Device, system and method of power management in a wireless area network

Abstract

Device, system, and method of power management. In some demonstrative embodiments, a device may include a wireless communication unit to transmit to a control point of a wireless area network an information request frame identifying at least one other wireless communication device in the wireless area network, wherein the wireless communication unit is to receive from the control point a response including wakeup information defining a wakeup schedule including at least one wakeup period of the other wireless communication device, and wherein, based on the wakeup information, the wireless communication unit is to transmit a wireless transmission directly to the other wireless communication device during the wakeup period. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

1 . A wireless communication device including:
 a wireless communication unit to transmit to a control point of a wireless area network an information request frame identifying at least one other wireless communication device in the wireless area network,   wherein the wireless communication unit is to receive from the control point a response including wakeup information defining a wakeup schedule including at least one wakeup period of the other wireless communication device,   and wherein, based on the wakeup information, the wireless communication unit is to transmit a wireless transmission directly to the other wireless communication device during the wakeup period.   
     
     
         2 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication unit is to establish a common wakeup schedule with the at least one other wireless communication device by transmitting to the other wireless communication device a wakeup-configuration request defining the common wakeup schedule, wherein the common wakeup schedule includes at least one common wakeup period for direct communication between the wireless communication unit and the other wireless communication device. 
     
     
         3 . The wireless communication device of  claim 2 , wherein the wireless communication unit is to establish at least first and second different common wakeup schedules with at least first and second respective other wireless communication devices. 
     
     
         4 . The wireless communication device of  claim 2 , wherein the common wakeup schedule between the wireless communication unit and the other wireless communication device is different from a wakeup schedule defined between the wireless communication unit and the control point. 
     
     
         5 . The wireless communication device of  claim 2 , wherein, upon receiving a wakeup-configuration acknowledgment from the other wireless communication device, the wireless communication unit is to transmit to the control point information defining the common wakeup schedule. 
     
     
         6 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication unit is to operate in an active mode to communicate over the wireless area network during a contention-based-period of a beacon interval, and wherein the wireless unit is to switch from the active mode to a power-save mode during the contention-based-period. 
     
     
         7 . The wireless communication device of  claim 6 , wherein the wireless communication unit is to transmit to the control point a message informing the control point that the wireless communication unit is to switch from the active mode to the power-save mode, and wherein the wireless communication unit is to switch to the power-save mode upon receiving an acknowledgment from the control point. 
     
     
         8 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the wakeup period includes at least part of a beacon interval defined by the control point. 
     
     
         9 . A wireless communication device including:
 a wireless communication unit to communicate with one or more other wireless communication devices in a wireless area network,   wherein the wireless communication unit is to operate in an active mode to communicate with the other wireless devices during a contention-based-period of a beacon interval defined for the wireless area network,   and wherein the wireless unit is to switch from the active mode to a power-save mode during the contention-based-period.   
     
     
         10 . The wireless communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the contention-based-period includes a centric contention-based-period managed by a control point,
 wherein the wireless communication unit is to transmit to the control point a message informing the control point that the wireless communication unit is to switch from the active mode to the power-save mode,   and wherein the wireless communication unit is to switch to the power-save mode upon receiving an acknowledgment from the control point.   
     
     
         11 . The wireless communication device of  claim 10 , wherein the message includes a frame having a power-mode bit set to a predefined value. 
     
     
         12 . The wireless communication device of  claim 10 , wherein the contention-based-period includes a distributed contention-based-period,
 wherein the wireless communication unit is to transmit to the other wireless communication devices one or more messages informing the wireless communication devices that the wireless communication unit is to switch from the active mode to the power-save mode,   and wherein the wireless communication unit is to switch to the power-save mode upon receiving an acknowledgment from each of the other wireless communication devices.   
     
     
         13 . The wireless communication device of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the messages includes a frame having a power-mode bit set to a predefined value. 
     
     
         14 . The wireless communication device of  claim 10 , wherein the wireless communication unit is to transmit to a control point of the wireless area network an information request frame identifying at least one destination wireless communication device of the one or more other wireless communication devices,
 wherein the wireless communication unit is to receive from the control point a response including wakeup information defining a wakeup schedule including at least one wakeup period of the destination wireless communication device,   and wherein, based on the wakeup information, the wireless communication unit is to transmit a wireless transmission directly to the destination wireless communication device during the wakeup period.   
     
     
         15 . The wireless communication device of  claim 14 , wherein the wireless communication unit is to establish a common wakeup schedule with the destination wireless communication device by transmitting to the destination wireless communication device a wakeup-configuration request defining the common wakeup schedule, wherein the common wakeup schedule includes at least one common wakeup period for direct communication between the wireless communication unit and the destination wireless communication device. 
     
     
         16 . A method including:
 operating a wireless communication unit in an active mode to communicate with one or more other wireless communication devices in a wireless area network during a contention-based-period of a beacon interval; and   switching the wireless communication unit from the active mode to a power-save mode during the contention-based-period.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the contention-based-period includes a centric contention-based-period managed by a control point, the method including:
 transmitting a message from the wireless communication device to the control point, wherein the message includes an indication to the control point that the wireless communication unit is to switch from the active mode to the power-save mode; and   switching the wireless communication unit to the power-save mode upon receiving an acknowledgment from the control point.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the contention-based-period includes a distributed contention-based-period, the method including:
 transmitting one or more messages from the wireless communication unit to the other wireless communication devices, the messages informing the wireless communication devices that the wireless communication unit is to switch from the active mode to the power-save mode; and   switching the wireless communication unit to the power-save mode upon receiving an acknowledgment from each of the other wireless communication devices.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  including:
 transmitting an information request frame from the wireless communication device to a control point of the wireless area network, the information request frame identifying at least one destination wireless communication device of the one or more other wireless communication devices, 
 receiving from the control point a response including wakeup information defining a wakeup schedule including at least one wakeup period of the destination wireless communication device; and 
 based on the wakeup information, transmitting a wireless transmission from the wireless communication unit directly to the destination wireless communication device during the wakeup period. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  including:
 establishing a common wakeup schedule between the wireless communication unit and the destination wireless communication device by transmitting a wakeup-configuration request to the destination wireless communication device, the wakeup-configuration request defining the common wakeup schedule, wherein the common wakeup schedule includes at least one common wakeup period for direct communication between the wireless communication unit and the destination wireless communication device.