Detecting an access point in a wireless local area network failing to adhere to proper power management protocol

A method of detecting an access point in a wireless local area network failing to adhere to proper power management protocol, the method comprising:

• a) receiving a data frame sent by the access point in the wireless local area network;
• b) determining a destination station of the received data frame;
• c) determining if the destination station is in a power save mode;
• d) determining if the access point that sent the data frame has sent a beacon frame with a traffic information map (TIM) set to zero;
• e) when the destination station is in the power save mode and if the access point that sent the data frame has sent the beacon frame with the TIM set to zero, incrementing a counter for the access point that sent the data frame;
• t) determining if the counter for the access point that sent the data frame has reached a threshold;
• and
• g) when the counter for the access point that sent the data frame has reached the threshold, determining that the access point that sent the data frame fails to operate according to the power management protocol.

An apparatus for detecting an access point in a wireless local area network failing to adhere to proper power management protocol, the apparatus comprising:

• an antenna configured to received frames sent in the wireless local area network;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• a) analyze a beacon frame sent by the access point to determine if a traffic information map (TIM) in the beacon frame is zero;
• b) analyze a frame sent by a station to determine if the station is in a power save mode;
• c) analyze a data frame sent by the access point to determine if the data frame is destined for the station;
• and
• d) determine that the access point fails to operate according to the power management protocol based on determining that the access point fails to send the TIM in the beacon frame that is non-zero and based on b), and c).

A computer-readable storage medium storing computer executable code to detect an access point in a wireless local area network failing to adhere to proper power management protocol, the computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for:

• a) analyzing a beacon frame sent by the access point to determine if a traffic information map (TIM) in the beacon frame is zero;
• b) analyzing a frame sent by a station to determine if the station is in a power save mode;
• c) analyzing a data frame sent by the access point to determine if the data frame is destined for the station;
• and
• d) determining that the access point fails to operate according to the power management protocol based on determining that the access point fails to send the TIM in the beacon frame that is non-zero, and based on b), and c).