Opportunistic offloading of tasks between nearby computing devices

• US 9,554,239 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2015
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Swaminathan, Arvind, Sen, Anandamoy, Yildirim, Ahmet Ferhat
• Primary Examiner(s): AYOTUNDE, AYODEJI O
• Application Number:
  US14/692,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20160316314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/437
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable
• 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: Y02D 30/00 Reducing energy consumption in communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The embodiments set forth a technique for enabling a group of computing devices to delegate tasks in a manner that promotes energy savings. According to one embodiment, each computing device is configured to identify situations where the computing device has an energy advantage (e.g., when plugged-in) and should serve as a proxy computing device to other computing devices. Each computing device is also configured to identify situations where the computing device has an energy disadvantage (e.g., a low battery) and should seek out another computing device to act as a proxy computing device. In this manner, computing devices can delegate tasks between one another to reduce or eliminate the processing redundancies that otherwise occur when the computing devices work in isolation to maintain network connectivity and carry out tasks on their own.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a computing device to offload communication tasks to a proxy computing device, the method comprising:

at the computing device, wherein the computing device is a member of a personal area network (PAN);

identifying a condition in which to seek out the proxy computing device to which the communication tasks can be offloaded;

issuing, to nearby computing devices that are members of the PAN, a request for one of the nearby computing devices to serve as the proxy computing device;

receiving, from at least one nearby computing device of the nearby computing devices, an offer to serve as the proxy computing device; and

in response to receiving the offer;

updating a configuration at the computing device to cause the computing device to offload the communication tasks to the proxy computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication tasks comprise push notifications, and updating the configuration further comprises:

causing the computing device to receive push notifications via the proxy computing device instead of receiving the push notifications directly from a notification server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication tasks further comprise email fetch commands, and updating the configuration further comprises:

causing the computing device to fetch emails from an email server only when the proxy computing device detects that the emails are available on the email server.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein identifying the condition in which to seek out the proxy computing device is based on at least one of the following factors:

(i) a battery level of the computing device, (ii) the computing device is not plugged into a power adapter, (iii) a quality of internet connectivity available to the computing device, (iv) activity levels of one or more components included in the computing device, (v) whether the computing device successfully established a prior proxy connection at a current location of the computing device, and (vi) the computing device and the at least one nearby computing device are configured with a same user account known to the notification server.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing, to the at least one nearby computing device, an indication of an acceptance of the at least one nearby computing device to serve as the proxy computing device, wherein the indication includes a unique identifier (ID) that enables the at least one nearby computing device to;

(i) receive, from the notification server, specific push notifications that are associated with the computing device, and

(ii) route the specific push notifications to the computing device.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the notification server selects the at least one nearby computing device to serve as the proxy computing device, but maintains, as a backup communications channel, an existing communication channel between the notification server and the computing device.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

issuing, to the notification server, an indication that the at least one nearby computing device is serving as the proxy computing device, wherein the indication causes the notification server to deliver, to the at least one nearby computing device, specific push notifications that are associated with the computing device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the indication is issued to the notification server by the proxy computing device.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

in response to identifying that the condition is no longer valid;

issuing, to the at least one nearby computing device, a first indication that the at least one nearby computing device no longer needs to serve as the proxy computing device; and

issuing, to the notification server, a second indication that the at least one nearby computing device is no longer serving as the proxy computing device, wherein the second indication causes the notification server to deliver, directly to the computing device, specific push notifications that are associated with the computing device.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, from the at least one nearby computing device, a first indication that the at least one nearby computing device is no longer willing to serve as the proxy computing device; and

issuing, to the notification server, a second indication that the at least one nearby computing device is no longer serving as the proxy computing device, wherein the second indication causes the notification server to deliver, directly to the computing device, specific push notifications that are associated with the computing device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second indication is issued to the notification server by the proxy computing device.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the request is issued to the nearby computing devices using a first type of low-energy communication protocol, and the push notifications are received from the at least one nearby computing device using a second type of low-energy communication protocol.

13. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

for each push notification received by the proxy computing device and directed to the computing device;

constructing a communication channel with the proxy computing device;

receiving the push notification via the communication channel; and

deconstructing the communication channel.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, for each push notification received by the proxy computing device and directed to the computing device, the communication channel is based on at least one of a size of the push notification, a priority of the push notification, and a proximity of the proxy computing device to the computing device.

15. A method for enabling a computing device to serve as a proxy computing device to at least one nearby computing device, the method comprising:

at the computing device, wherein the computing device is a member of a personal area network (PAN);

receiving, from the at least one nearby computing device, a request for the computing device to serve as the proxy computing device, wherein the at least one nearby computing device is a member of the PAN;

identifying a condition in which the computing device is eligible to serve as the proxy computing device to the at least one nearby computing device;

in response to identifying the condition, issuing, to the at least one nearby computing device, an offer to serve as the proxy computing device; and

updating, at the computing device, a configuration to cause the computing device to;

(i) receive, from a notification server, specific push notifications associated with the at least one nearby computing device, and

(ii) route the specific push notifications to the at least one nearby computing device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein identifying the condition is based on at least one of the following factors:

(i) a battery level of the computing device, (ii) the computing device is plugged into a power adapter, (iii) a quality of internet connectivity available to the computing device, and (iv) activity levels of one or more components included in the computing device.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, from the at least one nearby computing device, an indication of an acceptance of the offer, wherein the indication includes a unique identifier (ID) that enables the computing device to properly route the specific push notifications to the at least one nearby computing device.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

issuing, to the notification server, an indication that the computing device is serving as the proxy computing device to the at least one nearby computing device, wherein the indication causes the notification server to deliver, to the computing device, specific push notifications that are associated with the at least one nearby computing device.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

in response to identifying that the condition is no longer valid;

issuing, to the at least one nearby computing device, a first indication that the computing device is no longer willing to serve as the proxy computing device; and

issuing, to the notification server, a second indication that the computing device is no longer serving as the proxy computing device, wherein the second indication causes the notification server to deliver, directly to the at least one nearby computing device, specific push notifications that are associated with the at least one nearby computing device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein identifying that the condition is no longer valid is further based on at least one of the following factors:

determining that a connection through which the specific push notifications are delivered to the at least one nearby computing device is no longer active.

21. A system configured to enable a computing device to serve as a proxy computing device to at least one nearby computing device, comprising:

at least two computing devices, wherein the at least two computing devices are members of a personal area network (PAN); and

a notification server, wherein the notification server is configured to carry out steps that include;

receiving, from a first computing device of the at least two computing devices, an indication that the first computing device is serving as a proxy computing device to a second computing device of the at least two computing devices; and

updating a configuration to cause specific push notifications directed toward (i) the first computing device, or (ii) the second computing device, to be delivered to the first computing device.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the system further comprises a services provider, and the notification server is configured to interface with the services provider and generate push notifications based on interactions with the services provider.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the notification server is further configured to carry out steps that include:

receiving, from the services provider, a request to generate a push notification that is specific to the second computing device; and

in response to the request, and in accordance with the configuration;

delivering the push notification to the first computing device, wherein the first computing device forwards the push notification to the second computing device.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the notification server is further configured to incorporate, into the push notification, information that identifies the second computing device.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the notification server is further configured to carry out steps that include:

detecting that the push notification is not delivered to the second computing device; and

in response to detecting;

updating the configuration to cause (i) specific push notifications directed toward the first computing device to be delivered directly to the first computing device, and (ii) specific push notifications directed toward the second computing device to be delivered directly to the second computing device.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein detecting that the push notification is not delivered to the second computing device comprises:

receiving, from the first computing device, an indication that the first computing device is not able to communicate with the second computing device;

or

detecting that the first computing device does not receive the push notification.

27. A method for offloading a subset of tasks from an application processor (AP) to a communications component, the method comprising:

at a mobile device, wherein the mobile device includes the AP and the communications component;

identifying a condition in which to offload the subset of tasks from the AP to at least one communications component; and

updating a configuration within the mobile device to;

cause the AP to offload the subset of the tasks to the at least one communications component, and

cause the at least one communications component to assume the responsibility of carrying out the subset of the tasks on behalf of the AP.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the subset of tasks includes keepalive (KA) commands that cause a communications channel between the mobile device and a notification server to remain active, and updating the configuration causes the at least one communications component to issue the KA commands to the notification server.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the subset of tasks includes email fetch commands, and updating the configuration causes the at least one communications component to reduce an amount by which the AP is configured to transition from an inactive state to an active state, by carrying out steps that include:

issuing email fetch commands, and

causing the AP to transition to the active state when at least one new email is available for download.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein updating the configuration causes the at least one communications component to:

receive push notifications,

buffer each push notification having a low-priority, and

when an interval of time lapses;

provide the buffered low-priority push notifications to the AP for subsequent processing.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the at least one communications component is selected in accordance with a type of the subset of tasks.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein, when the subset of tasks involves providing coarse-granularity location updates to a cloud service, the at least one communications component comprises a cellular component.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein, when the subset of tasks involves providing fine-granularity location updates to a cloud service, the at least one communications component comprises a cellular component and a Global Positioning System (GPS) component.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein, when the subset of tasks involves providing indoor location updates to a cloud service, the at least one communications component comprises a cellular component and a WiFi component.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein, when the subset of tasks involves communicating with nearby devices via a low-energy protocol, the at least one communications component comprises a cellular component and a Bluetooth®

component.