Power save mechanism for low-power network devices

• US 9,584,411 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2012
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Iyer, Mahesh D., Shukla, Amit
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks Harold, Marsha D
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ELTON S
• Application Number:
  US13/707,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20140161118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,545 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/70 Routing based on monitoring results
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A power save unit of a first network device determines a sleep duration associated with a sleep mode of a low-power network device based on an exchange of information between the first network device and the low-power network device of a communication network. The power save unit determines whether the low-power network device is in the sleep mode. In response to determining that the low-power network device is in the sleep mode, the power save unit redirects network packets destined to the low-power network device to the first network device. The first network device stores the redirected network packets and notifies the low-power network device that the first network device has stored the redirected network packets.

Claims

1. A method performed by a first network device, the method comprising:

transmitting, from the first network device to a low-power network device via an access point of a communication network, a first message indicating that the first network device supports a power save mechanism for the low-power network device communicatively coupled to the access point;

receiving, from the low-power network device, a second message associated with requesting the power save mechanism; and

in response to receiving the second message associated with requesting the power save mechanism;

determining a sleep duration associated with a sleep mode of the low-power network device;

causing packets destined for the low-power network device to be redirected to the first network device by the access point for at least part of the sleep duration;

buffering the packets at the first network device while the low-power network device is in the sleep mode;

sending a traffic indication map (TIM) message from the first network device to the low-power network device, wherein the TIM message includes a delivery traffic indication message (DTIM) bit to indicate the packets have been buffered; and

providing the packets, which have been buffered at the first network device during the sleep duration, from the first network device to the low-power network device via the access point.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving power save information from the low-power network device, wherein the sleep duration is determined based, at least in part, on the power save information.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a network address of the low-power network device, wherein providing the packets comprises providing the packets to the network address of the low-power network device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining to implement the power save mechanism in response to determining that the low-power network device is a battery powered device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the sleep duration comprises determining a sleep schedule that indicates repeating time intervals for which the low-power network device is in the sleep mode for the sleep duration.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the sleep duration comprises:

sending available storage capacity information regarding the first network device to the low-power network device;

receiving a power save requirement from the low-power network device; and

determining the sleep duration based, at least in part, on the available storage capacity information and the power save requirement.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the sleep duration comprises negotiating the sleep duration with the low-power network device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the low-power network device is a battery powered device and the first network device is connected to an uninterrupted power source.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the packets comprises:

determining, at the first network device, that the low-power network device is in an active mode; and

sending the packets from the first network device to the low-power network device in response to determining that the low-power network device is in the active mode.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, at the first network device, whether the low-power network device is in the sleep mode based, at least in part, on whether a power management bit sent by the low-power network device is set.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the packets to be redirected comprises sending a first gratuitous address resolution protocol (ARP) message to the access point to redirect the packets to the first network device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a notification to the low-power network device that the first network device has buffered the packets for the low-power network device.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising, after causing the packets to be redirected, sending a second gratuitous ARP message via to the access point to direct subsequent packets to the low-power network device in response to a determination that the low-power network device is not in the sleep mode.

37. The method of claim 12, wherein the notification to the low-power network device comprises an indicator in a traffic indication map.

14. A method performed by a low-power network device, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first network device, a first message via an access point of a communication network, the first message indicating that the first network device supports a power save mechanism for the low-power network device communicatively coupled to the access point;

transmitting, from the low-power network device, a second message associated with requesting the power save mechanism; and

in response to transmitting the second message associated with requesting the power save mechanism;

determining a sleep duration associated with a sleep mode of the low-power network device;

disabling a network connection with the access point during the sleep duration associated with the sleep mode; and

after the sleep duration associated with the sleep mode;

enabling the network connection with the access point,

receiving a traffic indication map (TIM) message from the first network device, wherein the TIM message includes a delivery traffic indication message (DTIM) bit to indicate that the first network device has buffered packets destined for the low-power network device that were redirected by the access point to the first network device in accordance with the power save mechanism, and

receiving the packets from the first network device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting power save information to the first network device, wherein the sleep duration is determined based, at least in part, on the power save information.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein determining the sleep duration comprises determining a sleep schedule that indicates repeating time intervals for which the low-power network device is in the sleep mode for the sleep duration.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein disabling the network connection corresponds to entering the sleep mode based, at least in part, on the sleep schedule.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein determining the sleep duration comprises:

sending a power save requirement from the low-power network device to the first network device;

receiving available storage capacity information from the first network device; and

determining the sleep duration based, at least in part, on the available storage capacity information and the power save requirement.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the low-power network device is a battery powered device and the first network device is connected to an uninterrupted power source.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising sending an indication to the first network device via the access point before entering the sleep mode.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining whether an internet protocol (IP) connection to the access point is active in response to enabling the network connection; and

re-establishing the IP connection to the access point in response to a determination that the IP connection to the access point is not active.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

sending a gratuitous address resolution protocol (ARP) message to the access point to direct subsequent packets to the low-power network device in response to a determination that the low-power network device is not in the sleep mode.

23. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining, based, at least in part, on a notification from the first network device, that the first network device has buffered the packets destined for the low-power network device.

38. The method of claim 23, wherein the notification comprises an indicator in a traffic indication map.

24. A first network device comprising:

a network interface;

a processor; and

memory having instructions stored therein which, when executed by the processor, cause the first network device to;

transmit, from the first network device to a low-power network device via an access point of a communication network, a first message indicating that the first network device supports a power save mechanism for the low-power network device communicatively coupled to the access point;

receive, from the low-power network device, a second message associated with requesting the power save mechanism; and

in response to receiving the second message associated with requesting the power save mechanism;

determine a sleep duration for a sleep mode of the low-power network device;

cause packets destined for the low-power network device to be redirected to the first network device by the access point for at least part of the sleep duration;

buffer the packets at the first network device while the low-power network device is in the sleep mode;

send a traffic indication map (TIM) message from the first network device to the low-power network device, wherein the TIM message includes a delivery traffic indication message (DTIM) bit to indicate the packets have been buffered; and

provide the packets, which have been buffered at the first network device during the sleep duration, from the first network device to the low-power network device via the access point.

25. The first network device of claim 24, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the first network device to determine a sleep schedule associated with the low-power network device, wherein the sleep schedule indicates repeating time intervals for which the low-power network device is in the sleep mode for the sleep duration.

26. The first network device of claim 24, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the first network device to:

send available storage capacity information to the low-power network device;

receive a power save requirement from the low-power network device; and

determine the sleep duration based, at least in part, on the available storage capacity information and the power save requirement.

27. The first network device of claim 24, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the first network device to:

determine that the low-power network device is in an active mode; and

send the packets to the low-power network device in response to a determination that the low-power network device is in the active mode.

28. The first network device of claim 24, wherein the instructions to cause the packets to be redirected comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the first network device to send a gratuitous address resolution protocol (ARP) message to the access point to redirect the packets to the first network device.

29. The first network device of claim 24, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the first network device to send a traffic indication map to indicate to the low-power network device that the first network device has buffered the packets.

30. A low-power network device comprising:

a network interface;

a processor; and

memory having instructions stored therein which, when executed by the processor, cause the low-power network device to;

receive, from a first network device, a first message via an access point of a communication network, the first message indicating that the first network device supports a power save mechanism for the low-power network device communicatively coupled to the access point;

transmit, from the low-power network device, a second message associated with requesting the power save mechanism; and

in response to transmitting the second message associated with requesting the power save mechanism, cause the first network device to;

determine a sleep duration associated with a sleep mode of the low-power network device;

disable a network connection with the access point during the sleep duration associated with the sleep mode; and

after the sleep duration for the sleep mode;

enable the network connection with the access point,

receive a traffic indication map (TIM) message from the first network device, wherein the TIM message includes a delivery traffic indication message (DTIM) bit to indicate that the first network device has buffered packets destined for the low-power network device that were redirected by the access point to the first network device in accordance with the power save mechanism, and

receive the packets from the first network device.

31. The low-power network device of claim 30, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the low-power network device to determine a sleep schedule, wherein the sleep schedule indicates repeating time intervals for which the low-power network device is in the sleep mode for the sleep duration.

32. The low-power network device of claim 30, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the low-power network device to:

send a power save requirement from the low-power network device to the first network device;

receive available storage capacity information from the first network device; and

determine the sleep duration based, at least in part, on the available storage capacity information and the power save requirement.

33. The low-power network device of claim 30, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the low-power network device to:

determine whether an internet protocol (IP) connection to the access point is active in response to enabling the network connection; and

re-establish the IP connection to the access point in response to a determination that the IP connection to the access point is not active.

34. The low-power network device of claim 30, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the low-power network device to send a gratuitous address resolution protocol (ARP) message to the access point to direct subsequent packets to the low-power network device in response to a determination that the low-power network device is not in the sleep mode.

35. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored therein instructions which, when executed by a processor of a first network device, cause the first network device to perform operations that comprise:

transmitting, from the first network device to a low-power network device via an access point of a communication network, a first message indicating that the first network device supports a power save mechanism for the low-power network device communicatively coupled to the access point;

receiving, from the low-power network device, a second message associated with requesting the power save mechanism; and

in response to receiving the second message associated with requesting the power save mechanism;

determining a sleep duration associated with a sleep mode of the low-power network device;

causing packets destined for the low-power network device to be redirected to the first network device by the access point for at least part of the sleep duration;

buffering the packets at the first network device while the low-power network device is in the sleep mode;

sending a traffic indication map (TIM) message from the first network device to the low-power network device, wherein the TIM message includes a delivery traffic indication message (DTIM) bit to indicate the packets have been buffered; and

providing packets, which have been buffered at the first network device during the sleep duration, from the first network device to the low-power network device via the access point.

36. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored therein instructions which, when executed by a processor of a low-power network device, cause the low-power network device to perform operations that comprise:

receiving, from a first network device, a first message via an access point of a communication network, the first message indicating that the first network device supports a power save mechanism for the low-power network device communicatively coupled to the access point;

transmitting, from the low-power network device, a second message associated with requesting the power save mechanism; and

in response to receiving the second message associated with requesting the power save mechanism;

determining a sleep duration associated with a sleep mode of the low-power network device;

disabling a network connection with the access point during the sleep duration associated with the sleep mode; and

after the sleep duration associated with the sleep mode;

enabling the network connection with the access point,

receiving a traffic indication map (TIM) message from the first network device, wherein the TIM message includes a delivery traffic indication message (DTIM) bit to indicate that the first network device has buffered packets destined for the low-power network device that were redirected by the access point to the first network device in accordance with the power save mechanism; and

receiving the packets from the first network device.