Method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments are disclosed to enable power save modes of operation between mobile wireless devices for direct data transfer in an infrastructure BSS. An example embodiment inserts in a message that is transmitted by the transmitting mobile wireless device, a specified time when a next active direct data transfer period will start so that the devices can remain in power save mode in a direct data transfer link until that time. Then, when the next active direct data transfer period is about to start, the receiving device sends a trigger signal based on the specified time, the trigger signal indicating that the next period is about to start. This confirms to the transmitting device that the receiving device has awakened, so that the transmitting device may start transmitting the data to the receiving device via the direct data transfer link.