Automated power management of a peripheral device
View Patent ↗Based on bounds of a period of reduced operation for a base device, a base device generates a power management message for transmission to a peripheral device. In the power management message, the base device inserts bounds of a period of reduced operation for the peripheral device. As a result, the periods of reduced operation conserve battery power in both devices and the two devices may reestablish a communications channel upon reaching the end of the period of reduced operation and resuming normal operations.
1. At a base device, a method of managing power of a peripheral device, said method comprising:
receiving an indication of bounds of a period of reduced operation for said base device;
generating a power management message, said power management message including an indication of bounds of a period of reduced operation for said peripheral device; and
transmitting said power management message to said peripheral device.
2. At a base device, a method of managing power of a peripheral device, said method comprising:
receiving an indication of bounds of a period of reduced operation for said base device;
generating a power management message, said power management message including an indication of bounds of a period of reduced operation for said peripheral device; and
transmitting said power management message to said peripheral device;
wherein said indication of bounds of said period of reduced operation for said base device includes a mobile device reduced operation start time and a mobile device reduced operation end time;
wherein said method further comprises:
determining a peripheral device reduced operation duration value based on said mobile device reduced operation start time and said mobile device reduced operation end time; and
wherein said bounds of said period of reduced operation for said peripheral device comprise:
a time of receipt of said power management message; and
said reduced operation duration value later than said time of receipt of said power management message.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising delaying said transmitting until a time proximate to said mobile device reduced operation start time.
4. At a base device, a method of managing power of a peripheral device, said method comprising:
receiving an indication of bounds of a period of reduced operation for said base device;
generating a power management message, said power management message including an indication of bounds of a period of reduced operation for said peripheral device; and
transmitting said power management message to said peripheral device;
wherein said indication of bounds of said period of reduced operation for said base device includes a mobile device reduced operation start time and a mobile device reduced operation end time;
wherein said method further comprises:
determining a peripheral device reduced operation start time based on said mobile device reduced operation start time; and
determining a peripheral device reduced operation end time based on said mobile device reduced operation end time; and
wherein said bounds of said period of reduced operation for said peripheral device comprise:
said peripheral device reduced operation start time; and
said peripheral device reduced operation end time.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
establishing a wireless communication channel with said peripheral device prior to said transmitting.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein said wireless communication channel comprises a Bluetooth™ communication channel.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein implementing said reduced operation for said base device comprises terminating maintenance of said wireless communication channel.
8. The method of claim 5 wherein entering said reduced operation for said peripheral device comprises terminating maintenance of said wireless communication channel with said base device.
9. At a base device, a method of managing power of a peripheral device, said method comprising:
receiving an indication of bounds of a period of reduced operation for said base device;
generating a power management message, said power management message including an indication of bounds of a period of reduced operation for said peripheral device; and
transmitting said power management message to said peripheral device;
wherein said indication of bounds of said period of reduced operation for said base device includes a mobile device reduced operation start time and a mobile device reduced operation end time; and
wherein said method further comprises:
determining whether said mobile device reduced operation start time has been reached; and
responsive to determining that said mobile device reduced operation start time has been reached, reducing operation of said base device.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
determining whether said mobile device reduced operation end time has been reached; and
responsive to determining that said mobile device reduced operation start time has been reached, resuming operation.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:
responsive to said determining that said mobile device reduced operation end time has been reached, reestablishing a previously established communication channel with said peripheral device.
12. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
responsive to said determining that said mobile device reduced operation start time has been reached, suspending a timer related to a cryptographic key in use for secure communication with said peripheral device.
13. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
running a timer related to a cryptographic key in use for secure communication with said peripheral device; and
continuing to run said timer during reduced operation of said base device.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein said base device comprises a mobile communications device.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein said peripheral device comprises a smart card reader.
16. A base device comprising:
a processor adapted to:
receive an indication of bounds of a period of reduced operation for said base device; and
generate a power management message, said power management message including an indication of bounds of a period of reduced operation for said peripheral device; and
a transmitter for transmitting said power management message to a peripheral device.
17. The base device of claim 16 further comprising a real time clock communicatively connected to said processor.
18. The base device of claim 16 wherein said base device comprises a mobile communications device.
19. A computer readable medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when performed by processor in a base device, cause said processor to:
receiving an indication of bounds of a period of reduced operation for said base device;
generating a power management message, said power management message including an indication of bounds of a period of reduced operation for said peripheral device; and
transmitting said power management message to said peripheral device.