Methods and Apparatus for Multi-Stage Activation of Communication Devices

Abstract

An example communication device is disclosed herein. The communication device includes a magnetic-field interface; a near-field radio frequency (RF) interface; a far-field RF interface; and a controller. The controller is configured to place the communication device in a deep sleep mode, and in response to receiving a wake-up signal at the near-field RF interface, transition the communication device from the deep sleep mode to an awake mode for a period of time. If an activation signal is received during the period of time, the controller can transition the communication device from the awake mode to a fully functional mode, and if the activation signal is not received during the period of time, the controller can transition the communication device from the awake mode to the deep sleep mode.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A communication device comprising:
 a magnetic-field interface;   a near-field radio frequency (RF) interface;   a far-field RF interface; and   a controller, wherein the controller is configured to:
 place the communication device in a deep sleep mode in which the magnetic-field interface is in an off state, the near field RF interface is in an idle state, and the far-field RF interface is in the off state; 
 in response to receiving a wake-up signal at the near-field RF interface, transition the communication device from the deep sleep mode to an awake mode for a period of time in which the magnetic-field interface is in the on state, the near-field RF interface is in the on state, and the far-field RF interface is in the off state; 
 if an activation signal is received during the period of time, transition the communication device from the awake mode to a fully functional mode in which the magnetic-field interface, the near-field RF interface, and the far-field RF interface are each in the on state; 
 if the activation signal is not received during the period of time, transition the communication device from the awake mode to the deep sleep mode. 
   
     
     
         2 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the near-field RF interface has an effective range of approximately two inches. 
     
     
         3 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic-field interface has an effective range of approximately two feet. 
     
     
         4 . The communication device of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch to be actuated to place the communication device in the awake mode. 
     
     
         5 . The communication device of  claim 1 , further a peripheral device, wherein the controller is configured to:
 place the peripheral device in the off state in the deep sleep mode and the awake mode; and   place the peripheral device in the on state in the fully functional mode.   
     
     
         6 . The communication device of  claim 5 , wherein the peripheral device is an accelerometer. 
     
     
         7 . The communication device of  claim 1 , further comprising a timer to enforce the period of time. 
     
     
         8 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the communication device comprises a radio frequency identification tag. 
     
     
         9 . The communication device of  claim 1 , further comprising a battery. 
     
     
         10 . The communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the communication device consumes a first amount of power from the battery in the deep sleep mode. 
     
     
         11 . The communication device of  claim 10 , wherein the communication device consumes a second amount of power in the awake mode, and the second amount of power is greater than the first amount of power; 
     
     
         12 . The communication device of  claim 11 , wherein the communication device consumes a third amount of power in the fully functional mode, and the third amount of power is equal or greater than the second amount of power. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus comprising:
 a battery;   a first communication interface having a first effective communication range;   a second communication interface having a second effective communication range greater than the first effective communication range;   a third communication interface having a third effective communication range greater than the second effective communication range;   a controller configured to:
 place the apparatus in a first operational mode in which the first communication interface is idle, the second communication interface is off, and the third communication interface is off; 
 place the apparatus in a second operational mode in which the first communication interface is on, the second communication interface is on, and the third communication interface is off; and 
 if an activation signal is received while in the second operational mode, place the apparatus in a third operational mode in which the first, second and third communication interfaces are on. 
   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to place the apparatus in the second operational mode in response to receiving a wake-up signal. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the wake-up signal is a near-field communication signal.