Reducing handoff latency in a wireless local area network through an activation alert that affects a power state of a receiving mesh access point

A method for reducing handoff latency in a mesh wireless local area network, the method comprising:

• in anticipation of a probable handoff by a mobile station currently associated with a particular mesh access point in said network, sending an activation alert from said particular mesh access point to one or more other mesh access points in said network;
• if a receiving mesh access point of said one or more other mesh access points is in a low-power state upon receipt of said activation alert, entering a higher-power state in said receiving mesh access point upon receipt of said activation alert;
• and
• if said receiving mesh access point is not in said low-power state upon receipt of said activation alert, refraining from entering said low-power state in said receiving mesh access point upon receipt of said activation alert.

A first wireless mesh access point comprising:

• a communication interface through which said first wireless mesh access point is able to receive, via a mesh wireless local area network, an activation alert originating from a second mesh access point in said network in anticipation of a probable handoff by a mobile station associated with the second mesh access point;
• and
• a processor coupled to said communication interface, said processor operative to:
• place said first wireless mesh access point in a higher-power state if said first wireless mesh access point is in a low-power state upon receipt of said activation alert;
• and
• refrain from placing said first wireless mesh access point in said low-power state if said first wireless mesh access point is not in said low-power state upon receipt of said activation alert.

A first wireless mesh access point comprising:

• a wireless communication interface through which the first wireless mesh access point can communicate with mobile stations;
• and
• a processor coupled to said wireless communication interface, the processor operative to:
• anticipate a probable handoff by a mobile station associated with said first wireless mesh access point;
• and
• send, in anticipation of said probable handoff, an activation alert to one or more other mesh access points in a mesh wireless local area network to which the first wireless mesh access point belongs,
• wherein said activation alert, if received by a receiving mesh access point of said one or more other mesh access points in a low-power state upon receipt of said activation alert, results in said receiving mesh access point entering a higher-power state, and if received by said receiving mesh access point not in said low-power state upon receipt of said activation alert, results in said receiving mesh access point refraining from entering said low-power state.