Patent ID: 8170624

Claim:
A method for controlling operation of a wireless network device that includes i) a host assembly and ii) a wireless device assembly, wherein the host assembly includes an interface for connecting to a wireless device assembly, and wherein the wireless device assembly is for communicating wirelessly with another device, the method comprising: communicating a first handshake signal from the host assembly to the wireless device assembly to initiate entry into or exit from a host sleep mode on the host assembly, wherein the wireless device assembly has an active power save mode and an inactive power save mode; and communicating, via the interface, a second handshake signal from the wireless device assembly to the host assembly, in response to the first handshake signal, to confirm receipt of the first handshake signal, wherein the second handshake signal is communicated to the host assembly by the wireless device assembly to indicate whether the wireless device assembly is currently in the active power save mode or whether the wireless device assembly is currently in the inactive power save mode, and wherein the host assembly enters the host sleep mode or exits the host sleep mode i) in response to receipt of the second handshake signal and ii) whether the wireless device assembly is in the active power save mode or the inactive power save mode and wherein the host assembly relinquishes control of the interface on entering the host sleep mode.