Method for maintaining wireless network response time while saving wireless adapter power
First Claim
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1. A method for conserving power consumed by wireless communication hardware, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving scheduling related information with a packet for transmission, wherein the scheduling related information can be used to determine an expected response time for receiving an expected response related to the packet for transmission;
transmitting the packet for transmission using the wireless communication hardware;
scheduling an awake state of the wireless communication hardware based on the expected response time if the transmitting was successful, wherein scheduling the awake state comprises;
determining a timer value;
determining a timer index if the timer value does not exceed a timer array, wherein the timer index is based on a current timer index and the timer value divided by a granularity of the timer array;
adjusting the timer index if the timer index is greater than a largest index of the timer array;
entering the scheduling information into the timer array at the timer index;
and placing the wireless communication hardware into a doze state unless the wireless communication hardware is transmitting data, or is otherwise scheduled to be in the awake state.
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Abstract
To reduce the power consumption of a wireless communication hardware device, power conservation scheduling algorithms can be implemented. Reoccurring events, including DTIM intervals and listen intervals can be scheduled as awake times. Similarly expected response intervals can be scheduled as awake times based on information, such as round trip time, that can be passed together with data to be transmitted. The wireless communication hardware device can be placed into a doze state unless it is transmitting data, or unless it is expecting a transmission during one of the scheduled awake times.
46 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for conserving power consumed by wireless communication hardware, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving scheduling related information with a packet for transmission, wherein the scheduling related information can be used to determine an expected response time for receiving an expected response related to the packet for transmission; transmitting the packet for transmission using the wireless communication hardware; scheduling an awake state of the wireless communication hardware based on the expected response time if the transmitting was successful, wherein scheduling the awake state comprises; determining a timer value; determining a timer index if the timer value does not exceed a timer array, wherein the timer index is based on a current timer index and the timer value divided by a granularity of the timer array; adjusting the timer index if the timer index is greater than a largest index of the timer array; entering the scheduling information into the timer array at the timer index; and placing the wireless communication hardware into a doze state unless the wireless communication hardware is transmitting data, or is otherwise scheduled to be in the awake state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for conserving power consumed by wireless communication hardware, the computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for:
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receiving scheduling related information with a packet for transmission, wherein the scheduling related information can be used to determine an expected response time for receiving an expected response related to the packet for transmission; transmitting the packet for transmission using the wireless communication hardware; scheduling an awake state of the wireless communication hardware based on the expected response time if the transmitting was successful, wherein scheduling the awake state comprises; determining a timer value; determining a timer index if the timer value does not exceed a timer array, wherein the timer index is based on a current timer index and the timer value divided by a granularity of the timer array; adjusting the timer index if the timer index is greater than a largest index of the timer array; entering the scheduling information into the timer array at the timer index; and placing the wireless communication hardware into a doze state unless the wireless communication hardware is transmitting data, or is otherwise scheduled to be in the awake state. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification