A power management method and apparatus for a wireless LAN module in a
computer system may include a communication sensitivity checking unit for
checking a communication sensitivity of a wireless communications
channel. If a communications sensitivity is lower than a desired value, a
power mode of the wireless LAN module is changed into a sleep mode for a
predetermined period of time. After the delay period expires, the
wireless LAN module is switched back into a normal mode, and the
communications sensitivity is checked again. If the communications
sensitivity is acceptable, a data checking unit checks to determine
whether there is data to be transmitted/received by the wireless LAN
module. If no data needs to be sent, at least the transmission block of
the wireless LAN module can be set to the power down mode. Also, if an
attempt to set up a communications channel is unsuccessful, the device
can be set to the power down mode for a predetermined delay period. After
the delay period expires, the wireless LAN module is returned to the
normal mode for another setup attempt.