초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for communicating information between networked devices. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise, for example, a first networked device communicating information over a wireless communication network to a second networked device having power-save mode capability.

A method and apparatus for communicating information between networked devices. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise, for example, a first networked device communicating information over a wireless communication network to a second networked device having power-save mode capability. The first networked device receives an incoming message from the second networked device. A first outgoing message is transmitted to the second networked device prior to transmitting a previously queued outgoing message. A second outgoing message is transmitted to the second networked device prior to the previously queued outgoing message being transmitted. Information may be communicated to the second networked device in a particular manner that depends on whether the second networked device has power-save capability. Communication medium access may be performed in a particular manner, depending on whether the second networked device has power-save capability.

대표청구항 ▼

1. In a second networked device having the capability to communicate with a first networked device over a communication medium, the first networked device comprising an outgoing message queue for outgoing messages and a message buffer for stored messages, a method for retrieving information from the

1. In a second networked device having the capability to communicate with a first networked device over a communication medium, the first networked device comprising an outgoing message queue for outgoing messages and a message buffer for stored messages, a method for retrieving information from the first networked device, the method comprising: transmitting a first message to the first networked device indicating that the second networked device is ready to receive information, where the first message comprises characteristics that, when received and processed by the first networked device, cause the first networked device to, at least, transmit a buffered message stored in the message buffer to the second networked device prior to transmitting at least one queued message in the outgoing message queue; andreceiving the buffered message transmitted by the first networked device. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message comprises characteristics that, when received and processed by the first networked device, cause the first networked device to by-pass the outgoing message queue to transmit the buffered message. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message comprises characteristics that, when received and processed by the first networked device, cause the first networked device to by-pass at least one message in the outgoing message queue to transmit the buffered message. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message comprises characteristics that, when received and processed by the first networked device, cause the first networked device to transmit a second buffered message stored in the message buffer to the second networked device prior to transmitting the at least one queued message. 5. The method of claim 4, comprising transmitting an acknowledgement message to the first networked device between transmission of the buffered message and the second buffered message by the first networked device. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message is a data message comprising an indication that the second networked device has no more information to send to the first networked device. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first networked device transmits the buffered message prior to transmitting the at least one queued message only if the second networked device is capable of operating in a power-save mode but not currently operating in a sleep state of the power-save mode. 8. The method of claim 1, comprising registering, with a communication network comprising the second networked device, as a power-save capable device. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein said registering causes the second networked device to be identified in a networked database as a device capable of power-save operation. 10. The method of claim 1, comprising prior to transmitting the first message to the first networked device, gaining access to the communication medium using a contention-based medium access protocol, and where the first networked device transmits the buffered message to the second networked device without contending with other networked devices for access to the communication medium. 11. The method of claim 1, comprising prior to transmitting the first message to the first networked device, gaining access to the communication medium using a contention-based medium access protocol, and where the first networked device transmits the buffered message to the second networked device without contending with other networked devices for access to the communication medium during a time period in which access to the communication medium is generally governed by a contention-based medium access protocol. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first networked device only transmits the buffered message if communication of the buffered message will complete within a time limit. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein if transmission of the buffered message will not begin quickly enough to meet system timing constraints, the first networked device transmits a message, prior to transmitting the buffered message, indicating that at least one message is forthcoming. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the message indicating that at least one message is forthcoming comprises a null data message. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the message indicating that at least one message is forthcoming comprises an ACK message. 16. A communication module for utilization in a second networked device having the capability to communicate with a first networked device over a communication medium, the first networked device comprising an outgoing message queue for outgoing messages and a message buffer for stored messages, the communication module comprising: at least one module operable to, at least: transmit a first message to the first networked device indicating that the second networked device is ready to receive information, where the first message comprises characteristics that, when received and processed by the first networked device, cause the first networked device to, at least, transmit a buffered message stored in the message buffer to the second networked device prior to transmitting at least one queued message in the outgoing message queue; andreceive the buffered message transmitted by the first networked device. 17. The communication module of claim 16, where the first message comprises characteristics that, when received and processed by the first networked device, cause the first networked device to by-pass the outgoing message queue to transmit the buffered message. 18. The communication module of claim 16, where the first message comprises characteristics that, when received and processed by the first networked device, cause the first networked device to by-pass at least one message in the outgoing message queue to transmit the buffered message. 19. The communication module of claim 16, where the first message comprises characteristics that, when received and processed by the first networked device, cause the first networked device to transmit a second buffered message stored in the message buffer to the second networked device prior to transmitting the at least one queued message. 20. The communication module of claim 19, wherein said at least one module operates to transmit an acknowledgement message to the first networked device between transmission of the buffered message and the second buffered message by the first networked device. 21. The communication module of claim 16, where the first message is a data message comprising an indication that the second networked device has no more information to send to the first networked device. 22. The communication module of claim 16, where the first networked device transmits the buffered message prior to transmitting the at least one queued message only if the second networked device is capable of operating in a power-save mode but not currently operating in a sleep state of the power-save mode. 23. The communication module of claim 16, wherein said at least one module is operable to register, with a communication network comprising the second networked device, as a power-save capable device. 24. The communication module of claim 23, where registering with the communication network as a power-save capable device causes the second networked device to be identified in a networked database as a device capable of power-save operation. 25. The communication module of claim 16, wherein said at least one module is operable to, prior to transmitting the first message to the first networked device, gain access to the communication medium using a contention-based medium access protocol, and where the first networked device transmits the buffered message to the second networked device without contending with other networked devices for access to the communication medium. 26. The communication module of claim 16, wherein said at least one module is operable to, prior to transmitting the first message to the first networked device, gain access to the communication medium using a contention-based medium access protocol, and where the first networked device transmits the buffered message to the second networked device without contending with other networked devices for access to the communication medium during a time period in which access to the communication medium is generally governed by a contention-based medium access protocol. 27. The communication module of claim 16, where the first networked device only transmits the buffered message if communication of the buffered message will complete within a time limit. 28. The communication module of claim 16, where if transmission of the buffered message will not begin quickly enough to meet system timing constraints, the first networked device transmits a message, prior to transmitting the buffered message, indicating that at least one message is forthcoming. 29. The communication module of claim 28, where the message indicating that at least one message is forthcoming comprises a null data message. 30. The communication module of claim 28, where the message indicating that at least one message is forthcoming comprises an ACK message.