CN116636260B

CN116636260B - Methods and apparatus for adjustable leakage protection for power saving during wireless communication

Info

Publication number: CN116636260B
Application number: CN202180084904.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: S·霍姆乔德忽里; S·赛德; S·库帕; G·R·弗雷德里克斯; L·陈; D·S·纳加瓦德; V·坦德里
Original assignee: Qualcomm Inc
Current assignee: Qualcomm Inc
Priority date: 2020-12-22
Filing date: 2021-11-15
Publication date: 2024-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 2041-11-15
Also published as: CN116636260A; CN118317408A

Abstract

The present disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for adjusting a time period for delaying entry into a power save mode (leakage protection) of wireless communication. In one aspect, a wireless communication device may adjust a time period for delaying entry into a power save mode. The time period is associated with the wireless communication device remaining awake to prevent an access point from transmitting to the wireless communication device while the wireless communication device is in the power save mode. The wireless communication device may also provide an indication to the AP that the wireless communication device is entering a power save mode, and the wireless communication device may enter the power save mode. Entering the power saving mode is at least an adjusted period of time after providing the indication to the AP.

Description

Methods and apparatus for adjustable leakage protection for power saving during wireless communication

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This patent application claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/407,029, entitled "ADJUSTABLE LEAK GUARD FOR POWER SAVE DURING WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS (Adjustable leakage protection for Power saving during Wireless communication)" filed on day 19 of 2021, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.63/128,972, entitled "ADJUSTABLE LEAK GUARD FOR POWER SAVE DURING WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS (Adjustable leakage protection for Power saving during Wireless communication)" filed on day 22 of 2020, both of which are assigned to the assignee of the present application. The disclosures of all of the prior applications are considered to be part of this patent application and are incorporated by reference into this patent application.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communications, and more particularly to adjustable leakage protection for power saving during wireless communications.

Description of related Art

A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) may be formed by one or several Access Points (APs) that provide a shared wireless medium for use by several client devices or Stations (STAs). Each AP, which may correspond to a Basic Service Set (BSS), may periodically broadcast a beacon frame to enable any STA within wireless range of the AP to establish and maintain a communication link with the WLAN. WLANs operating in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 family of standards are commonly referred to as Wi-Fi networks. Because multiple devices share a wireless medium, a wireless communication device is not always the source or destination of wireless communication over the wireless medium.

One or more portions of the wireless communication device may enter a power save mode to save power when the wireless communication device is not listening or transmitting on the wireless medium. When an AP may attempt to transmit a packet or frame to a wireless communication device, the wireless communication device may delay entering a power save mode to prevent the wireless communication device from being in the power save mode. Increasing the amount of time that the wireless communication device is not in the power saving mode increases the power consumption of the wireless communication device.

SUMMARY

The systems, methods, and apparatus of the present disclosure each have several inventive aspects, no single one of which is solely responsible for the desirable attributes disclosed herein.

One innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in a wireless communication device. An example wireless communication device includes a processing system and an interface. The processing system may be configured to adjust a time period associated with delaying entry into a power save mode, wherein the time period is associated with a wireless communication device remaining awake to prevent an Access Point (AP) from transmitting to the wireless communication device while the wireless communication device is in the power save mode. The interface may be configured to provide an indication to the AP that the wireless communication device is entering a power save mode. The processing system may be further configured to cause the wireless communication device to enter a power saving mode upon expiration of at least the adjusted time period after providing the indication to the AP. In some implementations, entering the power saving mode may be associated with receiving an acknowledgement from the AP to obtain the indication. In some examples, the indication may include a notification frame signaling an intent of the wireless communication device to enter a power save mode. In some other examples, the adjusted time period may be associated with a link quality between the wireless communication device and the AP.

In some implementations, the processing system may be configured to wake up the wireless communication device from a power saving mode. The interface may be configured to obtain one or more physical layer protocol data units (PPDUs) from the AP after waking up from the power save mode. One or more PPDUs may indicate whether the AP is attempting to transmit to the wireless communication device while the wireless communication device is in the power save mode. In some examples, the interface may be further configured to provide a frame to the AP before entering the power save mode in which the power management field is set to 1, and to provide a frame to the AP after waking from the power save mode in which the power management field is set to 0. In some implementations, an indication of whether the AP is attempting to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode may be included in a retry field in a header of at least one of the one or more PPDUs obtained from the AP, the retry field indicating that one or more Media Access Control (MAC) protocol data units (MPDUs) are being retransmitted by the AP.

In some implementations, the processing system may be further configured to: the maximum sequence number of MPDUs carried in the last PPDU obtained from the AP before entering the power save mode is obtained from a reorder buffer of the wireless communication device. The processing system may be further configured to obtain, from a receive (Rx) Protocol Control Unit (PCU) of the wireless communication device, a minimum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a first PPDU obtained from the AP after waking up from the power save mode, wherein a difference between the adjusted time delay and the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number indicates that MPDUs carried in the last PPDU and MPDUs carried in the first PPDU are not associated with consecutively obtained or received MPDUs. In some implementations, the processing system may be further configured to obtain, from the Rx PCU, a first sequence number of MPDUs carried in a second PPDU obtained by the interface after obtaining the first PPDU, wherein the adjusted time delay is associated with the first sequence number between the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number.

In some other implementations, the interface may be further configured to obtain a third PPDU from the AP after obtaining the first PPDU. In some examples, the third PPDU is obtained after an end of a Block Acknowledgement (BA) window associated with the first PPDU, the second PPDU is obtained before the end of the BA window, and the adjusted time delay is not associated with a sequence number of MPDUs in the third PPDU between the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number.

In some implementations, the processing system may be further configured to cause the wireless communication device to enter the power save mode and wake the wireless communication device from the power save mode a plurality of times. Each time the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode, the processing system may be configured to obtain, from the reorder buffer, a maximum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a last PPDU obtained by the interface before the wireless communication device entered the power save mode, and to obtain, from the Rx PCU, a minimum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a first PPDU obtained by the interface after the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode. In some examples, for a threshold number of consecutive times the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode, the adjusted time delay may be associated with MPDUs that the difference between the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number indicates that MPDUs carried in the last PPDU and MPDUs carried in the first PPDU are not consecutively acquired or received.

In some implementations, the processing system may be further configured to prevent the wireless communication device from entering the power save mode until a reorder buffer configured to obtain PPDUs from the AP is empty. The processing system may also be configured to periodically evaluate whether the AP attempts to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode. In some other implementations, the processing system may be further configured to obtain a header of a packet transmitted over the wireless communication medium and, after processing the header, cause the wireless communication device to enter the power save mode. In some examples, the receiver address in the header does not match the address of the wireless communication device, and the length of time of the power save mode is associated with an amount of time the wireless communication medium is occupied during transmission of the packet. In some implementations, the processing system may be further configured to wake the wireless communication device from the power save mode after the length of time, wherein adjusting the period of time includes disabling or enabling entry into the power save mode by the wireless communication device.

Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented as a wireless communication method. The method may be performed by an apparatus of a wireless communication device and may include adjusting a time period associated with delaying entry into a power save mode, wherein the time period is associated with the wireless communication device remaining awake to prevent an AP from transmitting to the wireless communication device while the wireless communication device is in the power save mode. The method may also include providing an indication to the AP that the wireless communication device is entering the power save mode. The method may also include causing the wireless communication device to enter the power save mode upon expiration of at least the adjusted time period after providing the indication to the AP. In some implementations, entering the power saving mode may be associated with receiving an acknowledgement from the AP to obtain the indication. In some examples, the indication may include a notification frame that signals the intent of the wireless communication device to enter the power save mode. In some other examples, the adjusted time period may be associated with a link quality between the wireless communication device and the AP.

In some implementations, the method can include waking up the wireless communication device from the power save mode. The method may also include obtaining one or more PPDUs from the AP after waking from the power save mode. The one or more PPDUs may indicate whether the AP is attempting to transmit to the wireless communication device while the wireless communication device is in the power save mode. In some examples, the method may further include providing a frame to the AP in which the power management field is set to 1 before entering the power save mode, and providing a frame to the AP in which the power management field is set to 0 after waking from the power save mode. In some implementations, the indication of whether the AP attempted to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode may be included in a retry field in a header of at least one PPDU of the one or more PPDUs obtained from the AP, the retry field indicating that one or more MAC MPDUs are being retransmitted by the AP.

In some implementations, the method may include obtaining, from a reorder buffer of the wireless communication device, a maximum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a last PPDU obtained from the AP prior to entering the power save mode. The method may also include obtaining, from an Rx PCU of the wireless communication device, a minimum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a first PPDU obtained from the AP after waking up from the power save mode, wherein a difference between the adjusted time delay and the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number indicates that MPDUs carried in the last PPDU and MPDUs carried in the first PPDU are not consecutively obtained or received. In some examples, the method may further include obtaining, from the Rx PCU, a first sequence number of MPDUs carried in a second PPDU obtained by the interface after obtaining the first PPDU, wherein the adjusted time delay is associated with the first sequence number between the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number.

In some other implementations, the method may further include obtaining a third PPDU from the AP after obtaining the first PPDU. In some examples, the third PPDU is obtained after an end of a Block Acknowledgement (BA) window associated with the first PPDU, the second PPDU is obtained before the end of the BA window, and the adjusted time delay is not associated with a sequence number of MPDUs in the third PPDU between the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number.

In some implementations, the method can further include causing the wireless communication device to enter the power save mode and waking up the wireless communication device from the power save mode a plurality of times. Each time the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode, the wireless communication device may obtain from the reorder buffer a maximum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a last PPDU obtained by the interface before the wireless communication device enters the power save mode, and may obtain from the Rx PCU a minimum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a first PPDU obtained by the interface after the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode. In some examples, for a threshold number of consecutive times the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode, the adjusted time delay may be associated with MPDUs that the difference between the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number indicates that MPDUs carried in the last PPDU and MPDUs carried in the first PPDU are not consecutively acquired or received.

In some implementations, the method may further include preventing the wireless communication device from entering the power save mode until a reorder buffer configured to obtain PPDUs from the AP is empty. The method may also include periodically evaluating whether the AP attempts to transmit to the wireless communication device while the wireless communication device is in the power save mode. In some other implementations, the method can further include obtaining a header of a packet transmitted over the wireless communication medium, and after processing the header, causing the wireless communication device to enter the power save mode. In some examples, the receiver address in the header does not match the address of the wireless communication device, and the length of time of the power save mode is associated with an amount of time the wireless communication medium is occupied during transmission of the packet. In some implementations, the method can further include waking up the wireless communication device from the power save mode after the length of time, wherein adjusting the period of time includes disabling or enabling entry into the power save mode by the wireless communication device.

Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented as a wireless communication device. In some implementations, the wireless communication device may include means for adjusting a time period associated with delaying entry into a power save mode, wherein the time period is associated with the wireless communication device remaining awake to prevent an AP from transmitting to the wireless communication device while the wireless communication device is in the power save mode. The wireless communication device may include means for providing an indication to the AP that the wireless communication device is entering the power save mode. The wireless communications apparatus can include means for causing the wireless communications apparatus to enter the power save mode upon expiration of at least the adjusted time period after providing the indication to the AP. In some implementations, entering the power saving mode may be associated with receiving an acknowledgment from the AP to obtain the indication. In some examples, the indication may include a notification frame signaling an intent of the wireless communication device to enter the power save mode. In some other examples, the adjusted time period may be associated with a link quality between the wireless communication device and the AP.

In some implementations, the wireless communication device may include means for waking up the wireless communication device from the power save mode. The wireless communications apparatus can further include means for obtaining one or more PPDUs from the AP after waking from the power save mode. The one or more PPDUs may indicate whether the AP is attempting to transmit to the wireless communication device while the wireless communication device is in the power save mode. In some examples, the wireless communication device may include means for providing a frame to the AP with a power management field set to 1 prior to entering the power save mode, and means for providing a frame to the AP with a power management field set to 0 after waking from the power save mode. In some implementations, the indication of whether the AP attempted to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode may be included in a retry field in a header of at least one PPDU of the one or more PPDUs obtained from the AP, the retry field indicating that one or more MAC MPDUs are being retransmitted by the AP.

In some implementations, the wireless communication device may include means for obtaining, from a reorder buffer of the wireless communication device, a maximum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a last PPDU obtained from the AP prior to entering the power save mode. The wireless communication device may include means for obtaining, from an Rx PCU of the wireless communication device, a minimum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a first PPDU obtained from the AP after waking up from the power save mode, wherein a difference between the adjusted time delay and the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number indicates that MPDUs carried in the last PPDU and MPDUs carried in the first PPDU are not associated with consecutively obtained or received MPDUs. In some examples, the wireless communications apparatus can further include means for obtaining, from the Rx PCU, a first sequence number of MPDUs carried in a second PPDU obtained by the interface after obtaining the first PPDU, wherein the adjusted time delay is associated with the first sequence number between the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number.

In some other implementations, the wireless communication device may further include means for obtaining a third PPDU from the AP after obtaining the first PPDU. In some examples, the third PPDU is obtained after an end of a Block Acknowledgement (BA) window associated with the first PPDU, the second PPDU is obtained before the end of the BA window, and the adjusted time delay is not associated with a sequence number of MPDUs in the third PPDU between the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number.

In some implementations, the wireless communication device may further include means for causing the wireless communication device to enter the power save mode and waking up the wireless communication device from the power save mode a plurality of times. Each time the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode, the wireless communication device may obtain, from the reorder buffer, a maximum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a last PPDU obtained by the interface before the wireless communication device entered the power save mode, and obtain, from the Rx PCU, a minimum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a first PPDU obtained by the interface after the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode. In some examples, for a threshold number of consecutive times the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode, the adjusted time delay may be associated with MPDUs that the difference between the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number indicates that MPDUs carried in the last PPDU and MPDUs carried in the first PPDU are not consecutively acquired or received.

In some implementations, the wireless communication device may further include means for preventing the wireless communication device from entering the power save mode until a reorder buffer configured to obtain PPDUs from the AP is empty. The wireless communication device may include means for periodically evaluating whether the AP attempts to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode. In some other implementations, the wireless communication device may further include means for obtaining a header of a packet transmitted over the wireless communication medium; and means for causing the wireless communication device to enter the power save mode after processing the header. In some examples, the receiver address in the header does not match the address of the wireless communication device, and the length of time of the power save mode may be associated with an amount of time the wireless communication medium is occupied during transmission of the packet. In some implementations, the wireless communication device may further include means for waking up the wireless communication device from the power save mode after the length of time, wherein adjusting the period of time includes disabling or enabling entry into the power save mode by the wireless communication device.

Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processing system of a wireless communication device, cause the wireless communication device to perform one or more operations. In some implementations, the operations can include adjusting a time period associated with delaying entry into a power save mode, wherein the time period is associated with the wireless communication device remaining awake to prevent an AP from transmitting to the wireless communication device while the wireless communication device is in the power save mode. The operations may include providing an indication to the AP that the wireless communication device is entering the power save mode. The operations may include causing the wireless communication device to enter the power save mode upon expiration of at least the adjusted time period after providing the indication to the AP. In some implementations, entering the power saving mode may be associated with receiving an acknowledgment from the AP to obtain the indication. In some examples, the indication may include a notification frame signaling an intent of the wireless communication device to enter the power save mode. In some other examples, the adjusted time period may be associated with a link quality between the wireless communication device and the AP.

In some implementations, the operations may also include waking up the wireless communication device from the power save mode. The operations may include obtaining one or more PPDUs from the AP after waking from the power save mode. The one or more PPDUs may indicate whether the AP is attempting to transmit to the wireless communication device while the wireless communication device is in the power save mode. In some examples, the operations may include providing a frame to the AP before entering the power save mode in which a power management field is set to 1, and providing a frame to the AP after waking from the power save mode in which a power management field is set to 0. In some implementations, the indication of whether the AP attempted to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode may be included in a retry field in a header of at least one PPDU of the one or more PPDUs obtained from the AP, the retry field indicating that one or more MAC MPDUs are being retransmitted by the AP.

In some implementations, the operations may further include obtaining, from a reorder buffer of the wireless communication device, a maximum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a last PPDU obtained from the AP prior to entering the power save mode. The operations may include obtaining, from an Rx PCU of the wireless communication device, a minimum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a first PPDU obtained from the AP after waking up from the power save mode, wherein a difference between the adjusted time delay and the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number indicates that MPDUs carried in the last PPDU and MPDUs carried in the first PPDU are not consecutively obtained or received MPDUs. In some examples, the operations may include obtaining, from the Rx PCU, a first sequence number of MPDUs carried in a second PPDU obtained by the interface after obtaining the first PPDU, wherein the adjusted time delay is associated with the first sequence number between the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number.

In some other implementations, the operations may further include obtaining a third PPDU from the AP after obtaining the first PPDU. In some examples, the third PPDU is obtained after an end of a BA window associated with the first PPDU, the second PPDU is obtained before the end of the BA window, and the adjusted time delay is not associated with a sequence number of MPDUs in the third PPDU between the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number.

In some implementations, the operations may also include causing the wireless communication device to enter the power save mode and waking up the wireless communication device from the power save mode a plurality of times. Each time the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode, the wireless communication device may obtain, from the reorder buffer, a maximum sequence number of MPDUs carried in the last PPDU obtained by the interface before the wireless communication device enters the power save mode, and obtain, from the Rx PCU, a minimum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a first PPDU obtained by the interface after the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode. In some examples, for a threshold number of consecutive times the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode, the adjusted time delay may be associated with MPDUs that the difference between the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number indicates that MPDUs carried in the last PPDU and MPDUs carried in the first PPDU are not consecutively acquired or received.

In some implementations, the operations may include preventing the wireless communication device from entering the power save mode until a reorder buffer configured to obtain PPDUs from the AP is empty. The operations may include periodically evaluating whether the AP attempts to transmit to the wireless communication device while the wireless communication device is in the power save mode. In some other implementations, the operations may include obtaining a header of a packet transmitted over a wireless communication medium, and after processing the header, causing the wireless communication device to enter the power save mode. In some examples, the receiver address in the header does not match the address of the wireless communication device, and the length of time of the power save mode may be associated with an amount of time the wireless communication medium is occupied during transmission of the packet. In some implementations, the operations can include waking up the wireless communication device from the power save mode after the length of time, wherein adjusting the period of time includes disabling or enabling entry into the power save mode by the wireless communication device.

The details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. It should be noted that the relative dimensions of the following figures may not be drawn to scale.

Brief Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an example wireless system.

Fig. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an example wireless Station (STA).

Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of an example transceiver of a STA.

Fig. 4 illustrates an example physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU) that may be used for communication between an Access Point (AP) and one or more STAs.

Fig. 5 illustrates an example timing diagram of wireless communications associated with an AP leakage packet when a STA is in a power save mode.

Fig. 6 illustrates another example timing diagram of wireless communications associated with an AP leakage packet when a STA is in a power save mode.

Fig. 7 illustrates another example timing diagram of wireless communications associated with an AP leakage packet when a STA is in a power save mode.

Fig. 8 illustrates another example timing diagram of wireless communications associated with AP leakage packets when a STA is in a power save mode.

Fig. 9 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting example operations for supporting adjusting a period of time for delaying entry into a wireless communication in a power save mode.

Fig. 10 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting another example operation for supporting adjusting a period of time for delaying entry into a wireless communication in a power save mode.

Fig. 11 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting example operations for supporting wireless communications that provide an indication of a power save mode to an AP.

Fig. 12 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting another example operation for supporting adjusting a wireless communication for delaying entry into a power save mode for a period of time based on a sequence number of one or more physical layer protocol data units (PPDUs).

Fig. 13 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting another example operation for supporting adjusting a wireless communication for delaying entry into a power save mode for a period of time based on a sequence number of one or more PPDUs.

Fig. 14 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting example operations for supporting adjusting a period of wireless communication for delaying entry into a power save mode based on a sequence number of one or more PPDUs.

Fig. 15 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting example operations for supporting wireless communication entering and exiting a power save mode.

Fig. 16 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting example operations for supporting wireless communication delayed into a power save mode.

Fig. 17 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting another example operation for supporting wireless communication into and out of a power save mode.

Fig. 18 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting another example operation for supporting wireless communication into and out of a power save mode.

Fig. 19 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting example operations for supporting adjusting a period of time for delaying entry into a power save mode based on a first PPDU obtained after waking from the power save mode.

Fig. 20A and 20B show illustrative flow diagrams depicting another example operation for supporting wireless communication that adjusts a time period for delaying entry into a power save mode.

Fig. 21 illustrates an example timing diagram for a STA transmitting or receiving wireless communications within wireless range of a first AP and a second AP.

Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.

Detailed Description

The following description is directed to certain implementations to aim at describing innovative aspects of the present disclosure. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the teachings herein could be applied in a multitude of different ways. The described implementations may be implemented in any device, system, or network capable of transmitting and receiving RF signals in accordance with: any of the IEEE 16.11 standards or any of the IEEE 802.11 standards, the (bluetooth) standard, code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), global system for mobile communications (GSM), GSM/General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), terrestrial trunked radio (TETRA), wideband CDMA (W-CDMA), evolution data optimized (EV-DO), 1xEV-DO, EV-DO revision A, EV-DO revision B, high Speed Packet Access (HSPA), high Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), high Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), evolved high speed packet access (hspa+), long Term Evolution (LTE), AMPS, or other known signals for communication within a wireless network, cellular network, or internet of things (IOT) network, such as systems utilizing 3G, 4G, or 5G or further implemented technologies thereof.

Implementations of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be used to adjust a period of time for delaying a STA from entering a power save mode. When the STA does not transmit or receive wireless communications, the STA may enter a power save mode to save power consumption. The STA may indicate to one or more APs within range of the STA that the STA is to enter a power save mode. In some implementations, a STA may transmit a frame to an AP over a wireless channel indicating the STA's intent to enter a power save mode. In some examples, the frame may be any management frame or action frame that includes one or more elements, sub-elements, fields, or subfields adapted to carry an indication of an intent of the STA to enter a power save mode. In some other examples, the frame may be a particular type of frame, such as, but not limited to, a notification frame that carries an indication of the intent of the STA to enter the power save mode. The STA enters a power save mode by placing one or more device components, such as the front-end components of the wireless interface, into a low power state. While in the power save mode, the STA may not be able to receive or successfully decode Downlink (DL) data transmitted on the wireless channel. In some examples, the AP may be configured to terminate or suspend downlink transmissions based on an intent of a STA to enter a power save mode to receive or obtain the STA, e.g., to reduce packet loss or avoid retransmission of data frames that the STA did not receive or successfully decode. In some other examples, the STA may expect the AP to terminate or suspend downlink transmissions based on receiving or obtaining an intent to enter a power save mode. In some implementations, the STA may be configured to enter the power save mode in response to receiving an acknowledgement from the AP that the STA is intended to enter the power save mode. In some examples, the acknowledgement may be an ACK frame. In some other examples, the acknowledgement may be a notification frame.

In some examples, after sending an acknowledgement of the STA's intent to enter the power save mode, the AP may attempt to send one or more packets to the STA. Such packets that are transmitted by an AP and not received by the STA when the STA is in a power save mode may be referred to herein as "leaky" packets, and the AP that transmits such packets may be referred to herein as a "leaky" AP. The period of time by which a STA delays entering power save mode after sending an intent to enter power save mode to an AP may be referred to herein as "leakage protection".

In some examples, the leaked packet may be transmitted to the STA at or near the beginning of the STA's power save mode. For example, the AP may take a certain time duration to configure itself to not send packets to the STA after receiving the indication. As a result, the AP may send one or more packets to the STA before such configuration is completed. Delaying the STA from entering the power save mode for a period of time associated with leakage protection may allow the STA to stay awake and receive or obtain one or more packets transmitted by the AP after receiving the indication.

In some implementations, power savings may be achieved by adjusting leakage protection based on previous communications with the AP. For example, the STA may determine whether one or more leaky packets are present during the power save mode and may adjust leakage protection in response to determining whether one or more leaky packets are present. If no leaky packets are identified, the STA may shut down or reduce the leakage protection (such as from 5 milliseconds (ms) to less than 5ms or 0 ms). If the presence or likelihood of one or more leaky packets is identified, the STA may set the leakage protection to a predefined value (such as 5 ms) to prevent leaky packets during the next entry of the wireless communication device into the power save mode.

Particular implementations of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented to realize one or more of the following potential advantages. When the time period associated with leakage protection is reduced (or eliminated), the power consumption of the STA may be reduced (such as by allowing the STA to spend more time in the power save mode). For example, if the period of time associated with leakage protection decreases from 10ms to 5ms (or 0 ms), the STA may save power by entering the power save mode 5ms or 10ms earlier than when using leakage protection of 5 or 10ms, respectively. In this way, the STA may not consume power listening to the wireless medium, which requires the device components to remain active, and may instead enter a power save mode. If the STA is battery powered, saving power may extend the STA's operating time between battery charges. Selectively using or adjusting leakage protection may increase the throughput of the wireless medium by preventing (or at least reducing the occurrence of) leakage packets. For example, if an AP attempts to transmit packets to a STA in a power save mode, the AP may wait for an Acknowledgement (ACK) from the STA indicating that the packets were received before transmitting additional packets to the STA. Failure to receive an ACK from the STA may drive a rate adaptation algorithm in the AP to reduce the MCS (modulation and coding scheme) of the subsequent packets and thereby impact the overall throughput of the link.

When the STA is in the power save mode, the STA does not receive the transmitted packet and thus does not send an ACK to the AP. In some examples, the AP may use the absence of an ACK frame received from the STA as an indication that rate control is to be performed (such as reducing the MCS or otherwise slowing down the rate at which packets are sent to the STA) and attempt to retransmit the packets to the STA. If the STA remains in the power save mode during the transmission of the retransmitted packet, the AP may not receive any ACK for the retransmitted packet. The AP may further reduce the rate at which packets are sent to the STA and retransmit the packets to the STA. In this way, the AP may slow down or stall communication on the wireless medium by continuously occupying the wireless medium in an attempt to deliver packets to the STA (without receiving an ACK). When a STA delays entering the power save mode for a period of time associated with leakage protection (such as in response to the AP transmitting a leaked packet), the STA may wake up to receive or obtain a retransmitted packet. The STA may send one or more ACKs to the AP acknowledging receipt of the retransmitted packet, thereby eliminating (or at least relaxing) the need for the AP to slow down communications on the wireless medium. In this way, implementations of the subject matter disclosed herein may increase throughput on a wireless medium.

Fig. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an example wireless system 100. The wireless system 100 is shown to include a wireless Access Point (AP) 110 and several wireless Stations (STAs) 120a-120i. For simplicity, one AP 110 is shown in fig. 1. The AP 110 may form a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) that allows the AP 110, STAs 120a-120i, and other wireless devices (not shown for simplicity) to communicate with each other over a wireless medium. A wireless medium that may be divided into channels or Resource Units (RUs) may facilitate wireless communication between the AP 110, STAs 120a-120i, and other wireless devices connected to the WLAN. In some implementations, the STAs 120a-120i may communicate with each other using peer-to-peer communications (such as the absence or absence of involvement of the AP 110). AP 110 may be assigned a unique Media Access Control (MAC) address, which is programmed herein, for example, by the manufacturer of the AP. Similarly, each of the STAs 120a-120i may also be assigned a unique MAC address.

In some implementations, wireless system 100 may correspond to a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless network and may support single-user MIMO (SU-MIMO) and multi-user (MU-MIMO) communications. In some implementations, wireless system 100 may support Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) communications. Further, although the WLAN is depicted in fig. 1 as an infrastructure Basic Service Set (BSS), in some other implementations the WLAN may be an Independent Basic Service Set (IBSS), an Extended Service Set (ESS), an ad-hoc (ad-hoc) network, or a peer-to-peer (P2P) network (such as operating according to one or more Wi-Fi direct protocols).

The STAs 120a-120i may be any suitable Wi-Fi enabled wireless devices including, for example, cellular telephones, personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), tablet devices, laptop computers, and the like. The STAs 120a-120i may also be referred to as User Equipment (UE), subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless communication device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, or some other suitable terminology.

AP 110 may be any suitable device that allows one or more wireless devices, such as STAs 120a-120i, to connect to another network, such as a Local Area Network (LAN), wide Area Network (WAN), metropolitan Area Network (MAN), or the internet. In some implementations, the system controller 130 may facilitate communications between the AP 110 and other networks or systems. In some implementations, system controller 130 may facilitate communications between AP 110 and one or more other APs (not shown for simplicity) that may be associated with other wireless networks. Additionally or alternatively, AP 110 may exchange signals and information with one or more other APs using wireless communications.

AP 110 may periodically broadcast beacon frames to enable STAs 120a-120i and other wireless devices within wireless range of AP 110 to establish and maintain a communication link with AP 110. Beacon frames, which may indicate Downlink (DL) data transmissions to STAs 120a-120i and request or schedule Uplink (UL) data transmissions from the STAs 120a-120i, are typically broadcast according to a Target Beacon Transmission Time (TBTT) schedule. The broadcast beacon frame may include a Timing Synchronization Function (TSF) value of AP 110. STAs 120a-120i may synchronize their own local TSF value with the broadcasted TSF value, e.g., so that all STAs 120a-120i synchronize with each other and with the AP 110.

In some implementations, each of the STAs 120a-120i and the AP 110 may include an interface, such as one or more transceivers, a processing system, such as one or more processing resources, such as a processor or Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), and one or more memory resources, and a power source, such as a battery. The one or more transceivers may include a Wi-Fi transceiver, a bluetooth transceiver, a cellular transceiver, or other suitable Radio Frequency (RF) transceiver (not shown for simplicity) to transmit and receive wireless communication signals. In some implementations, each transceiver may communicate with other wireless devices in a different frequency band or using a different communication protocol. The memory resources may include non-transitory computer-readable media, such as one or more non-volatile memory elements (such as EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, hard disk drive, etc.), that store instructions for performing one or more operations described with reference to fig. 9-11.

Fig. 2 illustrates an example wireless Station (STA) 200.STA 200 may be one implementation of at least one of STAs 120a-120i of fig. 1. STA 200 may include one or more transceivers 210, one or more processors 220, memory 240, and one or more antennas ANT1-ANTn. In some implementations, STA 200 may also include user interface 230. Transceiver 210 may include one or more transceivers coupled to one or more antennas ANT1-ANTn, either directly or through antenna selection circuitry (not shown for simplicity). The transceiver 210 may be used to transmit signals to and receive signals from other wireless devices, including, for example, APs and several other STAs. Although not shown in fig. 2 for simplicity, each of the one or more transceivers 210 may include any number of transmit chains to process signals and transmit signals to other wireless devices via antennas ANT1-ANTn, and may include any number of receive chains to process signals received from antennas ANT1-ANTn. Thus, STA 200 may be configured for MIMO communication and OFDMA communication in some implementations. MIMO communications may include SU-MIMO communications and MU-MIMO communications. In some implementations, STA 200 may provide antenna diversity using multiple antennas ANT1-ANTn. Antenna diversity may include polarization diversity, pattern diversity, and space diversity. An example transceiver is described below with reference to fig. 3.

The one or more processors 220 may be any suitable one or more processors capable of executing scripts or instructions of one or more software programs stored in STA 200 (such as within memory 240). In some implementations, the one or more processors 220 may be or include one or more microprocessors that provide processor functionality and external memory that provides at least a portion of a machine-readable medium. In other implementations, the one or more processors 220 may be or include at least a portion of an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) with a processor, a bus interface, a user interface, and a machine readable medium integrated into a single chip. In some other implementations, the one or more processors 220 may be or include one or more Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) or Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs).

The user interface 230, which may be coupled to the one or more processors 220, may be or represent a number of suitable user input devices such as, for example, speakers, microphones, display devices, keyboards, touch screens, and the like. In some implementations, the user interface 230 may allow a user to control several operations of the STA 200 to interact with one or more applications executable by the STA 200, as well as other suitable functions.

In some implementations, memory 240 may include a database 241 that may store one or more identifiers of leaky APs. For example, database 241 may store BSS identifiers (BSSIDs) associated with leaky APs. In another example, database 241 may store the MAC address of the leaky AP or another suitable identifier.

Memory 240 may also be or include a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (such as one or more non-volatile memory elements, such as EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, a hard drive, etc.) that may store computer-executable instructions 242 for performing all or a portion of one or more operations described in this disclosure.

The interface 250 of STA 200 may refer to one or more transceivers 210 coupled to one or more antennas ANT1-ANTn. In some implementations, the interface 250 of the STA 200 may also refer to one or more antennas ANT1-ANTn coupled to one or more transceivers 210. The interface 250 is configured to obtain packets from an AP and provide packets to the AP when the STA 200 communicates with the AP. The processing system 260 of STA 200 may refer to one or more processors 220. In some implementations, processing system 260 may also refer to memory 240 (such as a medium that stores instructions 242).

Although one or more transceivers 210, memory 240, and optional user interface 230 are depicted in fig. 2 as being coupled via one or more processors 220, components of STA 200 may be coupled in any suitable manner. For example, the one or more transceivers 210, the one or more processors 220, and the memory 240 may be directly coupled to one another via one or more buses.

Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of an example transceiver 300 of a STA. In some implementations, transceiver 300 may be one example of one or more transceivers 210 of fig. 2. Transceiver 300 may include a physical layer (PHY) 302 and a MAC layer 304.PHY 302 may be coupled to one or more antennas ANT1-ANTn to transmit packets to and receive packets from another wireless device. PHY 302 may also be configured to process packets at the physical layer. For example, PHY 302 may perform scrambling, encoding, puncturing, padding, parsing, interleaving, modulation, or digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) on packets to be transmitted. In another example, PHY 302 may perform analog-to-digital conversion (ADC), MIMO equalization, de-interleaving, spatial combining, decoding, or descrambling on a packet received from another wireless device. Although not shown in fig. 3, PHY 302 may include or be coupled to one or more radios for transmitting and receiving signals via one or more antennas ANT 1-ANTn. For example, PHY 302 may be configured to perform baseband digital processing operations and one or more radios may be configured to perform baseband analog processing operations on packets received via one or more antennas ANT1-ANTn or packets to be transmitted.

MAC 304 is configured to process packets to be provided to PHY 302 for transmission and to process packets obtained from PHY 302. For example, MAC 304 may be configured to packetize information of a wireless communication device (such as STA 200 in fig. 2) to provide to PHY 302 for transmission to another wireless device (such as an AP). MAC 304 may also be configured to order and format packets for transmission (such as by including a MAC header including a MAC sequence number into the packet payload). In another example, MAC 304 may be configured to obtain information for a wireless communication device in packets obtained from PHY 302. For example, MAC 304 may process a MAC header included in a decoded packet obtained from PHY 302.

MAC 304 includes a receive (Rx) Protocol Control Unit (PCU) 306 and a reorder buffer 308. In some implementations, the MAC 304 may also include a Direct Memory Access (DMA) Rx unit (DRU) 310 to provide information from the obtained packets to a system bus (such as to provide information to device memory). In some implementations, the transmit portion of the MAC 304 may include a Queue Control Unit (QCU) 312, a Distributed Coordination Function (DCF) control unit (DCU) 314, and a transmit (Tx) PCU 316. Although the Rx PCU 306 and Tx PCU 316 are shown as separate components, the MAC 304 may include a PCU that includes both the Rx PCU 306 and Tx PCU 316.

The Rx PCU 306 may obtain frames from the PHY 302. In some implementations, the Rx PCU may obtain a physical bit stream from PHY 302, decrypt each frame from the obtained bit stream, and provide at least a portion of the decrypted frames to DRU 310. For example, the bit stream may include one or more PHY Protocol Data Units (PPDUs), and the Rx PCU may process each PPDU to obtain one or more MAC sequence numbers of MAC Protocol Data Units (MPDUs) in the PPDU. The device may use the obtained MAC sequence number to determine whether the AP is attempting to transmit packets to the device when the device is in a power save mode. As used herein, a packet may refer to an MPDU or any other suitable data unit. For example, a leaky packet may refer to an MPDU that is attempted to be transmitted to the wireless communication device while the wireless communication device is in a power save mode.

The reorder buffer 308 may be configured to obtain decoded packets from the Rx PCU 306 and reorder the decoded packets according to the order in which they were obtained. In some implementations, packets may be received out of order. For example, the PPDU may skip one or more MPDUs, and the skipped MPDUs may be included in a subsequent PPDU. In this way, the reorder buffer 308 may be configured to reorder the packets based on the MAC sequence number. Reorder buffer 308 may also be configured to provide reordered packets to DRU310 or directly to memory (such as to memory 240 via a system bus or other suitable memory). If a packet is lost in reorder buffer 308, a subsequent packet may be held in reorder buffer 308 (and not provided to DRU310 or memory) until reorder buffer 308 obtains the lost packet. In this way, if all packets having sequence numbers less than the received packet with the largest sequence number have not been obtained, then reorder buffer 308 is not empty.

The Rx PCU 306 may be configured such that one or more packet sequence numbers in the PPDU may be obtained from the Rx PCU 306. In some implementations, the reorder buffer 308 includes a plurality of registers for obtaining sequence numbers from the Rx PCU 306. For example, nine registers of the reorder buffer may be used to obtain the maximum sequence number of the last received PPDU before the wireless communication device indicates to the AP that it will enter the power save mode. In this way, when reorder buffer 308 obtains a packet after the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode, reorder buffer 308 may use the stored maximum sequence number as a reference to determine whether any sequence numbers were skipped (such as if the difference between the stored maximum sequence number in the register and the minimum sequence number obtained after the device wakes up from the power save mode is greater than one). The one or more skipped sequence numbers may indicate one or more lost packets that may have leaked. In some implementations, the Rx PCU 306 may provide a minimum sequence number of the first PPDU received after waking up from the power save mode (or other sequence numbers from the first PPDU or subsequent PPDUs during the BA window). One or more sequence numbers obtained from the Rx PCU 306 may be included in a Type Length Value (TLV) encoded message, which may be provided to a processing system of the wireless communication device.

In some implementations, decoded packets from reorder buffer 308 to DRU 310 (which may be reordered) may be received and provided to a processing system (such as processor 220 or memory 240 in fig. 2). DRU 310 may be configured to provide packet information to memory via a system bus and may be accessed from memory by one or more processors. In some other implementations, reorder buffer 308 may provide packet information directly to memory via a system bus. In this way, packet information may not flow from reorder buffer 308 to DRU 310, but rather from reorder buffer 308 to memory or other parts of a wireless communication device.

For the transmit side of MAC 304, QCU may include one or more QCU configured to manage DMA of frame data from a system bus, obtain frame data from a device (such as from a system bus), determine when a frame is available for transmission, and provide the data frame to DCU 314 for transmission to another wireless device. DCU 314 may include one or more DCUs configured to obtain data frames from QCU 312,312, manage DCF channel access procedures for the data frames on behalf of QCU, and provide the data frames to Tx PCU 316 using the DCF channel access procedures. In some implementations, the MAC 304 includes a DCU corresponding to each QCU. For example, if MAC 304 includes 10 QCU, MAC 304 may include 10 DCUs. If the MAC 304 includes multiple DCUs, the MAC 304 may include arbitration logic (not shown) to combine the outputs from the multiple DCUs into an input to the Tx PCU 316. The Tx PCU 316 may be configured to encrypt each frame and provide the encrypted frames to the PHY 302 for transmission to another wireless device. The combined PCU (including the Rx PCU 306 and the Tx PCU 316) may also be configured to process the obtained response to the transmitted frame (such as an Acknowledgement (ACK), including a Block ACK (BA), error indication, or other suitable information element) and report the transmission attempt result to the DCU 314 configured to determine access to the wireless medium.

As discussed, the MAC sequence number may be used to determine whether one or more packets are leaking when the wireless communication device is in a power save mode. In some implementations, the retry indication may also be used to determine whether one or more packets are leaked when the wireless communication device is in a power save mode. The MAC sequence number and retry indication may be included in a PPDU obtained from the AP (or another suitable wireless device). In some implementations, the transceiver 300 is configured to obtain one or more of a maximum MAC sequence number or a minimum MAC sequence number from the PPDU. For example, one or more sequence numbers may be obtained from Rx PCU 306 after decoding by Rx PCU 306. Transceiver 300 may also be configured to generate a message that includes a minimum sequence number and a maximum sequence number. In one example, the message may be a TLV encoded message including a sequence number. The TLV encoded message may also include retry field information obtained from the PPDU, such as from the MAC header of the PPDU.

Fig. 4 illustrates an example PPDU 400 that may be used for communication between an AP and one or more STAs. For example, the example PPDU 400 may be used for communications between the AP 110 and one or more STAs 120a-120i in fig. 1. Each PPDU 400 includes a PHY preamble 402 and a PHY Service Data Unit (PSDU) 404. Each PSDU 404 may represent (or "carry") one or more MPDUs 410. For example, each PSDU 404 may carry an aggregate MPDU (A-MPDU) 406 that includes an aggregation of multiple A-MPDU subframes 408. Each a-MPDU sub-frame 408 may include a MPDU frame 410, the MPDU frame 410 including a MAC delimiter 412 and a MAC header 414 preceding an accompanying frame body 416 that includes a data portion ("payload" or "frame body") of the MPDU frame 410 each MPDU 410 may also include a Frame Check Sequence (FCS) field 418 for error detection, in some examples, the FCS field 418 may include a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) and padding 420, the frame body 416 may carry one or more MAC Service Data Units (MSDUs), for example, the frame body 416 may carry an aggregate MSDU (a-MSDU) 422 including a plurality of a-MSDU sub-frames 424, each a-MSDU sub-frame 424 may include an MSDU 426, the MSDU 426 including a sub-frame header 428, followed by the frame body 430, followed by padding 432.

The MAC delimiter 412 may serve as a marker of the start of the associated MPDU 410 and may indicate the length of the associated MPDU 410. The MAC header 414 may include a number of fields containing information defining or indicating characteristics or attributes of the data encapsulated within the frame body 416. The MAC header 414 includes a duration field that indicates a duration that extends from the end of the PPDU to at least the end of an ACK or BA for the PPDU to be transmitted by the recipient wireless communication device. The use of the duration field is to reserve the wireless medium for the indicated duration and enable the recipient device to establish its Network Allocation Vector (NAV). The MAC header 414 also includes one or more fields that indicate the address of the data encapsulated within the frame body 416. For example, the MAC header 414 may include a combination of a source address, a transmitter address, a receiver address, or a destination address. The MAC header 414 may further include a frame control field containing control information. The frame control field may specify a frame type, such as a data frame, a control frame, or a management frame.

In some implementations, the MAC header 414 includes a MAC sequence number associated with the MPDU 410. For example, the MAC sequence control field of MAC header 414 may include octets indicating the value of the MAC sequence number of the associated MPDU 410. The AP may assign MAC sequence numbers to MPDUs 410 in sequence. In this way, if the STA obtains a first MAC sequence number and a second MAC sequence number that are out of order (such as a MAC sequence number loss between the first and second sequence numbers), the STA may determine that one or more MPDUs were lost from the AP.

In addition, the MAC header 414 may include an indication of whether the AP is to retry transmitting packets to the STA. For example, the frame control field of the MAC header 414 may include a retry field. The retry field may be one bit in length. The retry field may be set to 1 to indicate that the AP is to retry transmitting packets previously transmitted by the AP (such as leaky packets that the STA did not obtain in the power save mode or other packets that the AP did not receive an ACK). The retry field may be set to 0 to indicate that the AP does not have any packets to retry transmitting. In this way, if the STA obtains a PPDU including a retry field set to 1 after waking up from the power save mode, the STA may determine that the AP leaks one or more MPDUs when the STA is in the power save mode.

The leaky AP may perform various operations when the STA wakes up from the power save mode. In some implementations, the STA may use one or more of a variety of operations to determine whether the AP leaked packets while the STA was in the power save mode. In some examples, the STA may use a MAC sequence number provided in a PPDU received by the STA to determine whether the AP has leakage. In some other examples, the STA may use a retry field included in the PPDU received by the STA to determine whether the AP has leakage.

Fig. 5 illustrates an example timing diagram 500 of wireless communications associated with an AP leakage packet when a STA is in a power save mode. At the beginning of the Block Acknowledgement (BA) window 502, the STA power state 532 is an active mode. While in active mode, STAs listen to the wireless medium and contend for access to the wireless medium. Before a STA is to enter a power save mode, the STA receives or obtains a last PPDU from the AP, wherein the PPDU includes several packets and has a duration beginning at 504 and ending at 510. In the example of fig. 5, the received or obtained packet 506 includes a sequence number 508 having a value between 1 and 9 (including 1 and 9), which may be indicated in the MAC header for each MPDU of the PPDU. After the PPDU ends (510), the STA informs the AP that the STA is to enter a power save mode (512). In some examples, the STA transmits a message, wherein the header includes a Power Management (PM) field set to 1 to indicate entering the power save mode. The STA enters a power save mode (514). In some examples, the MAC of the STA may be configured to perform a power-down sequence of one or more components that prevents the STA from listening to the wireless medium via one or more radios during the power save mode. In the example of fig. 5, the leakage protection may be 0ms.

When the STA is in a power save mode (such as indicated by STA power state 532), the AP may attempt to transmit a leakage packet 516 to the STA that includes a sequence number 518 having a value between 10 and 15 (including 10 and 15). For example, an AP may transmit a PPDU intended for an STA when the STA is in a power save mode due to a software error, poor channel conditions, or communication hysteresis between the PHY layer and the MAC layer of the AP, although the STA informs the AP that the STA is entering the power save mode. At 520, the STA exits the power save mode. In some examples, the MAC of the STA may perform a power-up sequence of previously powered-off components when waking from a power save mode. As used herein, exiting the power saving mode may also be referred to as waking from the power saving mode. At 522, the STA informs the AP that the STA has exited the power save mode. In some examples, the STA sends a message with the header including a PM field set to 0 to indicate exiting from the power save mode.

The STA receives or obtains a first PPDU from the AP after waking up from the power save mode, where the PPDU starts at 524 and the PPDU ends at 530. During transmission of the first PPDU, the AP also transmits a retry packet 526, which initially leaks when the STA is in power save mode (516). In some implementations, the retry field of the MAC header of the PPDU indicates whether the MPDU is a retry packet 526. In this way, the STA may determine whether one or more of the packets are retry packets 526 based on the respective retry fields. In some implementations, the STA may determine whether the AP leaked packets based on a retry field in the first PPDU (such as described below with reference to fig. 10). The AP may also transmit a new packet 528 in the first PPDU. In the example of fig. 5, retry packet 526 is associated with a sequence number having a value between 10 and 15 (including 10 and 15), while new packet 528 is associated with a sequence number having a value between 16 and 18 (including 16 and 18).

As shown, the sequence numbers of packets received or obtained by the STA are sequential before and after the power save mode. However, packets received by STAs may be out of order. In some examples, the AP may retransmit the leaked packet in a subsequent PPDU after the STA wakes up from the power save mode, as illustrated in the example of fig. 6.

Fig. 6 illustrates another example timing diagram 600 of wireless communications associated with an AP leakage packet when a STA is in a power save mode. Before the STA enters the power save mode (614), the operations associated with the timing diagram 600 of fig. 6 may be the same as the operations associated with the timing diagram 500 of fig. 5. That is, the STA receives or obtains the last PPDU including packet 506 with sequence number 508 and may provide a message to the AP including the PM field set to 1 (as indicated by STA power state 632) before entering the power save mode. When the STA is in power save mode, the AP leaks packet 616, which includes sequence number 618 with a value between 10 and 15 (including 10 and 15). The STA exits the power save mode (620) and the STA indicates to the AP that the STA has exited the power save mode (622). The STA receives or obtains a first PPDU from the AP after exiting the power save mode, where the PPDU starts at 624 and ends at 630. The first PPDU in the example timing diagram 600 includes all new packets 628 including a sequence number 629 having a value between 16 and 24 (including 16 and 24) and does not include any retry packets. For example, the AP leaks a packet 616 with sequence number 10-15 and the first PPDU obtained after the STA exits the power save mode includes a new packet 628 with sequence number 16-24.

The AP may transmit an additional PPDU before the BA window ends (638). The AP may retry transmitting the leaked packet in one or more of the subsequent PPDUs before the BA window ends. As shown in timing diagram 600, the STA receives or obtains a subsequent PPDU before the BA window ends (638), where the PPDU begins at 634 and the PPDU ends at 636. The subsequent PPDUs may include one or more of the leaked packets as retry packets 626. In the example of fig. 5, retry packet 626 is associated with sequence number 627 having a value between 10 and 15 (including 10 and 15). As discussed, the packet may be indicated as a retry packet through a retry field of the MAC header of the MPDU. In some examples, the retry packet obtained in the subsequent PPDU may be a leaky packet. However, the retry packet may be a packet that was sent but not received before the STA entered the power save mode (such as the STA not receiving the packet or not decoding the packet correctly due to wireless medium conditions).

In this way, whether a packet in a subsequent PPDU is associated with a leaky packet may be based on an indication that the packet is a retry packet (such as based on a retry field) and a sequence number of the packet. For example, as shown in the timing diagram 500 of fig. 5, the maximum sequence number in the last PPDU received before entering the power save mode is 9. For another example, as shown in timing diagram 600 of fig. 6, the minimum sequence number in the first PPDU received after exiting the power save mode is 16. A difference between sequence numbers greater than 1 (16-9 equals 7) may indicate that one or more packets may have been leaked by the AP. In some implementations, the STA may not determine that the AP leaked one or more packets until the STA identifies a maximum sequence number in the last PPDU (such as 9 in the example) and a minimum sequence number in the first PPDU (such as 16 in the example). For example, the STA may obtain a sequence number from one or more of the retry packets 626 and the STA may determine that the sequence number is between the minimum and maximum sequence numbers to determine that the AP leaked one or more packets. Determining whether the AP has leakage based on information in one or more subsequent PPDUs is described below with reference to fig. 11.

In some other implementations, the AP may not attempt to retransmit the leaked packet. In some examples, the STA may not obtain a retry packet from the AP, and the STA may not determine that the AP has leakage based on the sequence number of the obtained packet.

Fig. 7 illustrates another example timing diagram 700 of wireless communications associated with an AP leakage packet when a STA is in a power save mode. The operations performed in timing diagram 700 may be the same as those performed in timing diagram 500 of fig. 5 before the STA enters the power save mode (714). That is, the STA receives or obtains the last PPDU including packet 506 with sequence number 508 and may provide a message to the AP including the PM field set to 1 (as indicated by STA power state 732) before entering the power save mode. When the STA is in power save mode, the AP leaks 716 packets, which include sequence numbers 718 with values between 10 and 15 (including 10 and 15). The STA exits the power save mode (720) and the STA indicates to the AP that the STA has exited the power save mode (722). The STA receives or obtains a first PPDU from the AP after exiting the power save mode, where the PPDU starts at 724 and ends at 730. The first PPDU in the example timing diagram 700 includes all new packets 728 including a sequence number 729 having a value between 16 and 24 (including 16 and 24) and does not include any retry packets. For example, the AP leaks a packet 716 with sequence number 10-15 and the first PPDU obtained after the STA exits the power save mode includes a new packet with sequence number 16-24.

In contrast to timing diagram 600 in fig. 6, timing diagram 700 of fig. 7 indicates that the STA did not receive or obtain a subsequent PPDU including one or more retry packets before the end of BA window (738). In another example, the STA may receive or obtain another PPDU that does not include a retry packet having a sequence number between a maximum sequence number in MPDUs carried in a last PPDU received before entering the power save mode and a minimum sequence number obtained in MPDUs carried in a first PPDU received after exiting the power save mode. In some implementations, when no retry packets having a sequence number between the maximum sequence number and the minimum sequence number are received or otherwise obtained during the BA window, leakage protection may be adjusted based on a number of times the difference in sequence numbers is greater than 1 after waking up from the power save mode. For example, the STA may adjust the leakage protection or determine that the AP has leakage based on a difference between a maximum sequence number in the PPDU received before the power save mode and a minimum sequence number in the PPDU received after the power save mode being greater than a threshold number of occurrences of 1. In one example, for a threshold number N of consecutive instances in which the STA wakes up from the power save mode (where the integer N is configurable), the STA may determine that the difference is greater than 1 and may adjust the leakage protection based on the configuration value of N. In some examples, the STA may increase leakage protection by a relatively large amount when the configuration value of N is relatively high, and the STA may increase leakage protection by a relatively small amount when the configuration value of N is relatively low.

In the example timing diagrams 500, 600, and 700 of fig. 5, 6, and 7, respectively, the STAs receive or obtain packets in sequence. That is, none of the packets transmitted by the AP are received or obtained out of order, except for the retry packet associated with the leaky packet (such as in fig. 6). In some other examples, the STA may receive or obtain out-of-order packets.

Fig. 8 illustrates another example timing diagram 800 of wireless communications associated with an AP leakage packet when a STA is in a power save mode. In the example timing diagram 800, some intermediate packets may not be acquired until the STA receives or acquires a subsequent packet. For example, the AP may transmit the packets out of order, wherein one or more intermediate packets are to be included in one or more subsequent PPDUs.

In the example timing diagram 800, a BA window begins at 802. The last PPDU before the STA enters the power save mode (indicated by STA power save state 832) is obtained, where the PPDU starts at 804 and the PPDU ends at 810. The PPDU includes the obtained packets 806 with sequence numbers 808 having values of 1-4, 6-7, and 9 therein. As shown, the obtained packet 806 does not include a packet with sequence number 5 or 8. For example, the packet may be transmitted by the AP in a subsequent PPDU.

The STA indicates to the AP that the STA is to enter a power save mode (812), and the STA enters a power save mode (814) before receiving or obtaining the lost packet. In this way, the AP may transmit lost packets when the STA is in the power save mode. For example, the AP may transmit a PPDU that includes out-of-order leakage packets 816 (with sequence numbers "5" and "8") and subsequent leakage packets 817 that include sequence numbers 818 with values between 10 and 13 (including 10 and 13).

At 820, the STA exits the power save mode. At 822, the STA informs the AP that the STA has exited the power save mode. The STA receives or obtains a first PPDU from the AP after waking up from the power save mode, where the PPDU begins at 824 and the PPDU ends at 830. During transmission of the first PPDU, the AP also transmits a retry packet 826 associated with sequence number 818, which initially leaks out when the STA is in power save mode (817). The AP may also transmit a new packet 828 in the first PPDU before the BA window ends (838).

Although the example timing diagram 800 in fig. 8 illustrates the leakage packets 817 being retransmitted by the AP when the STA is in active mode, in some other implementations, the AP may not retransmit the leakage packets 817 or may only transmit out-of-order leakage packets. Thus, when a STA receives or acquires a packet out of order, adjusting leakage protection or determining if the AP has leakage may not be able to accurately determine using the retry field indication and sequence number from the acquired packet. In some examples, the STA may delay entering the power save mode until all out-of-order packets are obtained. For example, the reordering buffer of the MAC of the STA may be configured to hold packets obtained from DRUs, all previous packets until obtained based on sequence numbers. If the intermediate packet is lost, the reorder buffer may include one or more subsequent packets that have been acquired. To delay entering the power save mode until all out-of-order packets are obtained, the STA may be configured to enter the power save mode only when the reorder buffer is empty. In this way, operations for adjusting leakage protection or for determining whether an AP leaks one or more packets may be independent of whether packets obtained by the STA are out of order (or not out of order).

As discussed, a wireless communication device (such as a STA or other suitable device) may be configured to adjust a period of time for delaying entry into a power save mode to prevent an AP from leaking packets while the STA is in the power save mode. The flowcharts in fig. 9-19, 20A, and 20B illustrate example operations for adjusting leakage protection. Although some example operations are illustrated, additional or different operations for adjusting leakage protection may be performed (or performed in a different order). Additionally, while one or more operations may be described with reference to STA 200 of fig. 2, in some other implementations, other suitable wireless communication devices may perform some or all of the operations disclosed herein.

Fig. 9 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting example operations 900 for supporting adjusting a period of time for delaying entry into a power save mode for wireless communication. In some implementations, the operations 900 may be performed by an apparatus that is a network node or a wireless communication device operating within a network node (such as one of the STAs 120a-120i or STA 200 described with reference to fig. 1 and 2, respectively).

At 902, the wireless communication device adjusts a time period associated with delaying entry into a power save mode. As discussed, the period of time that the STA delays entering the power save mode may be referred to herein as leakage protection. The adjusted time delay may be between 0ms and 5 ms. In some examples, adjusting the time period or leakage protection may include switching between two time periods (which may be associated with turning the leakage protection off and on). In some other examples, adjusting the time period or leakage protection may include increasing or decreasing the leakage protection to a value between and including 0ms and a maximum value (such as 5ms or 10 ms). In this way, a period of time for delaying entry into the power save mode may be associated with the wireless communication device remaining awake to prevent the AP from transmitting to the wireless communication device while the wireless communication device is in the power save mode.

At 904, the wireless communication device provides an indication to the AP that the wireless communication device is entering a power save mode. In some implementations, the interface 250 of the STA 200 may provide a frame with the PM field set to 1 to the AP before entering the power save mode.

At 906, the wireless communication device can enter a power save mode upon expiration of at least the adjusted time period after providing the indication to the AP. In some implementations, the processing system 260 may delay the STA from entering the power save mode until at least the adjusted time delay expires after providing the frame in which the PM field is set to 1 to the AP. In this way, STA 200 is prevented from entering the power save mode until the adjusted time delay expires, thereby keeping STA 200 awake to receive transmissions from the AP.

Determining when and how to adjust leakage protection may be based on whether the AP leaked packets during the previous instance of the power save mode of STA 200. In some implementations, STA 200 may adjust leakage protection based on one or more operations that indicate whether the AP leaked one or more packets when STA 200 was previously in the power save mode. Whether the AP attempts to transmit to the STA 200 when the STA 200 was previously in the power save mode may be determined using information included in or carried by one or more PPDUs obtained after the STA wakes up from the power save mode. For example, if the period is 0ms (such as leakage protection is turned off), the STA 200 may enter the power save mode immediately after providing an indication to the AP that the power save mode is to be entered. For another example, if the period is 5ms, the STA 200 waits at least 5ms before entering the power save mode after providing an indication to the AP.

Fig. 10 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting another example operation 1000 for supporting wireless communication that adjusts a period of time for delaying entry into a power save mode. The operations 1000 may be performed by an apparatus that is a network node or a wireless communication device operating within a network node (such as one of the STAs 120a-120i or STA 200 described with reference to fig. 1 and 2, respectively). In some implementations, operation 1000 may be performed after entering the power saving mode at 906 in fig. 9.

For example, at 1002, the wireless communication device wakes up from a power save mode. At 1004, the wireless communication device obtains one or more PPDUs from the AP after waking from a power save mode. In some implementations, the one or more PPDUs may indicate whether the AP is attempting to transmit to the wireless communication device while the wireless communication device is in a power save mode. In some examples, the indication of whether the AP attempted to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode may be included in a retry field in a header of at least one of the one or more PPDUs obtained from the AP. In some other examples, the retry field may indicate that the AP is retransmitting one or more MPDUs.

Fig. 11 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting example operations 1100 for supporting wireless communications that provide an indication of a power save mode to an AP. The operations 1100 may be performed by an apparatus that is a network node or a wireless communication device operating within a network node (such as one of the STAs 120a-120i or STA 200 described with reference to fig. 1 and 2, respectively). In some implementations, operation 1100 may be associated with entering a power saving mode at 906 in fig. 9.

For example, at 1102, the wireless communication device transmits a frame to the AP with a power management field carrying a Power Management (PM) bit set to 1 before entering the power save mode. At 1104, the wireless communication device transmits a frame to the AP having a power management field carrying a PM bit set to 0 after waking from the power save mode. In this way, the AP may be notified when the wireless communication device enters the power save mode (such as indicated by a PM bit set to 1) and may be notified when the wireless communication device exits from the power save mode (such as indicated by a PM bit set to 0).

Fig. 12 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting example operations 1200 for supporting adjusting a period of wireless communication for delaying entry into a power save mode based on a sequence number of one or more PPDUs. The operations 1200 may be performed by an apparatus that is a network node or a wireless communication device operating within a network node (such as one of the STAs 120a-120i or STA 200 described with reference to fig. 1 and 2, respectively). In some implementations, the operation 1200 may be performed after entering the power saving mode at 906 in fig. 9.

For example, at 1202, the wireless communication device obtains a maximum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a last PPDU obtained from an AP prior to entering a power save mode from a reorder buffer of the wireless communication device. At 1204, the wireless communication device obtains, from an Rx PCU of the wireless communication device, a minimum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a first PPDU obtained from the AP after waking from a power save mode. In some examples, the adjusted time delay may be associated with or based on a difference between the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number to indicate that MPDUs carried in the last PPDU and MPDUs from the first PPDU are not consecutively acquired or received MPDUs.

Fig. 13 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting another example operation 1300 for supporting adjusting a period of wireless communication for delaying entry into a power save mode based on a sequence number of one or more PPDUs. The operations 1300 may be performed by an apparatus that is a network node or a wireless communication device operating within a network node (such as one of the STAs 120a-120i or STA 200 described with reference to fig. 1 and 2, respectively). In some implementations, operation 1300 may be performed after obtaining a minimum sequence number of MPDUs carried in the first PPDU at 1204 in fig. 12. For example, at 1302, the wireless communication device obtains, from an Rx PCU, a first sequence number of an MPDU carried in a second PPDU obtained by an interface after obtaining the first PPDU. In some examples, the adjusted time delay may be associated with or based on the first sequence number between a minimum sequence number and a maximum sequence number.

Fig. 14 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting another example operation 1400 for supporting adjusting a period of wireless communication for delaying entry into a power save mode based on a sequence number of one or more PPDUs. Operation 1400 may be performed by an apparatus that is a network node or a wireless communication device operating within a network node (such as one of STAs 120a-120i or STA 200 described with reference to fig. 1 and 2, respectively). In some implementations, operation 1400 may be performed after entering the power save mode at 906 in fig. 9. For example, at 1402, the wireless communication device obtains a third PPDU from the AP after obtaining the first PPDU. In some examples, the third PPDU is obtained after an end of a Block Acknowledgement (BA) window associated with the first PPDU, the second PPDU is obtained before the end of the BA window, and the adjusted time delay is not associated with a sequence number of MPDUs in the third PPDU between a minimum sequence number and a maximum sequence number.

Fig. 15 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting example operations 1500 for supporting wireless communication into and out of a power saving mode. The operations 1500 may be performed by an apparatus that is a network node or a wireless communication device operating within a network node (such as one of the STAs 120a-120i or STA 200 described with reference to fig. 1 and 2, respectively). In some implementations, the operation 1500 may be performed after entering the power saving mode at 906 in fig. 9.

For example, at 1502, the wireless communication device enters and wakes up from the power save mode multiple times. At 1504, whenever a wireless communication device wakes up from a power save mode, the wireless communication device obtains from a reorder buffer a maximum sequence number of MPDUs carried by an interface in a last PPDU obtained before the wireless communication device entered the power save mode. At 1506, the wireless communication device obtains from the Rx PCU a minimum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a first PPDU that the interface obtained after the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode whenever the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode.

In some implementations, for a threshold number of consecutive times the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode, the adjusted time delay is associated with a difference between the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number indicating that MPDUs carried in the last PPDU are not consecutively acquired or received MPDUs carried in the first PPDU. In some examples, obtaining the maximum sequence number and the minimum sequence number includes obtaining a Type Length Value (TLV) encoded message including the maximum sequence number, the minimum sequence number, and retry field information.

Fig. 16 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting example operations 1600 for supporting wireless communications that are delayed to enter a power save mode. The operations 1600 may be performed by an apparatus that is a network node or a wireless communication device operating within a network node (such as one of the STAs 120a-120i or STA 200 described with reference to fig. 1 and 2, respectively). In some implementations, operation 1600 may be performed in connection with entering a power save mode at 906 in fig. 9. For example, at 1602, the wireless communication device may not enter a power save mode until a reorder buffer (which is configured for the AP to receive or obtain PPDUs) is empty.

Fig. 17 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting example operations 1700 for supporting wireless communications into and out of a power save mode. Operation 1700 may be performed by an apparatus that is a network node or a wireless communication device operating within a network node (such as one of STAs 120a-120i or STA 200 described with reference to fig. 1 and 2, respectively). In some implementations, operation 1700 may be performed after entering the power save mode at 906 in fig. 9. For example, at 1702, the wireless communication device may periodically evaluate whether the AP is attempting to transmit to the wireless communication device while the wireless communication device is in a power save mode.

Fig. 18 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting another example operation 1800 for supporting wireless communication that enters and exits a power save mode. The operations 1800 may be performed by an apparatus that is a network node or a wireless communication device operating within a network node (such as one of the STAs 120a-120i or STA 200 described with reference to fig. 1 and 2, respectively). In some implementations, operation 1800 may be performed in conjunction with operation 900 of fig. 9.

For example, at 1802, a wireless communication device may obtain a header of a packet transmitted over a wireless communication medium. At 1804, the wireless communication device may enter a power save mode after processing the header. In some examples, the receiver address in the header does not match the address of the wireless communication device, and the length of time of the power save mode is associated with an amount of time the wireless communication medium is occupied during transmission of the packet. At 1806, the wireless communication device may wake up from the power save mode after a length of time of the power save mode. In some implementations, the receiver address in the header does not match the address of the wireless communication device, and the length of time of the power save mode is associated with an amount of time the wireless communication medium is occupied during transmission of the packet. In some examples, adjusting the time period may include disabling or enabling entry into a power saving mode by the wireless communication device.

Fig. 19 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting example operations 1900 for supporting adjusting a period of wireless communication for delaying entry into a power save mode based on a first PPDU obtained after waking from the power save mode. In some implementations, operation 1900 may be performed by an apparatus that is a network node or a wireless communication device operating within a network node (such as one of STAs 120a-120i or STA 200 described with reference to fig. 1 and 2, respectively).

At 1902, the wireless communication device wakes up from a power save mode. In some implementations, the processing system 260 of the STA 200 causes the STA 200 to wake up from the power save mode. At 1904, the wireless communication device provides an indication to the AP that the device is in an active mode (and thereby wakes up from a power save mode). In some implementations, the interface 250 of the STA 200 provides a frame to the AP in which the PM field is set to 0 to instruct the STA 200 to wake from the power save mode. At 1906, the wireless communication device receives or obtains one or more PPDUs after waking from a power save mode.

In some implementations, the indication of whether the AP attempted to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode may be provided in or carried by one or more PPDUs received or obtained from the AP. In some examples, the indication of whether the AP attempted to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode may be included in a retry field in a header of at least one of the one or more PPDUs obtained from the AP. In some other examples, the retry field may indicate that the AP is retransmitting MPDUs.

Fig. 20A shows an illustrative flow chart depicting another example operation 2000A for supporting wireless communication entering and exiting a power save mode. The operations 2000A may be performed by an apparatus that is a network node or a wireless communication device operating within a network node (such as one of the STAs 120A-120i or STA 200 described with reference to fig. 1 and 2, respectively). In some implementations, operation 2000A may be an example of adjusting leakage protection based on a first PPDU of the one or more PPDUs obtained at 1906.

At 2002, the wireless communication device obtains a first PPDU after waking up from a power save mode. For example, the interface 250 of the STA 200 receives or obtains the first PPDU from the AP. At 2004, the wireless communication device identifies one or more retry fields in the first PPDU. The first PPDU includes one or more MPDUs. In some implementations, the Rx PCU 306 of fig. 3 of the wireless communication device decodes the PPDU to identify MAC headers of one or more MPDUs and to identify retry fields in those MAC headers. At 2006, the wireless communication device determines whether the retry field indicates that the MPDU is being retransmitted. For example, retry field information from Rx PCU 306 may be encoded into a message obtained by processing system 260 of STA 200. The processing system 260 may determine whether any retry fields in the PPDU are set to 1 to indicate that the associated MPDU is being retransmitted by the AP.

The indication of retransmission of MPDUs in the first PPDU by the AP after the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode may indicate whether the AP has leakage. In some implementations, setting the retry field to 1 in the first PPDU may indicate that the AP is retransmitting the leaked packet. In some examples, an AP may retransmit a packet based on a link quality between the AP and a wireless communication device. For example, an AP may transmit a packet before a wireless communication device enters a power save mode, and the received signal strength of the packet may be insufficient for the wireless communication device to successfully acquire and decode the packet.

If the retry field indicates that the MPDU is being retransmitted, the wireless communication device may determine if the link quality between the AP and the wireless communication device is less than a threshold at 2008. In some examples, the wireless communication device may determine the link quality using one or more of a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) of the transmitted packet, a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) used to transmit the packet, a Packet Error Rate (PER), channel State Information (CSI), or a bandwidth of the wireless medium. If the link quality is less than the threshold, the wireless communication device sets a time period for delaying entry into the power save mode to a first value at 2010. Conversely, if the link quality is not less than the threshold, the wireless communication device sets the time period to a second value at 2012. In some examples, the processing system may adjust leakage protection between the first value and the second value based on whether the RRSI is greater than or less than a configured threshold.

In some implementations, the first value may be associated with no leakage of the AP and the second value may be associated with leakage of the AP. The wireless communication device may not delay entering the power save mode when the AP is not leaky. When an AP has leakage, the wireless communication device may delay entering a power save mode to prevent loss of leaked packets transmitted by the AP. In some examples, the first value may be 0ms and the second value may be 5ms. The first value and the second value may be any suitable period of time as long as the first value is less than the second value.

In some other implementations, instead of setting the time period to the first value or the second value, the time period may be increased or decreased by an amount. In this way, leakage protection may be increased or decreased to a particular period of time associated with preventing an AP from leaking packets.

If at 2006 no retry field indicates that the MPDU is being retransmitted, the wireless communication device determines at 2014 a difference between a maximum sequence number of a last PPDU obtained from before entering the power save mode and a minimum sequence number of a first PPDU obtained after waking from the power save mode. In some examples, the wireless communication device may obtain a maximum sequence number from a last PPDU obtained prior to entering the power save mode and may obtain a minimum sequence number from a first PPDU obtained after waking from the power save mode. For example, the Rx PCU 306 may decode a sequence number from a MAC sequence control field of a MAC header in a first PPDU to obtain a minimum sequence number from the first PPDU, and the reorder buffer 308 may obtain a maximum sequence number from a last PPDU. The maximum sequence number and the minimum sequence number obtained from the first PPDU may be encoded into a message (such as a TLV encoded message).

In some implementations, a TLV encoded message including a minimum sequence number, a maximum sequence number, and retry field information may be created for each PPDU obtained by interface 250. In this way, the interface 250 may obtain the last PPDU before entering the power save mode, and the Rx PCU 306 may decode the sequence number from the MAC sequence control field of the MAC header in the last PPDU. The maximum sequence number and the minimum sequence number may be included in a TLV encoded message associated with the last PPDU. The processing system 260 may obtain the maximum sequence number of MPDUs carried in the last PPDU obtained before entering the power save mode from the reorder buffer. In some examples, the processing system 260 may be configured to store the maximum sequence number when the STA 200 is in the power save mode.

At 2016, the wireless communication device determines whether the difference between the largest sequence number of MPDUs carried in the last PPDU and the smallest sequence number of MPDUs carried in the first PPDU is greater than 1. If the difference is not greater than 1, which may indicate that there is no other sequence number between the largest sequence number of MPDUs carried in the last PPDU and the smallest sequence number of MPDUs carried in the first PPDU, the wireless communication device may set the time period to the first value at 2010.

Conversely, if the difference is greater than 1, which may indicate that there is another sequence number between the largest sequence number carried in the last PPDU and the smallest sequence number carried in the first PPDU, the wireless communication device may determine at 2018 whether another PPDU is to be obtained before the end of the BA window. If there is no other PPDU to be obtained before the end of the BA window, the wireless communication device may set the time period to a first value at 2010. In contrast, if there is another PPDU to be obtained before the BA window ends, operation 2000A proceeds to 2020 of fig. 20B.

Fig. 20B shows an illustrative flow chart depicting another example operation 2000B for supporting wireless communication entering and exiting a power save mode. The operations 2000B may be performed by an apparatus that is a network node or a wireless communication device operating within a network node (such as one of the STAs 120a-120i or STA 200 described with reference to fig. 1 and 2, respectively). In some implementations, operation 2000B may continue from operation 2000A of fig. 20A, and in particular from the yes branch of determination step 2018 of fig. 20A.

At 2020, the wireless communication device receives or obtains a next PPDU from the AP. For example, the interface 250 of the STA 200 may obtain the second PPDU after obtaining the first PPDU. At 2022, the wireless communication device may identify one or more retry fields in the PPDU. For example, the Rx PCU 306 may decode the second PPDU to identify one or more retry fields in the MAC header. At 2024, the wireless communication device determines whether any of the retry fields indicate that the MPDU is being retransmitted. If one or more of the retry fields indicate that the MPDU is being retransmitted, the wireless communication device obtains a sequence number from the PPDU at 2026. At 2028, the wireless communication device determines whether the obtained sequence number is between a maximum sequence number carried in a last PPDU obtained prior to entering the power save mode and a minimum sequence number carried in a first PPDU obtained after waking from the power save mode. If the obtained sequence number is between the maximum sequence number and the minimum sequence number, which may indicate that the AP has leakage, the wireless communication device determines if the link quality is less than a threshold at 2030.

If the link quality is less than the threshold, which may indicate that the packet was retransmitted due to poor link quality instead of a leaky AP, the wireless communication device may set the time period to a first value at 2032. If the link quality is not less than the threshold, which may indicate that the retransmission packet is due to a leaky AP, the wireless communication device may set the time period to a second value at 2034.

If the sequence number obtained at 2028 is not between the maximum sequence number and the minimum sequence number, or if any retry field does not indicate that the MPDU is being retransmitted at 2024, the wireless communication device may determine at 2036 whether there are any additional PPDUs to obtain before the end of the BA window. If there are no additional PPDUs to obtain before the BA window ends, the wireless communication device sets the time period to a first value at 2032. In some implementations, the device listens for additional PPDUs until the BA window ends. The AP does not attempt to retransmit the leaked packet after the BA window.

At the end of the BA window, the wireless communication device may ensure that the leakage protection is set to a first value (such as 0 ms). The wireless communication device may receive or obtain a third PPDU after obtaining the first PPDU and a second PPDU obtained before the end of the BA window. In some examples, the third PPDU is obtained after a BA window associated with the first PPDU ends (such as during a different BA window). The wireless communication device does not check a retry field or sequence number of the third PPDU to determine whether the AP has leakage. In this way, determining that the AP is leaky is not based on or not associated with the sequence number of the MPDU in the third PPDU being between the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number used to determine the difference in block 2016 in fig. 20A.

Although not shown in fig. 20A-20B for simplicity, the wireless communication device may prevent entering the power save mode when the reorder buffer 308 is not empty. As discussed, the non-empty state of the reorder buffer 308 may indicate one or more previous packet losses (such as depicted in the example of fig. 8). In some implementations, if reorder buffer 308 is configured to store packets until all previous packets are acquired and provided to DRU 310, the empty state of reorder buffer 308 may indicate that none of the packets preceding the packet with the largest sequence number in the last PPDU acquired prior to entering power save mode are lost. In some examples, the wireless communication device may also not enter the power save mode in response to determining that its receive chain is idle. In this way, the wireless communication device may determine that the reorder buffer 308 is empty and its receive chain is idle before entering the power save mode.

In some implementations, if an AP is determined to have leakage, the wireless communication device may record or store an identifier of the AP. For example, if the time period is set to the second value at 2012 or 2034, the processing system 260 of the STA 200 may store the BSSID of the AP in the database 241 of the STA 200. In this way, the STA 200 may identify an AP attempting to transmit to the STA 200 when the STA 200 is in the power save mode. In some examples, storing the BSSID of an AP in the database 241 of the respective STA may indicate that the AP has leakage, and the absence of the BSSID of an AP in the database 241 of the respective STA may indicate that the AP has no leakage. In some other examples, storing the BSSID of an AP in the database 241 of the respective STA may indicate a relatively high likelihood of the AP having a leak, and the absence of the BSSID of the AP in the database 241 of the respective STA may indicate a relatively low likelihood of the AP having a leak. An indication that the AP is not leaky may be associated with adjusting the leakage protection associated with the respective STA.

The operations described with reference to fig. 20A-20B are based on receiving a PPDU addressed to STA 200. In some other implementations, the operations described with reference to fig. 20A-20B may also be used to block entry into a power save mode based on packet power saving. Packet Power Save (PPS) refers to one or more operations in which the STA 200 receives a packet over a wireless medium, determines that the packet is not addressed to the STA 200 based on information included in the packet header, and places selected components of the STA 200 in a low power state for the remainder of the time that the packet transmission occupies the wireless medium. In some examples, STA 200 may be considered to be in an active mode based on a signaling protocol, even if selected components are placed in a low power state such that STA 200 is prevented from receiving or processing packets. As used herein, placing a component in a low power state for a PPS may be referred to as a rest state.

For example, when a legacy or High Throughput (HT) MPDU is received or obtained, the STA 200 may obtain a header including a MAC receive address of the MPDU, decode the MAC receive address, and determine that the decoded MAC receive address does not match the address of the STA 200. The STA 200 may place selected components in a low power state while packets are being transmitted over the wireless medium. Upon receiving or obtaining the HT a-MPDU, the STA 200 may place the selected component in a low power state based on a cyclic redundancy check failure from the first delimiter, or may place the selected component in a low power state based on a mismatch between the RA field of the HT a-MPDU and the MAC address of the STA.

Upon receiving or obtaining a Very High Throughput (VHT) SU packet, STA 200 may place the selected component in a low power state based on a partial Association Identifier (AID) mismatch and a failed first delimiter CRC, or may place the selected component in a low power state based on a mismatch between the RA field of the VHT SU packet and the MAC address of the STA. Upon receiving or obtaining the VHT MU packet, the STA 200 may place the selected component in a low power state based on the group ID mismatch and the failed first delimiter CRC, or may place the selected component in a low power state based on a mismatch between the RA field of the VHT MU packet and the MAC address of the STA.

Upon receiving or obtaining a High Efficiency (HE) Single User (SU) packet, STA 200 may place the selected component in a low power state based on BSS mismatch and failed first delimiter CRC, or may place the selected component in a low power state based on mismatch between the RA field of the HE SU packet and the MAC address of the STA. Upon receiving or obtaining the HE MU packet, the STA 200 may place the selected component in a low power state based on a BSS mismatch, based on a STA ID mismatch, based on a failed first delimiter CRC, or based on a mismatch between the RA field of the HE MU packet and the MAC address of the STA. In this way, STA 200 may save power when the wireless medium is occupied with traffic that is not intended for STA 200.

Fig. 21 illustrates an example timing diagram 2100 for wireless communications supporting a rest state. As shown, the STA is within wireless range of the first AP 2102 and the second AP 2104. The STA may disable PPS (2106) or enable PPS (2108). The STA is not associated with the BSS of the first AP 2102 but is associated with the BSS of the second AP 2104. The first AP 2102 transmits a first packet 2110 over the wireless communication medium at time t ₁. If the STA disables PPS (2106), the STA is in an active mode to listen and receive or obtain the first packet 2110 between times t ₂ and t ₄. If the STA is PPS enabled (2108), then the STA is in active mode to obtain the packet header 2112 of the first packet 2110 between times t ₂ and t ₃. The STA determines that the first packet 2110 is not intended for the STA and enters a rest state 2114 at time t ₃. The STA may remain in the rest state 2114 until time t ₄. In this way, the STA saves power when it does not need to listen to the wireless medium. If the second AP 2104 is enabled based on PPS to not transmit to the STA while the STA is in the rest state 2114, the STA saves power without losing any packets transmitted from the second AP 2104.

As shown in the example timing diagram 2100, the second AP 2104 transmits a third packet 2130 during transmission of the second packet 2120 by the first AP 2102. For example, the first AP 2102 begins transmitting the second packet 2120 at time t ₅. During the transmission of the second packet 2120, the second AP 2104 starts transmitting a third packet 2130 at time t ₈. If the STA disables PPS (2106), the STA receives or obtains a second packet 2120 between times t ₆ and t ₁₀ and also receives or obtains a third packet 2130 between times t ₉ and t ₁₁ because the STA does not enter a rest state based on the second packet 2120. If the STA is PPS enabled (2108), the STA obtains the packet header 2122 of the second packet 2120 between times t ₆ and t ₇. The STA determines that the second packet 2120 is not intended for the STA and enters a rest state 2124 at time t ₇. The STA may remain in the rest state 2124 until time t ₁₀, e.g., such that the STA cannot receive or obtain the third packet 2130 transmitted from the second AP 2104. Thereby, the STA loses the third packet 2130 transmitted from the second AP 2104. In some implementations, the number of lost packets caused by enabling PPS may increase as congestion on the wireless medium increases. In this way, operations associated with determining a leaky AP or adjusting leakage protection may also be used to determine or adjust when a STA is to enter a rest state associated with a PPS.

As discussed, the rest state associated with PPS may be different from the power save mode associated with leaky AP. For example, fewer STA components may be placed in a low power state when entering a rest state to reduce the amount of time associated with waking from the rest state. Operations disclosed herein associated with adjusting leakage protection may also be used to adjust when a STA is to enter a rest state. For example, adjusting leakage protection may refer to enabling or disabling PPS to allow or prevent STAs from entering a rest state. For example, a PPS-enabled STA may obtain a maximum sequence number for one packet before entering a rest state and a minimum sequence number for another packet after exiting the rest state. The STA may determine whether a packet received or obtained after the rest state includes a retry field set to 1, or may determine a difference between a maximum sequence number and a minimum sequence number. If the retry field is set to 1 and the difference is greater than 1, which may indicate that the second AP 2104 leaked one or more packets (such as based on obtaining a retry packet that was lost while the STA was in a rest state), the STA may disable PPS. The STA may enable PPS if the second AP 2104 does not transmit packets that the STA lost while the STA was in a rest state.

As discussed, reference to a device enabling PPS to enter a "power save mode" may refer to a device entering a rest state. In determining whether PPS is to be enabled or disabled using operations 1600 or 1700 in fig. 16 and 17, reaching block 2010 or block 2032 (entitled "setting the time period to the first value") may indicate that the STA is to enable PPS. Reaching block 2012 or block 2034 (entitled "set time period to second value") may indicate that the STA is to disable PPS. In this way, the wireless communication device may determine whether the device may have lost one or more packets from the AP while the device is in a rest state, and the wireless communication device may enable or disable PPS accordingly. As discussed, the wireless communication device may periodically determine (such as every 5 seconds) whether any packets were lost when the PPS was enabled, or otherwise update whether the PPS is to be enabled or disabled by performing the operations described with reference to fig. 16 and 17. For example, the wireless communication device may periodically enable the PPS and determine whether the PPS should remain enabled or should be disabled. In some examples, the wireless communication device may enable PPS every 5 seconds to determine whether PPS is to remain enabled or disabled. In some other examples, if the wireless communication device disables the PPS more than a configured number of times within a certain period of time after the PPS is enabled, the wireless communication device may increase the duration of time between disabling and enabling the PPS. In this way, if the wireless communication device is operating in a persistent congestion environment that causes PPS-enabled devices to lose packets, the wireless communication device may disable PPS until congestion is reduced by at least an amount, which may increase throughput of the wireless medium.

The following provides an overview of some aspects of the disclosure:

aspect 1: a wireless communication device, comprising:

a processing system configured to:

Adjusting a time period for delaying entry into a power save mode, wherein the time period is associated with the wireless communication device remaining awake to prevent an Access Point (AP) from transmitting to the wireless communication device while the wireless communication device is in the power save mode; and

An interface configured to:

Providing an indication to the AP that the wireless communication device is entering the power save mode; and

The processing system is further configured to:

after the provided indication, upon expiration of at least the adjusted time period, the wireless communication device is caused to enter the power saving mode.

Aspect 2: the wireless communication device of aspect 1, wherein:

the processing system is further configured to:

waking up the wireless communication device from the power save mode; and

The interface is further configured to:

One or more physical layer protocol data units (PPDUs) are obtained from the AP after waking from the power save mode, the one or more PPDUs indicating whether the AP attempts to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode.

Aspect 3: the wireless communication device of aspect 2, wherein the interface is further configured to:

Providing a frame in which a power management field is set to 1 to the AP before entering the power saving mode; and

A frame in which the power management field is set to 0 is provided to the AP after waking up from the power saving mode.

Aspect 4: the wireless communication device of any one or more of aspects 2-3, wherein the indication of whether the AP attempted to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode is included in a retry field in a header of at least one PPDU of the one or more PPDUs obtained from the AP, the retry field indicating that one or more Media Access Control (MAC) protocol data units (MPDUs) are being retransmitted by the AP.

Aspect 5: the wireless communication device of aspect 4, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

Obtaining, from a reorder buffer of the wireless communication device, a maximum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a last PPDU obtained from the AP before entering the power save mode; and

A minimum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a first PPDU obtained from the AP after waking up from the power save mode is obtained from a receive (Rx) Protocol Control Unit (PCU) of the wireless communication device, wherein a difference between the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number indicates that MPDUs from the last PPDU and MPDUs from the first PPDU are not consecutive MPDUs.

Aspect 6: the wireless communication device of aspect 5, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

A first sequence number of MPDUs carried by the interface in a second PPDU obtained by the interface after obtaining the first PPDU is obtained from the Rx PCU, wherein the adjusted time delay is associated with the first sequence number between the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number.

Aspect 7: the wireless communication device of aspect 6, wherein the interface is further configured to obtain a third PPDU from the AP after obtaining the first PPDU, wherein:

the third PPDU is obtained after a Block Acknowledgement (BA) window associated with the first PPDU ends;

The second PPDU is obtained before the BA window ends; and

The adjusted time delay is not associated with a sequence number of an MPDU in the third PPDU between the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number.

Aspect 8: the wireless communication device of any one or more of aspects 6-7, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

causing the wireless communication device to enter the power save mode a plurality of times and waking up the wireless communication device from the power save mode; and

Whenever the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode:

Obtaining, from the reorder buffer, a maximum sequence number of MPDUs carried in the last PPDU obtained by the interface before the wireless communication device enters the power save mode; and

Obtaining, from the Rx PCU, a minimum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a first PPDU obtained by the interface after the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode;

Wherein for a threshold number of consecutive times the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode, the adjusted time delay is associated with a difference between the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number indicating that MPDUs from the last PPDU and MPDUs from the first PPDU are not consecutive MPDUs.

Aspect 9: the wireless communication device of any one or more of aspects 5-8, wherein obtaining the maximum sequence number and the minimum sequence number comprises obtaining a Type Length Value (TLV) encoded message comprising the maximum sequence number, the minimum sequence number, and retry field information.

Aspect 10: the wireless communication device of any one or more of aspects 1-9, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

the wireless communication device is prevented from entering the power save mode until a reorder buffer configured to obtain PPDUs from the AP is empty.

Aspect 11: the wireless communication device of any one or more of aspects 1-10, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

Periodically evaluate whether the AP attempts to transmit to the wireless communication device while the wireless communication device is in the power save mode.

Aspect 12: the wireless communication device of any one or more of aspects 1-11, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

The method also includes storing a Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID) of the AP in a database of the wireless communication device in association with the AP attempting to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode.

Aspect 13: the wireless communication device of any one or more of aspects 1-12, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

obtaining a header of a packet transmitted over a wireless communication medium;

after processing the header, causing the wireless communication device to enter the power save mode, wherein:

The receiver address in the header does not match the address of the wireless communication device; and

The length of time of the power save mode is associated with an amount of time the wireless communication medium is occupied during transmission of the packet; and

Waking up the wireless communication device from the power save mode after the length of time, wherein adjusting the period of time includes disabling or enabling entry into the power save mode by the wireless communication device.

Aspect 14: the wireless communication device of any one or more of aspects 1-13, wherein the adjusted period of time is between 0 milliseconds (ms) and 5 ms.

Aspect 15: the wireless communication device of any one or more of aspects 1-14, wherein the adjusted time period is further associated with a link quality between the wireless communication device and the AP.

Aspect 16: a method performed by an apparatus of a wireless communication device, comprising:

Adjusting a time period for delaying entry into a power save mode, wherein the time period is associated with the wireless communication device remaining awake to prevent an Access Point (AP) from transmitting to the wireless communication device while the wireless communication device is in the power save mode;

After providing the indication to the AP, the power saving mode is entered upon expiration of at least the adjusted time period.

Aspect 17: the method of aspect 16, further comprising:

Waking up from the power saving mode; and

Aspect 18: the method of aspect 17, further comprising:

Transmitting a frame in which a power management field is set to 1 to the AP before entering the power saving mode; and

A frame in which the power management field is set to 0 is transmitted to the AP after waking up from the power saving mode.

Aspect 19: the method of aspect 17, wherein the indication of whether the AP attempted to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode is included in a retry field in a header of at least one PPDU of the one or more PPDUs obtained from the AP, the retry field indicating that one or more Media Access Control (MAC) protocol data units (MPDUs) are being retransmitted by the AP.

Aspect 20: the method of aspect 19, further comprising:

Aspect 21: the method of aspect 20, further comprising:

A first sequence number of MPDUs carried in a second PPDU obtained by the interface after obtaining the first PPDU is obtained from the Rx PCU, wherein the adjusted time delay is associated with the first sequence number between the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number.

Aspect 22: the method of aspect 21, further comprising obtaining a third PPDU from the AP after obtaining the first PPDU, wherein:

The second PPDU is obtained before the BA window ends; and

Aspect 23: the method of aspect 21, further comprising:

multiple entries into and awakes from the power saving mode; and

Whenever the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode:

Aspect 24: the method of any one or more of aspects 20-23, wherein obtaining the maximum sequence number and the minimum sequence number comprises obtaining a Type Length Value (TLV) encoded message comprising the maximum sequence number, the minimum sequence number, and retry field information.

Aspect 25: the method of any one or more of aspects 20-24, further comprising preventing the wireless communication device from entering the power save mode until a reorder buffer configured to obtain PPDUs from the AP is empty.

Aspect 26: the method of any one or more of aspects 16-25, further comprising periodically evaluating whether the AP attempts to transmit to the wireless communication device while the wireless communication device is in the power save mode.

Aspect 27: the method of any one or more of aspects 16-26, further comprising storing a Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID) of the AP in a database of the wireless communication device in association with the AP attempting to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode.

Aspect 28: the method of any one or more of aspects 16-27, further comprising:

Entering the power saving mode after processing the header, wherein:

After the length of time, waking up from the power saving mode.

Aspect 29: the method of any one or more of aspects 16-28, wherein the adjusted time period is further associated with a link quality between the wireless communication device and the AP.

Aspect 30: a wireless communication device, comprising:

Means for adjusting a time period for delaying entry into a power save mode, wherein the time period is associated with the wireless communication device remaining awake to prevent an Access Point (AP) from transmitting to the wireless communication device while the wireless communication device is in the power save mode;

Means for providing an indication to the AP that the wireless communication device is entering the power save mode; and

Means for entering the power saving mode upon expiration of at least the adjusted time period after providing the indication to the AP.

Aspect 31: the wireless communication device of aspect 30, further comprising:

means for waking up from the power saving mode; and

Means for obtaining one or more physical layer protocol data units (PPDUs) from the AP after waking from the power save mode, the one or more PPDUs indicating whether the AP is attempting to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode.

Aspect 32: the wireless communications device of aspect 31, further comprising:

Means for transmitting a frame in which a power management field is set to 1 to the AP before entering the power saving mode; and

Means for transmitting a frame to the AP after waking from the power save mode, wherein the power management field is set to 0.

Aspect 33: the wireless communication device of any one or more of aspects 31-32, wherein the indication of whether the AP attempted to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode is included in a retry field in a header of at least one PPDU of the one or more PPDUs obtained from the AP, the retry field indicating that one or more Media Access Control (MAC) protocol data units (MPDUs) are being retransmitted by the AP.

Aspect 34: the wireless communications device of aspect 33, further comprising:

means for obtaining, from a reorder buffer of the wireless communication device, a maximum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a last PPDU obtained from the AP before entering the power save mode; and

Means for obtaining, from a receive (Rx) Protocol Control Unit (PCU) of the wireless communication device, a minimum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a first PPDU obtained from the AP after waking up from the power save mode, wherein a difference between the adjusted time delay and the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number indicates that MPDUs from the last PPDU and MPDUs from the first PPDU are not consecutive MPDUs.

Aspect 35: the wireless communications device of aspect 34, further comprising:

Means for obtaining, from the Rx PCU, a first sequence number of MPDUs carried by the interface in a second PPDU obtained by the interface after obtaining the first PPDU, wherein the adjusted time delay is associated with the first sequence number between the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number.

Aspect 36: the wireless communications apparatus of claim 35, further comprising means for obtaining a third PPDU from the AP after obtaining the first PPDU, wherein:

The second PPDU is obtained before the BA window ends; and

Aspect 37: the wireless communication device of any one or more of aspects 35-36, further comprising:

Means for entering and waking up from the power saving mode a plurality of times; and

Whenever the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode:

Means for obtaining, from the reorder buffer, a maximum sequence number of MPDUs carried in the last PPDU obtained by the interface before the wireless communication device enters the power save mode; and

Means for obtaining, from the Rx PCU, a minimum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a first PPDU obtained by the interface after the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode;

Aspect 38: the wireless communication device of any one or more of aspects 34-37, wherein obtaining the maximum sequence number and the minimum sequence number comprises obtaining a Type Length Value (TLV) encoded message comprising the maximum sequence number, the minimum sequence number, and retry field information.

Aspect 39: the wireless communication device of any one or more of aspects 30-38, further comprising means for preventing the wireless communication device from entering the power save mode until a reorder buffer configured to obtain PPDUs from the AP is empty.

Aspect 40: the wireless communication device of any one or more of aspects 30-39, further comprising means for periodically evaluating whether the AP attempts to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode.

Aspect 41: the wireless communication device of any one or more of aspects 30-40, further comprising means for storing a Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID) of the AP in a database of the wireless communication device in association with the AP attempting to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode.

Aspect 42: the wireless communication device of any one or more of aspects 30-41, further comprising:

Means for obtaining a header of a packet transmitted over a wireless communication medium;

means for entering the power saving mode after processing the header, wherein:

Means for waking up from the power save mode after the length of time.

Aspect 43: the wireless communication device of any one or more of aspects 30-42, wherein the adjusted time period is further associated with a link quality between the wireless communication device and the AP.

Aspect 44: a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processing system of a wireless communication device, cause the wireless communication device to perform operations comprising:

After providing the indication to the AP, upon expiration of at least the adjusted time period, causing the wireless communication device to enter the power saving mode.

Aspect 45: the non-transitory computer-readable medium of aspect 44, wherein execution of the instructions causes the wireless communication device to perform operations further comprising:

Waking up from the power saving mode; and

Aspect 46: the non-transitory computer-readable medium of aspect 45, wherein execution of the instructions causes the wireless communication device to perform operations further comprising:

A frame in which the power management field is set to 0 is transmitted to the AP after waking from the power saving mode.

Aspect 47: the non-transitory computer-readable medium of aspect 45, wherein the indication of whether the AP attempted to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode is included in a retry field in a header of at least one PPDU of the one or more PPDUs obtained from the AP, the retry field indicating that one or more Media Access Control (MAC) protocol data units (MPDUs) are being retransmitted by the AP.

Aspect 48: the non-transitory computer-readable medium of aspect 47, wherein execution of the instructions causes the wireless communication device to perform operations further comprising:

Aspect 49: the non-transitory computer-readable medium of aspect 48, wherein execution of the instructions causes the wireless communication device to perform operations further comprising:

Aspect 50: the non-transitory computer-readable medium of aspect 49, wherein execution of the instructions causes the wireless communication device to perform operations further comprising:

obtaining a third PPDU from the AP after obtaining the first PPDU, wherein:

The second PPDU is obtained before the BA window ends; and

Aspect 51: the non-transitory computer-readable medium of any one or more of aspects 49-50, wherein execution of the instructions causes the wireless communication device to perform operations further comprising:

multiple entries into and awakes from the power saving mode; and

Whenever the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode:

Aspect 52: the non-transitory computer-readable medium of any one or more of aspects 48-51, wherein obtaining the maximum sequence number and the minimum sequence number comprises obtaining a Type Length Value (TLV) encoded message comprising the maximum sequence number, the minimum sequence number, and retry field information.

Aspect 53: the non-transitory computer-readable medium of any one or more of aspects 44-52, wherein execution of the instructions causes the wireless communication device to perform operations further comprising: the wireless communication device is prevented from entering the power save mode until a reorder buffer configured to obtain PPDUs from the AP is empty.

Aspect 54: the non-transitory computer-readable medium of any one or more of aspects 44-53, wherein execution of the instructions causes the wireless communication device to perform operations further comprising: periodically evaluate whether the AP attempts to transmit to the wireless communication device while the wireless communication device is in the power save mode.

Aspect 55: the non-transitory computer-readable medium of any one or more of aspects 44-54, wherein execution of the instructions causes the wireless communication device to perform operations further comprising: the method also includes storing a Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID) of the AP in a database of the wireless communication device in association with the AP attempting to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode.

Aspect 56: the non-transitory computer-readable medium of any one or more of aspects 44-55, wherein execution of the instructions causes the wireless communication device to perform operations further comprising:

Entering the power saving mode after processing the header, wherein:

After the length of time, waking up from the power saving mode.

Aspect 57: the non-transitory computer-readable medium of any one or more of aspects 44-56, wherein the adjusted time period is further associated with a link quality between the wireless communication device and the AP.

Aspect 58: a wireless communication device, comprising:

a processing system configured to:

enabling a Packet Power Save (PPS) mode during which the wireless communication device is configured to enter a rest state associated with receiving frames that are not addressed to the wireless communication device; and

An interface configured to:

Receiving at least a header of a frame transmitted over a wireless channel from an Access Point (AP); and

Obtaining an indication that the frame is not addressed to the wireless communication device; and

The processing system is further configured to:

Causing the wireless communication device to enter the rest state associated with the obtained indication;

After the end of the rest state, obtaining an indication that the AP transmitted one or more frames to the wireless communication device during the rest state; and

The PPS mode is disabled in association with an indication that the AP transmits one or more frames to the wireless communication device during the rest state.

As used herein, a phrase referring to a list of items "at least one of" refers to any combination of these items, including individual members. As an example, "at least one of a, b, or c" is intended to encompass: a. b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c and a-b-c.

The various illustrative logics, logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm processes described in connection with the implementations disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. This interchangeability of hardware and software has been described generally in terms of its functionality, and is illustrated in the various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and processes described above. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system.

The hardware and data processing apparatus used to implement the various illustrative logic, logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose single or multi-chip processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as, for example, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. In some implementations, particular processes and methods may be performed by circuitry dedicated to a given function.

In one or more aspects, the functions described may be implemented in hardware, digital electronic circuitry, computer software, firmware (including the structures disclosed in this specification and their structural equivalents), or in any combination thereof. Implementations of the subject matter described in this specification can also be implemented as one or more computer programs, i.e., one or more modules of computer program instructions encoded on a computer storage medium for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus.

If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. The processes of the methods or algorithms disclosed herein may be implemented in processor-executable software modules that may reside on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that can be implemented to transfer a computer program from one place to another. A storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. Any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. Disk (disk) and disc (disk) as used herein include Compact Disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital Versatile Disc (DVD), floppy disk and blu-ray disc where disks (disk) often reproduce data magnetically, while discs (disk) reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media. Additionally, the operations of a method or algorithm may reside as one of code and instructions or any combination or set of code and instructions on a machine readable medium and computer readable medium, which may be incorporated into a computer program product.

Various modifications to the implementations described in this disclosure may be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other implementations without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the implementations shown herein but are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the disclosure, principles and novel features disclosed herein.

In addition, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that the terms "upper" and "lower" are sometimes used for convenience in describing the drawings and indicate relative positions corresponding to the orientation of the drawings on a properly oriented page, and may not reflect the true orientation of any device as implemented.

Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate implementations may also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Furthermore, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination, or variation of a subcombination.

Similarly, although operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Furthermore, the figures may schematically depict one or more example processes in the form of a flow chart. However, other operations not depicted may be incorporated into the example process schematically illustrated. For example, one or more additional operations may be performed before, after, concurrently with, or between any of the illustrated operations. In some circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various system components in the implementations described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products. Additionally, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. In some cases, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device, comprising:

a processing system configured to:

Adjusting a time period associated with delaying entry into a power save mode, wherein the time period is associated with the wireless communication device remaining awake to prevent an access point, AP, from transmitting to the wireless communication device while the wireless communication device is in the power save mode; and

An interface configured to:

The processing system is further configured to:

upon expiration of at least the adjusted time period after providing the indication to the AP, causing the wireless communication device to enter the power save mode; and

Waking up the wireless communication device from the power save mode; and

The interface is further configured to:

One or more physical layer protocol data units, PPDUs, are obtained from the AP after waking up from the power save mode, the one or more PPDUs indicating whether the AP attempts to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode, wherein an indication of whether the AP attempts to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode is included in a retry field in a header of at least one of the one or more PPDUs obtained from the AP, the retry field indicating that one or more media access control, MAC, protocol data units, MPDUs, are being retransmitted by the AP.

2. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises a notification frame signaling an intent of the wireless communication device to enter the power save mode.

3. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

A minimum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a first PPDU obtained from the AP after waking up from the power saving mode is obtained from a receive Rx protocol control unit PCU of the wireless communication device, wherein an adjusted time delay is associated with a difference between the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number indicating that MPDUs carried in the last PPDU and MPDUs carried in the first PPDU are not consecutively obtained.

4. The wireless communication device of claim 3, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

5. The wireless communication device of claim 4, wherein the interface is further configured to obtain a third PPDU from the AP after obtaining the first PPDU, wherein:

The third PPDU is obtained after an end of a block acknowledgement, BA, window associated with the first PPDU;

The second PPDU is obtained before the end of the BA window; and

6. The wireless communication device of claim 3, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

Causing the wireless communication device to enter the power save mode and wake up the wireless communication device from the power save mode a plurality of times; and

Whenever the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode:

Obtaining, from the reorder buffer, a maximum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a last PPDU obtained by the interface before the wireless communication device enters the power save mode; and

Obtaining from the Rx PCU a minimum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a first PPDU obtained by the interface after the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode,

Wherein for a threshold number of consecutive times the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode, the adjusted time delay is associated with a difference between a minimum sequence number and a maximum sequence number indicating that MPDUs carried in the last PPDU and MPDUs carried in a first PPDU are not consecutively acquired.

7. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein entering the power save mode is associated with receiving an acknowledgement from the AP to obtain the indication.

8. A method performed by an apparatus of a wireless communication device, comprising:

adjusting a time period associated with delaying entry into a power save mode, wherein the time period is associated with the wireless communication device remaining awake to prevent an access point, AP, from transmitting to the wireless communication device while the wireless communication device is in the power save mode;

Providing an indication to the AP that the wireless communication device is entering the power save mode;

entering the power saving mode upon expiration of at least the adjusted time period after providing the indication to the AP;

waking up from the power saving mode; and

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the indication comprises a notification frame signaling an intention of the wireless communication device to enter the power save mode.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

A first sequence number of MPDUs carried in a second PPDU obtained by an interface of a wireless communication device after obtaining the first PPDU is obtained from the Rx PCU, wherein the adjusted time delay is associated with the first sequence number between the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising obtaining a third PPDU from the AP after obtaining the first PPDU, wherein:

The second PPDU is obtained before the end of the BA window; and

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

multiple entries into the power saving mode and wakes up from the power saving mode; and

Whenever the wireless communication device wakes up from the power save mode:

14. The method of claim 8, wherein entering the power save mode is associated with receiving an acknowledgment from the AP to obtain the indication.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising preventing the wireless communication device from entering the power save mode until a reorder buffer configured to obtain PPDUs from the AP is empty.

16. The method of claim 8, further comprising periodically evaluating whether the AP attempts to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode.

17. The method of claim 8, further comprising storing a basic service set identifier, BSSID, of the AP in a database of the wireless communication device in association with the AP attempting to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode.

18. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

Entering the power saving mode after processing the header, wherein:

The length of time of the power save mode is associated with an amount of time the wireless communication medium is occupied during transmission of the packet;

And

Waking from the power saving mode after the length of time.

19. A wireless communication device, comprising:

Means for adjusting a time period associated with delaying entry into a power save mode, wherein the time period is associated with the wireless communication device remaining awake to prevent an access point, AP, from transmitting to the wireless communication device while the wireless communication device is in the power save mode;

Means for providing an indication to the AP that the wireless communication device is entering the power save mode;

Means for entering the power saving mode upon expiration of at least an adjusted time period after providing the indication to the AP;

Means for waking up the wireless communication device from the power save mode; and

Means for obtaining one or more physical layer protocol data units, PPDUs, from the AP after waking from the power save mode, the one or more PPDUs indicating whether the AP attempts to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode, wherein an indication of whether the AP attempts to transmit to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in the power save mode is included in a retry field in a header of at least one of the one or more PPDUs obtained from the AP, the retry field indicating that one or more media access control, MAC, protocol data units, MPDUs, are being retransmitted by the AP.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processing system of a wireless communication device, cause the wireless communication device to perform operations comprising:

Upon expiration of at least the adjusted time period after providing the indication to the AP, causing the wireless communication device to enter the power save mode;

waking up from the power saving mode; and

21. The wireless communication device of claim 19, further comprising:

Means for obtaining, from a receive Rx protocol control unit, PCU, of the wireless communication device, a minimum sequence number of MPDUs carried in a first PPDU obtained from the AP after waking up from the power save mode, wherein an adjusted time delay is associated with a difference between the minimum sequence number and the maximum sequence number indicating that MPDUs carried in the last PPDU and MPDUs carried in the first PPDU are not consecutively obtained.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the indication comprises a notification frame signaling an intent of the wireless communication device to enter the power save mode.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein entering the power saving mode is associated with receiving an acknowledgement from the AP to obtain the indication.