Electronic apparatus having a first radio, and a second low power radio for waking the first radio
An electronic apparatus used with a separate electronic device, and including: a first radio that wirelessly communicates with the electronic device at a first transmission power in a first power range according to a first wireless protocol; and a second radio that wirelessly communicates the electronic device at a second transmission power in a second power range, that is lower than the first power range, according to a second wireless protocol. The electronic apparatus includes a control circuit that determines whether the first radio is in a power-down state or a power-up state, determines whether a predetermined condition exists, powers-down the first radio when the predetermined condition exists, determines whether a predetermined message is received by the second radio, and powers-up the first radio when it is determined that the predetermined message is received while the first radio is in the power-down state.
1. A first electronic apparatus in wireless communication with a second electronic apparatus in a wireless local area network (WLAN), said first electronic apparatus comprising:
at least one radio with a first interface that wirelessly communicates information with the second electronic apparatus with a first power consumption according to a first wireless protocol, and a second interface that wirelessly communicates information with the second electronic device with a second power consumption, that is lower than the first power consumption, according to a second wireless protocol;
a memory configured to at least store the current operative state of the first interface on the second electronic apparatus; and
a control circuit operably connected with the at least one radio and the memory, to process notifications from the second apparatus,
wherein the first electronic apparatus receives a notification that the second electronic apparatus is deactivating its first interface, the current operative state of the first interface on the second electronic apparatus is updated, and if the first electronic apparatus receives a communication intended for the second electronic apparatus after being notified that the second electronic apparatus deactivated its first interface, then the first electronic apparatus sends a predetermined message to the second electronic apparatus on the second interface.
2. The first electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein if at least a predetermined condition is met, the first electronic apparatus receives a notification from the second electronic apparatus that the first interface is in a power-up state.
3. The first electronic apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the predetermined condition is that a user has activated the second electronic apparatus.
4. A method for saving power in a first electronic apparatus in wireless communication with a second electronic apparatus in a wireless local area network (WLAN), said method comprising:
determining whether a predetermined condition not related to the physical position of the first electronic apparatus is met in the first electronic apparatus;
directing a first wireless interface that communicates information with the second electronic apparatus according to a first wireless protocol in the first electronic apparatus to power down when the first electronic apparatus has been in a non-use state for more than a predetermined period of time;
notifying the second electronic apparatus when the first wireless interface is powered down;
determining whether a predetermined message is received from the second electronic apparatus by a second wireless interface of the first electronic apparatus, that wirelessly communicates information according to a second wireless protocol, wherein the predetermined message is sent by the second electronic apparatus after the second electronic apparatus receives a communication intended for the first electronic apparatus;
directing the first wireless interface to power up when it is determined that the predetermined message is received while the first wireless interface is in the power-down state; and
receiving the communication over the first wireless interface after the first wireless interface is powered-up.
5. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a program for instructing a computer to implement a method for saving power in a first electronic apparatus in wireless communication with a second electronic apparatus in a wireless local area network (WLAN), said method comprising:
determining whether a predetermined condition exists;
sending an electronic signal to deactivate a first interface, that wirelessly communicates information at a first transmission power with a first power consumption according to a first wireless protocol with the second apparatus, when the predetermined condition exists;
notifying the second electronic apparatus when the first interface is deactivated;
determining whether a predetermined message is received by a second interface, that wirelessly communicates information at a second transmission power with a second power consumption, that is lower than the first power consumption, according to a second wireless protocol; and
sending an electronic signal to reactivate the first interface when it is determined that the predetermined message is received via the second interface while the first interface is in a deactivated state,
wherein the predetermined message is received from the second electronic apparatus which has received a communication intended for the first electronic apparatus, wherein the communication is received by the first interface after the control circuit reactivates the first interface, and wherein the predetermined condition is that the first electronic apparatus has been in a non-use state for more than a predetermined period of time.