System and method for hibernation mode for beaconing devices
First Claim
1. A wireless device that saves power by entering at least one of a hibernation or sleep mode, comprising:
- an antenna for sending and receiving messages over a wireless medium;
a receiver coupled to the antenna to receive a message transmitted over the wireless medium;
a transmitter coupled to the antenna to transmit messages over the wireless medium;
a beacon processing module to perform beacon processing for the device;
a processor to divide time into a sequence of at least one superframe having at least one beacon period and operatively coupled to;
the transmitter and the receiver to send and receive data and respectively send and receive beacon frames announcing the intention of the device to hibernate and beacon frames indicating that other devices have pending data for the device,the beacon processing module to;
process Hibernation Information Elements of received beacon frames of other devices and maintain therefrom a hibernation table of characteristics of the other devices;
keep the device in an active mode if a received beacon announces pending data for the device;
announce the intention of the device to enter a hibernation mode at a start time and for a sleep period; and
periodically wake up the device when the device is hibernating to listen for beacons of other devices and to put the device back into a hibernation mode if other devices have indicated no pending traffic for the hibernating device in their beacons.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system (400), device (500) (401), and method are provided for power saving in a wireless communication network (400), where all devices (401i) regularly transmit a beacon (600) but can enter a hibernation mode in which they do not transmit beacons (600) and operate in a power-saving state. A device (400) announces the start (303) and duration (304) of the hibernation period in its beacon (600) prior to its hibernation period. The neighboring devices (401i) keep information on the presence of the beacon (600) of the hibernating device (401) in their own beacons (600) in order to block the beacon slot (204) for the hibernating device (401) during its sleep time. Devices (401i) furthermore include an information element (604) in their beacons (600) that contains all receiver addresses for which a device (401i) has data pending to be sent.
38 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A wireless device that saves power by entering at least one of a hibernation or sleep mode, comprising:
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an antenna for sending and receiving messages over a wireless medium; a receiver coupled to the antenna to receive a message transmitted over the wireless medium; a transmitter coupled to the antenna to transmit messages over the wireless medium; a beacon processing module to perform beacon processing for the device; a processor to divide time into a sequence of at least one superframe having at least one beacon period and operatively coupled to; the transmitter and the receiver to send and receive data and respectively send and receive beacon frames announcing the intention of the device to hibernate and beacon frames indicating that other devices have pending data for the device, the beacon processing module to; process Hibernation Information Elements of received beacon frames of other devices and maintain therefrom a hibernation table of characteristics of the other devices; keep the device in an active mode if a received beacon announces pending data for the device; announce the intention of the device to enter a hibernation mode at a start time and for a sleep period; and periodically wake up the device when the device is hibernating to listen for beacons of other devices and to put the device back into a hibernation mode if other devices have indicated no pending traffic for the hibernating device in their beacons. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for saving power in a wireless communication network including a plurality of devices, comprising:
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dividing time into a sequence of at least one superframe having at least one beacon period; grouping beacons of different devices into at the least one beacon period; defining a sleep period as a plurality of superframes; by each device in the wireless network intending to enter a Hibernation mode, transmitting a beacon Hibernation Information Element, the Hibernation Information Element includes a Hibernation Start field and a Hibernation Duration field announcing a sleep period start time and a sleep period duration respectively; and hibernating in a hibernation mode during the announced sleep period duration, wherein a hibernating device does not transmit a beacon during the sleep period. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification