Abstract: This disclosure provides methods, devices and systems for scheduling delivery of buffered multicast data to wireless stations (STAs) associated with an access point (AP). In some implementations, a STA transmits, to the AP, a request frame including a multicast address of a multicast group. The AP transmits, to the STA, a Group Identification (ID) assigned to the multicast group. The AP transmits a beacon frame including a wake-up schedule indicating times at which one or more STAs belonging to the multicast group are scheduled to receive buffered multicast data from the AP. STAs that belong to the multicast group wake up at one of the indicated times for a Target Wake Time (TWT) Service Period (SP). STAs that do not belong to the multicast group remain in power save mode during the TWT SP. The AP transmits the buffered multicast data at the indicated time during the TWT SP.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for re-associating a station (STA) to an access point (AP). The STA sends a re-association request to the AP to initiate a re-association process with the AP. The re-association request indicates that a handshake operation is to be bypassed during the re-association process. The STA receives a re-association response from the AP in response to the re-association request and, upon receiving the re-association response, enables data communications with the AP using a set of preexisting cryptographic keys. For example, the set of preexisting cryptographic keys may be negotiated with the AP during at least one of a prior association process or a prior re-association process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to save power in a soft access point for a network. If no network traffic is detected for an integral number of TBTT (Target Beacon Transmission Time) intervals immediately prior to a current TBTT interval, and if no network traffic is detected for a first time slot in the current TBTT interval, then the soft access point sends a CTS (Clear-to-Send) packet addressed to itself to quiet the network for a second time slot and enters a low power mode for the second time slot. At the beginning of a third time slot, the soft access point puts itself into an active mode and monitors network traffic.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for re-associating a station (STA) to an access point (AP). The STA sends a re-association request to the AP to initiate a re-association process with the AP. The re-association request indicates that a handshake operation is to be bypassed during the re-association process. The STA receives a re-association response from the AP in response to the re-association request and, upon receiving the re-association response, enables data communications with the AP using a set of preexisting cryptographic keys. For example, the set of preexisting cryptographic keys may be negotiated with the AP during at least one of a prior association process or a prior re-association process.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for wireless communication at an access point (AP). The AP may snoop messages between stations (STAs) and a network. Using information obtained from snooping, the AP may identify which STAs are interested in receiving different multicasts. Accordingly, the AP may generate and maintain a table that maps multicasts to interested STAs. The AP may assign a unique group identity (ID) to STAs interested in a multicast and include the group ID in the frame header of frames for that multicast which are broadcast to the STAs. Thus, STAs interested in receiving the multicast will recognize the group ID in the frame header and decode the entire multicast frame; STAs not interested in receiving the multicast will avoid decoding and processing the entire multicast frame. The AP may also use beamforming to direct the multicast frames to interested STAs and away from uninterested STAs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for transmitting a data frame from a first wireless device to a second wireless device based, at least in part, on timing information received from the second wireless device. In some embodiments, the timing information may be included within an informational element transmitted to the first wireless device. In some embodiments, the informational element may be included with a probe request, probe response or action frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed that allow a first wireless device to form a peer-to-peer (P2P) connection with a second wireless device that does not operate on the social channels of a first frequency band. The first wireless device receives, from the second wireless device, an action frame indicating a selected channel in a second frequency band. The first wireless device may scan a number of social channels in the first frequency band to discover a presence of another wireless device, and then scans the selected channel to discover the presence of the second wireless device.

Abstract: A method of operating a user station (STA) to scan for access points (APs). The STA broadcasts a probe request on a first saved channel of one or more saved channels. More specifically, each of the one or more saved channels corresponds to a channel on which the STA had prior communications with an AP. The STA remains on the first saved channel for an extended duration to listen for a probe response from a first AP. Specifically, the extended duration is greater than a dwell time of the STA when scanning wireless channels other than the one or more saved channels.

Abstract: Methods and systems according to embodiments of the present disclosure provide intelligent transmission of beacons by a SoftAP-enabled user device for minimizing power consumption. In an embodiment, a method comprises transmitting a first beacon from the SoftAP to a station connected to the SoftAP. The method also comprises determining a beacon interval between the first beacon and a second beacon. The method further comprises dynamically changing the beacon interval. And the method also comprises transmitting the second beacon upon the changed beacon interval passing since the transmitting of the first beacon.

Abstract: A wireless device implements power saving logic for two or more wireless clients that concurrently communicate on a shared wireless channel (single channel concurrency). When one of the wireless clients transitions from power save mode to active mode (e.g., in response to a beacon signal), the power saving logic causes the other wireless client(s) to transition to active mode as well. Each wireless client ‘awakened’ in this manner transmits a NULL frame having a power management bit set to a logic ‘0’ value to an associated access point (AP), thereby indicating its active status to the associated AP. As a result, all of the wireless clients may concurrently receive buffered data from their associated APs on the shared wireless channel. If the ‘awakened’ wireless client(s) do not need to transition to active mode in response to their next received beacons, power consumption of the wireless device is advantageously reduced.

Abstract: Methods and systems according to embodiments of the present disclosure provide intelligent transmission of beacons by a SoftAP-enabled user device for minimizing power consumption. In an embodiment, a method comprises transmitting a first beacon from the SoftAP to a station connected to the SoftAP. The method also comprises determining a beacon interval between the first beacon and a second beacon. The method further comprises dynamically changing the beacon interval. And the method also comprises transmitting the second beacon upon the changed beacon interval passing since the transmitting of the first beacon.

Abstract: A wireless device implements power saving logic for two or more wireless clients that concurrently communicate on a shared wireless channel (single channel concurrency). When one of the wireless clients transitions from power save mode to active mode (e.g., in response to a beacon signal), the power saving logic causes the other wireless client(s) to transition to active mode as well. Each wireless client ‘awakened’ in this manner transmits a NULL frame having a power management bit set to a logic ‘0’ value to an associated access point (AP), thereby indicating its active status to the associated AP. As a result, all of the wireless clients may concurrently receive buffered data from their associated APs on the shared wireless channel. If the ‘awakened’ wireless client(s) do not need to transition to active mode in response to their next received beacons, power consumption of the wireless device is advantageously reduced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to save power in a soft access point for a network. If no network traffic is detected for an integral number of TBTT (Target Beacon Transmission Time) intervals immediately prior to a current TBTT interval, and if no network traffic is detected for a first time slot in the current TBTT interval, then the soft access point sends a CTS (Clear-to-Send) packet addressed to itself to quiet the network for a second time slot and enters a low power mode for the second time slot. At the beginning of a third time slot, the soft access point puts itself into an active mode and monitors network traffic.