Automatic power-off of wireless communication device from linked device

• US 9,876,892 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2016
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• 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, ABDELMONIEM I
• Application Number:
  US15/151,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20160366262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• 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 radio frequency transceiver; and

processor electronics configured to perform operations comprising;

detecting a condition causing the electronic device to transition from a present power state to a lower-power state, wherein detecting the condition comprises at least one of;

detecting a battery threshold corresponding to a battery included in the electronic device, and detecting a battery threshold corresponding to a battery included in the second device;

determining at least a second device to transition to a lower-power mode in response to the electronic device transitioning to a lower-power state;

transmitting a message, via the radio frequency transceiver, instructing the second device to transition to the lower-power mode; and

transitioning to the lower-power state.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the lower-power mode comprises one of a sniff mode, a hold mode, or a park mode.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the lower-power state comprises a power-off state.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein transmitting the message further comprises:

transmitting the message in accordance with a Bluetooth communication protocol.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein transmitting the message further comprises:

transmitting the message over a direct communication link with the second device.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting an other message, via the radio frequency transceiver, instructing a third device to transition to a lower-power mode.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein transmitting the other message further comprises:

transmitting the other message over an indirect communication link with the third device.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the condition comprises an instruction to transition to an airplane mode.

8. An electronic device comprising:

a radio frequency transceiver; and

processor electronics configured to perform operations comprising;

detecting a condition causing the electronic device to transition from a present power state to a lower-power state;

determining at least a second device to transition to a lower-power mode in response to the electronic device transitioning to a lower-power state;

transmitting a message, via the radio frequency transceiver, instructing the second device to transition to the lower-power mode, wherein the message further comprises an indication of a time at which the second device should transition to a higher-power mode; and

transitioning to the lower-power state.

10. A method for changing a device power state, the method comprising:

detecting, at a wireless communication device, a condition causing the wireless communication device to transition to a lower-power state;

generating a message configured to cause a second wireless communication device to transition to a lower-power mode, wherein generating the message further comprises indicating a time at which the second wireless communication device should transition to a higher-power state;

transmitting the message to the second wireless communication device over a direct wireless communication link; and

transitioning, by the wireless communication device, to the lower-power state.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the condition comprises receiving a manual input received at an interface of the wireless communication device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the condition comprises receiving a voice command at an interface of the wireless communication device.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein transitioning to the lower-power state is performed automatically.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining that the second wireless communication device has been selected during configuration of a power-off process associated with the wireless communication device.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein detecting the condition further comprises:

detecting a battery threshold corresponding to a battery included in the wireless communication device.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein detecting the condition further comprises:

detecting a battery threshold corresponding to a battery included in the second wireless communication device.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting an other message, via the radio frequency transceiver, instructing a third wireless communication device to transition to a lower-power mode.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein transmitting the other message further comprises:

transmitting the other message over an indirect communication link with the third wireless communication device.