Method and apparatus for extending an awake state of a station

摘要

A wireless network is disclosed that allows an access point (AP) to keep a station (STA) in an awake state for an extended duration by periodically sending “keep-awake” frames to the STA. The keep-awake frames may be NULL frames having an asserted “more data” bit. For some embodiments, the AP transmits a beacon frame to the STA, wherein the beacon frame includes an asserted traffic indication bit that causes the STA to remain in the awake state for an additional wake-up period. Then, the AP transmits a sequence of keep-awake frames to the STA, wherein each keep-awake frame causes the STA to remain in the awake state for an additional time period.

主权项

1. In a wireless network including an access point (AP) associated with a wireless station (STA), a method of keeping the STA in an awake state for an extended duration, the method comprising:
receiving an instruction, from a server associated with the wireless network, to keep the STA awake for the extended duration; transmitting a beacon frame from the AP to the STA, wherein the beacon frame includes an asserted traffic indication bit to cause the STA to remain in the awake state for an additional wake-up period; and transmitting a sequence of keep-awake frames from the AP to the STA, wherein each keep-awake frame is to cause the STA to remain in the awake state for an additional time period.