Method and system for power saving in wireless communications

Abstract

A method and a system for wireless communication is provided which involves maintaining a data communication module in a power saving mode, detecting channel reservation for communication on a wireless data channel during one or more reserved time periods, and upon successful data channel reservation, transitioning the data communication module from the power saving mode to an active mode for data communication on the reserved data channel. Preferably, the data communication module is transitioned back to the power saving mode upon completion of data communication on the data channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of wireless communication, comprising:
 detecting channel reservation for communication on a wireless data channel during one or more reserved time periods based on information received over a wireless control channel through a convergence layer; and   transitioning data communication modes based on the information received over the wireless control channel.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transitioning the data communication modes comprises transitioning between a power saving mode and an active mode. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further including transitioning the data communication mode from an active mode to a power saving mode upon completion of data communication on the data channel. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 receiving information over the wireless control channel further includes maintaining a control communication module in an active mode for communication on the control channel; and   the data channel comprises an in-band channel and the control channel comprises an out-of-band channel, such that the in-band channel and the out-of band channel are at different wireless frequencies.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further including performing directional data communication on the in-band data channel, wherein the in-band channel comprises a 60 GHz wireless channel. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a transmitting station receiving a command from a receiving station for adjusting transmission power based on switching between the power saving mode and the active mode;   adjusting transmission power from the transmitting station based on the command;   determining if the transmission power from the receiving station is within a range for effective communication therebetween; and   if the transmission power from the receiving station is not within said range, then transmitting a request to the receiving station to adjust transmission power from the receiving station to be within said range by switching between the power saving mode and the active mode.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein adjusting transmission power from the transmitting station includes reducing transmission power from the transmitting station by switching to the power saving mode to conserve power. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a request from a transmitting station to determine if transmission power from the transmitting station needs adjustment based on switching between the power saving mode and the active mode; and   determining if the transmission power from the receiving station on the wireless data channel is outside a range for effective communication therebetween, and sending a request to the transmitting station to adjust the transmission power of the transmitting station by switching between the power saving mode and the active mode.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 redirecting and converting messages from the control channel to the data channel, and from the data channel to the control channel via the convergence layer.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising upon successful data channel reservation, transitioning the data communication mode from the power saving mode to the active mode for data communication on the reserved data channel during the one or more reserved time periods. 
     
     
         11 . A wireless communication system, comprising:
 a power saving module that detects channel reservation for communication on a wireless data channel during one or more reserved time periods, and transitions data communication modes for data communication on the reserved data channel during the one or more reserved time periods; and   a convergence module for providing received control information to transition a data communication mode between a power saving mode and an active mode.   
     
     
         12 . The wireless communication system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the control information is provided through a convergence layer, for transitioning the data communication mode from the active mode to the power saving mode for communication on the data channel; and   the power saving module is further configured for transitioning the data communication mode to the power saving mode upon completion of data communication on the data channel.   
     
     
         13 . The wireless communication system of  claim 12  further comprising a control communication module that receives control information communications over a wireless control channel, and detects data channel reservation based on the received control information. 
     
     
         14 . The wireless communication system of  claim 13 , wherein the control communication module remains in an active mode for communication on the control channel, and the data channel comprises an in-band channel and the control channel comprises an out-of-band channel. 
     
     
         15 . A wireless transmitting station, comprising:
 a receiving station that communicates a command for adjusting transmission power from a transmitting station on a first wireless channel based on a data communication mode switching between a power saving mode and an active mode; and   a power adjusting module that detects if the transmission power from the receiving station on a second wireless channel is outside a range for effective communication therebetween, and transmits a request to the receiving station to adjust transmission power from the receiving station to be within said range based on the data communication mode switching between the power saving mode and the active mode.   
     
     
         16 . The wireless transmitting station of  claim 15 , wherein the power adjusting module adjusts transmission power from the transmitting station by reducing transmission power from the transmitting station to conserve power based on the data communication mode switched to the power saving mode from the active mode. 
     
     
         17 . The wireless transmitting station of  claim 16 , wherein the power adjusting module transmits a request to the receiving station to reduce transmission power from the receiving station to conserve power based on the data communication mode being switched to the power saving mode from the active mode. 
     
     
         18 . The wireless transmitting station of  claim 17 , wherein a communication module determines if transmission power from the transmitting station needs adjustment, and then receives a command from the receiving station to adjust transmission power from the transmitting station by switching the data communication mode to the power saving mode. 
     
     
         19 . The wireless transmitting station of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the first and second wireless channels comprises a 60 GHz frequency band. 
     
     
         20 . A wireless communication system, comprising:
 a convergence module that provides received control information, indicative of a channel reservation for communication on a wireless data channel, for transitioning a data communication mode from a power saving mode to an active mode;   wherein the convergence module redirects and converts messages between a control channel and the data channel.