ADAPTABLE AWAKE WINDOW LENGTH FOR WIRELESS NETWORKS
Techniques for managing a wireless network are described. An example of an electronic device configured to managing a wireless network includes a radio transceiver to enable the electronic device to communicate wirelessly with a plurality of stations over a shared channel. The electronic device also includes one or more processors to generate data frames and control the radio transceiver to transmit the data frames to the plurality of stations. The one or more processors are configured to monitor operating conditions of the wireless network and compute an awake window duration based on the operating conditions. The awake window duration describes a period of time during which stations in a power save mode are required to monitor the shared channel for an Announcement Traffic Indication Message (ATIM). The one or more processors are also configured to control the radio transceiver to transmit the awake window duration to the stations.
1 . An electronic device for managing a wireless network comprising:
a radio transceiver to enable the electronic device to communicate wirelessly with a plurality of stations over a shared channel; and
one or more processors to generate data frames and control the radio transceiver to transmit the data frames to the plurality of stations, wherein the one or more processors is to:
monitor operating conditions of the wireless network;
compute an awake window duration based on the operating conditions, wherein the awake window duration describes a period of time during which stations in a power save mode are required to monitor the shared channel for an Announcement Traffic Indication Message (ATIM); and
control the radio transceiver to transmit the awake window duration to the stations.
2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the awake window duration is applied by the stations after a predetermined time delay.
3 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the awake window duration is applied by the stations after a time delay specified by the electronic device.
4 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the awake window duration is applied by the stations after a time delay approximately equal to a time period between beacon transmissions multiplied by a number of lost beacons that will cause a station to be disconnected from the wireless network.
5 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the awake window duration is advertised by the electronic device in a beacon frame.
6 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the operating conditions comprise a number of stations in the wireless network.
7 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the operating conditions comprise a number of ATIMs transmitted over a specified time window.
8 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the operating conditions comprise a percentage of busy time spent by the electronic device over a specified time window.
9 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the operating conditions comprise a percentage of time spent by the electronic device in Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) over a specified time window.
10 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a an access point or Personal Basic Service Set (PBSS) control point (PCP) that uses an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11ad wireless communication standard.
11 . A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, direct the processor to manage a wireless network, the instructions to direct the processor to:
monitor operating conditions of a wireless network, the wireless network comprising a plurality of stations sharing a wireless communication channel;
compute an awake window duration based on the operating conditions, wherein the awake window duration describes a period of time during which stations in a power save mode are required to monitor the wireless communication channel for an Announcement Traffic Indication Message (ATIM); and
control a radio transceiver to transmit the awake window duration to the plurality of stations.
12 . The computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the awake window duration is applied by the stations after a predetermined time delay.
13 . The computer-readable medium of claim 11 , comprising instructions to direct the processor to:
determine a start time for the awake window duration; and
control the radio transceiver to transmit the start time to the plurality of stations, wherein the awake window duration is applied by the stations after the start time.
14 . The computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the awake window duration is applied by the stations after a time delay approximately equal to a time period between beacon transmissions multiplied by a number of lost beacons that will cause a station to be disconnected from the wireless network.
15 . The computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein to transmit the awake window duration to the plurality of stations comprises to advertise the awake window duration in a beacon frame.
16 . The computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the operating conditions comprise a number of stations in the wireless network.
17 . The computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the operating conditions comprise a number of ATIMs transmitted over a specified time window.
18 . The computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the operating conditions comprise a percentage of busy time spent over a specified time window.
19 . The computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the operating conditions comprise a percentage of time spent in Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) over a specified time window.
20 . The computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the wireless network is an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11ad wireless network.
21 . A method of operating a wireless network comprising:
monitoring operating conditions of a wireless network, the wireless network comprising a plurality of stations sharing a wireless communication channel;
computing an awake window duration based on the operating conditions, wherein the awake window duration describes a period of time during which stations in a power save mode are required to monitor the wireless communication channel for an Announcement Traffic Indication Message (ATIM); and
controlling a radio transceiver to transmit the awake window duration to the plurality of stations.
22 . The method of claim 21 , comprising, if the awake window duration is different from a previously advertised awake window duration, applying the awake window duration only after a predetermined time delay.
23 . The method of claim 21 , comprising determining a start time for the awake window duration and controlling the radio transceiver to transmit the start time to the plurality of stations, wherein the awake window duration is applied by the stations after the start time.
24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the start time provides a time delay approximately equal to a time period between beacon transmissions multiplied by a number of lost beacons that will cause a station to be disconnected from the wireless network.
25 . The method of claim 21 , wherein controlling the radio transceiver to transmit the awake window duration to the plurality of stations comprises advertising the awake window duration in a beacon frame.