Systems and methods of communication using tunneled direct link setup (TDLS)

A wireless apparatus comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory, the memory and processor being cooperatively configured to:
• buffer data for a wireless station that is in a sleep state;
• periodically transmit a message to the wireless station via an access point using an access point link;
• setup a direct link using tunneled direct link setup;
• receive a response directly from the wireless station using the direct link;
• measure link quality of the direct link based on the received response, wherein the measured link quality comprises a measured signal to noise ratio;
• transmit a wakeup message to the wireless station via the access point using the access point link, wherein the wakeup message comprises a peer traffic indication frame;
• transmit the buffered data to the wireless station over one of the access point link or the direct link based on at least the measured link quality;
• and
• subsequently switching from the direct link to the access point link or from the access point link to the direct link for transmitting the buffered data based on a subsequently measured link quality,
• wherein the direct link enters into a power save mode when the access point link is being used for transmitting the buffered data.

A wireless apparatus comprising:

• means for buffering data for a wireless station that is in a sleep state;
• means for periodically transmitting a message to the wireless station via an access point using an access point link;
• means for setting up a direct link using tunneled direct link setup;
• means for receiving a response directly from the wireless station using the direct link;
• means for measuring link quality of the direct link based on the received response,
• wherein the measured link quality comprises a measured signal to noise ratio;
• means for transmitting a wakeup message to the wireless station via the access point using the access point link, wherein the wakeup message comprises a peer traffic indication frame;
• means for transmitting the buffered data to the wireless station over one of the access point link or the direct link based on at least the measured link quality;
• and
• means for subsequently switching from the direct link to the access point link or from the access point link to the direct link for transmitting the buffered data based on a subsequently measured link quality,
• wherein the direct link enters into a power save mode when the access point link is being used for transmitting the buffered data.

A non-transitory, computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that when executed by a processor cause an apparatus to:

• buffer data for a wireless station that is in a sleep state;
• periodically transmit a message to the wireless station via an access point using an access point link;
• setup a direct link using tunneled direct link setup;
• receive a response directly from the wireless station using the direct link;
• measure link quality of the direct link based on the received response, wherein the measured link quality comprises a measured signal to noise ratio;
• transmit a wakeup message to the wireless station via the access point using the access point link, wherein the wakeup message comprises a peer traffic indication frame;
• transmit the buffered data to the wireless station over one of the access point link or the direct link based on at least the measured link quality;
• and
• subsequently switch from the direct link to the access point link or from the access point link to the direct link for transmitting the buffered data based on a subsequently measured link quality,
• wherein the direct link enters into a power save mode when the access point link is being used for transmitting the buffered data.