Embedding a wakeup signal in an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (ofdm) data packet

An apparatus comprising:

• a transmitter configured to operate in accordance with an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) wireless communication protocol;
• a memory configured to store configuration data;
• and
• a processing device coupled to the memory, the processing device configured to:
• receive data to be wirelessly transmitted to a wireless client;
• identify, in the configuration data, one or more wakeup signal parameters associated with the wireless client, wherein the one or more wakeup signal parameters comprise a selected sub-carrier;
• and
• during transmission of a data packet, control the wireless transmitter to over-ride the selected sub-carrier of the data packet with a wakeup signal to cause the wireless client to wake from a power saving mode.

A method comprising:

• entering a wireless module of a wireless client into a power saving mode;
• monitoring, by a wakeup radio, radio frequency (RF) signals over a range of RF frequencies corresponding with a designated sub-carrier of an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) wireless communication protocol;
• detecting, by a processing device of the wakeup radio, a wakeup signal specified for the wireless client to cause the wireless module to wake from the power saving mode;
• and
• in response to detecting the wakeup signal, sending an activation signal to the wireless module to cause the wireless module to transition from the power saving mode to an active mode.