Power conservation through bi-directional association of multiple devices

A method, comprising:

• powering radio circuitry of a hardware device;
• during a beacon interval, transmitting data to another hardware device using the radio circuitry and an access point (AP) feature of the hardware device, but not receiving data using the AP feature except for data request signals;
• during said beacon interval, receiving data from the another hardware device using the radio circuitry and a station (STA) feature of the hardware device, but not transmitting data using the STA feature except for data request signals;
• and
• de-powering said radio circuitry during the beacon interval when not transmitting or receiving data or data request signals using the radio circuitry.

A method, comprising:

• powering radio circuitry of a first device and radio circuitry of a second device;
• transmitting a beacon signal from an access point (AP) feature of the first device to a station (STA) feature of the second device, thus initiating a beacon interval;
• if said beacon signal indicates that the first device has data to send to the second device:
• the STA feature of the second device responding to said beacon signal by transmitting a data request signal to the AP feature of the first device;
• and
• in response to said data request signal, the AP feature of the first device transmitting said data to the STA feature of the second device, the STA feature of the first device not transmitting data;
• and
• during said beacon interval, de-powering the radio circuitry of the first device.