Automatic power-off of bluetooth device from linked device

• US 7,987,378 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: McKillop, Christopher D., Lee, Michael M., Terlizzi, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): ELAMIN, ABDELMONIEM I
• Application Number:
  US11/650,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20080165829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,663 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/310, 713320-324, 713/330, 713/340
• US Class Current: 713/320
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/028 switching on or off only a part of the equipment circuit blocks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and systems for powering-off a Bluetooth device from a linked device are provided. A device can transmit a Bluetooth signal to a linked device to instruct the linked device to power-off. In this manner, the user need only turn off one device manually which results in all linked devices being powered off. This process can be initiated by a user through a device directly linked with the device to be powered-off or through a device that is indirectly connected, through one or more Bluetooth networks, with the device to be powered-off. This process can also be automatically initiated by a device when a set of predetermined conditions exist. Once instructed to do so, a device can initiate a predetermined power-off process which can involve terminating any ongoing functions and turning off various subsystems. In accordance with the present invention, a user can initiate a power-off of all the devices on a Bluetooth network through a single device.

Claims

1. A method for powering-off a device comprising:

initiating a power-off process for a first device;

transmitting, after the initiating, a signal from the first device to a second device using a Bluetooth communications protocol; and

initiating a predetermined power-off process for the second device in response to the transmitted signal, wherein the initiating occurs automatically if a battery level in the first device goes below a threshold.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the initiating comprises a user interfacing with a power button on the first device.

2. A method for powering-off a device comprising:

recognizing a predetermined set of conditions;

transmitting, after the recognizing, a signal from a first device to a second device using a Bluetooth communications protocol; and

initiating a predetermined power-off process for the second device in response to the transmitted signal, wherein the recognizing comprises monitoring for a low-power condition that would cause the first device to power-off.

3. A method for powering-off a plurality of devices comprising:

initiating a power-off process for a first device;

transmitting signals, after the initiating, from the first device to a plurality of second devices using a Bluetooth communications protocol; and

initiating predetermined power-off processes for the plurality of second devices in response to the transmitted signals, wherein the initiating occurs automatically if a battery level in the first device goes below a threshold.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein the initiating comprises a user interfacing with a power button on the first device.

4. A method for powering-off a plurality of devices comprising:

recognizing a predetermined set of conditions;

transmitting signals, after the recognizing, from a first device to a plurality of second devices using a Bluetooth communications protocol; and

initiating predetermined power-off processes for the plurality of second devices in response to the transmitted signals, wherein the recognizing comprises monitoring for a low-power condition that would cause the first device to power-off.

5. A method for powering-off a device comprising:

configuring a power-off process for a first device;

initiating the power-off process for the first device, wherein the configuring occurs prior to the initiating;

transmitting, after the initiating, a signal from the first device to a second device using a Bluetooth communications protocol; and

initiating a predetermined power-off process for the second device in response to the transmitted signal.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the configuring comprises selecting which other devices are powered off during the power-off process of the first device.

8. A method for powering-off a plurality of devices comprising:

configuring the power-off process for the first device;

initiating a power-off process for a first device, wherein the configuring occurs prior to the initiating;

transmitting signals, after the initiating, from the first device to a plurality of second devices using a Bluetooth communications protocol; and

initiating predetermined power-off processes for the plurality of second devices in response to the transmitted signals.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the configuring comprises selecting which other devices are powered off during the power-off process of the first device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the configuring comprises selecting the plurality of second devices.