Method and System for Medium Access with Reduced Power Consumption for Constrained Wireless Devices

1 . A method comprising:

in a first wireless communication device:

communicating with one or more other wireless communication devices to schedule access to a medium shared by said first wireless communication device and said one or more other wireless communication devices;

after one or more medium access periods are scheduled for said first wireless communication device, transmitting data onto said medium upon receiving, during one of said one or more medium access periods scheduled for said first wireless communication device, a medium reservation message designating said first wireless communication device.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

configuring one or more portions of said first wireless communication device to operate in a first mode of operation during medium access periods scheduled for said first wireless communication device; and

configuring said one or more portions of said first wireless communication device to operate in a power-saving mode of operation at times other than said medium access periods scheduled for said first wireless communication device.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

when said first wireless communication device has data to transmit, configuring one or more portions of said first wireless communication device to operate in a first mode of operation during medium access periods scheduled for said first wireless communication device; and

when said first wireless communication device does not have data to transmit, configuring said one or more portions of said first wireless communication device to operate in a power-saving mode of operation during said medium access periods scheduled for said first wireless communication device.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein:

a receiver of said first wireless communication device is configured into a higher-sensitivity mode of operation prior to and during said communicating with said one or more other wireless communication devices to schedule access to said medium; and

said receiver of said first wireless communication device is configured into a lower-sensitivity mode of operation subsequent to said scheduling.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

scheduling a first medium access period for said first wireless communication device during said communicating; and

scheduling a subsequent medium access period for said first wireless communication device while communicating with one of said other wireless communication devices during said first medium access period.

6 . A method comprising:

in a first wireless communication device:

communicating with one or more other wireless communication devices to schedule access to a medium shared by said first wireless communication device and said one or more other wireless communication devices;

contending for access to said medium at, or just prior to, a beginning of a medium access period scheduled for one of said other wireless communication devices; and

during said medium access period, after gaining access to said medium, transmitting a medium reservation message designating said one of said other wireless communication devices.

7 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein said medium reservation message is sent without receiving a medium reservation message from said one or more other wireless communication devices.

8 . The method according to claim 6 , comprising:

one or both of:

cancelling one or more future medium access periods scheduled for one of said other wireless communication devices, and

reducing a duration of one or more future medium access periods scheduled for said one of said other wireless communication devices,

when no communications from said one of said other wireless communication devices have been received during one or more past and/or current medium access periods scheduled for said one of said other wireless communication devices.

9 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein said one or more other communication devices comprise at least one access point.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

scheduling a first medium access period for one of said other wireless communication devices during said communicating; and

scheduling a subsequent medium access period for said one of said other wireless communication devices while communicating with said one of said other wireless communication devices during said first medium access period.

11 . A system comprising:

one or more circuits for use in a first wireless communication device, said one or more circuits being operable to:

communicate with one or more other wireless communication devices to schedule access to a medium that is shared by said first wireless communication device and said one or more other wireless communication devices;

after one or more medium access periods are scheduled for said first wireless communication device, transmit data onto said medium upon receiving, during one of said one or more medium access periods scheduled for said first wireless communication device, a medium reservation message designating said first wireless communication device.

12 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to:

configure one or more portions of said first wireless communication device to operate in a first mode of operation during medium access periods scheduled for said first wireless communication device; and

configure said one or more portions of said first wireless communication device to operate in a power-saving mode of operation at times other than said medium access periods scheduled for said first wireless communication device.

13 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to:

when said first wireless communication device has data to transmit, configure one or more portions of said first wireless communication device to operate in a first mode of operation during medium access periods scheduled for said first wireless communication device; and

when said first wireless communication device does not have data to transmit, configure said one or more portions of said first wireless communication device to operate in a power-saving mode of operation during said medium access periods scheduled for said first wireless communication device.

14 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein:

said one or more circuits comprise a receiver;

said receiver is configured into higher-sensitivity mode of operation prior to and during said communicating with said one or more other wireless communication devices to schedule access to said medium; and

said receiver is configured into a lower-sensitivity mode of operation subsequent to said scheduling.

15 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to:

schedule a first medium access period for said first wireless communication device during said communicating; and

schedule a subsequent medium access period for said first wireless communication device while communicating with one of said other wireless communication devices during said first medium access period.

16 . A system comprising:

one or more circuits for use in a first wireless communication device:

communicate with one or more other wireless communication devices to schedule access to a medium that is shared by said first wireless communication device and said one or more other wireless communication devices;

contend for access to said medium at, or just prior to, a beginning of a medium access period scheduled for one of said other wireless communication devices; and

during said medium access period, after gaining access to said medium, transmit a medium reservation message designating said one of said other wireless communication devices.

17 . The system according to claim 16 , wherein said medium reservation message is sent without receiving a medium reservation message from said one or more other wireless communication devices.

18 . The system according to claim 16 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to one or both of:

cancel of one or more future medium access periods scheduled for one of said other wireless communication devices, and

reduce of a duration of one or more future medium access periods scheduled for said one of said other wireless communication devices,

when no communications from said one of said other wireless communication devices have been received during one or more past and/or current medium access periods scheduled for said one of said other wireless communication devices.

19 . The system according to claim 16 , wherein said one or more other communication devices comprise at least one access point.

20 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to:

schedule a first medium access period for one of said other wireless communication devices during said communicating; and

schedule a subsequent medium access period for said one of said other wireless communication devices while communicating with said one of said other wireless communication devices during said first medium access period.