Integrated power management of a client device via system time slot assignment
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a wireless transceiver having an active mode in which power is consumed, and a sleep mode in which power is conserved;
a timer operatively coupled to the wireless transceiver used to indicate when to switch from sleep mode to active mode based on time slot assignment information received by the wireless transceiver; and
processing circuitry operatively coupled to the wireless transceiver and the timer, the processing circuitry arranged to switch the wireless transceiver from the sleep mode to the active mode in response to input from the timer, the processing circuitry also arranged to monitor a first channel for a beacon during the active mode and, if no beacon is detected, increasing a channel number to a second channel and resetting the timer.
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Abstract
In a wireless network, time slots may be configured in a manner such that the network directs portable wireless client devices to listen and respond within specific time slots. Because the time slots can be predicted or are known, one of the client devices may be configured to set a timer, enter a sleep mode, and then later awaken when a specific, time-slotted data interaction is required of the client device. Accordingly, battery power that would otherwise be consumed if the client device were active outside of the time slot may be saved.
111 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a wireless transceiver having an active mode in which power is consumed, and a sleep mode in which power is conserved; a timer operatively coupled to the wireless transceiver used to indicate when to switch from sleep mode to active mode based on time slot assignment information received by the wireless transceiver; and processing circuitry operatively coupled to the wireless transceiver and the timer, the processing circuitry arranged to switch the wireless transceiver from the sleep mode to the active mode in response to input from the timer, the processing circuitry also arranged to monitor a first channel for a beacon during the active mode and, if no beacon is detected, increasing a channel number to a second channel and resetting the timer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 21)
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7. A method of facilitating data exchange, comprising:
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wirelessly receiving information assigning a time slot for a portable client device to wirelessly communicate data; placing the wireless transceiver in a sleep mode for a predetermined amount of time; setting a timer to indicate when to switch from sleep mode to an active mode based on the time slot assignment information; and activating the wireless transceiver from the sleep mode at a beginning of the time slot in response to input from the timer; monitoring a first channel for a beacon; if no beacon is detected, increasing a channel number to a second channel; and
resetting the timer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 22)
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15. A system, comprising:
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a network device arranged to wirelessly broadcast synchronization information in a wireless coverage range; and a portable client device arranged to wirelessly receive the synchronization information during an active state, wherein the synchronization information indicates a time slot for the client device to wirelessly communicate data, wherein the client device utilizes a timer to indicate a time outside of the time slot, and wherein the client device enters a sleep mode in response to input from the timer, and wherein the client device monitors a first channel for a beacon during the active state and, if no beacon is detected, increases a channel number to a second channel and resets the timer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23)
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Specification