DEVICES AND METHODS FOR DECREASING AWAKE STATE DURATIONS IN ACCESS TERMINALS OPERATING IN A SLOTTED IDLE MODE

Access terminals are adapted to dynamically decrease awake state durations (and conversely increase sleep state durations) when operating in a slotted idle mode. According to one example, an access terminal can determine an offset corresponding to a time difference between the beginning of a preceding slot cycle and receipt of a first packet transmission. The access terminal can store information corresponding to the determined offset, and can employ the stored information to power on a receiver circuit after the beginning of a subsequent slot cycle by an amount of time corresponding to the determined offset. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also included.