Power save mechanism for low-power network devices
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method performed by a first network device, the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 37)
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14. A method performed by a low-power network device, the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 38)
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24. A first network device comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A low-power network device comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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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:
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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.
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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:
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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.
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Specification