Energy-aware communications for a multi-radio system

Abstract

Described herein is an implementation that reduces the battery consumption of an energy-constrained computing device that is capable of communicating over a wireless network. As conditions and circumstances warrant, the implementation selects one of multiple radios (e.g., two)—with each having a unique combination of characteristics (in terms of power-consumption, data-rate, range and/or frequency band of operation) for wireless communications to and from a wireless device. The implementation selects one radio to minimize power-consumption while maintaining effective wireless data communication. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.

1 . A computer-readable medium having a program module with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a wireless access point (AP) employing at least two radio channels—a low-power radio (LPR) channel and a high-power radio (HPR) channel—for wireless data communications over a wireless network, perform a method comprising: 
 receiving a request from a wireless computing device—which is actively communicating via a HPR channel—for permission to use a LPR channel;    responding to the request by sending—via the wireless network—a permission-indication that indicates that the wireless computing device has permission to switch active communication from the HPR channel to the LPR channel.    
   
   
       2 . A medium as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the response grants permission to the device to use the LPR channel.