Energy efficient maximization of network connectivity

A computer-readable storage device storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform acts comprising:

• establishing a communication connection between an electronic device and a wireless access point;
• calculating an adaptive sleep interval for a network interface controller of the electronic device based at least on robustness of the communication connection, the network interface controller comprising a network interface controller processor;
• receiving a command to place the electronic device into a standby state;
• when usage context data of the electronic device indicates the electronic device is to be powered on within a predetermined time period, switching the network interface controller from a power saving state that lasts the adaptive sleep interval to a power on state to listen for beacons after the command is received instead of cycling the network interface controller between the power on state and a power off state;
• and
• powering on a main processor of the electronic device, separate from the network interface controller processor, at least partly in response to the network interface controller detecting a beacon from the wireless access point during the power on state that indicates the wireless access point has a buffered data frame for the electronic device.

A computer-readable storage device storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform acts comprising:

• obtaining, by an electronic device, at least one IP address from a wireless access point;
• while a main processor of the electronic device is powered off, cycling a network interface controller of the electronic device between a power on state and a power off state without releasing the at least one IP address, the network interface controller of the electronic device comprising a network interface controller processor separate from the main processor;
• and
• powering on the main processor of the electronic device to process a buffered data frame at least partly in response to the network interface controller processor detecting a beacon from the wireless access point during the power on state that indicates the wireless access point has the buffered data frame for the electronic device,
• wherein the electronic device includes a network stack, and
• wherein the cycling without releasing the at least one IP address includes blocking a media disconnect message sent from a physical layer of the network stack, the blocking of the media disconnect message preventing the media disconnect message from reaching at least one of a link layer or a higher layer of the network stack.