Method, apparatus, and computer program product for power save control for tethering connections

Abstract

Example method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments are disclosed for configuring a mobile wireless hotspot in a wireless network. Example embodiments of the invention include a method comprising: establishing, by a mobile hotspot device, a control channel with a wireless device, using an out-of-band communications connection in an out-of-band communications medium; and exchanging, by the wireless device over the control channel, with the mobile hotspot device, by at least one of transmitting or receiving in-band communications connectivity configuration information to enable power saving features and optimize activity times in an in-band communications tethering connection with the mobile hotspot device in an in-band communications medium, for relaying by the mobile hotspot device, communications between the wireless device and one or more entities in at least one of a wide area communications network and a wireless local area network provided by the mobile hotspot device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 establishing, by a mobile hotspot device, a control channel with a wireless device, using a Bluetooth™ communications connection in a Bluetooth™ communications medium, wherein said establishing of the control channel with the wireless device comprises exchanging, via at least one of the Bluetooth™ communications medium or via a wide area network connected to a server, at least one of a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the mobile hotspot device, a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the wireless device, Bluetooth™ pairing information, and shared secret information;   exchanging, by the mobile hotspot device over the control channel, with the wireless device, WLAN communications connectivity configuration information to enable power saving in a WLAN communications tethering connection with the wireless device in a WLAN communications medium, for relaying by the mobile hotspot device, communications between the wireless device and one or more entities in at least one of a wide area communications network and a wireless local area network provided by the mobile hotspot device; and   exchanging, by the mobile hotspot device over the control channel, with the wireless device, at least one of scheduled sleep and awake periods wherein both the mobile hotspot device and the wireless device observe substantially same sleep and awake periods and information of the sleep and awake periods in a WLAN tethering connection.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim  1  25, further comprising:
 receiving, by the mobile hotspot device, over the control channel, a request from the wireless device for a WLAN communications tethering connection for relaying by the mobile hotspot device, communications between the wireless device and a wide area communications network; 
 performing, by the mobile hotspot device, said exchanging over the control channel, with the wireless device, of the WLAN communications connectivity configuration information, in response to receiving the request; and 
 transitioning, by the mobile hotspot device, from a WLAN communications idle state to a WLAN communications active state using the power saving for the WLAN communications tethering connection, in response to receiving the request. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 exchanging, by the mobile hotspot device, over the control channel, with the wireless device, adjustments in the WLAN communications connectivity configuration information to modify at least one of the power saving in the WLAN communications tethering connection with the wireless device. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 transitioning, by the mobile hotspot device, from the WLAN communications active state to the WLAN communications idle state of the WLAN communications tethering connection, when no requests are received from any wireless device, for a WLAN communications tethering connection for relaying by the mobile hotspot device, communications between the any wireless device and a wide area communications network. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of claim  1  25, wherein the Bluetooth™ communications connection is one of a Bluetooth™, a Bluetooth™ Low Energy, or a Near Field Communications connection and the WLAN communications tethering connection is a WLAN connection or another local connectivity channel having low power. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 exchanging, by the mobile hotspot device, via at least one of the Bluetooth™ communications medium with the wireless device or via a wide area network connected to a server, at least one of a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the hotspot device, a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the wireless device, Bluetooth™ pairing information, and shared secret information, for said establishing of the control channel with the wireless device.   
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 exchanging, by the mobile hotspot device over the control channel, with the wireless device, at least one of IEEE 802.11 WLAN tethering connections with an SSID and passkeys, a required authentication procedure, a public key of the mobile hotspot, available data rates, available data throughput, and a required site blacklist for virus protection, to enable power saving features and optimize activity times in a WLAN communications tethering connection with the wireless device in a WLAN communications medium.   
     
     
       8. A method, comprising:
 establishing, by a mobile hotspot device, a control channel with a wireless device, using a Bluetooth™ communications connection in a Bluetooth™ communications medium, wherein said establishing of the control channel with the wireless device comprises exchanging, via at least one of the Bluetooth™ communications medium or via a wide area network connected to a server, at least one of a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the mobile hotspot device, a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the wireless device, Bluetooth™ pairing information, and shared secret information;   exchanging, by the mobile hotspot device over the control channel, with the wireless device, WLAN communications connectivity configuration information to enable power saving features in a WLAN communications tethering connection with the wireless device in a WLAN communications medium, for relaying by the mobile hotspot device, communications between the wireless device and one or more entities in at least one of a wide area communications network and a wireless local area network provided by the mobile hotspot device;   reading, by a connectivity management system in the mobile hotspot device, device capabilities of the mobile hotspot device;   generating, by the connectivity management system in the mobile hotspot device, the WLAN communications connectivity configuration information to enable the wireless device to connect to the mobile hotspot device as a tethered wireless device, the WLAN communications connectivity configuration information including specification of the WLAN tethering connection having a network name and passkey; and   receiving, by the connectivity management system in the mobile hotspot device, via the Bluetooth™ communications medium from the wireless device, a WLAN tethering connection request based on the WLAN communications connectivity configuration information.   
     
     
       9. An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one processor;   at least one memory including computer program code;   the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:   establish a control channel with a wireless device, using a Bluetooth™ communications connection in a Bluetooth™ communications medium, wherein said establishing of the control channel with the wireless device comprises exchanging, via at least one of the Bluetooth™ communications medium or via a wide area network connected to a server, at least one of a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the mobile hotspot device, a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the wireless device, Bluetooth™ pairing information, and shared secret information;   exchange over the control channel, with the wireless device, WLAN communications connectivity configuration information to enable power saving in a WLAN communications tethering connection with the wireless device in a WLAN communications medium, for relaying by the apparatus, communications between the wireless device and one or more entities in at least one of a wide area communications network and a wireless local area network provided by the apparatus; and   exchange over the control channel, with the wireless device, at least one of scheduled sleep and awake periods wherein both the apparatus and the wireless device observe substantially same sleep and awake periods and information for timing of the sleep and awake periods in a WLAN tethering connection.   
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:   receive over the control channel, a request from the wireless device for a WLAN communications tethering connection for relaying by the apparatus, communications between the wireless device and a wide area communications network;   perform said exchanging over the control channel, with the wireless device, of the WLAN communications connectivity configuration information, in response to receiving the request; and   transition from a WLAN communications idle state to a WLAN communications active state using the power saving for the WLAN communications tethering connection, in response to receiving the request.   
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:   exchange over the control channel, with the wireless device, adjustments in the WLAN communications connectivity configuration information to modify at least one of the power saving in the WLAN communications tethering connection with the wireless device.   
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:   transition from the WLAN communications active state to the WLAN communications idle state of the WLAN communications tethering connection, when no requests are received from any wireless device, for a WLAN communications tethering connection for relaying by the apparatus, communications between the any wireless device and a wide area communications network.   
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the Bluetooth™ communications connection is one of a Bluetooth, a Bluetooth Low Energy, or a Near Field Communications connection and the WLAN communications tethering connection is a WLAN connection or another local connectivity channel having low power. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:   exchange via at least one of the Bluetooth™ communications medium with the wireless device or via a wide area network connected to a server, at least one of a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the hotspot device, a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the wireless device, Bluetooth™ pairing information, and shared secret information, for said establishing of the control channel with the wireless device.   
     
     
       15. An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one processor;   at least one memory including computer program code;   the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:   establish a control channel with a wireless device, using a Bluetooth™ communications connection in a Bluetooth™ communications medium, wherein said establishing of the control channel with the wireless device comprises exchanging, via at least one of the Bluetooth™ communications medium or via a wide area network connected to a server, at least one of a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the mobile hotspot device, a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the wireless device, Bluetooth™ pairing information, and shared secret information;   exchange over the control channel, with the wireless device, WLAN communications connectivity configuration information to enable power saving in a WLAN communications tethering connection with the wireless device in a WLAN communications medium, for relaying by the apparatus, communications between the wireless device and one or more entities in at least one of a wide area communications network and a wireless local area network provided by the apparatus;   read, by a connectivity management system in the apparatus, device capabilities of the apparatus;   generate, by the connectivity management system in the apparatus, the WLAN communications connectivity configuration information to enable the wireless device to connect to the apparatus as a tethered wireless device, the WLAN communications connectivity configuration information including specification of the WLAN tethering connection having a network name and passkey; and   receive, by the connectivity management system in the apparatus, via the Bluetooth™ communications medium from the wireless device, a WLAN tethering connection request based on the WLAN communications connectivity configuration information.   
     
     
       16. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a non-transitory computer readable non-transitory storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:
 code for establishing, by a mobile hotspot device, a control channel with a wireless device, using a Bluetooth™ communications connection in a Bluetooth™ communications medium, wherein said establishing of the control channel with the wireless device comprises exchanging, via at least one of the Bluetooth™ communications medium or via a wide area network connected to a server, at least one of a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the mobile hotspot device, a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the wireless device, Bluetooth™ pairing information, and shared secret information;   code for exchanging, by the mobile hotspot device over the control channel, with the wireless device, WLAN communications connectivity configuration information to enable power saving in a WLAN communications tethering connection with the wireless device in a WLAN communications medium, for relaying by the mobile hotspot device, communications between the wireless device and one or more entities in at least one of a wide area communications network and a wireless local area network provided by the mobile hotspot device; and   code for exchanging, by the mobile hotspot device over the control channel, with the wireless device, at least one of scheduled sleep and awake periods wherein both the mobile hotspot device and the wireless device observe substantially same sleep and awake periods and information for the sleep and awake periods in a WLAN tethering connection.   
     
     
       17. A method, comprising:
 establishing, by a wireless device, a control channel with a mobile hotspot device, using a Bluetooth™ communications connection in a Bluetooth™ communications medium, wherein said establishing of the control channel with the wireless device comprises exchanging, via at least one of the Bluetooth™ communications medium or via a wide area network connected to a server, at least one of a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the mobile hotspot device, a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the wireless device, Bluetooth™ pairing information, and shared secret information;   exchanging, by the wireless device over the control channel, with the mobile hotspot device, WLAN communications connectivity configuration information to enable power saving in a WLAN communications tethering connection with the mobile hotspot device in a WLAN communications medium, for relaying by the mobile hotspot device, communications between the wireless device and one or more entities in at least one of a wide area communications network and a wireless local area network provided by the mobile hotspot device; and   exchanging, by the wireless device over the control channel, with the mobile hotspot device, at least one of scheduled sleep and awake periods wherein both the mobile hotspot device and the wireless device observe substantially same sleep and awake periods and information for the sleep and awake periods in a WLAN tethering connection.   
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 transmitting, by the wireless device, over the control channel, a request to the mobile hotspot device for a WLAN communications tethering connection for relaying by the mobile hotspot device, communications between the wireless device and a wide area communications network;   performing, by the wireless device, said exchanging over the control channel, with the mobile hotspot device, of the WLAN communications connectivity configuration information; and   establishing, by the wireless device, the WLAN communications tethering connection with the mobile hotspot device, using the power saving for the WLAN communications tethering connection.   
     
     
       19. An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one processor;   at least one memory including computer program code;   the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:   establish a control channel with a mobile hotspot device, using a Bluetooth™ communications connection in a Bluetooth™ communications medium, wherein said establishing of the control channel with the wireless device comprises exchanging, via at least one of the Bluetooth™ communications medium or via a wide area network connected to a server, at least one of a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the mobile hotspot device, a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the wireless device, Bluetooth™ pairing information, and shared secret information;   exchange over the control channel, with the mobile hotspot device, WLAN communications connectivity configuration information to enable power saving in a WLAN communications tethering connection with the mobile hotspot device in a WLAN communications medium, for relaying by the mobile hotspot device, communications between the apparatus and one or more entities in at least one of a wide area communications network and a wireless local area network provided by the mobile hotspot device; and   exchange over the control channel, with the mobile hotspot device, at least one of scheduled sleep and awake periods wherein both the mobile hotspot device and the apparatus observe substantially same sleep and awake periods and information for the sleep and awake periods in a WLAN tethering connection.   
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:   transmit over the control channel, a request to the mobile hotspot device for a WLAN communications tethering connection for relaying by the mobile hotspot device, communications between the apparatus and a wide area communications network;   perform said exchanging over the control channel, with the mobile hotspot device, of the WLAN communications connectivity configuration information; and   establish the WLAN communications tethering connection with the mobile hotspot device, using the power saving for the WLAN communications tethering connection.   
     
     
       21. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a non-transitory computer readable non-transitory storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:
 code for establishing, by a wireless device, a control channel with a mobile hotspot device, using a Bluetooth™ communications connection in a Bluetooth™ communications medium, wherein said establishing of the control channel with the wireless device comprises exchanging, via at least one of the Bluetooth™ communications medium or via a wide area network connected to a server, at least one of a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the mobile hotspot device, a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the wireless device, Bluetooth™ pairing information, and shared secret information;   code for exchanging, by the wireless device over the control channel, with the mobile hotspot device, WLAN communications connectivity configuration information to enable power saving in a WLAN communications tethering connection with the mobile hotspot device in a WLAN communications medium, for relaying by the mobile hotspot device, communications between the wireless device and one or more entities in at least one of a wide area communications network and a wireless local area network provided by the mobile hotspot device; and   code for exchanging, by the wireless device over the control channel, with the mobile hotspot device, at least one of scheduled sleep and awake periods wherein both the mobile hotspot device and the wireless device observe substantially same sleep and awake periods and information for the sleep and awake periods in a WLAN tethering connection.   
     
     
       22. A method for controlling power saving of tethering connections, comprising:
 establishing, by a mobile hotspot device, a control channel with a wireless device, using a Bluetooth™ communications connection in a Bluetooth™ communications medium, wherein said establishing of the control channel with the wireless device comprises exchanging, via at least one of the Bluetooth™ communications medium or via a wide area network connected to a server, at least one of a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the mobile hotspot device, a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the wireless device, Bluetooth™ pairing information, or shared secret information;   exchanging, by the mobile hotspot device over the established control channel, with the wireless device, wireless local area network (WLAN) connectivity configuration information prior to establishing the WLAN tethering connection with the wireless device, the WLAN connectivity configuration information comprising at least one of a network name (SSID) or a passkey for enabling the wireless device to join a wireless local area network (WLAN) provided by the mobile hotspot device as a tethered device, and at least information regarding scheduled sleep and awake periods wherein both the mobile hotspot device and the wireless device observe substantially same sleep and awake periods in a WLAN tethering connection between the mobile hotspot device and the wireless device;   establishing, by the mobile hotspot device, the WLAN tethering connection with the wireless device, using the at least one of the network name (SSID) or the passkey based on the WLAN connectivity configuration information exchanged over the control channel; and   controlling, by the mobile hotspot device, the WLAN tethering connection between the mobile hotspot device and the wireless device based on the WLAN connectivity configuration information exchanged information over the control channel regarding the scheduled sleep and awake periods to save power in the WLAN tethering connection when relaying communications between the wireless device and one or more entities in at least one of a wide area communications network or a wireless local area network provided by the mobile hotspot device.   
     
     
       23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:
 exchanging, by the mobile hotspot device over the control channel with the wireless device, at least one of IEEE 802.11 WLAN tethering connections with an SSID and passkeys, a required authentication procedure, a public key of the mobile hotspot, available data rates available data throughput, or a required site blacklist for virus protection, to enable power saving in a WLAN communications tethering connection with the wireless device in a WLAN communications medium.   
     
     
       24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:
 controlling WLAN sleep scheduling of the wireless device, while minimizing energy consumption in the mobile hotspot device during its performing a control operation, by establishing the Bluetooth control channel to exchange information regarding the scheduled sleep and awake periods in the WLAN tethering connection between the mobile hotspot device and the wireless device.   
     
     
       25. The method of claim 22, further comprising: exchanging, by the mobile hotspot device, over the control channel with the wireless device, adjustments in the WLAN communications connectivity configuration information to modify at least one of the power saving in the WLAN communications tethering connection with the wireless device. 
     
     
       26. An apparatus for controlling power saving of tethering connections, comprising:
 at least one processor;   at least one memory including computer program code;   the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:   establish a control channel with a wireless device, using a Bluetooth™ communications connection in a Bluetooth™ communications medium, wherein said establishing of the control channel with the wireless device comprises exchanging, via at least one of the Bluetooth™ communications medium or via a wide area network connected to a server, at least one of a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the apparatus, a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the wireless device, Bluetooth™ pairing information, or shared secret information;   exchange over the established control channel, with the wireless device, wireless local area network (WLAN) connectivity configuration information prior to establishing the WLAN tethering connection with the wireless device, the WLAN connectivity configuration information comprising at least one of a network name (SSID) or a passkey for enabling the wireless device to join a wireless local area network (WLAN) provided by the apparatus as a tethered device, and at least information regarding scheduled sleep and awake periods wherein both the apparatus and the wireless device observe substantially same sleep and awake periods in a WLAN tethering connection between the apparatus and the wireless device;   establish the WLAN tethering connection with the wireless device, using the at least one of the network name (SSID) or the passkey based on the WLAN connectivity configuration information exchanged over the control channel; and   control the WLAN tethering connection between the apparatus and the wireless device based on the WLAN connectivity configuration information exchanged over the control channel regarding the scheduled sleep and awake periods to save power in the WLAN tethering connection when relaying communications between the wireless device and one or more entities in at least one of a wide area communications network or a wireless local area network provided by the apparatus.   
     
     
       27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:
 the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:   receive over the control channel a request from the wireless device for a WLAN communications tethering connection for relaying by the apparatus communications between the wireless device and a wide area communications network;   perform said exchanging over the control channel with the wireless device, of the WLAN communications connectivity configuration information, in response to receiving the request; and   transition from a WLAN communications idle state to a WLAN communications active state using the power saving for the WLAN communications tethering connection, in response to receiving the request.   
     
     
       28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:
 the at last one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:   exchange over the control channel, with the wireless device, adjustments in the WLAN communications connectivity configuration information to modify at least one of the power saving in the WLAN communications tethering connection with the wireless device.   
     
     
       29. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:
 the at last one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:   transition from the WLAN communications active state to the WLAN communications idle state of the WLAN communications tethering connection, when no requests are received from any wireless device, for a WLAN communications tethering connection for relaying by the apparatus, communications between the any wireless device and a wide area communications network.   
     
     
       30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the Bluetooth™ communications connection is one of a Bluetooth, a Bluetooth Low Energy, or a Near Field Communications connection and the WLAN communications tethering connection is a WLAN connection or another local connectivity channel having low power. 
     
     
       31. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a non-transitory computer readable non-transitory storage medium for controlling power saving of tethering connections, the computer executable program code comprising:
 code for establishing, by a mobile hotspot device, a control channel with a wireless device, using a Bluetooth™ communications connection in a Bluetooth™ communications medium, wherein said establishing of the control channel with the wireless device comprises exchanging, via at least one of the Bluetooth™ communications medium or via a wide area network connected to a server, at least one of a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the mobile hotspot device, a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the wireless device, Bluetooth™ pairing information, or shared secret information;   code for exchanging, by the mobile hotspot device over the established control channel with the wireless device, wireless local area network (WLAN) connectivity configuration information prior to establishing the WLAN tethering connection with the wireless device, the WLAN connectivity configuration information comprising at least one of a network name (SSID) or a passkey for enabling the wireless device to join a wireless local area network (WLAN) provided by the mobile hotspot device as a tethered device, and at least information regarding scheduled sleep and awake periods wherein both the mobile hotspot device and the wireless device observe substantially same sleep and awake periods in a WLAN tethering connection between the mobile hotspot device and the wireless device;   establishing, by the mobile wireless device, the WLAN tethering connection with the wireless device, using the at least one of the network name (SSID) or the passkey based on the WLAN connectivity configuration information exchanged over the control channel; and   code for controlling, by the mobile hotspot device, the WLAN tethering connection between the mobile hotpot device and the wireless device based on the WLAN connectivity configuration information exchanged over the control channel regarding the scheduled sleep and awake periods to save power in the WLAN tethering connection when relaying communications between the wireless device and one or more entities in at least one of a wide area communications network or a wireless local area network provided by the mobile hotspot device.   
     
     
       32. A method for controlling power saving of tethering connections, comprising:
 establishing, by a wireless device, a control channel with a mobile hotspot device, using a Bluetooth™ communications connection in a Bluetooth™ communications medium, wherein said establishing of the control channel with the mobile hotspot comprises exchanging, via at least one of the Bluetooth™ communications medium or via a wide area network connected to a server, at least one of a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the mobile hotspot device   a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the wireless device Bluetooth™ pairing information, or shared secret information;   exchanging, by the wireless device over the established control channel, with the mobile hotspot device, wireless local area network (WLAN) connectivity configuration information prior to establishing the WLAN tethering connection with the mobile hotspot device, the WLAN connectivity configuration information comprising at least one of a network name (SSID) or a passkey for enabling the wireless device to join a wireless local area network (WLAN) provided by the mobile hotspot device as a tethered device, and at least information regarding scheduled sleep and awake periods wherein both the mobile hotspot device and the wireless device observe substantially same sleep and awake periods in a WLAN tethering connection between the mobile hotspot device and the wireless device;   establishing, by the wireless device, the WLAN tethering connection with the mobile hotspot device, using the at least one of a network name (SSID) or the passkey based on the WLAN connectivity configuration information exchanged over the control channel; and   controlling, by the wireless device, the WLAN tethering connection between the mobile hotspot device and the wireless device based on the WLAN connectivity configuration information exchanged over the control channel regarding the scheduled sleep and awake periods to save power in the WLAN tethering connection when relaying communications between the wireless device and one or more entities in at least one of a wide area communications network or a wireless local area network provided by the mobile hotspot device.   
     
     
       33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:
 transmitting, by the wireless device, over the control channel, a request to the mobile hotpot device for a WLAN communications tethering connection for relaying by the mobile hotspot device, communications between the wireless device and a wide area communications network;   performing, by the wireless device, said exchanging over the control channel, with the mobile hotspot device, of the WLAN communications connectivity configuration information; and   establishing, by the wireless device, the WLAN communications tethering connection with the mobile hotspot device, using the power saving for the WLAN communications tethering connection.   
     
     
       34. The method of claim 32, further comprising:
 controlling WLAN sleep scheduling of the mobile hotspot device, while minimizing energy consumption in the wireless device during its performing a control operation, by establishing the Bluetooth control channel to exchange information regarding the scheduled sleep and awake periods in the WLAN tethering connection between the mobile hotspot device and the wireless device.   
     
     
       35. The method of claim 32, further comprising: exchanging, by the wireless device, over the control channel, with the mobile hotspot device, adjustments in the WLAN communications connectivity configuration information to modify at least one of the power saving in the WLAN communications tethering connection with the mobile hotspot device. 
     
     
       36. An apparatus for controlling power saving of tethering connections, comprising:
 at least one processor;   at least one memory including computer program code;   the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:   establish a control channel with a mobile hotspot device, using a Bluetooth™ communications connection in a Bluetooth™ communications medium, wherein said establishing of the control channel with the mobile hotspot device comprises exchanging, via at least one of the Bluetooth™ communications medium or via a wide area network connected to a server, at least one of a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the mobile hotspot device,   a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the wireless device, Bluetooth™ pairing information, or shared secret information;   exchange over the established control channel, with the mobile hotspot device, wireless local area network (WLAN) connectivity configuration information prior to establishing the WLAN tethering connection with the mobile hotspot device, the WLAN connectivity configuration information comprising at least one of a network name (SSID) or a passkey for enabling the wireless device to join a wireless local area network (WLAN) provided by the mobile hotspot device as a tethered device, and at least information regarding scheduled sleep and awake periods wherein both the mobile hotspot device and the apparatus observe substantially same sleep and awake periods in a WLAN tethering connection between the mobile hotspot device and the wireless device;   establish the WLAN tethering connection with the mobile hotspot device, using the at least one of the network name (SSID) or the passkey based on the WLAN connectivity configuration information exchanged over the control channel; and   control the WLAN tethering connection between the apparatus and the mobile hotspot device based on the WLAN connectivity configuration information exchanged over the control channel regarding the scheduled sleep and awake periods to save power in the WLAN tethering connection when relaying communications between the wireless device and one or more entities in at least one of a wide area communications network or a wireless local area network provided by the mobile hotspot device.   
     
     
       37. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising:
 the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:   transmit over the control channel a request to the mobile hotspot device for a WLAN communications tethering connection for relaying by the mobile hotspot device, communications between the apparatus and a wide area communications network;   perform said exchanging over the control channel with the mobile hotspot device, of the WLAN communications connectivity configuration information; and   establish the WLAN communications tethering connection with the mobile hotspot device, using the power saving for the WLAN communications tethering connection.   
     
     
       38. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a non-transitory computer readable non-transitory storage medium for controlling power saving of tethering connections, the computer executable program code comprising:
 code for establishing, by a wireless device, a control channel with a mobile hotspot device, using a Bluetooth™ communications connection in a Bluetooth™ communications medium, wherein said establishing of the control channel with the mobile hotpot device comprises   exchanging, via at least one of the Bluetooth™ communications medium or via a wide area network connected to a server, at least one of a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the mobile hotspot device, a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the wireless device, Bluetooth™ pairing information, or shared secret information;   code for exchanging, by the wireless device over the established control channel with the mobile hotspot device, wireless local area network (WLAN) connectivity configuration information prior to establishing the WLAN tethering connection with the mobile hotspot device, the WLAN connectivity configuration information comprising at least one of a network name (SSID) or a passkey for enabling the wireless device to join a wireless local area network (WLAN) provided by the mobile hotspot device as a tethered device, and at least information regarding scheduled sleep and awake periods wherein both the mobile hotspot device and the wireless device observe substantially same sleep and awake periods in a WLAN tethering connection between the mobile hotspot device and the wireless device;   code for establishing, by the wireless device, the WLAN tethering connection with the mobile hotspot device, using the at least one of the network name (SSID) or the passkey based on the WLAN connectivity configuration information exchanged over the control channel; and   code for controlling, by the wireless device, the WLAN tethering connection between the mobile hotspot device and the wireless device based on the WLAN connectivity configuration information exchanged over the control channel regarding the scheduled sleep and awake periods to save power in the WLAN tethering connection when relaying communications between the wireless device and one or more entities in at least one of a wide area communications network or a wireless local area network provided by the mobile hotspot device.   
     
     
       39. A method for controlling power saving of tethering connections, comprising:
 establishing, by a mobile hotspot device, a control channel with a wireless device, using a Bluetooth™ communications connection in a Bluetooth™ communications medium, wherein said establishing of the control channel with the wireless device comprises exchanging, via at least one of the Bluetooth™ communications medium or via a wide area network connected to a server, at least one of a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the mobile hotspot device, a Bluetooth™ communications MAC address of the wireless device, Bluetooth™ pairing information, or shared secret information;   exchanging, by the mobile hotspot device over the established control channel, with the wireless device, wireless local area network (WLAN) connectivity configuration information prior to establishing the WLAN tethering connection with the wireless device, the WLAN connectivity configuration information comprising at least one of a network name (SSID) or a passkey for enabling the wireless device to join a wireless local area network (WLAN) provided by the mobile hotspot device as a tethered device, and at least information regarding scheduled sleep and awake periods wherein both the mobile hotspot device and the wireless device observe substantially same sleep and awake periods in a WLAN tethering connection between the mobile hotspot device and the wireless device;   establishing, by the mobile hotspot device, the WLAN tethering connection with the wireless device, using the at least one of the network name (SSID) or the passkey based on the WLAN connectivity configuration information exchanged over the control channel;   controlling, by the mobile hotspot device, the WLAN tethering connection between the mobile hotspot device and the wireless device based on the WLAN connectivity configuration information to the exchanged information over the control channel regarding the scheduled sleep and awake periods to save power in the WLAN tethering connection when relaying communications between the wireless device and one or more entities in at least one of a wide area communications network or a wireless local area network provided by the mobile hotspot device; and   exchanging, by the mobile hotspot device, over the control channel, with the wireless device, adjustments in the WLAN communications connectivity configuration information to modify at least one of the power saving in the WLAN communications tethering connection with the wireless device.