Abstract: A beacon assisted asynchronous method of wireless communication according to the present invention enables initiating and target devices (12, 14) to remain in sleep mode most of the time and to periodically wake up to asynchronously, and directly, communicate with one another. Specifically, each of the initiating and target devices (12, 14) transmits a beacon while operating in a default transmit/receive mode (40, 40a, 42, 42a) and subsequently listens for a response. Alternatively, the initiating device (12) may enter a data packet message mode to receive a beacon from the target device (14) and to subsequently transmit a data packet message to the target device (14) after receiving the first beacon. The initiating device (12) minimizes the length of time in which it must wait to receive the target device beacon by timing a corresponding target beacon receive period based on stored data such as information based on previous communication with the target device (14).

Abstract: A beacon assisted asynchronous method of wireless communication according to the present invention enables initiating and target devices (12, 14) to remain in sleep mode most of the time and to periodically wake up to asynchronously, and directly, communicate with one another. Specifically, each of the initiating and target devices (12, 14) transmits a beacon while operating in a default transmit/receive mode (40, 40a, 42, 42a) and subsequently listens for a response. Alternatively, the initiating device (12) may enter a data packet message mode to receive a beacon from the target device (14) and to subsequently transmit a data packet message to the target device (14) after receiving the first beacon. The initiating device (12) minimizes the length of time in which it must wait to receive the target device beacon by timing a corresponding target beacon receive period based on stored data such as information based on previous communication with the target device (14).