Power saving via variable listen intervals in a WLAN
A wireless client device is associated with an access point in an association having a value for a listen interval parameter. The wireless client device determines, according to predefined considerations, a different value for the listen interval parameter, and declares the different value for the listen interval parameter in a wireless transmission to the access point. The listen interval parameter specifies a number of beacon intervals that can pass from a time the wireless client device listens for a beacon frame from the access point before the wireless client device listens for a next beacon frame from the access point.
1. A method of increasing a power saving potential of a wireless client device that is associated with an access point in an association having a value for a listen interval parameter, the method comprising:
determining, according to predefined considerations, a different value for said listen interval parameter; and
declaring said different value for said listen interval parameter in a wireless transmission to said access point,
wherein said listen interval parameter specifies a number of beacon intervals that can pass from a time said wireless client device listens for a beacon frame from said access point before said wireless client device listens for a next beacon frame from said access point, and
wherein said predefined considerations comprise an expected usage model for said wireless client device.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein declaring said different value comprises:
initiating a reassociation request to declare said different value for said listen interval parameter to said access point.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said predefined considerations comprise a charge level of a battery to power said wireless client device.
4. A wireless client device comprising:
a memory to store a value of a listen interval parameter that specifies a number of beacon intervals that can pass from a time said wireless client device listens for a beacon frame from an access point before said wireless client device listens for a next beacon frame from said access point;
a radio through which said device is associated with said access point in an association having said value for said listen interval parameter; and
a processor to determine, according to predefined considerations, a different value for said listen interval parameter and to declare said different value for said listen interval parameter to said access point via said radio, wherein said predefined considerations comprise an expected usage model for said wireless client device.
5. The wireless client device of claim 4 , wherein the processor is arranged to initiate a reassociation request to declare said different value for said listen interval parameter to said access point.
6. The wireless client device of claim 4 , wherein said predefined considerations comprise a charge level of a battery to power said wireless client device.
7. The wireless client device of claim 4 , wherein said access point uses an IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network standard.
8. A wireless communications system comprising:
an access point; and
a wireless client device comprising:
a memory to store a value of a listen interval parameter that specifies a number of beacon intervals that can pass from a time said wireless client device listens for a beacon frame from said access point before said wireless client device listens for a next beacon frame from said access point;
a radio through which said device is associated with said access point in an association having said value for said listen interval parameter; and
a processor to determine, according to predefined considerations, a different value for said listen interval parameter and to declare said different value for said listen interval parameter to said access point via said radio,
wherein said predefined considerations comprise an expected usage model for said wireless client device.
9. The wireless communications system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is arranged to initiate a re-association request to declare said different value for said listen interval parameter to said access point.
10. The wireless communications system of claim 8 , wherein said predefined considerations comprise a charge level of a battery to power said wireless client device.
11. The wireless communications system of claim 8 , wherein said access point uses an IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network standard.
12. A non-transitory memory comprising computer code, which when executed by a processor of a wireless client device that is associated with an access point in an association having a value for a listen interval parameter, results in the wireless client device:
determining, according to predefined considerations, a different value for said listen interval parameter; and
declaring said different value for said listen interval parameter in a wireless transmission to said access point,
wherein said listen interval parameter specifies a number of beacon intervals that can pass from a time said wireless client device listens for a beacon frame from said access point before said wireless client device listens for a next beacon frame from said access point,
wherein said predefined considerations comprise an expected usage model for said wireless client device.
13. The memory of claim 12 , wherein said predefined considerations comprise a charge level of a battery to power said wireless client device.