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. A method of managing power at a peripheral device, said method comprising:
receiving, from a base device, a power management message, said power management message including an indication of a duration of a period of reduced operation for said peripheral device;
according to said indication:
reducing operation of said peripheral device at a first time, said reducing operation including suspending a timer related to a cryptographic key, said first time closely following a time of receipt of said power management message; and
resuming operation of said peripheral device at a second time, said resuming operation including restarting said timer related to said cryptographic key, said second time comprising a future time determined by adding said duration to said first time.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said peripheral device comprises a smart card reader.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving said power management message occurs over a wireless communication channel.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein said wireless communication channel comprises a Bluetooth™ communication channel.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein implementing said reduced operation comprises terminating maintenance of said wireless communication channel.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising, subsequent to said resuming operation, reestablishing a previously established communication channel with said second device.
7. A peripheral device comprising:
a processor adapted to:
receive, from a base device, said power management message, said power management message including an indication of a duration of a period of reduced operation for said peripheral device; and
according to said indication:
reduce operation of said peripheral device at a first time, said reducing operation including suspending a timer related to a cryptographic key, said first time closely following a time of receipt of said power management message; and
resume operation of said peripheral device at a second time, said resuming operation including restarting said timer related to said cryptographic key, said second time comprising a future time determined by adding said duration to said first time.
8. The peripheral device of claim 7 wherein said peripheral device comprises a smart card reader.
9. The peripheral device of claim 7 further comprising a communication module adapted to receive said power management message over a wireless communication channel.
10. The peripheral device of claim 9 wherein said wireless communication channel comprises a Bluetooth™ communication channel.
11. The peripheral device of claim 9 wherein implementing said reduced operation comprises terminating maintenance of said wireless communication channel.
12. The peripheral device of claim 7 further comprising a communication module adapted to reestablish a previously established communication channel with said second device.
13. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when performed by processor in a peripheral device, cause said processor to:
receive, from a base device, a power management message, said power management message including an indication of a duration of a period of reduced operation for said peripheral device;
said instructions causing said processor to, according to said indication:
reduce operation of said peripheral device at a first time, said reducing operation including suspending a timer related to a cryptographic key, said first time closely following a time of receipt of said power management message; and
resume operation of said peripheral device at a second time, said resuming operation including restarting said timer related to said cryptographic key, said second time comprising a future time determined by adding said duration to said first time.