Sleep Mode Systems and Methods

Abstract

Embodiments of sleep mode systems and methods are disclosed. In one method embodiment, among others, a sleep mode method comprises commencing a sleep mode, and during the sleep mode, queuing a plurality of frames for a burst transmission.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the disclosed systems and methods can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosed systems and methods. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams that illustrate data frame transmission on a per frame basis according to different throughputs in an exemplary wireless local area network.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary communication environment in which embodiments of sleep mode systems and methods can be implemented.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram that illustrates an embodiment of a sleep mode system executed in one or more of the devices shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram that illustrates an embodiment of a sleep mode method executed on one or more of the devices shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram that illustrates an embodiment of a sleep mode method executed on one or more of the devices shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram that illustrates burst transmissions between an embodiment of a sleep mode system such as that shown in FIG. 3 and an access point as well as the corresponding current draw for components of the sleep mode system.

Claims

1. A method, comprising: commencing a sleep mode; andduring the sleep mode, queuing a plurality of frames for a burst transmission.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising commencing a wake mode at a time corresponding to reaching a predefined storage capacity.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein commencing the wake mode comprises terminating the sleep mode.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the plurality of frames in the burst transmission responsive to commencing the wake mode.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein transmitting comprises contiguously transmitting the plurality of frames.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising enabling selection of a configurable number of the plurality of frames transmitted in the burst transmission, enabling selection of a configurable interframe space duration between the plurality of frames delivered in the burst transmission, or a combination of both.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein queuing comprises storing a plurality of frame packets in memory.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the commencing and queuing are implemented in an appliance.

9. A system, comprising: a memory; anda processor configured with software to buffer a plurality of frames into the memory during a sleep mode, the plurality of frames destined for a single burst transmission.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured with the software to commence a wake mode at a time corresponding to the memory reaching a predefined memory capacity.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured with the software to commence the wake mode at a time corresponding to terminating the sleep mode.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured with the software to transmit the plurality of frames in the burst transmission responsive to commencing the wake mode.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured with the software to contiguously transmit the plurality of frames.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising a device configured to receive the plurality of frames in the burst transmission.

15. The system of claim 9, further comprising a user interface configured to enable selection of a configurable number of the plurality of frames transmitted in the burst transmission, configured to enable selection of a configurable interframe space duration between the plurality of frames delivered in the burst transmission, or a combination of both.

16. The system of claim 9, further comprising a second processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the second processor configured with second software to transmit the plurality of frames in the burst transmission responsive to commencing a wake mode.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the second processor is further configured with the second software to determine whether the memory has reached a predefined memory capacity.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising a device configured to receive the plurality of frames in the burst transmission.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the second processor is further configured with the second software to determine whether the memory has reached a predefined memory capacity.

20. The system of claim 9, wherein the memory and the processor configured with the software reside in an appliance.

21. A system, comprising: means for commencing a sleep mode; andmeans for buffering, during the sleep mode, a plurality of frames for a burst transmission.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising means for transmitting the plurality of buffered frames in the burst transmission responsive to commencing a wake mode.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for commencing and the means for buffering reside in an appliance.