Patent ID: 8149747

Claim:
A method in a wireless network client device comprising: detecting a change in a power saving operating mode within the wireless network client device, where a host operating system on a host hardware platform of the wireless network client device manages network access of the wireless network client in normal operation, and where an embedded agent that has independent operation from the host OS manages network access of the wireless network client in power saving operation; wherein managing network access includes maintaining an active network access session with a wireless network including managing connectivity and security configuration information of the wireless network client necessary to keep the network access session active; exchanging session context between the host OS and the embedded agent of the wireless network client device responsive to detecting the change in the power saving operating mode, the session context defining a network access session of the wireless network client device with a wireless network, the session context including the security configuration information; and switching management of roaming for network access for the wireless network client device between the host OS and the embedded agent in conjunction with exchanging the session context responsive to detecting the change in the power saving operating mode.