Granted Patent B2

US 8,804,589 · App. 13/273,921 · Granted Aug 12, 2014

Abstract

Claims (73)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving first information in an apparatus configured to communicate on a wireless channel, the first information pertaining to wireless traffic expected from networks, other than a network in which the apparatus is participating, that are also utilizing the wireless channel;

determining whether the first information satisfies a first criterion in the apparatus;

if the first information is determined to satisfy the first criterion in the apparatus, shortening an awake window duration for communicating on the wireless channel;

if the first information is determined not to satisfy the first criterion in the apparatus, determining whether second information satisfies a second criterion in the apparatus, the second information pertaining to wireless traffic on the wireless channel that is expected from the network in which the apparatus is participating; and

if the second information is determined to satisfy the second criterion in the apparatus, lengthening the awake window duration for communicating on the wireless channel,

wherein the first criterion is a dominance threshold value for the other networks also utilizing the wireless channel; and the second criterion is a dominance threshold value for the network in which the apparatus is participating;

wherein determining whether the first information satisfies the first criterion in the apparatus comprises determining whether the wireless traffic expected from the other networks also utilizing the wireless channel exceeds the dominance threshold value for the other networks also utilizing the wireless channel; and

wherein determining whether the second information satisfies the second criterion in the apparatus comprises determining whether the wireless traffic expected from the network in which the apparatus is participating exceeds the dominance threshold value for the network in which the apparatus is participating.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the awake window corresponds to a period of time during which the apparatus is allowed to transmit and receive on the wireless channel.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, if the second information is determined not to satisfy the second criterion in the apparatus, maintaining the awake window duration for communicating on the wireless channel.

4. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:

code configured to cause an apparatus configured to communicate on a wireless channel to receive first information pertaining to wireless traffic expected from networks, other than a network in which the apparatus is participating, that are also utilizing the wireless channel;

code configured to cause the apparatus to determine whether the first information satisfies a first criterion;

code configured to cause the apparatus to, if the first information is determined to satisfy the first criterion in the apparatus, shorten an awake window duration for communicating on the wireless channel;

code configured to cause the apparatus to, if the first information is determined not to satisfy the first criterion, determine whether second information satisfies a second criterion in the apparatus, the second information pertaining to wireless traffic on the wireless channel that is expected from the network in which the apparatus is participating; and

code configured to cause the apparatus to, if the second information is determined to satisfy the second criterion, lengthen the awake window duration for communicating on the wireless channel,

wherein the first criterion is a dominance threshold value for the other networks also utilizing the wireless channel; and the second criterion is a dominance threshold value for the network in which the apparatus is participating;

wherein the code configured to cause the apparatus to determine whether the first information satisfies the first criterion comprises code configured to cause the apparatus to determine whether the wireless traffic expected from the other networks also utilizing the wireless channel exceeds the dominance threshold value for the other networks also utilizing the wireless channel; and

wherein the code configured to cause the apparatus to determine whether the second information satisfies the second criterion comprises code configured to cause the apparatus to determine whether the wireless traffic expected from the network in which the apparatus is participating exceeds the dominance threshold value for the network in which the apparatus is participating.

5. The computer program product of claim 4 , wherein the awake window corresponds to a period of time during which the apparatus is allowed to transmit and receive on the wireless channel.

6. The computer program product of claim 4 , further comprising code configured to cause the apparatus to, if the second information is determined not to satisfy the second criterion, maintain the awake window duration for communicating on the wireless channel.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including executable instructions, the at least one memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

receive first information pertaining to wireless traffic expected from networks, other than a network in which the apparatus is participating, that are utilizing a wireless channel on which the apparatus is configured to communicate;

determine whether the first information satisfies a first criterion;

if the first information is determined to satisfy the first criterion, shorten an awake window duration for communicating on the wireless channel;

if the first information is determined not to satisfy the first criterion, determine whether second information satisfies a second criterion, the second information pertaining to wireless traffic on the wireless channel that is expected from the network in which the apparatus is participating; and

if the second information is determined to satisfy the second criterion, lengthen the awake window duration for communicating on the wireless channel,

wherein the first criterion is a dominance threshold value for the other networks also utilizing the wireless channel; and the second criterion is a dominance threshold value for the network in which the apparatus is participating;

wherein the at least one memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to determine whether the first information satisfies the first criterion comprises the at least one memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to determine whether the wireless traffic expected from the other networks also utilizing the wireless channel exceeds the dominance threshold value for the other networks also utilizing the wireless channel; and

wherein the at least one memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to determine whether the second information satisfies the second criterion comprises the at least one memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to determine whether the wireless traffic expected from the network in which the apparatus is participating exceeds the dominance threshold value for the network in which the apparatus is participating.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the awake window corresponds to a period of time during which the apparatus is allowed to transmit and receive on the wireless channel.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising the at least one memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to, if the second information is determined not to satisfy the second criterion in the apparatus, maintain the awake window duration for communicating on the wireless channel.

10. A system, comprising:

an apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including executable instructions, the at least one memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to communicate on a wireless channel; and

networks other than a network in which the apparatus is participating;

the apparatus being configured to receive first information pertaining to wireless traffic expected from the other networks also utilizing the wireless channel;

the apparatus further being configured to determine whether the first information satisfies a first criterion, and if the information is determined to satisfy the first criterion, to shorten an awake window duration for communicating on the wireless channel; and

the apparatus further being configured to, if the first information is determined not to satisfy the first criterion, determine whether second information satisfies a second criterion, the second information pertaining to wireless traffic on the wireless channel that is expected from the network in which the apparatus is participating; and if the second information is determined to satisfy the second criterion, to lengthen the awake window duration for communicating on the wireless channel,

wherein the first criterion is a dominance threshold value for the other networks also utilizing the wireless channel; and the second criterion is a dominance threshold value for the network in which the apparatus is participating;

wherein the apparatus further being configured to determine whether the first information satisfies the first criterion, comprises the apparatus being configured to determine whether the wireless traffic expected from the other networks also utilizing the wireless channel exceeds the dominance threshold value for the other networks also utilizing the wireless channel; and

wherein the apparatus further being configured to determine whether the second information satisfies the second criterion, comprises the apparatus being configured to determine whether the wireless traffic expected from the network in which the apparatus is participating exceeds the dominance threshold value for the network in which the apparatus is participating.

11. A method, comprising:

receiving first information in an apparatus configured to communicate on a wireless channel, the first information pertaining to wireless traffic expected from networks, other than a network in which the apparatus is participating, that are also utilizing the wireless channel;

determining whether the first information satisfies a first criterion in the apparatus;

if the first information is determined to satisfy the first criterion in the apparatus, shortening an awake window duration for communicating on the wireless channel;

if the first information is determined not to satisfy the first criterion in the apparatus, determining whether second information satisfies a second criterion in the apparatus, the second information pertaining to wireless traffic on the wireless channel that is expected from the network in which the apparatus is participating; and

if the second information is determined to satisfy the second criterion in the apparatus, lengthening the awake window duration for communicating on the wireless channel,

wherein the first criterion is a previous occurrence of the first information; and the second criterion is a previous occurrence for the second information;

wherein determining whether the first information satisfies the first criterion in the apparatus comprises determining whether the wireless traffic expected from the other networks also utilizing the wireless channel exceeds a previous occurrence of wireless traffic expected from the other networks also utilizing the wireless channel; and

wherein determining whether the second information satisfies the second criterion in the apparatus comprises determining whether the wireless traffic expected from the network in which the apparatus is participating exceeds a previous occurrence of wireless traffic expected from the network in which the apparatus is participating.

12. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:

code configured to cause an apparatus configured to communicate on a wireless channel to receive first information pertaining to wireless traffic expected from networks, other than a network in which the apparatus is participating, that are also utilizing the wireless channel;

code configured to cause the apparatus to determine whether the first information satisfies a first criterion;

code configured to cause the apparatus to, if the first information is determined to satisfy the first criterion in the apparatus, shorten an awake window duration for communicating on the wireless channel;

code configured to cause the apparatus to, if the first information is determined not to satisfy the first criterion, determine whether second information satisfies a second criterion in the apparatus, the second information pertaining to wireless traffic on the wireless channel that is expected from the network in which the apparatus is participating; and

code configured to cause the apparatus to, if the second information is determined to satisfy the second criterion, lengthen the awake window duration for communicating on the wireless channel,

wherein the first criterion is a previous occurrence of the first information; and the second criterion is a previous occurrence for the second information;

wherein the code configured to cause the apparatus to determine whether the first information satisfies the first criterion comprises code configured to cause the apparatus to determine whether the wireless traffic expected from the other networks also utilizing the wireless channel exceeds a previous occurrence of wireless traffic expected from the other networks also utilizing the wireless channel; and

wherein the code configured to cause the apparatus to determine whether the second information satisfies the second criterion comprises code configured to cause the apparatus to determine whether the wireless traffic expected from the network in which the apparatus is participating exceeds a previous occurrence of wireless traffic expected from the network in which the apparatus is participating.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including executable instructions, the at least one memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

receive first information pertaining to wireless traffic expected from networks, other than a network in which the apparatus is participating, that are utilizing a wireless channel on which the apparatus is configured to communicate;

determine whether the first information satisfies a first criterion;

if the first information is determined to satisfy the first criterion, shorten an awake window duration for communicating on the wireless channel;

if the first information is determined not to satisfy the first criterion, determine whether second information satisfies a second criterion, the second information pertaining to wireless traffic on the wireless channel that is expected from the network in which the apparatus is participating; and

if the second information is determined to satisfy the second criterion, lengthen the awake window duration for communicating on the wireless channel,

wherein the first criterion is a previous occurrence of the first information; and the second criterion is a previous occurrence for the second information;

wherein the at least one memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to determine whether the first information satisfies the first criterion comprises the at least one memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to determine whether the wireless traffic expected from the other networks also utilizing the wireless channel exceeds a previous occurrence of wireless traffic expected from the other networks also utilizing the wireless channel; and

wherein the at least one memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to determine whether the second information satisfies the second criterion comprises the at least one memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to determine whether the wireless traffic expected from the network in which the apparatus is participating exceeds a previous occurrence of wireless traffic expected from the network in which the apparatus is participating.

Assignments (9)