Patent ID: 8804589

Claim:
A method, comprising: receiving first information in an apparatus configured to communicate on a wireless channel, the first information pertaining to wireless traffic expected from networks, other than a network in which the apparatus is participating, that are also utilizing the wireless channel; determining whether the first information satisfies a first criterion in the apparatus; if the first information is determined to satisfy the first criterion in the apparatus, shortening an awake window duration for communicating on the wireless channel; if the first information is determined not to satisfy the first criterion in the apparatus, determining whether second information satisfies a second criterion in the apparatus, the second information pertaining to wireless traffic on the wireless channel that is expected from the network in which the apparatus is participating; and if the second information is determined to satisfy the second criterion in the apparatus, lengthening the awake window duration for communicating on the wireless channel, wherein the first criterion is a dominance threshold value for the other networks also utilizing the wireless channel; and the second criterion is a dominance threshold value for the network in which the apparatus is participating; wherein determining whether the first information satisfies the first criterion in the apparatus comprises determining whether the wireless traffic expected from the other networks also utilizing the wireless channel exceeds the dominance threshold value for the other networks also utilizing the wireless channel; and wherein determining whether the second information satisfies the second criterion in the apparatus comprises determining whether the wireless traffic expected from the network in which the apparatus is participating exceeds the dominance threshold value for the network in which the apparatus is participating.