Systems and Methods of Power Efficient Wi-Fi

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016066263-A1
Application number	US-201414475024-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 2, 2014
Priority date	Sep 2, 2014
Publication date	Mar 3, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

In example embodiments disclosed herein, a primary wireless device infrequently sends a ping to a secondary device to determine if there are any communications from an access point intended for the primary wireless device. The secondary device, ideally connected to wall power, is wirelessly connected to the access point, acting as a connected proxy so that the primary wireless device, typically battery powered, does not always have to be connected. In a situation in which an incoming communication is intended for the primary device, the secondary device receives the notification and buffers whatever is sent from the access point intended for the primary wireless device and acknowledges the receipt. Then, when the primary wireless device pings the secondary device, the secondary device sends the buffered communication to the primary wireless device. As far as the access point is concerned, it thinks it is communicating directly with primary wireless device.

First claim

Therefore, at least the following is claimed:

1 . A system comprising:
a first wireless device in communication with an access point at a first rate by a first communication protocol and with a second wireless device by a second communication protocol at a second rate, the first wireless device configured to buffer a communication from the access point intended for the second wireless device.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second protocols are the same.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second protocols are different.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first wireless device is configured to communicate with the access point as a proxy for the second wireless device.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the first wireless device is configured to send the communication to the second wireless device when the second wireless device pings the first wireless device.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the second wireless device is configured to ping the first wireless device at a lower rate than the first wireless device pings the access point.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first wireless device comprises a wall charger and the second wireless device comprises a mobile telephone.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first rate is higher than the second rate.

9 . A method comprising:
monitoring by a first device of a communication from an access point intended for a second wireless device; and when a communication intended for the second wireless device is detected by the first device, buffering the communication from the access point as a proxy for the second wireless device.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising sending the communication from the first device to the second device when the second device pings the first device.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the second device communicates with the access point after the second device pings the first device.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first device comprises a wall charger and the second wireless device comprises a mobile telephone.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first device communicates with the access point at a higher rate than the first device communicates with the second wireless device.

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first device communicates with the access point in a first protocol and with the second wireless device in a second protocol.

15 . A device comprising:
an accessory comprising a module in wireless communication with an access point and with a mobile telephone, the module configured to buffer a communication from the access point intended for the mobile telephone.

16 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the accessory communicates with the access point with a first protocol and with the mobile telephone with a second protocol.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the module is configured to communicate with the access point as a proxy for the mobile telephone.

18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the module is configured to receive a communication from the access point as a proxy for the mobile telephone when the access point has a communication for the mobile telephone.

19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the module is configured to send the communication received from the access point when the mobile telephone is ready to receive the communication.

20 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the module communicates with the access point at a higher rate than the module communicates with the mobile telephone.

Assignees

• Texas Instruments Inc

Inventors

• Estevez Leo
• Haroun Baher

Classifications

• H04W48/20 Primary

  Selecting an access point · CPC title

• H04W80/04 Primary

  Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol] · CPC title

• H04W84/12 Primary

  WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] · CPC title

• H04W52/0229 Primary

  where the received signal is a wanted signal · CPC title

• H04W52/0245

  according to signal strength · CPC title