first wireless communication device from the low power state to the active state; and receiving, from the second wireless communication device and after the determined subsequent time, data for the first wireless communication device that was buffered at the second wireless communication device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A first wireless communication device for use in a wireless communication network, the first wireless communication device comprising:
a network interface configured to transition the network interface from a low power state to an active state, wherein when the network interface is in the low power state, the network interface is unable to at least one of (i) transmit signals via a wireless communication medium and (ii) receive signals via the wireless communication medium, and when the network interface is in the active state, the network interface is capable of both (i) transmitting signals via the wireless communication medium and (ii) receiving signals via the wireless communication medium; after transitioning the network interface to the active state, determine whether a communication channel is available; generate a first data unit that includes a request for a second wireless communication device to transmit to the first wireless communication device data for the first wireless communication device that is buffered at the second wireless communication device; in response to determining that the communication channel is available, transmit to the second wireless communication device, via the communication channel, the first data unit that includes the request; receive from the second wireless communication device, via the communication channel, a second data unit that includes i) only a subset of non-zero bits of a traffic indication map (TIM), the subset having multiple bits including a bit corresponding to the first wireless communication device, wherein the bit corresponding to the first wireless communication device serves as an indication that there is data for the first wireless communication device buffered at the second wireless communication device, and ii) timing information to facilitate the first wireless communication device to determine a subsequent time at which the second wireless communication device will transmit data for the first wireless communication device that is buffered at the second wireless communication device, wherein the second data unit is responsive to the first data unit; receive, from the second wireless communication device and after the determined wakeup time, a beacon data unit; process the beacon data unit to determine the subsequent time at which the second wireless communication device will transmit data for the first wireless communication device that was buffered at the second wireless communication device; transition the network interface from the active state to the low power state after receiving the beacon data unit; at the determined subsequent time, transition the network interface from the low power state to the active state; and receive, from the second wireless communication device and after the determined subsequent time, data for the first wireless communication device that was buffered at the second wireless communication device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
Specification