Patent ID: 8127159

Claim:
A method of implementing power management on a device in a communication network, the method comprising: sending an initial transmit packet with a power management mode indicator set to off; receiving a data packet and starting a message inactivity timer; monitoring for an expiration of a media idle timer; monitoring for an expiration of the message inactivity timer; and upon an earlier of the expiration of the media idle timer and the expiration of the message inactivity timer, sending a status transmit packet with the power management mode indicator set to on; sending a poll request packet after sending the status transmit packet; receiving a response to the poll request packet indicating whether more data is available to be sent to the device; sending another poll request packet when the response indicates more data is available to be sent to the device; and entering a sleep mode when the response to the poll request packet indicates no more data is available to be sent to the device.