Engery efficient network connectivity maximization

Abstract

The minimization of the amount of power consumed by an electronic device in acquiring or maintaining network connectivity with a network may extend the battery life of the electronic device. When the electronic device has established a communication connection with a wireless access point, the electronic device cycles a network interface controller of the electronic device between a power on state and a power off state without terminating the communication connection. Accordingly, the electronic device powers on a main processor of the electronic device when the network interface controller detects a beacon during the power on state that indicates the wireless access point has a buffered data frame for the electronic device.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An electronic device comprising:
 a main processor;   a network interface controller (NIC) that includes a NIC processor and NIC memory; and   a main memory that includes machine-readable instructions, which when executed by the electronic device, configures the electronic device to:
 use the main processor to select at least one wireless access point identifier for inclusion in a list of wireless access point identifiers based at least on contextual data related to the electronic device and populates the NIC memory with the list of wireless access point identifiers; and 
 powers off the main processor following population of the NIC memory with the list of wireless access point identifiers. 
   
     
     
         22 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein each wireless access point identifier in the list of wireless access points is one of a Service Set Identifier (SSID) or a Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID) of a corresponding wireless access point. 
     
     
         23 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the NIC is configured to:
 periodically cycle the NIC between a power on state and a power saving state, the NIC configured to perform a scan for wireless access points that match the list of wireless access point identifiers in the NIC memory during the power on state.   
     
     
         24 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the NIC is configured to power on the main processor at least when the network interface controller detects a particular wireless access point that matches a corresponding wireless access point identifier in the NIC memory. 
     
     
         25 . The electronic device of  claim 24 , wherein the NIC is configured to power on the main processor when (1) the NIC detects the particular wireless access point that matches the corresponding wireless access point identifier; and (2) the NIC establishes a communication connection with the particular wireless access point. 
     
     
         26 . The electronic device of  claim 24 , wherein the NIC is further configured to power on the main processor to select another list of wireless access point identifiers based at least on additional contextual data related to the electronic device when a number of performed scans in which the NIC fails to detect a matching wireless access point reaches a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         27 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the NIC is configured to:
 insert a set of wireless access point identifiers into the NIC memory and determine a probable match between a wireless access point and one of the wireless access point identifiers in the set, wherein an amount of wireless access point identifiers in the set of wireless access point identifiers is greater than a number of identifier slots available in the NIC memory.   
     
     
         28 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the contextual data includes at least one of: locations of other wireless access points previously connected to by the electronic device, appointment or schedule data provided by an application on the electronic device, or global positioning system data for the electronic device. 
     
     
         29 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the machine-readable instructions, which when executed by the electronic device, further configures the electronic device to predict an expected location of the electronic device based at least on a conditional probability analysis of the contextual data, and select the at least one wireless access point identifier from a master identifier database based at least on the expected location. 
     
     
         30 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the machine-readable instructions, which when executed by the electronic device, further configures the electronic device to populate the list of wireless access point identifiers with at least one of an identifier of a popular wireless access point, an identifier of a wireless access point that previously connected with the electronic device, or an identifier of a wireless access point that corresponds to an expected location of the electronic device. 
     
     
         31 . A method of performing operations on an electronic device, the electronic device including a main processor, main memory, and a network interface controller (NIC), the NIC including a NIC processor and a NIC memory, the method comprising:
 selecting at least one wireless access point identifier for inclusion in a list of wireless access point identifiers based at least on contextual data related to the electronic device;   populating the NIC memory with the list of wireless access point identifiers; and   powering off the main processor of the electronic device following population of the NIC memory with the list of wireless access point identifiers.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein each wireless access point identifier in the list of wireless access points is one of a Service Set identifier (SSID) or a Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID) of a corresponding wireless access point. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 periodically cycling the NIC between a power on state and a power saving state, the NIC configured to perform a scan for wireless access points that match the list of wireless access point identifiers in the NIC memory during the power on state.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising the NIC powering on the main processor at least when the NIC detects a particular wireless access point that matches a corresponding wireless access point identifier in the NIC memory. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein powering on the main processor is performed when (1) the NIC detects the particular wireless access point that matches the corresponding wireless access point identifier; and (2) the NIC establishes a communication connection with the particular wireless access point. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 ; wherein powering on the main processor includes selecting another list of wireless access point identifiers based at least on additional contextual data related to the electronic device when a number of performed scans in which the NIC fails to detect a matching wireless access point reaches a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  31 , wherein the NIC inserts a set of wireless access point identifiers into the NIC memory and determines a probable match between a wireless access point and one of the wireless access point identifiers in the set, wherein an amount of wireless access point identifiers in the set of wireless access point identifiers is greater than a number of identifier slots available in the NIC memory. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the contextual data includes at least one of:
 locations of other wireless access points previously connected to by the electronic device, appointment or schedule data provided by an application on the electronic device, or global positioning system data for the electronic device.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 ; further comprising:
 predicting an expected location of the electronic device based at least on a conditional probability analysis of the contextual data; and   selecting the at least one wireless access point identifier from a master identifier database based at least on the expected location.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising populating the list of wireless access point identifiers with at least one of an identifier of a popular wireless access point, an identifier of a wireless access point that previously connected with the electronic device, or an identifier of a wireless access point that corresponds to an expected location of the electronic device.