Patent ID: 8830891

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, an advertisement of a capability of the first station to buffer data traffic intended for other stations in the ad-hoc network; responsive to transmitting the advertisement of the capability of the first station to buffer data traffic intended for other stations in the ad-hoc network, receiving, at the first station, a request to buffer data traffic intended for the second station for a time period; and responsive to receiving the request at the first station, transmitting, from the first station, a response to the request, wherein the response acknowledges acceptance of the request, buffering, at the first station, data traffic intended for the second station, and subsequent to buffering the data traffic intended for the second station, transmitting, from the first station to the second station, the buffered data traffic intended for the second station.