Scheduled absence on a wireless local area network
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsPierre B. Vandwalle, Robert J. Stacey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for scheduling absence periods on a WLAN is provided. The method can include a WLAN station joining a WLAN served by a WLAN access point using an operating channel; formatting a message defining an absence schedule of absence periods during which the WLAN station will be off of the operating channel and unavailable to receive traffic on the operating channel; sending the message to the WLAN access point to register the absence schedule with the WLAN access point; and leaving and returning to the operating channel in accordance with the absence schedule after the absence schedule has been registered with the WLAN access point.
Claims23
A method for scheduling absence periods on a wireless local area network (WLAN), the method comprising a WLAN station:
- joining a WLAN served by a WLAN access point using an operating channel;
- formatting a message defining an absence schedule of absence periods during which the WLAN station will be off of the operating channel and unavailable to receive traffic on the operating channel;
- sending the message to the WLAN access point to register the absence schedule with the WLAN access point;
- and
- leaving and returning to the operating channel in accordance with the absence schedule after the absence schedule has been registered with the WLAN access point.
An apparatus comprising:
- a communication interface configured to enable the apparatus to send data to and receive data from a wireless local area network (WLAN);
- and
- processing circuitry coupled to the communication interface, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control the apparatus to at least:
- join a WLAN served by a WLAN access point using an operating channel;
- format a message defining an absence schedule of absence periods during which the apparatus will be off of the operating channel and unavailable to receive traffic on the operating channel;
- send the message to the WLAN access point to register the absence schedule with the WLAN access point;
- and
- leave and return to the operating channel in accordance with the absence schedule after the absence schedule has been registered with the WLAN access point.
A method for scheduling absence periods on a wireless local area network (WLAN), the method comprising a WLAN access point:
- receiving a message from a WLAN station defining an absence schedule of absence periods during which the WLAN station will be off of an operating channel used by the WLAN access point and unavailable to receive traffic on the operating channel;
- buffering traffic to be sent to the WLAN station during an absence period defined by the absence schedule;
- and
- sending buffered traffic to the WLAN station after conclusion of the absence period.
An apparatus comprising:
- a communication interface configured to enable the apparatus to send data to and receive data from a wireless local area network (WLAN);
- and
- processing circuitry coupled to the communication interface, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control the apparatus to at least:
- use an operating channel to serve as a WLAN access point for the WLAN;
- receive a message from a WLAN station defining an absence schedule of absence periods during which the WLAN station will be off of the operating channel and unavailable to receive traffic on the operating channel;
- buffer traffic to be sent to the WLAN station during an absence period defined by the absence schedule;
- and
- send buffered traffic to the WLAN station after conclusion of the absence period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.