System and method to save power in an access point device

1 . A home network controller for use with a wireless client device and for communicating with an external network, the home network controller being able to receive, via the external network, an initiate signal instructed by the wireless client device, the home network controller comprising:

a memory;

a processor configured to execute instructions stored on the memory to cause the home network controller to:

associate the home network controller with the wireless client device to establish a wireless network,

communicate with the wireless client device over the wireless network,

enable the wireless client device to communicate with the external network via the wireless network,

operate the home network controller in a first mode, and

operate the home network controller in a second mode,

an internal communication component configured to communicate with the wireless client device via the wireless network; and

an external communication component configured to receive the initiate signal;

wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions stored on the memory to cause the home network controller to:

switch operation of the home network controller from the first mode to the second mode based on a dissociation of the wireless client device, and

switch operation of the home network controller from the second mode to the first mode based on receipt of the initiate signal from the external network via the external communication component,

wherein, in the first mode, a radio of the internal communication component is enabled,

wherein, in the second mode, the radio of the internal communication component is disabled,

wherein the memory is configured to store client identification data related to registered client devices and unregistered client devices,

wherein the processor is configured to switch operation of the home network controller from the second mode to the first mode based on receipt of the initiate signal from registered client devices, and

wherein the processor is configured not to switch operation of the home network controller from the second mode to the first mode based on receipt of the initiate signal from unregistered client devices.

2 . The home network controller of claim 1 , wherein the home network controller resides on a gateway device.

3 . The home network controller of claim 1 , wherein the home network controller resides on an access point device.

4 . The home network controller of claim 1 ,

wherein the internal communication component is an access point device, and

wherein, in the second mode, a wireless local area network of the wireless network is off.

5 . A method of operating a home network controller for use with a wireless client device and for communicating with an external network, the home network controller being able to receive, via the external network, an initiate signal instructed by the wireless client device, the method comprising:

associating, via a processor configured to execute instructions stored on a memory, the home network controller with the wireless client device to establish a wireless network;

communicating, via an internal communication component, with the wireless client device via the wireless network;

operating, via the processor, the home network controller in a first mode;

operating, via the processor, the home network controller in a second mode based on a disassociation with the wireless client device;

receiving, via an external communication component, the initiate signal from the wireless client device via the external network;

operating, via the processor and based on receipt of the initiate signal, the home network controller in the first mode; and

storing, via the memory, client identification data related to registered client devices and unregistered client devices,

wherein, in the first mode, a radio of the internal communication component is enabled,

wherein, in the second mode, the radio of the internal communication component is disabled,

wherein the operating the home network controller in the first mode based on receipt of the initiate signal comprises operating the home network controller in the first mode based on receipt of the initiate signal from registered client devices, and

wherein the operating the home network controller in the first mode based on receipt of the initiate signal comprises not operating the home network controller in the first mode based on receipt of the initiate signal from unregistered client devices.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the home network controller resides on a gateway device.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the home network controller resides on an access point device.

8 . The method of claim 5 ,

wherein the internal communication component is an access point device, and

wherein, in the second mode, a wireless local area network of the wireless network is off.

9 . A non-transitory, computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, the computer-readable instructions being capable of being read by a home network controller for use with a wireless client device and for communicating with an external network, the home network controller being able to receive, via the external network, an initiate signal provided by the wireless client device, the computer-readable instructions being capable of instructing the home network controller to perform:

associating, via a processor, the home network controller with the wireless client device to establish a wireless network;

communicating, via an internal communication component, with the wireless client device via the wireless network;

operating, via the processor, the home network controller in a first mode;

selectively disassociating, via the processor, with the wireless client device;

operating, via the processor, the home network controller in a second mode based on a disassociation with the wireless client device;

receiving, via an external communication component, the initiate signal from the wireless client device via the external network;

operating, via the processor and based on receipt of the initiate signal, the home network controller in the first mode; and

storing, via a memory, client identification data related to registered client devices and unregistered client devices,

wherein, in the first mode, a radio of the internal communication component is enabled,

wherein, in the second mode, the radio of the internal communication component is disabled,

wherein the operating the home network controller in the first mode based on receipt of the initiate signal comprises operating the home network controller in the first mode based on receipt of the initiate signal from registered client devices, and

wherein the operating the home network controller in the first mode based on receipt of the initiate signal comprises not operating the home network controller in the first mode based on receipt of the initiate signal from unregistered client devices.

10 . The non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the home network controller resides on a gateway device.

11 . The non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the home network controller resides on an access point device.

12 . The non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 9 ,

wherein the internal communication component is an access point device, and

wherein, in the second mode, a wireless local area network of the wireless network is off.