4.4.4 M2M_PS_DEEP_AUTOMATIC

This mode implements the Wi-Fi standard power-saving method in the WINC module. The WINC sleeps and periodically wakes up to monitor AP beacons. The AP is required to buffer data while stations are in Power Save mode and transmit data when stations wake-up. The AP periodically transmits a beacon frame to synchronize with a network for every beacon period. A station, which is in Power Save mode, periodically wakes up to receive the beacon. The beacon conveys information to the station about pending unicast data, which are buffered inside the AP while the station was in Sleep mode. The beacon also provides information about the broadcast/multicast data.

In this mode, the WINC module enters into Sleep state by turning off the IEEE 802.11 radio, MAC, and system clock. Prior to entering the Sleep mode, the ATWINC15x0 programs a hardware timer (running on an internal low-power oscillator) with a sleep period determined by the WINC firmware power management module.

Any of the following events can wake-up the WINC module from Sleep state:

• Expiry of the hardware sleep timer. The WINC wakes up to receive the upcoming beacon from AP.
• The WINC wakes up¹ when the host MCU application requests services from the WINC by calling any host driver API function, for example, Wi-Fi or socket operation.