Systems and methods for waking up wireless LAN devices

A system for waking up a computing device over a wireless network, comprising:

• a main power terminal and an auxiliary power terminal, wherein when the computing device is in the full power mode, card power is supplied by a power controller of the computing device via the main power terminal and when the computing device is in the reduced power mode, card power is supplied from the power controller of the computing device via the auxiliary power terminal;
• a receiver configured to scan one or more wireless channels for a wake-data sequence from the wireless network, wherein the receiver enters a wake-up data sequence detection mode for a predetermined time period and scans each of the one or more wireless channels, wherein the receiver is further configured to exit the wake-up data sequence detection mode if the predetermined time period expires;
• circuitry for comparing a received wake-up data sequence against a stored wake-up data sequence for that card;
• and
• circuitry for issuing a wake-up command signal to the power controller when the received wake-up data sequence matches the stored wake-up data sequence.

A method of wirelessly waking a computing device over a computer network comprising:

• broadcasting a wireless signal over the network containing a wake-up data sequence for at least one computing device authorized on the computer network, wherein broadcasting the signal comprises periodically broadcasting the signal over one or more wireless channels;
• repeating the step of broadcasting until either a predetermined time period has expired or until a confirmation signal from the computing device has been recieved;
• and
• deactivating a receiver within the computing device for another predetermined period of time.

A method of wireless waking a computing device from a sleep mode over a computer network comprising;

• supplying power to a wireless network card associated with a computing device;
• monitoring one or more wireless channels with a receiver within the wireless network card, wherein monitoring comprises first entering a wake-up data sequence detection mode for a predetermined time period in order to monitor each of the one or more wireless channels;
• parsing a wireless signal received over one of the one or more wireless channels for a wake-up data sequence;
• comparing the received wake-up data sequence with previously stored information;
• sending a signal from the wireless network card to the computing device to cause the computing device to restore full system power;
• and
• deactivating the receiver for another predetermined period of time.