Reducing idle power consumption in a networked battery operated device

A method for reducing the power consumption of a wireless computing device capable of accessing a network, the method comprising:

• receiving a message transmitted by a remote computing device that is communicably linked to the network, the message indicating a request by the remote computing device to communicate with the wireless computing device.
• generating a wake up signal;
• and
• transmitting the wake up signal over a low power control channel from a host transceiver component to a low power transceiver component residing on the wireless computing device, the wake up signal indicating that the wireless computing device is to be activated from a low power state of operation.

A method for enabling a first wireless computing device operating a first low power transceiver to connect to a network when it is not within direct range of a host transceiver that is connected to the network, the method comprising:

• establishing a connection over a first low power channel between the host transceiver and a second wireless computing device via a second low power transceiver, the second wireless computing device being within direct range of the host transceiver;
• transmitting a signal by the first low power transceiver to the second low power transceiver over a second low power channel, the signal indicating that the first wireless computing device requests connection to the network;
• acknowledging the signal by the second low power transceiver over the second low power channel;
• transmitting a message by the second low power transceiver to the host transceiver and hence to the network, the message indicating a request by the first low power transceiver to register with a server for maintaining the network in order to connect to the network;
• and
• establishing a registration entry by the server for the first low power transceiver.

A method for enabling a first wireless computing device operating a first low power transceiver to communicably link to a network when it is not within direct low power radio range of a low power host transceiver that is communicably linked to the network, the method comprising:

• establishing a direct communication link via a first low power channel between the first low power transceiver and a second low power transceiver operating upon a second wireless computing device, the second low power transceiver being directly communicably linked with the host transceiver via a second low power channel;
• transmitting a message to the second low power transceiver via the first low power channel, the message indicating that the first wireless computing device requests connection to the network;
• and
• transmitting a message to the host transceiver via the second low power channel, the message indicating presence information for the first low power transceiver to enable registration of the first wireless computing device with a server communicably linked to the network.

A wireless network system for activating a high power communication channel operable by a wireless computing device from a low power state of operation, the system comprising:

• an access point, wherein the access point is an interface to a network;
• a host computer interfaced with the network through the access point, wherein the host computer is logically connected to a host transceiver communicably linkable to a plurality of wireless computing devices over a low power radio channel, the host transceiver being used to transmit wake up signals over the low power radio channel to the plurality of wireless computing devices;
• and
• at least one wireless computing device comprising a high power radio that communicates over the high power radio channel, and a low power radio that communicates control information to the access point via the low power radio channel.

A method for enabling a target wireless computing device operating a target low power transceiver to communicably link to a network when it is not within direct low power radio range of a low power host transceiver that is communicably linked to the network, the method comprising:

• establishing a direct communication link via a first low power channel between the target low power transceiver and a first intervening low power transceiver operating upon a first of one or more intervening wireless computing devices, at least one of which is communicably linked with the host transceiver via a second low power channel, and each of which is communicably linked to another of the wireless computing devices via a low power channel if the one or more intervening wireless computing devices comprises a plurality of intervening wireless computing devices;
• transmitting a message to the first intervening low power transceiver via the target low power channel, the message indicating that the target wireless computing device requests connection to the network;
• and
• transmitting a message to the host transceiver via the second low power channel from the at least one intervening wireless computing device that is communicably linked with the host transceiver, the message indicating presence information for the target low power transceiver to enable registration of the target wireless computing device with a server communicably linked to the network.