Direct link wireless devices with power savings

Abstract

Various aspects of a communication device for supporting wireless communications for a plurality of stations associated with the communication device are provided. The communication device includes a processing system configured to determine whether each of the stations is capable of direct communications with another one of the stations while remaining associated with the communication device. The processing system may also maintain a list of the stations determined to be capable of such direct communications. In an aspect, the communication device may also include a transceiver configured to provide the list to a station of the plurality of stations in response to a request from the station. In an aspect, the request from the station may be included in an association request frame or an association response frame. In an aspect, the processing system may be configured to update the list and provide to the station the updated list in a beacon frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A communication device for supporting wireless communications for a plurality of stations associated with the communication device, the communication device comprising:
 a processing system configured to:
 determine if each of the plurality of stations is capable of direct communications with another one of the plurality of stations while remaining associated with the communication device; and 
 maintain a list of the stations determined to be capable of such direct communications. 
   
     
     
         2 . The communication device of  claim 1 , further comprising a transceiver coupled to the processing system and configured to provide the list to a station of the plurality of stations in response to a request from the station. 
     
     
         3 . The communication device of  claim 2 , wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive the request in an association request frame from the station. 
     
     
         4 . The communication device of  claim 2 , wherein the transceiver is further configured to provide the list in an association response frame to the station. 
     
     
         5 . The communication device of  claim 2 , wherein the processing system is further configured to provide the list in a beacon frame to the station. 
     
     
         6 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing system comprises a memory, the processing system being further configured to maintain the list by storing in the memory an address for each of the stations capable of such direct communications. 
     
     
         7 . The communication device of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the transceiver is further configured to receive an indicator from at least one of the stations, and   the processing system is further configured to determine based at least in part on the indicator if the at least one station is capable of direct communications with another of the plurality of stations.   
     
     
         8 . A method for supporting wireless communications for a plurality of stations associated with an access point, the method comprising:
 determining, by the access point, whether each of the stations is capable of direct communications with another one of the stations while remaining associated with the access point; and   maintaining, by the access point, a list of the stations determined to be capable of such direct communications.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 providing the list to a station of the plurality of stations in response to a request from the station.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the station, the request in an association request frame; and   providing, to the station, the list in an association response frame.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 updating the list; and   providing, to a station of the plurality of stations, the updated list in a beacon frame.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein maintaining the list comprises:
 storing, in a memory of the access point, an address for each of the stations capable of such direct communications.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving an indicator from an at least one station of the plurality of stations; and   determining if each of the at least one station is capable of direct communications with another of the plurality of stations based at least in part on the indicator received from the at least one station.   
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer-executable code for supporting wireless communications for a plurality of stations associated with an access point, that when executed by a processor, causes a communication device to:
 determine whether each of the stations is capable of direct communications with another one of the stations while remaining associated with the communication device; and   maintain a list of the stations determined to be capable of such direct communications.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the code, when executed by the processor, further causes the communication device to:
 provide the list to a station of the plurality of stations in response to receiving a request from the station.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the code, when executed by the processor, further causes the communication device to:
 provide, to the station, the list in an association response frame in response to receiving, from the station, the request in an association request frame.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the code, when executed by the processor, further causes the communication device to:
 update the list; and   provide, to a station, the updated list in a beacon frame.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein maintaining the list comprises:
 storing an address for each of the stations capable of such direct communications.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the code, when executed by the processor, further causes the communication device to:
 receive an indicator from a station of the plurality of stations; and   determine if the stations is capable of direct communications with another of the plurality of stations based at least in part on the indicator.