Wireless Station Power Saving Scaling Factor

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the listen interval parameter from its traditional definition to a scaled version that can represent much longer durations. The scaling factor mechanism allows the listen interval to be extended beyond conventional limits, enabling sleep intervals to reach several hours or even days while maintaining protocol compatibility. This resolves the contradiction by changing the parameter's scale without altering the fundamental power saving mechanism.

The patent implements universality by designing a scaling factor mechanism that works across different WLAN standards and device types. The scaling factor is applied uniformly to the listen interval parameter, allowing legacy devices and new devices to coexist in the same network. The access point can negotiate scaling factors with stations, enabling extended sleep intervals while maintaining backward compatibility with existing protocol specifications.

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the extended sleep interval into manageable units using the scaling factor approach. Instead of treating the entire long interval as a single coarse parameter, the scaling mechanism breaks it down into scaled versions of the original fine-grained listen interval units. This allows the system to maintain precise timing control while achieving much longer overall sleep durations, resolving the contradiction between granularity and duration.