Power-scavenging receiver to generate a signal to be used to control operational state

• US 20060068750A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Burr, Jeremy
• Granted Patent: US 8,180,291 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/343.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for selectively powering an electronic device based on signals from a power-scavenging receiver circuit.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

operational circuitry to provide a designated function within an electronic device; and

a power-scavenging receiver coupled with the operational circuitry to invoke a pre-selected signal to cause the operational circuitry to change operational state in response to a signal received by the power-scavenging receiver.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the operational circuitry comprises wireless communication circuitry to operate according to a wireless communication protocol.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the change in operational state comprises the operational circuitry transitioning to a low-power state.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the change in operational state comprises powering up the operational circuitry.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power-scavenging receiver comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) receiver.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a memory coupled with the power-scavenging receiver; and

a power-scavenging transmitter coupled with the memory to transmit a value received from the memory in response to the signal received by the power-scavenging receiver.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a first antenna coupled with the wireless communication circuitry; and

a second antenna coupled with the power-scavenging receiver.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising an antenna structure coupled with the wireless communication circuitry and with the power-scavenging receiver.

9. A system comprising:

one or more wireless network transceivers to operate according to a wireless network protocol; and

one or more transmitters operating according to a power-scavenging communication protocol positioned to indicate an approximate boundary of a wireless network conforming to the wireless network protocol.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a mobile electronic device having a power-scavenging receiver and a wireless network transceiver to operate according tot the wireless network protocol, wherein in response to receiving a signal from the one or more transmitters, the power-scavenging receiver invokes a signal to cause the wireless network transceiver to change operational states.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the change in operational states comprises the wireless network transceiver of the mobile electronic device transitioning to a low power state.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the change in operational states comprises the wireless network transceiver of the mobile electronic device transitioning to a fully operational state.

13. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

a transmitter in the mobile electronic device to operate according to the power-scavenging communication protocol to transmit identification information corresponding to the mobile electronic device;

one or more power-scavenging receivers coupled with the one or more transmitters to communicate with the transmitter in the mobile electronic device according to the power-scavenging protocol to receive the identification information; and

an authentication agent coupled to communicate with the one or more power-scavenging receivers to authenticate the mobile electronic device based, at least in part, on the identification information.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the authentication agent comprises an authentication circuit.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the authentication agent comprises authentication firmware.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the authentication agent comprises authentication software.

17. An apparatus comprising:

one or more substantially omni-directional antennae;

wireless communication circuitry coupled with at least one of the one or more substantially omni-directional antennae to operate according to a wireless communication protocol; and

a power-scavenging receiver coupled with at least one of the one or more substantially omni-directional antennae and coupled with the wireless communication circuitry to invoke a pre-selected signal to cause the wireless communication circuitry to change operational state in response to a signal received by the power-scavenging receiver.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the change in operational state comprises the wireless communication circuitry transitioning to a low-power state.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the change in operational state comprises powering up the wireless communication circuitry.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the power-scavenging receiver comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) receiver.

21. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:

a memory coupled with the power-scavenging receiver; and

a power-scavenging transmitter coupled with the memory to transmit a value received from the memory in response to the signal received by the power-scavenging receiver.

22. A method comprising:

detecting a signal using a power-scavenging receiver; and

generating, in response to the detected signal, a signal to cause operational circuitry of an electronic device to change operational states.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the operational circuitry comprises a wireless network transceiver that operates according to a wireless network protocol.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the change in operational states comprises causing the wireless network transceiver to transition from a low power state to an active state.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the change in operational states comprises causing the wireless network transceiver to transition from an active state to a low power state.

26. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

authenticating a mobile electronic device; and

causing the mobile electronic device to initiate a connection to a wireless network using the wireless network transceiver.

27. A system comprising:

a wireless network transceiver having a first antenna to operate according to a wireless network protocol; and

a power-scavenging receiver having a second antenna, the power-scavenging receiver coupled with the wireless network transceiver to invoke an interrupt signal to cause the wireless network transceiver to change power state in response to a signal received by the power-scavenging receiver, wherein a protocol to which the power-scavenging receiver conforms supports a transmission range that is less than a transmission range of the wireless network protocol.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the power-scavenging receiver comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) receiver.

29. The apparatus of claim 27 further comprising:

a memory coupled with the power-scavenging receiver; and

a power-scavenging transmitter coupled with the memory to transmit a value received from the memory in response to the signal received by the power-scavenging receiver.