Patent ID: 8116247

Claim:
A method comprising: operating a processor to: determine a first subset of nodes that have a direct connection to at least one end user; determine a second subset of nodes that is exclusive of the first subset, wherein each of the members of the second subset is necessary to maintain connections among two or more end users requiring connectivity with one another to be maintained; wherein the first subset of nodes and the second set of nodes belong to a set of nodes of a wireless network that are configured to enter a power savings mode removing their capability to maintain connections among end users, and wherein each member of the set of nodes alternates between being a member of the first subset, a member of the second subset, or a member of neither the first subset or the second subset, depending on conditions within the network; and configure an apparatus to cause a node that belongs to the set of nodes but is not within the first subset or the second subset to enter the power savings mode.