Method and apparatus for connecting portable terminal to wlan

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for connecting a portable terminal to a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) are provided. The method includes when a WLAN connection event occurs, performing a WLAN connection procedure by keeping a WLAN module in an awake state, and when the WLAN connection is complete, operating the WLAN module according to a Power Save Mechanism (PSM).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a communication module configured to establish a wireless connection with an external device; and   a processor configured to:
 detect a request for the wireless connection with the external device while the communication module is in a low power mode; 
 turn off the low power mode of the communication module based at least in part on the detecting; 
 establish the wireless connection while the low power mode of the communication module is turned off; and 
 turn on the low power mode of the communication module based at least in part on the establishing. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 refrain from transitioning the communication module to a sleep state while the low power mode is turned off   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the communication module comprises:
 a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication module.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive, from the communication module, an indication indicating that the wireless connection is established.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 perform the turning on of the low power mode in response to the receiving.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 operate the communication module in the low power mode while the wireless connection is established.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 transition a state of the communication module to an awake state and a sleep state iteratively while the low power mode is turned on.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 transition a state of the communication module according to a power saving mechanism (PSM).   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein a power consumption is greater when the communication module is in the awake state than when the communication module is in the sleep state. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the communication module is capable of transmitting or receiving packets while in the awake state, and the communication module is incapable of transmitting or receiving the packets while in the sleep state. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 detecting, at an electronic device including a communication module, a request for a wireless connection with an external device while the communication module is in a low power mode;   turning off the low power mode of the communication module based at least in part on the detecting;   establishing the wireless connection while the low power mode of the communication module is turned off; and   turning on the low power mode of the communication module based at least in part on the establishing.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the turning off comprises:
 refraining from transitioning to a sleep state while the low power mode is turned off.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the establishing comprises:
 performing, at the communication module, a wireless connection procedure comprising authentication, association, extensible authentication protocol encapsulation over LAN protocol (EAPoL), dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP), or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the communication module, an indication indicating that the wireless connection is established.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the turning on comprises:
 performing the turning on of the low power mode in response to the receiving.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the turning on comprises:
 operating the communication module in the low power mode, while the wireless connection is established.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the turning on comprises:
 transitioning a state of the communication module to an awake state and a sleep state iteratively while the low power mode is turned on.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the transitioning comprises:
 transitioning a state of the communication module according to a power saving mechanism (PSM).   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a power consumption is greater when the communication module is in the awake state than when the communication module is in the sleep state. 
     
     
         20 . A machine-readable storage device storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 detecting, at an electronic device including a communication module a request for a wireless connection with an external device, while the communication module is in a low power mode;   turning off the low power mode of the communication module based at least in part on the detecting;   establishing the wireless connection while the low power mode of the communication module is turned off; and   turning on the low power mode of the communication module based at least in part on the establishing.