SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR WAKING WIRELESS LAN DEVICES

• US 20140344604A1
• Filed: 07/30/2014
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Paljug, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,207,748 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/325 Power saving in peripheral device
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof

Abstract

A system and method for wireless waking computing devices over a computer network is provided. A signal is broadcast over the network that includes one or more device specific wake-up data sequences. Each device specific wake-up data sequence includes multiple iterations of the hardware address of the wireless network card associated with that device. While in a reduced power or “sleep mode”, the wireless network card monitors wireless channels for packets containing a wake-up data sequence. If a wake-up data sequence is received, the sequence is matched against the hardware address information for that network card. If a match is determined, the network card sends a signal to the computing device causing full system power to be restored. A signal is sent to the network confirming that the device has been successfully woken from the sleep mode.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

entering a wake-up detection mode at a wireless device for a pre-determined time period;

receiving a wake-up packet addressed to the wireless device, wherein the wake-up packet is configured to cause the wireless device to initiate a switch from operating in a power-save mode to operating in a non-power save mode;

performing a wake-up process at the wireless device to operate in the non-power save mode in response to receiving the wake-up packet; and

exiting the wake-up detection mode if the wake-up process is performed or the predetermined time period is exceeded.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising re-entering the wake-up detection mode after an inactivity timeframe has elapsed.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising activating a scanner after the inactivity timeframe has elapsed to scan for the wake-up packet.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising sequentially monitoring individual wireless channels of a plurality of wireless channels for a corresponding subdivision of the predetermined period of time until either the predetermined period of time has elapsed, until a wake-up packet has been received by the wireless device, or until each wireless channel of the plurality of wireless channels has been monitored.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating the transmission of a confirmation packet in response to the wireless device entering the non-power save mode.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device has a wireless hardware address, and wherein the wake-up packet comprises multiple consecutive iterations of the hardware address of the wireless device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wake-up packet is a broadcast packet addressed to a plurality of wireless devices on a local area network, and wherein the wake-up packet is configured to cause each wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices on the local area network currently operating in the power-save mode to initiate the transition from the power-save mode to the non-power save power mode.

8. A computer comprising:

a controller configured to trigger a wake-up detection mode at a wireless device for a pre-determined time period; and

a communication interface coupled to the controller and configured to receive a wake-up packet addressed to the wireless device, wherein the wake-up packet is configured to cause the wireless device to initiate a switch from operating in a power-save mode to operating in a non-power save power mode;

wherein the controller is further configured to perform a wake-up process at the wireless device to operate in the non-power save mode in response to receiving the wake-up packet and to exit the wake-up detection mode if the wake-up process is performed or the predetermined time period is exceeded.

9. The computer of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to re-trigger the wake-up detection mode after an inactivity timeframe has elapsed.

10. The computer of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to activate a scanner after the inactivity timeframe has elapsed to scan for the wake-up packet.

11. The computer of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to sequentially monitor individual wireless channels of a plurality of wireless channels for a corresponding subdivision of the predetermined period of time until either the predetermined period of time has elapsed, until a wake-up packet has been received by the wireless device, or until each wireless channel of the plurality of wireless channels has been monitored.

12. The computer of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to initiate the transmission of a confirmation packet in response to the wireless device entering the non-power save mode.

13. The computer of claim 8, wherein the wireless device has a wireless hardware address, and wherein the wake-up packet comprises multiple consecutive iterations of the hardware address of the wireless device.

14. The computer of claim 8, wherein the wake-up packet is a broadcast packet addressed to a plurality of wireless devices on a local area network, and wherein the wake-up packet is configured to cause each wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices on the local area network currently operating in the power-save mode to initiate the transition from the power-save mode to the non-power save power mode.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

entering a wake-up detection mode at a wireless device for a pre-determined time period;

receiving a wake-up packet addressed to the wireless device, wherein the wake-up packet is configured to cause the wireless device to initiate a switch from operating in a power-save mode to operating in a non-power save mode;

performing a wake-up process at the wireless device to operate in the non-power save mode in response to receiving the wake-up packet; and

exiting the wake-up detection mode if the wake-up process is performed or the predetermined time period is exceeded.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the computing device is further configured to perform operations comprising:

re-entering the wake-up detection mode after an inactivity timeframe has elapsed.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the computing device is further configured to perform operations comprising:

sequentially monitoring individual wireless channels of a plurality of wireless channels for a corresponding subdivision of the predetermined period of time until either the predetermined period of time has elapsed, until a wake-up packet has been received by the wireless device, or until each wireless channel of the plurality of wireless channels has been monitored.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the computing device is further configured to perform operations comprising:

initiating the transmission of a confirmation packet in response to the wireless device entering the non-power save mode.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the wireless device has a wireless hardware address, and wherein the wake-up packet comprises multiple consecutive iterations of the hardware address of the wireless device.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the wake-up packet is a broadcast packet addressed to a plurality of wireless devices on a local area network, and wherein the wake-up packet is configured to cause each wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices on the local area network currently operating in the power-save mode to initiate the transition from the power-save mode to the non-power save power mode.