Enhanced host sleep for WLAN devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9326233-B1
Application number	US-201313932758-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 1, 2013
Priority date	Nov 10, 2006
Publication date	Apr 26, 2016
Grant date	Apr 26, 2016

Abstract

A host assembly of a wireless device enters into a handshaking procedure with firmware of the wireless device to initiate entry into or exit from a host sleep mode. Before such entry or exit, the handshaking procedure may require the host assembly to send an initiation handshake signal to the firmware, and require the firmware to send a confirmation handshake signal back to the host assembly. Entry or exit may be delayed until after the confirmation signal is received. The confirmation signal may vary depending on the handshaking configuration and activation data, and the confirmation signal may vary depending on whether the wireless device is in a power save mode or not.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of controlling operation of a wireless network device that includes (i) a host assembly with an application running thereon and (ii) a wireless device assembly, wherein the host assembly includes an interface for electrically connecting the wireless device assembly, and wherein the wireless device assembly is configured to communicate wirelessly with one or more other devices, the method comprising:
receiving, at the wireless device assembly, a first handshake signal from the host assembly, wherein the first handshake signal indicates a request for the wireless device assembly to enter a host sleep mode of operation;
in response to receiving the first handshake signal, communicating a second handshake signal from the wireless device assembly to the host assembly, wherein the second handshake signal indicates entry of the wireless device assembly into the host sleep mode of operation;
communicating a wake interrupt signal from the wireless device assembly, wherein the wake interrupt signal is communicated before the host assembly communicates a host sleep mode activation signal to the application, wherein the host sleep mode activation signal is for indicating attempted entry of the host assembly into the host sleep mode of operation, and wherein the application communicates, in response to the wake interrupt signal, a host sleep mode deactivation signal to the host assembly to unlock a wireless network bus of the host assembly; and
after communicating the wake interrupt signal, communicating an awake signal from the wireless device assembly to the host assembly.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein communicating the awake signal comprises communicating the awake signal after a specified amount of time.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wake interrupt signal is communicated via a general purpose input/output (GPIO) interface.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein when the wireless device assembly is in the host sleep mode of operation, the host assembly prevents the wireless device assembly from accessing the wireless network bus.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an awake confirmation signal from the host assembly; and
in response to receiving the awake confirmation signal, deactivating the host sleep mode of operation in the wireless device assembly.

6. A wireless device assembly configured to communicate wirelessly with one or more other devices, the wireless device assembly comprising:
an interface to communicate with a host assembly with an application running thereon;
a memory; and
a processor coupled to the memory;
wherein the memory stores instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
receive a first handshake signal from the host assembly, wherein the first handshake signal indicates a request for the wireless device assembly to enter a host sleep mode of operation,
in response to receiving the first handshake signal, communicate a second handshake signal to the host assembly, wherein the second handshake signal indicates entry of the wireless device assembly into the host sleep mode of operation,
communicate a wake interrupt signal to the host assembly, wherein the wake interrupt signal is communicated before the host assembly communicates a host sleep mode activation signal to the application, wherein the host sleep mode activation signal is for indicating attempted entry of the host assembly into the host sleep mode of operation, and wherein the application communicates, in response to the wake interrupt signal, a host sleep mode deactivation signal to the host assembly to unlock a wireless network bus of the host assembly, and
after communicating the wake interrupt signal, communicate an awake signal from the wireless device assembly to the host assembly.

7. The wireless device assembly of claim 6 , wherein the processor communicates the awake signal by communicating the awake signal after a specified amount of time.

8. The wireless device assembly of claim 6 , wherein the wake interrupt signal is communicated via a general purpose input/output (GPIO) interface.

9. The wireless device assembly of claim 6 , wherein when the wireless device assembly is in the host sleep mode of operation, the host assembly prevents the wireless device assembly from accessing the wireless network bus.

10. The wireless device assembly of claim 6 , wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions further cause the processor to:
receive an awake confirmation signal from the host assembly, and
in response to receiving the awake confirmation signal, deactivate the host sleep mode of operation in the wireless device assembly.

11. A method of controlling operation of a wireless network device that includes (i) a host assembly with an application running thereon and (ii) a wireless device assembly, wherein the host assembly includes an interface for electrically connecting to the wireless device assembly, and wherein the wireless device assembly is configured to communicate wirelessly with one or more other devices, the method comprising:
sending, from the host assembly to the wireless device assembly, a first handshake signal indicating a request for the wireless device assembly to enter a host sleep mode of operation;
receiving, at the host assembly from the wireless device assembly, a second handshake signal indicating entry of the wireless device assembly into the host sleep mode of operation;
after receiving the second handshake signal, receiving, at the host assembly from the wireless device assembly, a wake interrupt signal;
after receiving the wake interrupt signal, processing a host sleep mode activation signal sent to the application from the host assembly, wherein the host sleep mode activation signal is for indicating attempted entry of the host assembly into the host sleep mode of operation; and
ignoring the host sleep mode activation signal and processing a host sleep mode deactivation signal responsive to the wake interrupt signal to cause the host assembly to deactivate the host sleep mode of operation.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
after processing the host sleep mode deactivation signal, receiving, at the host assembly from the wireless device assembly, an awake signal indicating that the wireless device assembly is awake; and
sending an awake confirmation signal from the host assembly to the wireless device assembly.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
in response to processing the host sleep mode deactivation signal, unlocking a wireless network bus of the host assembly.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
after unlocking the wireless network bus, receiving, via the wireless network bus, an awake signal indicating that the wireless device assembly is awake; and
sending, via the wireless network bus, an awake confirmation signal from the host assembly to the wireless device assembly.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein when the wireless device assembly is in the host sleep mode of operation, the method further comprises preventing the wireless device assembly from accessing a wireless network bus.

16. A host assembly configured to execute an application, the host assembly comprising:
an interface to communicate with a wireless device assembly;
a memory; and
a processor coupled to the memory;
wherein the memory stores instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
send, to the wireless device assembly, a first handshake signal indicating a request for the wireless device assembly to enter a hos

Assignees

• Marvell Int Ltd
• Marvell Int Ltd

Inventors

• Huang Frank
• Jan James Kang-Wuu
• Lee Robert
• Goel Sandesh
• Zhao Bing
• Chen Yao
• Fan Chen

Classifications

• H04W52/02 Primary

  Power saving arrangements · CPC title

• H04W52/0209

  in terminal devices · CPC title

• Y02D30/70

  in wireless communication networks · CPC title