Alerting a smart card reader of probable wireless communication

1. A method comprising:

detecting at a wireless device one or more conditions that indicate that communication of data between said wireless device and a wireless smart card reader over a wireless communication link will not occur within a specified period of time; and

in response to detecting said one or more conditions, having said wireless device send a deactivation alert over said wireless communication link to said wireless smart card reader, said deactivation alert instructing said wireless smart card reader to enter a low-power state.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein detecting said one or more conditions comprises:

detecting that said wireless device has been locked.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein detecting said one or more conditions comprises:

detecting that said wireless device is about to be locked.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said wireless device has a carrying case and detecting said one or more conditions comprises:

detecting that said wireless device is secured to said carrying case.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said wireless device and said wireless smart card reader are compatible with a wireless personal area network communication protocol.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the low-power state is Sniff Mode.

7. A method for readying a wireless smart card reader to receive communication of data, the method comprising:

receiving an activation alert from a wireless device; and

upon receipt of said activation alert by said wireless smart card reader, entering a higher-power state in said wireless smart card reader for the duration of a timeout period if said wireless smart card reader is in a low-power state and otherwise not entering said low-power state in said wireless smart card reader at least until said timeout period has expired.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said wireless device and said wireless smart card reader are compatible with a wireless personal area network communication protocol.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said low-power state is Sniff Mode and said higher-power state is Active Mode.

10. A device comprising:

a wireless communication interface;

a processor coupled to said wireless communication interface; and

a memory coupled to said processor, said memory to store code which, when executed by said processor, detects at said device one or more conditions that indicate that communication of data between said device and a wireless smart card reader over a wireless communication link will occur within a specified period of time, and in response to detecting said one or more conditions sends an activation alert to said wireless smart card reader over said wireless communication link via said wireless communication interface.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said one or more conditions involve only said device and wherein said one or more conditions are independent of said wireless smart card reader.

12. The device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said wireless communication interface is compatible with a wireless personal area network communication protocol.

13. A smart card reader comprising:

a wireless communication interface through which said smart card reader is able to receive an activation alert from a wireless device;

a processor coupled to said wireless communication interface; and

a memory coupled to said processor, said memory to store code which, when executed by said processor, causes said smart card reader to enter a higher-power state if said smart card reader is in a low-power state upon receipt of said activation alert.

14. The smart card reader as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said wireless communication interface is compatible with a wireless personal area network communication protocol.

15. The smart card reader as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said low-power state is Sniff Mode and said higher-power state is Active Mode.