Patent ID: 8699392
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: H04W,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A method for conserving power usage of access points in a network during low usage intervals, comprising: detecting, by a peripheral access point during periods of low network usage, that a mobile device has entered a wireless network coverage area; providing, by the peripheral access point, initial services to the mobile device and monitoring movements of the mobile device in the network coverage area; determining that the mobile device is in a vicinity of a powered-off non-peripheral access point by locating a first non-peripheral access point with a recorded best signal strength from a current location of the mobile device and selecting an associated set of first concentric access points around the first non-peripheral access point, whereupon powering on the first non-peripheral access point which is determined to be closest to the mobile device and the set of first concentric access points to provide a coverage buffer around the first non-peripheral access point; using the first non-peripheral access point and the set of first concentric access points as serving access points for the mobile device; and scanning non-peripheral access points, by traversing a Hamiltonian path of the non-peripheral access points and scanning for a mobile device associated with each non-peripheral access point, to determine which non-peripheral access point is associated with the mobile device, maintaining power at each non-peripheral access point with an associated mobile device, and deactivating each non-peripheral access point with no associated mobile device.