WLAN system with opportunistic transitioning to a low power state for power management

A non-transitory computer accessible memory medium comprising program instructions which, when executed at a mobile device, cause the mobile device to:

• receive a first beacon frame comprising first schedule information for a first multicast group, the first multicast group comprising the mobile device, wherein the first schedule information indicates a predicted start time for transmission of one or more data frames addressed to the first multicast group;
• enter a Doze state a first time based at least in part on the first schedule information;
• and
• exit the Doze state not later than the predicted start time for transmission of one or more data frames addressed to the first multicast group;
• detect, after the exiting the Doze state, a frame addressed to a second multicast group, different than the first multicast group;
• enter the Doze state a second time at least partly in response to the detecting the frame addressed to the second multicast group;
• and
• exit the Doze state in time to receive a second beacon frame;
• receive the second beacon frame, the second beacon frame comprising second schedule information for the first multicast group, the second schedule information comprising a new predicted start time for transmission of the one or more data frames addressed to the first multicast group.

A mobile device, comprising:

• at least one antenna configured to conduct communications on a wireless communication channel;
• and
• wireless communication circuitry operably coupled to the at least one antenna, the wireless communication circuitry configured to:
• receive a first beacon frame comprising first schedule information for a first multicast group, the first multicast group comprising the mobile device, wherein the first schedule information indicates a predicted start time for transmission of one or more data frames addressed to the first multicast group;
• enter a Doze state a first time based at least in part on the first schedule information;
• and
• exit the Doze state not later than the predicted start time for transmission of one or more data frames addressed to the first multicast group;
• detect, after the exiting the Doze state, a frame addressed to a second multicast group, different than the first multicast group;
• enter the Doze state a second time at least partly in response to the detecting the frame addressed to the second multicast group;
• and
• exit the Doze state in time to receive a second beacon frame;
• receive the second beacon frame, the second beacon frame comprising second schedule information for the first multicast group, the second schedule information comprising a new predicted start time for transmission of the one or more data frames addressed to the first multicast group.