Power saving in Wi-Fi devices utilizing bluetooth
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method in an access point of a wireless network for power saving to connected stations utilizing Bluetooth, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a notification of deep sleep mode from a station having a Wi-Fi radio and associated with the access point, wherein the Wi-Fi radio transitions to deep sleep mode from active mode while a Bluetooth radio of the station remains active;
maintaining an active connection to the station while in deep sleep mode, wherein the station maintains active state information in a non-volatile internal data structure;
receiving data packets addressed to the station for Wi-Fi transmission;
responsive to receiving the data packets addressed to the station while in deep sleep mode, sending an indication of data packets addressed to the Wi-Fi radio, over a Bluetooth radio of the access point;
receiving a notification of active mode from the station, responsive to the station transitioning the Wi-Fi radio from the deep sleep ode to the active mode; and
sending one or more data packets to the Wi-Fi radio of the station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present description provides methods, computer program products, and systems for saving power in Wi-Fi devices utilizing Bluetooth. A Wi-Fi radio transitions to deep sleep mode from active mode while a Bluetooth radio remains active. An active Wi-Fi connection to the access point can be maintained by the station while in deep sleep mode as needed to prevent being disassociated. Responsive to the indication of data packets waiting at the access point, sent over the Bluetooth radio, the Wi-Fi radio at the station can be transitioned from the deep sleep mode to the active mode. A notification of active mode is sent to the access point currently associated with the Wi-Fi radio so that packets can be forwarded.
14 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method in an access point of a wireless network for power saving to connected stations utilizing Bluetooth, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a notification of deep sleep mode from a station having a Wi-Fi radio and associated with the access point, wherein the Wi-Fi radio transitions to deep sleep mode from active mode while a Bluetooth radio of the station remains active; maintaining an active connection to the station while in deep sleep mode, wherein the station maintains active state information in a non-volatile internal data structure; receiving data packets addressed to the station for Wi-Fi transmission; responsive to receiving the data packets addressed to the station while in deep sleep mode, sending an indication of data packets addressed to the Wi-Fi radio, over a Bluetooth radio of the access point; receiving a notification of active mode from the station, responsive to the station transitioning the Wi-Fi radio from the deep sleep ode to the active mode; and sending one or more data packets to the Wi-Fi radio of the station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing source code that, when executed, performs a method in an access point of a wireless network for power saving in connected stations utilizing Bluetooth, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a notification of deep sleep mode from a station having a Wi-Fi radio and associated with the access point, wherein the Wi-Fi radio transitions to deep sleep mode from active mode while a Bluetooth radio of the station remains active; maintaining an active connection to the station while in deep sleep mode, wherein the station maintains active state information in a non-volatile internal data structure; receiving data packets addressed to the station for Wi-Fi transmission; responsive to receiving the data packets addressed to the station while in deep sleep mode, sending an indication of data packets addressed to the Wi-Fi radio, over a Bluetooth radio of the access point; receiving a notification of active mode from the station, responsive to the station transitioning the Wi-Fi radio from the deep sleep ode to the active mode; and sending one or more data packets to the Wi-Fi radio of the station.
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11. A Wi-Fi device in an access point of a wireless network for power saving to connected stations utilizing Bluetooth, the access point comprising:
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a processor; a network interface; and a memory, comprising; a deep sleep manager to receive a notification of deep sleep mode from a station currently associated with a Wi-Fi radio, wherein the Wi-Fi radio transitions to deep sleep mode from active mode while a Bluetooth radio of the station remains active, the deep sleep manager to maintain an active connection to the station while in deep sleep mode, wherein the station maintains active state information in a non-volatile internal data structure, a packet queue to receive data packets addressed to the station for Wi-Fi transmission; wherein the deep sleep manager, responsive to receiving the data packets addressed to the station while in sleep mode, sends an indication of the data packets addressed to the Wi-Fi radio, over the Bluetooth radio of the access point, wherein the deep sleep manager receives a notification of active mode from the station, responsive to the station transitioning the Wi-Fi radio from the deep sleep mode to the active mode, and wherein the Wi-Fi radio of the access point sends one or more data packets to the Wi-Fi radio of the station.
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Specification