Patent ID: 7555663

Claim:
A method to send packets in a device having a network interface module operating in a power saving mode, the network interface module transmitting the packets from a plurality of sessions and the method comprising the steps of: sending a packet to an access point for distribution; determining a delay sleep time for the packet by performing steps comprising: determining an estimated actual round trip time for the packet by determining a largest actual round trip time for the plurality of sessions; setting the delay sleep time to the largest actual round trip time if the estimated actual round trip time is lower than a beacon interval time; and setting the delay sleep time to a beacon interval time if the largest actual round trip time is at least a beacon interval time; setting a delay sleep timer to time out after the delay sleep time; sending a message to the access point after the delay sleep timer has timed out to indicate the network interface module is entering a doze state in which a transmit and/or a receive component of the network interface module is powered down; and setting the network interface module to the doze state, wherein the steps of sending the packet, setting the delay sleep timer, sending the message and setting the network interface module to the doze state occur while the device is associated with the access point.