Patent ID: 8315193

Claim:
A method for saving power in an ad-hoc network including a first station and a second station, wherein each of the first station and the second station has a corresponding network interface configured to wirelessly communicate with other stations in the ad-hoc network, the method comprising: transmitting, from the first station, a first advertisement of a capability of the first station to buffer data traffic intended for other stations; receiving, at the first station, a second advertisement of a capability of the second station to buffer data traffic intended for other stations; after transmitting the first advertisement and in response to receiving, from the second station, a first request to buffer data traffic intended for the second station for a first predetermined period, wherein the first request is in response to the first advertisement, i) transmitting, from the first station, a response to the first request, ii) buffering, at the first station, data traffic intended for the second station during the first predetermined period, and iii) transmitting, from the first station to the second station, the buffered data traffic intended for the second station after the first predetermined period elapses; and after transmitting the first advertisement, after receiving the second advertisement, and in response to transmitting, from the first station, a second request to the second station to buffer data traffic intended for the first station for a second predetermined period, i) receiving, from the second station, a response to the second request, ii) causing the first station to enter a first power save mode for the second predetermined period, and iii) receiving, at the first station, the buffered data traffic intended for the first station after the second predetermined period elapses.