Method and apparatus for reducing power consumption of a communications device during periods in which the communications device receives idle frames from another communications device
First Claim
1. A first transceiver operable to establish a first connection with a second transceiver over a channel, the first transceiver comprising:
- a receiver configured tomaintain communication parameters for the first connection with the second transceiver, and process signals received over the channel according to the communication parameters;
monitor for idle frames from the second transceiver, and begin running of a first idle period in response to receiving a predetermined number of consecutive idle frames, wherein the predetermined number of consecutive idle frames is greater than one, wherein the first idle period has a first predetermined length, wherein the first predetermined length is known a priori to both the receiver and the second transceiver, and wherein a communications protocol defines a format for the idle frames and specifies that the idle frames be transmitted in the absence of data frames being available for transmission;
during the first idle period, suspend adaptation of the communication parameters for the first connection with the second transceiver;
at an end of the first idle period, (i) receive a first frame from the second transceiver, (ii) determine present conditions of the channel based on the first frame, and (iii) in response to a comparison between the present channel conditions and prior channel conditions exceeding a predetermined threshold, selectively adapt the communication parameters for the first connection with the second transceiver based on the present channel conditions; and
selectively begin running of a second idle period based on idle frames received subsequent to the end of the first idle period; and
a transmitter configured to suspend transmitting frames to the second transceiver during the first idle period and the second idle period.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A first transceiver operable to establish a connection with a second transceiver over a channel. A receiver of the first transceiver maintains communication parameters for the connection with the second transceiver, and processes signals received over the channel according to the communication parameters. The receiver monitors for idle frames from the second transceiver, and begins running of a first idle period in response to detecting a predetermined number of consecutive idle frames. The receiver, during the first idle period, suspends adaptation of the communication parameters. At an end of the first idle period, the receiver receives a first frame from the second transceiver, selectively adapts the communication parameters based on the first frame, and selectively begins running of a second idle period. A transmitter of the first transceiver suspends transmitting frames to the second transceiver during the first idle period and the second idle period.
78 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A first transceiver operable to establish a first connection with a second transceiver over a channel, the first transceiver comprising:
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a receiver configured to maintain communication parameters for the first connection with the second transceiver, and process signals received over the channel according to the communication parameters; monitor for idle frames from the second transceiver, and begin running of a first idle period in response to receiving a predetermined number of consecutive idle frames, wherein the predetermined number of consecutive idle frames is greater than one, wherein the first idle period has a first predetermined length, wherein the first predetermined length is known a priori to both the receiver and the second transceiver, and wherein a communications protocol defines a format for the idle frames and specifies that the idle frames be transmitted in the absence of data frames being available for transmission; during the first idle period, suspend adaptation of the communication parameters for the first connection with the second transceiver; at an end of the first idle period, (i) receive a first frame from the second transceiver, (ii) determine present conditions of the channel based on the first frame, and (iii) in response to a comparison between the present channel conditions and prior channel conditions exceeding a predetermined threshold, selectively adapt the communication parameters for the first connection with the second transceiver based on the present channel conditions; and selectively begin running of a second idle period based on idle frames received subsequent to the end of the first idle period; and a transmitter configured to suspend transmitting frames to the second transceiver during the first idle period and the second idle period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating a first transceiver, the first transceiver operable to establish a first connection with a second transceiver over a channel, the method comprising:
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maintaining communication parameters for the first connection with the second transceiver; processing signals received over the channel according to the communication parameters; monitoring for idle frames from the second transceiver; beginning running of a first idle period in response to receiving a predetermined number of consecutive idle frames, wherein the predetermined number of consecutive idle frames is greater than one, and wherein the first idle period has a first predetermined length, wherein the first predetermined length is known a priori to both the first transceiver and the second transceiver, and wherein a communications protocol defines a format for the idle frames and specifies that the idle frames be transmitted in the absence of data frames being available for transmission; during the first idle period, suspending adaptation of the communication parameters for the first connection with the second transceiver; upon an end of the first idle period, (i) receiving a first frame from the second transceiver, (ii) determining present conditions of the channel based on the first frame, (iii) in response to a comparison between the present channel conditions and prior channel conditions exceeding a predetermined threshold, selectively adapting the communication parameters for the first connection with the second transceiver based on the present channel conditions, and (iv) selectively beginning running of a second idle period based on idle frames received subsequent to the end of the first idle period; and suspending transmitting frames to the second transceiver during the first idle period and the second idle period. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification