Automatic power-off of wireless communication device from linked device

• US 9,344,966 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2015
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Michael M., Terlizzi, Jeffrey J., McKillop, Christopher D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elamin, M
• Application Number:
  US14/623,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20150230181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 wireless communication device from a linked device are provided. A device can transmit a wireless communication 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 wireless communication 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 wireless communication network through a single device.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a wireless transceiver;

a user interface; and

a processor configured to;

receive identification, via the user interface, of at least one second electronic device to which a signal is to be transmitted in response to the electronic device switching into a reduced-communication state;

receive an instruction, via the user interface, to switch the electronic device into a reduced-communication state; and

transmit, via the wireless transceiver, in response to the receiving the instruction, a signal to the at least one second electronic device, wherein the signal includes an instruction to the at least one second electronic device to transition to a reduced-power state, wherein the second electronic device transitioning to the reduced-power state comprises transmitting a signal to a third electronic device, wherein the signal to the third electronic device includes an instruction to cause the third electronic device to transition to a reduced-power state.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the reduced-communication state comprises an airplane mode or a power-off state.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the reduced-power state of the at least one second device comprises an airplane mode or a power-off state.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the signal complies with a Bluetooth communications protocol.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the reduced-power state of the at least one second device comprises a Sniff mode, a Hold mode, or a Park mode.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one second device transitioning to the reduced-power state comprises configuring a non-communication subsystem of the at least one second device for power conservation.

7. A method for switching a device to a reduced-power state comprising:

receiving identification of at least one second device to which a signal is to be transmitted in response to recognizing that a reduced-communication state has been initiated at the first device;

transmitting a signal from a first device to the at least one second device;

wherein the transmitting the signal from the first device to the at least one second device occurs in response to recognizing that the reduced-communication state has been initiated at the first device; and

wherein the signal instructs the at least one second device to switch to the reduced-power state, wherein the signal further comprises a time that the second device should exit the reduced-power state.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the reduced-communication state comprises an airplane mode or a power-off state.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the reduced-power state of the at least one second device comprises an airplane mode or a power-off state.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the communications protocol complies with a Bluetooth communications protocol.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the reduced-power state of the at least one second device comprises a Sniff mode, a Hold mode, or a Park mode.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein switching the at least one second device to the reduced-power state comprises configuring a non-communication subsystem of the at least one second device for power conservation.

13. A method for switching a device between a low-power mode and a full-power mode, the method comprising:

receiving identification of at least one second device to which a signal is to be transmitted in response to recognizing that a reduced-communication state has been initiated at a first device;

transmitting a first signal from the first device to the at least one second device in response to determining that the first device has initiated a reduced-communication state, wherein the first signal notifies the at least one second device that it can switch to the low-power mode, wherein the at least one second device switching to the low-power mode comprises transmitting a signal to a third device, wherein the signal to the third device includes an instruction to cause the third device to switch to a low-power mode; and

transmitting a second signal, subsequent to the first signal, from the first device to the at least one second device, wherein the second signal instructs the at least one second device to switch to the full-power mode.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the reduced-communication state comprises an airplane mode or a power-off state.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the low-power mode of the at least one second device comprises an airplane mode.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first signal or the second signal complies with a Bluetooth communications protocol.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the low-power mode comprises a Sniff mode, a Hold mode, or a Park mode.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein switching the at least one second device to the low-power mode comprises disabling a function of the at least one second device unrelated to communications.