System for low power operation of wireless LAN

Abstract

An apparatus which reduces energy consumption in a wireless client interface by decreasing the amount of time the wireless client interface spends in the awake state and which increases the amount of time it spends in the sleep state. The apparatus comprises: at least one processor for running software configured to communicate with at least one wireless client. The software is configured to: alert the wireless client of the configuration of the apparatus; use a memory space for buffering network application data destined for the wireless client; and release the network application data to the wireless client, based on at least one occurrence of a specified condition that promotes energy savings.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 at least one processor for running software configured to interact with a client;    said software further configured to prefetch data from a server;    said software further configured to use a memory space for buffering said data;    said software further configured to release said data to said client, based on at least one occurrence of a specified condition that promotes energy savings; and    said software further configured to purposely delay processesing at least some of said data with an amount of time greater than zero to promote energy savings.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an input for receiving configuration instructions; and  
 memory space for storing the configuration instructions;  
 wherein the at least one processor is configured for running software to execute the configuration instructions.  
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the specified condition comprises exceeding a buffer threshold.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the specified condition comprises ending of an application data stream.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the specified condition comprises receipt of at least one object.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the specified condition comprises expiration of a specified period of time.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the network application data comprises one of a group consisting of: email data; web page data; net meeting data; instant messaging data; and database synchronization data.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus is further configured for operation as a proxy server.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus is integrated with an access point for a wireless network.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus is adapted to serve a plurality of clients.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an emulation system for emulation of network applications.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus comprises a connection directly into the network port of the access point, which in turn connects to the internet.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said configuration instructions originate from said client.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said configuration instructions specify the at least one occurrence of a specified condition for release of the network application data.  
     
     
         15 . A wireless client unit for communicating with at least one apparatus for buffering network information destined for the wireless client unit, the wireless client unit comprising: 
 a wireless interface between the apparatus and the wireless client unit;    a module for determining whether at least one of the apparatus is available for use by the wireless client unit;    a module for configuring the wireless client unit to use the apparatus; and    a module for configuring the wireless interface between the apparatus and the wireless client unit in a manner which promotes energy savings;    
     
     
         16 . The wireless client unit of  claim 15  further comprising a module for programming the apparatus to release said data on at least one occurrence of a specified condition that promotes energy savings.  
     
     
         17 . The wireless client unit of  claim 16  wherein the specified condition comprises exceeding a buffer threshold.  
     
     
         18 . The wireless client unit of  claim 16  wherein the specified condition comprises ending of an application data stream.  
     
     
         19 . The wireless client unit of  claim 16  wherein the specified condition comprises receipt of at least one object.  
     
     
         20 . The wireless client unit of  claim 16  wherein the specified condition comprises expiration of a specified period of time.  
     
     
         21 . The wireless client unit of  claim 15  further comprising software configured to infer information about a session context; and wherein said software is further configured to use said session context for the purpose of configuring the wireless interface to promote energy savings.  
     
     
         22 . The wireless client unit of  claim 21  further comprising software configured to extend a beacon listen interval upon failure to detect active sessions.  
     
     
         23 . The wireless client unit of  claim 15  further comprising software configured to exploit advanced power management settings of the wireless interface upon failure to detect active sessions.  
     
     
         24 . The wireless client unit of  claim 15  further comprising software configured to disable the wireless interface upon failure to detect an active session.  
     
     
         25 . The wireless client unit of  claim 21  further comprising software configured to use said session context for reducing a beacon listen interval upon detection of an active session.  
     
     
         26 . The wireless client unit of  claim 21  further comprising sofware to use said session context to enable the wireless interface.  
     
     
         27 . The wireless client of  claim 15  further comprising a module for configuring the apparatus such that said client does not use said apparatus for buffering network information.  
     
     
         28 . In a network comprising a proxy server located between a wireless access point and an origin server; and a client module detecting the availability of the proxy server; a method for conserving power in a wireless client unit, comprising the steps of: 
 configuring a wireless interface to promote energy savings when using a proxy server;    buffering data destined for the wireless client unit at the proxy server; and    releasing the data to the wireless client unit responsive to the occurrence of a specified condition.    
     
     
         29 . A computer program product comprising instructions for causing a processor to: 
 alert a client of the configuration of said computer program product;    use a memory space for buffering network application data destined for the client;    release the network application data to the client, based on at least one occurrence of a specified condition that promotes energy savings; and    purposely delay at least some of said data with an amount of time greater than zero to promote energy savings.    
     
     
         30 . The computer program product of  claim 29 , comprising instructions for causing a processor to: 
 receive configuration instructions specifying the at least one occurrence of a specified condition for release of the network application data;    allocate memory space for storing the configuration instructions;    wherein at least one processor is configured to execute the configuration instructions.    
     
     
         31 . The computer program product of  claim 29  wherein the specified condition comprises exceeding a buffer threshold.  
     
     
         32 . The computer program product of  claim 29  wherein the specified condition comprises ending of an application data stream.  
     
     
         33 . The computer program product of  claim 29  wherein the specified condition comprises receipt of at least one object.  
     
     
         34 . The computer program product of  claim 29  wherein the specified condition comprises expiration of a specified period of time.  
     
     
         35 . The computer program product of  claim 29  wherein the network application data comprises one of a group consisting of: email data; web page data; net meeting data; instant messaging data; and database synchronization data.  
     
     
         36 . The computer program product of  claim 29  wherein the apparatus is further configured for operation as a proxy server.  
     
     
         37 . The computer program product of  claim 29  wherein the apparatus is integrated with an access point for a wireless network.  
     
     
         38 . The computer program product of  claim 29  wherein the apparatus is adapted to serve a plurality of clients.  
     
     
         39 . The computer program product of  claim 29  further comprising an emulation system for emulation of network applications.  
     
     
         40 . An apparatus comprising: 
 at least one processor for running software configured to interact with a client;    said software further configured to prefetch data from a server;    said software further configured to use a memory space for buffering said data;    said software further configured to release said data to said client, based on at least one occurrence of a specified condition that promotes energy savings; and    said software further configured to delay processesing at least some of said data with an amount of time greater than zero based on detected operating parameters of the client.    
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the operating parameters of the client are inferred from signals received from the client.  
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the operating parameters of the client are determined from identifying information in the signals received from the client.  
     
     
         43 . A communication system comprising: 
 a proxy server comprising at least one processor for running software configured to interact with a client; said software further configured to prefetch data from a server; said software further configured to use a memory space for buffering said data; said software further configured to release said data to said client, based on at least one occurrence of a specified condition that promotes energy savings; and    a client comprising a wireless interface between the proxy server and the wireless client unit; a module for determining whether at least one of the proxy server is available for use by the wireless client unit; a module for configuing the wireless client unit to use the proxy server; and a module for configuring the wireless interface between the proxy server and the wireless client unit in a manner which promotes energy savings.    
     
     
         44 . The communication system of  claim 43  wherein said system is configured for not using said proxy server