Patent ID: 7506188

Claim:
A method to send packets in a device having a network interface module transmitting data packets from a plurality of sessions and operating in a power saving mode, the method comprising the steps of: sending a data packet to an access point that transmits beacons spaced by a beacon interval; estimating a round trip time for the packet; selecting a delay sleep time based on the estimated round trip time; when the delay sleep time is shorter than the beacon interval: setting a delay sleep timer to time out after the delay sleep time; sending a first 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 receive component of the network interface module is powered down; and setting the network interface module to the doze state in response to the delay sleep timer timing out; when the delay sleep time is longer than the beacon interval: sending a second message to the access point to indicate the network interface module is entering the doze state; and setting the network interface module to the doze state; and determining a maximum round trip transmission time for the plurality of sessions; and setting the delay sleep time to the maximum round trip time.