Patent ID: 7855999
Filing Date: 2010-12-21
Classification: G06F,H04W,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A wireless station, for use in a wireless local area network (WLAN), comprising: a network interface for interfacing with a network interface device that includes a transceiver, an antenna, and a first power supply or energy holder, the wireless station supporting transmission of data in frames of variable length, means for dividing a frame into a number of frame fragments and for sending each fragment as a non-fragmented frame, each fragment containing an indication as to whether a further fragment will follow, a duration field for indicating a duration of utilization of a wireless medium to transmit a fragment that ends when an acknowledgement of receipt of the fragment is received regardless of whether a further frame fragment will follow such that use of the wireless medium may be released between consecutive frame fragments irrespectively of whether a further frame fragment will follow, means for controlling a length of a time period before transmission of a frame fragment or between transmission of consecutive frame fragments in order to decrease energy consumption by the wireless station during a predetermined time interval, wherein the means for controlling is configured to control the length of the time period to allow reloading of the first power supply or energy holder such that the amount of power or energy stored in the first power supply or energy holder does not fall below a given value during transmission of the frame fragment or the second frame fragment of two consecutive frame fragments; and a second power supply or energy holder different from the first power supply or energy holder, wherein the first power supply or energy holder is one of a battery and a capacitor and the second power supply or energy holder is the other of the battery and the capacitor.