The invention is directed to a wireless communication device that includes: a radio unit configured to provide two-way wireless communications; a host processing unit; and a sleep mode unit, coupled to the host processing unit and the radio unit, configured to control a sleep time of the host processing unit and the radio unit, wherein if the radio unit does not receive a signal from the access point that associates the wireless communication device with the access point, the sleep unit increases the sleep time of the host processing unit and the radio unit after each set of one or more failed attempts by the wireless communication device to associate with the access point.