Patent Abstract:
Disclosed herein are an electronic device and method for reducing power consumption while roaming. A state of the electronic device is detected. It is determined whether the firmware executes roaming based at least partially on a channel list and a state of the electronic device.

Full Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Korean patent application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Oct. 8, 2013 and assigned Serial No. 10-2013-0120133 the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to a method for reducing power consumption and an electronic device thereof. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    The advancement of communication and semiconductor technologies has resulted in the development of electronic devices that behave as multimedia devices executing various multimedia functions. For example, electronic devices today may provide voice communication services, video communication services, messenger services, broadcasting services, wireless Internet services, camera services, and music playback services. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Aspects of the present disclosure address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages. Even if the communication is finished, the electronic device consumes the current by roaming. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure provide an apparatus and method for minimizing power consumption by roaming using the firmware itself without waking up a host when the firmware determines that the host is in a sleep state. 
         [0008]    Other aspects of the present disclosure provide an apparatus and method for ensuring reliability of data by waking up a host before firmware transmits incoming data to the host and transmitting stored roaming connection information to the host. 
         [0009]    In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a method in an electronic device is provided. The method may include analyzing, using firmware, a channel list for roaming; detecting, using the firmware, a state of the electronic device; and determining whether the firmware is to execute the roaming based at least partially on the channel list and a state of the electronic device. 
         [0010]    In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, an electronic device is provided. The electronic device may include at least one processor to: analyze a channel list for roaming; detecting a state of the electronic device; and identify whether to execute the roaming with firmware, based at least partially on the channel list and a state of the electronic device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an example electronic device configuration in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an example hardware configuration in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of a programming framework in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a signal sequence diagram illustrating a working example of firmware in communication with a device in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a signal sequence diagram illustrating a working example of ensuring reliability of data in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a signal sequence diagram illustrating a further working example of ensuring reliability of data in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating an example method of an electronic device in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    Examples of the present disclosure will be described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well-known functions or configurations are not described in detail since they may obscure the disclosure with unnecessary detail. 
         [0020]    In one example, an electronic device may be a device including a communication function. For example, the electronic device may be one or a combination of one or more devices including, but not limited to, a smart phone, a tablet Personal Computer (PC), a mobile phone, a video phone, an e-book reader, a desktop PC, a laptop PC, a netbook computer, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) layer 3 (MP3) player, a mobile medical device, an electronic bracelet, an electronic necklace, electronic accessories, a camera, a wearable device, an electronic clock, a wristwatch, smart white appliances (e.g., a refrigerator, an air conditioner, a cleaner, a cybot, a TeleVision (TV), a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) player, an audio, an oven, a microwave oven, a washing machine, an air cleaner, an electronic picture frame, etc.), various medical devices (e.g., a Magnetic Resonance Artery (MRA), a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), a CT (Computed Tomography), an imaging apparatus, a ultrasonic machine, etc.), a navigation device, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, an Event Data Recorder (EDR), a Flight Data Recorder (FDR), a set-top box, a TV box (e.g., Samsung HomeSync™, Apple TV™, or Google TV™), an electronic dictionary, a car infotainment device, electronic equipment for ship (e.g., a navigation device for ship, a gyrocompass, etc.), avionics, a security device, electronic clothes, an electronic key, a camcorder, a game console, a Head Mounted Display (HMD), a flat panel display, an electronic album, a part of furniture or a building/structure including a communication function, an electronic board, an electronic signature receiving device, or a projector. It is understood that the electronic device is not limited to the above-described examples. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the example electronic device denoted by  100  may include a bus  110 , a processor  120 , a memory  130 , a user input module  140 , a display module  150 , or a communication module  160 . The bus  110  may be a circuit which may connect the above-described components with each other and transmit communication (e.g., a control message) between the components. 
         [0022]    The processor  120  may receive, for example, commands from the above-described other components (e.g., the memory  130 , the user input module  140 , the display module  150 , the communication module  160 , etc.) through the bus  110 , decode the received commands, and perform calculation or data processing in accordance with the decoded commands. 
         [0023]    The memory  130  may store commands or data received from the processor  120  or other components (e.g., the user input module  140 , the display module  150 , the communication module  160 , etc.) or are generated by the processor  120  or other components. The memory  130  may include programming modules such as a kernel  131 , a middleware  132 , an Application Programming Interface (API)  133 , or an application  134 . Herein, the above-described respective programming modules may be composed of software, firmware, hardware, or combination of at least two or more of them. 
         [0024]    The kernel  131  may control or manage system resources (e.g., the bus  110 , the processor  120 , or the memory  130 , etc.) used to execute an operation or function implemented in the other programming modules, for example, the middleware  132 , the API  133 , or the application  134 . Also, the kernel  131  may provide an interface which may access a separate component of the electronic device  100  in the middleware  132 , the API  133 , or the application  134  and control or manage the separate component. 
         [0025]    The middleware  132  may facilitate communication such that the API  133  or the application  134  communicates with the kernel  131  and transmits and receives data using middleware  132 . Also, the middleware  132  may perform load balancing for work requests using a method of assigning priority which may use system resources (the bus  110 , the processor  120 , or the memory  130 , etc.) of the electronic device  100  to, for example, at least one of the plurality of applications  134 , in association with the work requests received from the plurality of applications  134 . 
         [0026]    The API  133  may be an interface in which the application  134  may control a function provided from the kernel  131  or the middleware  132 . For example, the API  133  may include at least one interface or function for file control, window control, image processing, or text control. 
         [0027]    The user input module  140  may receive, for example, commands or data from the user and transmit the received commands or data to the processor  120  or the memory  130  through the bus  110 . The display module  150  displays videos, images, or data to the user. 
         [0028]    The communication module  160  may perform communication between the electronic device  100  and another electronic device  102 . The communication module  160  may support a local-area communication protocol (e.g., Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth (BT), Near Field Communication (NFC), or certain network communication  162  (e.g., the Internet, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a telecommunication network, a cellular network, a satellite network, or a Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS), etc.). Each of the other electronic devices  102  and  104  may be the same (e.g., the same type) device as the electronic device  100  or a device (e.g., a different type) which is different from the electronic device  100 . 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the example hardware denoted by  200  may be, for example, the electronic device  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the hardware  200  may include one or more processors  210 , a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card  214 , a memory  220 , a communication module  230 , a sensor module  240 , a user input module  250 , a display module  260 , an interface  270 , an audio codec  280 , a camera module  291 , a power management module  295 , a battery  296 , an indicator  297 , or a motor  298 . 
         [0030]    The processor  210  (e.g., the processor  120 ) may include one or more Application Processors (APs)  211  or one or more Communication Processors (CPs)  213 . The processor  210  may be, for example, the processor  120  shown in  FIG. 1 . Although the AP  211  and the CP  213  shown in  FIG. 2  are shown to be included in the processor  210 , they may be included in different IC packages, respectively. In one example, the AP  211  and the CP  213  may be included in one IC package. 
         [0031]    The AP  211  may execute an Operating System (OS) or an application program, control a plurality of hardware or software components connected thereto, and process and calculate various data including multimedia data. The AP  211  may be implemented as, for example, System on Chip (SoC). In one example, the processor  210  may further include a Graphic Processing Unit (GPU). 
         [0032]    The CP  213  may perform a function for managing a data link in communication between an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device  100 ) including the hardware  200  with other electronic devices connected with the electronic device through a network and changing a communication protocol. The CP  213  may be implemented as, for example, SoC. In a further example, the CP  213  may perform at least a part of a multimedia control function. The CP  213  may identify and authenticate, for example, a terminal in a communication network using an SIM (e.g., the SIM card  214 ). Also, the CP  213  may provide services, such as a voice communication service, a video communication service, a text message service, or a packet data service, to a user of the hardware  200 . 
         [0033]    Also, the CP  213  may control data transmission and reception of the communication module  230 . In  FIG. 2 , components such as the CP  213 , the power management module  295 , or the memory  220  are shown as components which are separated from the AP  211 . However, in a further example, the AP  211  may be implemented to include at least a part (e.g., the CP  213 ) of the above-described components. 
         [0034]    In another example, the AP  211  or the CP  213  may load and process commands or data received from at least one of a non-volatile memory or another component connected thereto to a volatile memory. Also, the AP  211  or the CP  213  may store data which are received from at least one of other components or are generated by at least one of other components in a non-volatile memory. 
         [0035]    The SIM card  214  may be a card implementing an SIM. The SIM card  214  may be inserted into a slot formed in a specific position of the electronic device. The SIM card  214  may include unique identification information (e.g., an Integrated Circuit Card IDentity (ICCID)) or subscriber information (e.g., an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)). 
         [0036]    The memory  220  may include an internal memory  222  or an external memory  224 . The memory  220  may be, for example, the memory  130  shown in  FIG. 1 . The internal memory  222  may include, but is not limited to, at least one of a volatile memory (e.g., a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), a Static RAM (SRAM), or a Synchronous Dynamic RAM (SDRAM), etc.) or a non-volatile memory (e.g., an One Time Programmable Read Only Memory (OTPROM), a PROM, an erasable PROM (EPROM), an Electrically Erasable PROM (EEPROM), a mask ROM, a flash ROM, a NAND flash memory, or a NOR flash memory, etc.). In yet a further example, the internal memory  222  may have a type of a Solid State Disk (SSD). The external memory  224  may further include, for example, at least one of a Compact Flash (CF) card, a Secure Digital (SD) card, a micro-SD card, a mini-SD card, an extreme Digital (xD) card, or a memory stick, etc. 
         [0037]    The communication module  230  may include a wireless communication module  231  or a Radio Frequency (RF) module  234 . The communication module  230  may be, for example, the communication module  160  shown in  FIG. 1 . The wireless communication module  231  may include, for example, a Wi-Fi module  233 , a BT module  235 , a GPS module  237 , or an NFC module  239 . For example, the wireless communication module  231  may provide a wireless communication function using RFs. Additionally or alternatively, the wireless communication module  231  may include a network interface (e.g., a LAN card) or a modem, etc. for connecting the hardware  200  with the network (e.g., the Internet, a LAN, a WAN, a telecommunication network, a cellular network, a satellite network, or a POTS, etc.). 
         [0038]    The RF module  234  may be in charge of transmitting and receiving data, for example, an RF signal or a called electronic signal. Although it is not shown in  FIG. 2 , the RF module  234  may include, for example, a transceiver, a Power Amplifier Module (PAM), a frequency filter, or a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA), etc. Also, the RF module  234  may further include components, for example, conductors or conducting wires, for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves on a free space in wireless communication. 
         [0039]    The sensor module  240  may include, for example, at least one of a gesture sensor  240 A, a gyro sensor  240 B, an atmospheric pressure sensor  240 C, a magnetic sensor  240 D, an acceleration sensor  240 E, a grip sensor  240 F, a proximity sensor  240 G, a Red, Green, and Blue (RGB) sensor  240 H, a bio-sensor  240 I, a temperature/humidity sensor  240 J, an illumination sensor  240 K, or a Ultra Violet (UV) sensor  240 M. Also, the sensor module  240  may measure a physical quantity or sense an operation state of the electronic device, and convert the measured or sensed information into an electric signal. Additionally or alternatively, the sensor module  240  may include, for example, an Electronic-noise (E-nose) sensor (not shown), an ElectroMyoGraphy (EMG) sensor (not shown), an ElectroEncephaloGram (EEG) sensor (not shown), an ElectroCardioGram (ECG) sensor (not shown), or a fingerprint sensor (not shown), etc. The sensor module  240  may further include a control circuit for controlling at least one or more sensors included therein. 
         [0040]    The user input module  250  may include a touch panel  252 , a (digital) pen sensor  254 , a key  256 , or an ultrasonic input device  258 . The user input module  250  may be, for example, the user input module  140  shown in  FIG. 1 . The touch panel  252  may recognize touch input by, for example, at least one of a capacitive type, a resistive type, an infrared type, or an ultrasonic type. Also, the touch panel  252  may further include a controller (not shown). In case of the capacity type, the touch panel  252  may recognize not only direct touch input but also proximity touch input. The touch panel  252  may further include a tactile layer. In this case, the touch panel  252  may provide a tactile response to the user. 
         [0041]    The (digital) pen sensor  254  may be implemented, for example, using the same or similar method as or to a method of receiving touch input of the user or using a separate sheet for recognition. The key  256  may be, for example, a keypad or a touch key. The ultrasonic input device  258  is a device which may sense sound waves using a microphone (e.g., the microphone  288 ) and verify data in the electronic device through a pen which generates ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic input device  258  may perform wireless recognition. In one example, the hardware  200  may receive input of the user from an external device (e.g., the network  162  of  FIG. 1 , a computer, or the server  164  of  FIG. 1 ) connected with the communication module  230  using the communication module  230 . 
         [0042]    The display module  260  may include a panel  262  or a hologram  264 . The display module  260  may be, for example, the display module  150  shown in  FIG. 1 . The panel  262  may be, for example, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) or an Active Matrix-Organic Light-Emitting Diode (AM-OLED), etc. Also, the panel  262  may be implemented to be, for example, flexible, transparent, or wearable. The panel  262  and the touch panel  252  may be integrated with each other to constitute one module. The hologram  264  shows stereoscopic images on the air using interference of light. In a further example, the display module  260  may further include a control circuit for controlling the panel  262  or the hologram  264 . 
         [0043]    The interface  270  may include a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)  272 , a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface  274 , a projector  276 , or a D-sub (subminiature) interface  278 . Additionally or alternatively, the interface  270  may include, for example, a Secure Digital/MultiMedia Card (SD/MMC) interface (not shown) or an Infrared Data Association (IrDA) interface (not shown). 
         [0044]    The audio codec  280  may convert voices and electronic signals in a two-way direction. The audio codec  280  may convert, for example, voice information input or output through a speaker  282 , a receiver  284 , an earphone  286 , or the microphone  288 . 
         [0045]    The camera module  291  may be a device which may capture images and videos. In another example, the camera module  291  may include, for example, one or more image sensors (e.g., a front lens or a rear lens) (not shown), an Image Signal Processor (ISP) (not shown), or a flash LED (not shown). 
         [0046]    The power management module  295  may manage power of the hardware  200 . Although it is not shown in  FIG. 2 , the power management module  295  may include, for example, a Power Management Integrated Circuit (PMIC), a charger IC, or a battery fuel gauge. 
         [0047]    The PMIC may be mounted in, for example, an IC or an SoC semiconductor. A charging method of the power management module  295  may be classified into a wire charging method or a wireless charging method. The charger IC may charge a battery and prevent inflow of overvoltage or overcurrent from a charger. In a further example, the charger IC may include a charger IC for at least one of the wire charging method or the wireless charging method. The wireless charging method is, for example, a magnetic resonance method, a magnetic induction method, or an electromagnetic wave method. In the wireless charging method, additional circuits, for example, a coil loop, a resonance circuit, a rectifier, etc. for wireless charging may be added. 
         [0048]    The battery fuel gauge may measure, for example, the remaining capacity of the battery  296 , voltage in charging, current, or a temperature. The battery  296  may generate electricity and supply power. For example, the battery  296  may be a rechargeable battery. 
         [0049]    The indicator  297  may indicate a specific state, for example, a booting state, a message state, or a charging state, etc. of the hardware  200  or a part of the hardware (e.g., the AP  211 ). The motor  298  may convert an electric signal into a mechanical vibration. A Micro Control Unit (MCU) may control the sensor module  240 . 
         [0050]    Although it is not shown in  FIG. 2 , the hardware  200  may further include a processing device (e.g., a GPU) for supporting a mobile TV. The processing device for supporting the mobile TV may process media data in accordance with, for example, the standard of Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB), Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB), or media flow. 
         [0051]    Names of the above-described hardware components may differ in different kinds of electronic devices. The hardware may be configured to include at least one of the above-described components. Some components of the hardware may be omitted or the hardware may further include other additional components. Also, in another example, some of the components of the hardware may be combined and configured as one entity. Therefore, the one device may equally perform functions of the corresponding components before some of the components are combined. 
         [0052]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the example programming framework denoted by  300  may be included (e.g., stored) in the electronic device  100  (e.g., the memory  130 ) shown in  FIG. 1 . At least a part of the programming module  300  may be configured by software, firmware, hardware, or combination of two or more of them. The programming module  300  may include an OS which is implemented in hardware (e.g., the hardware  200  of  FIG. 2 ) and controls resources related to an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device  100 ) or a plurality of applications (e.g., an application  370 ) executed in the OS which may include a home  371 , dialer  372 , SMS/MMS  373 , IM  374 , browser  375 , camera  376 , alarm  377 , contact  378 , voice dial  379 , e-mail  380 , calendar  381 , media player  382 , album  383  and clock  384 . For example, the OS may be Android, iOS, Windows, Symbian, Tizen, or Bada, etc. Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , the programming module  300  may include a kernel  310 , middleware  330 , an API  360 , or the application  370 . 
         [0053]    The kernel  310  (e.g., the kernel  131 ) may include a system resource manager  311  or a device driver  312 . The system resource manager  311  may include, for example, a process management unit, a memory management unit, or a file system management unit, etc. The system resource manager  311  may control, assign, or collect, etc. system resources. The device driver  312  may include, for example, a display driver, a camera driver, a Bluetooth driver, a shared memory driver, a USB driver, a keypad driver, a Wi-Fi driver, or an audio driver. Also, in a further example, the device driver  312  may include an Inter-Process Communication (IPC) driver (not shown). 
         [0054]    The middleware  330  may include a plurality of modules which are previously implemented to provide functions the application  370  needs in common. Also, the middleware  330  may provide functions through the API  360  such that the application  370  uses limited system resources in the electronic device efficiently. For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the middleware  330  (e.g., the middleware  132 ) may include at least one of a runtime library  335 , an application manager  341 , a window manager  342 , a multimedia manager  343 , a resource manager  344 , a power manager  345 , a database manager  346 , a package manager  347 , a connectivity manager  348 , a notification manager  349 , a location manager  350 , a graphic manager  351 , or a security manager  352 . 
         [0055]    The runtime library  335  may include a library module used by a compiler to add a new function through a programming language while the application  370  is executed. In one example, the runtime library  335  may perform a function for input and output, memory management, or an arithmetic function. 
         [0056]    The application manager  341  may manage, for example, a life cycle of at least one of the applications  370 . The window manager  342  may manage Graphic User Interface (GUI) resources used on a screen of the electronic device. The multimedia manager  343  may ascertain a format necessary for reproducing various media files and encode or decode a media file using a codec corresponding to the corresponding format. The resource manager  344  may manage source codes of at least one of the applications  370 , and manage resources of a memory or storage. 
         [0057]    The power manager  345  may act with a Basic Input Output System (BIOS), manage a battery or a power source, and provide power information necessary for an operation. The database manager  346  may perform a management operation to generate, search, or change a database to be used in at least one of the applications  370 . The package manager  347  may manage installation or update of an application distributed by a type of a package file. 
         [0058]    The connectivity manager  348  may manage, for example, wireless connection such as Wi-Fi or BT, etc. The notification manager  349  may display or notify events such as an arrival message, an appointment, and proximity notification by a method which is not disturbed to the user. The location manager  350  may manage location information of the electronic device. The graphic manager  351  may manage a graphic effect to be provided to the user or a UI related to the graphic effect. The security manager  352  may provide all security functions necessary for system security or user authentication, etc. In one example, when the electronic device (e.g., the electronic device  100 ) has a phone function, the middleware  330  may further include a telephony manager (not shown) for managing a voice or video communication function of the electronic device. 
         [0059]    The middleware  330  may generate and use a new middleware module through combination of various functions of the above-described internal component modules. The middleware  330  may provide a module which specializes while being classified in accordance with a kind of OS to provide a differentiated function. Also, the middleware  330  may dynamically delete some of old components or add new components. Also, some of components described in the present disclosure may be omitted, other components may be further added, or components having different names for performing similar functions may be replaced. 
         [0060]    The API  360  (e.g., the API  133 ) as a set of API programming functions may be provided as different components in accordance with the OS. For example, in case of Android or iOS, one API set may be provided while being classified according to platforms. In case of Tizen, for example, two or more API sets may be provided. 
         [0061]    The application  370  (e.g., the application  134 ) may include, for example, a preload application or a third party application. 
         [0062]    At least a part of the programming module  300  may be implemented as instructions stored in non-transitory computer-readable media. When the instructions are executed by one or more processors, for example, the processor  210 , the one or more processors may perform functions corresponding to the instructions. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media may be, for example, the memory  220 . At least a part of the programming module  300  may be, for example, implemented (e.g., executed) by the processor  210 . At least a part of the programming module  300  may include, for example, a module, a program, a routine, a set of instructions, or a process, etc., for performing one or more functions. 
         [0063]    Names of the components of the programming module (e.g., the programming module  300 ) may differ in accordance with differences in the OS. Also, in one example, the programming module may include at least one or more of components. Some of the components may be omitted. The programming module may further include additional other components. 
         [0064]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an example electronic device may complete initial connection with a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server (block  401 ). In particular, the electronic device may establish an initial connection with the DHCP server located in the same sub-net. 
         [0065]    Thereafter, a driver included in the electronic device may transmit a channel list for roaming to the firmware (block  402 ). Although it is not shown in  FIG. 4 , the driver or a supplicant of the electronic device may transmit a key value, such as a Pairwise Master Key (PMK) and a DHCP link list which are acquired in initial connection, to the firmware. Also, the supplicant included in the electronic device may transmit a Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID) list of an Access Point (AP) which shares the DHCP server currently connected with the electronic device. Also, when an update of the DHCP link list is generated after transmitting the DHCP link list to the firmware, the supplicant included in the electronic device may transmit the updated DHCP link list to the firmware periodically. 
         [0066]    The firmware included in the electronic device may perform a roaming connection (block  403 ). In particular, while the firmware monitors a Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) and a beacon periodically, an authenticator included in the firmware may perform an authenticator operation for a roaming connection, an association operation, and a 4-way handshaking operation. 
         [0067]    The firmware included in the electronic device may identify whether a host is in a sleep state (block  404 ). In particular, the firmware may determine whether the host or electronic device, including the driver, the supplicant, etc., is in the sleep state. 
         [0068]    If the host is in a wake state, the firmware may transmit roaming connection information to the host (block  405 ). In one example, when the host is in the wake state, the firmware may transmit the roaming connection information to the supplicant. No current is necessary for waking the electronic device, since it is already in the wake state. 
         [0069]    The supplicant included in the electronic device may synchronize the roaming connection information and update an Information Provider (IP) (block  406 ). In particular, the supplicant may receive roaming connection information from the firmware, synchronize the roaming connection information, and update an IP. 
         [0070]    If it is determined that the host is in the sleep state in block  404 , the firmware may determine whether a BSSID of a currently roamed AP is included in the DHCP link list (block  407 ). That is, in order to determine whether the firmware is to execute the roaming, the firmware may determine whether the BSSID of the currently roamed AP is included in the DHCP link list. 
         [0071]    If it is determined that the BSSID of the currently roamed AP is not included in the DHCP link list in block  407 , the firmware may wake the host (block  408 ). Because a DHCP differs, when the BSSID of the currently roamed AP is not included in the DHCP link list, the firmware wakes the host and the supplicant of the electronic device updates the IP. 
         [0072]    The firmware may transmit the roaming connection information to the host (block  409 ). In one example, the firmware may transmit the roaming connection information to the supplicant such that the supplicant may synchronize the roaming connection information and update an IP (block  410 ). 
         [0073]    If it is determined that the BSSID of the currently roamed AP is included in the DHCP link list in block  407 , the firmware may store the roaming connection information after completing the roaming operation (block  411 ). 
         [0074]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , firmware included in the electronic device may complete the roaming (block  501 ). In particular, when it is determined that an operation state of the electronic device is in a sleep state, the firmware may store roaming connection information after roaming. 
         [0075]    The firmware included in the electronic device may verify that incoming data is generated (block  502 ). For example, after the firmware completes the roaming, the electronic device may verify that the incoming data is generated (e.g., a voice call, etc. from another electronic device). 
         [0076]    The firmware included in the electronic device may wake the host (block  503 ). In one example, the firmware may wake the electronic device before the input data is transmitted to the supplicant. Furthermore, the firmware included in the electronic device may transmit stored roaming connection information to the host (block  504 ). In particular, the firmware may transmit the latest connection information stored through the roaming it performed to the supplicant of the electronic device. In turn, the supplicant may synchronize the roaming connection information and update an IP (block  505 ). That is, the supplicant may receive the roaming connection information from the firmware, synchronize the roaming connection information before data communication, and update the IP. 
         [0077]    Thereafter, the firmware included in the electronic device may transmit the incoming data to a driver of the electronic device (block  506 ). In turn, the electronic device may synchronize the roaming connection information and receive a call from another electronic device using the updated IP. 
         [0078]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , firmware included in the electronic device may complete the roaming (block  601 ). In particular, when it is determined that the electronic device is in a sleep state, the firmware may store roaming connection information after completing the roaming. 
         [0079]    Thereafter, the electronic device may receive an instruction to wake (block  602 ). For example, after the firmware completes the roaming, the electronic device may receive the instruction to wake from a user. 
         [0080]    A driver of the electronic device may request the firmware to transmit roaming connection information (block  603 ). The firmware included in the electronic device may transmit the stored roaming connection information to the supplicant (block  604 ). In turn, the supplicant included in the electronic device may synchronize the roaming connection information and update an IP (block  605 ). That is, the supplicant may receive the roaming connection information from the firmware, synchronize the roaming connection information before data communication, and update the IP. Furthermore, the driver included in the electronic device may transmit input data to the firmware (block  606 ). 
         [0081]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , firmware of the electronic device may perform an operation for roaming using a channel list received by the electronic device (block  701 ). The firmware may analyze the channel list received by the electronic device and carry out the roaming. In one example, while the firmware monitors an RSSI and a beacon periodically, an authenticator included in the firmware may perform an authenticator operation for roaming connection, an association operation, and a 4-way handshaking operation. 
         [0082]    Furthermore, the firmware of the electronic device may determine whether the electronic device is in a sleep state (block  702 ). That is, the firmware included in the electronic device may determine whether to perform the roaming connection, when the host is in the sleep state, instead of other components in the electronic device. 
         [0083]    Thereafter, the firmware of the electronic device may determine whether it is to perform the roaming based at least partially on a state of the host (block  703 ). 
         [0084]    If the host is in a wake state, the firmware may transmit roaming connection information to the supplicant. In addition, the supplicant included in the electronic device may synchronize the roaming connection information and update an IP. 
         [0085]    The firmware may determining that the host is in the sleep state by determining whether a BSSID of a currently roamed AP is included in a DHCP link list. When the BSSID of the currently roamed AP is not included in the DHCP link list, the firmware may wake the host. Since the DHCP differs, the firmware wakes the device and the device proceeds to IP update. When the BSSID of the currently roamed AP is included in the DHCP link list, the firmware may store the roaming connection information after the firmware completes the roaming. 
         [0086]    The above-described examples of the present disclosure can be implemented in hardware, firmware or via the execution of software or computer code that can be stored in a recording medium such as a CD ROM, a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), a magnetic tape, a RAM, a floppy disk, a hard disk, or a magneto-optical disk or computer code downloaded over a network originally stored on a remote recording medium or a non-transitory machine readable medium and to be stored on a local recording medium, so that the methods described herein can be rendered via such software that is stored on the recording medium using a general purpose computer, or a special processor or in programmable or dedicated hardware, such as an ASIC or FPGA. As would be understood in the art, the computer, the processor, microprocessor controller or the programmable hardware include memory components, e.g., RAM, ROM, Flash, etc. that may store or receive software or computer code that when accessed and executed by the computer, processor or hardware implement the processing methods described herein. In addition, it would be recognized that when a general purpose computer accesses code for implementing the processing shown herein, the execution of the code transforms the general purpose computer into a special purpose computer for executing the processing shown herein. Any of the functions and steps provided in the Figures may be implemented in hardware, software or a combination of both and may be performed in whole or in part within the programmed instructions of a computer. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for”. 
         [0087]    In addition, an artisan understands and appreciates that a “processor” or “microprocessor” constitute hardware in the claimed invention. Under the broadest reasonable interpretation, the appended claims constitute statutory subject matter in compliance with 35 U.S.C. §101. The functions and process steps herein may be performed automatically or wholly or partially in response to user command. An activity (including a step) performed automatically is performed in response to executable instruction or device operation without user direct initiation of the activity. 
         [0088]    Although the disclosure herein has been described with reference to particular examples, it is to be understood that these examples are merely illustrative of the principles of the disclosure. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the examples and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, while particular processes are shown in a specific order in the appended drawings, such processes are not limited to any particular order unless such order is expressly set forth herein; rather, processes may be performed in a different order or concurrently and steps may be added or omitted.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8