Selective power management for a hand held host

Abstract

A hand held radio host includes circuitry for selectively providing power to radiating transceiver elements and non-radiating application elements according to a plurality of power modes of operation to achieve desired effects and in a way that saves power and extends battery life. In one embodiment of the invention, the hand held host operates in one of three modes. In a full power mode, any selected application element as well as all transceiver elements are powered on at the same time. Thus, for example, a cell phone module, a wireless personal access network module, a wireless local area network module and one of a pager/short message service message module may all be powered on at the same time to receive corresponding messages, calls, data sessions, etc. At the same time that all of the transceiver elements are powered on, any selected application element receives power. Thus, application elements such as address books, calendar functions, games, word processors, and similar other application elements may receive power when selected.

1 . A method for selectively providing power to at least one of a plurality of transceivers of a hand held transceiver device, comprising:
 displaying at least one menu to a user on a display of the hand held transceiver device that indicates a plurality of power modes of operation of the hand held transceiver device and that indicates transceiver power selection options for at least one of the plurality of power modes of operation;   receiving user input in response to the at least one menu;   selecting, based upon the user input, a programmable power mode of the plurality of power modes of operation for selection of power option settings;   selecting, based upon the user input, for the programmable power mode of operation, power option settings for at least one of the plurality of transceiver elements;   enabling the programmable power mode of operation; and   selectively delivering power to the at least one of the plurality of transceiver elements while operating in the programmable power mode of operation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting, based upon the user input, for the programmable power mode of operation, power option settings for the at least one of the plurality of transceiver elements further includes at least one of:
 selecting power options settings for a wireless personal area network transceiver;   selecting power options settings for a wireless local area network transceiver; and   selecting power options settings for a cellular radio network transceiver.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting, based upon the user input, for the programmable power mode of operation, power option settings for the at least one of the plurality of transceiver elements further includes at least one of:
 selecting power options settings for a short message server transceiver;   selecting power options settings for a pager transceiver; and   selecting power options settings for an infrared communication transceiver.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting, based upon the user input, for the programmable power mode of operation, power option settings for the at least one of the plurality of transceiver elements further includes selecting a transceiver element to operate in one of:
 a fully enabled communication mode; and   a periodically enabled communication mode.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein operating in the periodically enabled communication mode includes, for the at least one of the plurality of transceiver elements, delivering power on a periodic basis and subsequently ceasing to deliver power to power down the at least one of the plurality of transceiver elements. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further including downloading at least one pending message and then powering down the at least one of the plurality of transceiver elements. 
     
     
         7 . A hand held transceiver device, comprising:
 a plurality of transceiver elements operable to support wireless communications;   a display;   a processor that communicates with external devices through the plurality of transceiver elements; and   wherein the hand held transceiver device is operable to:
 display at least one menu to a user on a display of the hand held transceiver device that indicates a plurality of power modes of operation of the hand held transceiver device and that indicates transceiver power selection options for at least one of the plurality of power modes of operation; 
 receive user input in response to the at least one menu; 
 select, based upon the user input, a programmable power mode of the plurality of power modes of operation for selection of power option settings; 
 select, based upon the user input, for the programmable power mode of operation, power option settings for at least one of the plurality of transceiver elements; 
 enable the programmable power mode of operation; and 
 selectively deliver power to the at least one of the plurality of transceiver elements while operating in the programmable power mode of operation. 
   
     
     
         8 . The hand held transceiver device of  claim 7  wherein the hand held transceiver device is operable to select power option settings for at least one of:
 a wireless personal area network transceiver;   a wireless local area network transceiver; and   a cellular radio network transceiver.   
     
     
         9 . The hand held transceiver device of  claim 7  wherein the hand held transceiver device is operable to select power option settings for at least one of:
 a short message server transceiver;   a pager transceiver; and   an infrared communication transceiver.   
     
     
         10 . The hand held transceiver device of  claim 7  wherein the hand held transceiver device is operable to select the at least one transceiver element to operate in one of:
 a fully enabled communication mode; and   a periodically enabled communication mode.   
     
     
         11 . The hand held transceiver device of  claim 4  wherein operating in the periodically enabled communication mode includes, for the at least one of the plurality of transceiver elements, delivering power on a periodic basis and subsequently ceasing to deliver power to power down the at least one of the plurality of transceiver elements. 
     
     
         12 . The hand held transceiver device of  claim 5  wherein the hand held transceiver device is operable to download at least one pending message and then power down the at least one of the plurality of transceiver elements. 
     
     
         13 . A method for selectively providing power to at least one of a plurality of transceivers of a hand held transceiver device, comprising:
 displaying a menu of selectable transceiver elements to a user on a display of the hand held transceiver device for a programmable power mode of operation;   receiving a first user input in response to the menu of selectable transceiver elements for the programmable power mode of operation;   displaying a menu of power modes of operation;   receiving a second user input in response to the menu of power modes of operation;   enabling the programmable power mode of operation based on the second user input; and   delivering power, based on the first user input, to at least one of the selectable transceiver elements while the programmable power mode of operation is enabled.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein delivering power, based upon the first user input, to the at least one of the selectable transceiver elements while the programmable power mode of operation is enabled comprises delivering power to at least one of:
 a wireless personal area network transceiver;   a wireless local area network transceiver; and   a cellular radio network transceiver.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein delivering power, based upon the first user input, to the at least one of the selectable transceiver elements while the programmable power mode of operation is enabled comprises delivering power to at least one of:
 a short message server transceiver;   a pager transceiver; and   an infrared communication transceiver.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein delivering power, based upon the first user input, to the at least one of the selectable transceiver elements while the programmable power mode of operation is enabled comprises delivering power to operate in one of:
 a fully enabled communication mode; and   a periodically enabled communication mode.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein operating in the periodically enabled communication mode includes delivering power to at least one of the selectable transceiver elements on a periodic basis and subsequently ceasing to deliver power to power down the at least one of the selectable transceiver elements. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further including downloading at least one pending message and then powering down the at least one of the selectable transceiver elements. 
     
     
         19 . A hand held transceiver device, comprising:
 a plurality of transceiver elements operable to support wireless communications;   a display;   a processor that communicates with external devices through the plurality of transceiver elements; and   wherein the hand held transceiver device is operable to:
 display a menu of selectable transceiver elements to a user on a display of the hand held transceiver device for a programmable power mode of operation; 
 receive a first user input in response to the menu of selectable transceiver elements for the programmable power mode of operation; 
 display a menu of power modes of operation; 
 receive a second user input in response to the menu of power modes of operation; 
 enable the programmable power mode of operation based on the second user input; and 
 deliver power, based on the first user input, to at least one of the selectable transceiver elements while the programmable power mode of operation is enabled. 
   
     
     
         20 . The hand held transceiver device of  claim 19  wherein the hand held transceiver device is operable deliver power, based on the first user input, to at least one of the selectable transceiver elements while the programmable power mode of operation is enabled, for at least one of:
 a wireless personal area network transceiver;   a wireless local area network transceiver; and   a cellular radio network transceiver.   
     
     
         21 . The hand held transceiver device of  claim 19  wherein the hand held transceiver device is operable deliver power, based on the first user input, to at least one of the selectable transceiver elements while the programmable power mode of operation is enabled, for at least one of:
 a short message server transceiver;   a pager transceiver; and   an infrared communication transceiver.   
     
     
         22 . The hand held transceiver device of  claim 19  wherein the hand held transceiver device is operable deliver power, based on the first user input, to at least one of the selectable transceiver elements while the programmable power mode of operation is enabled, to operate in one of:
 a fully enabled communication mode; and   a periodically enabled communication mode.   
     
     
         23 . The hand held transceiver device of  claim 22  wherein operating in the periodically enabled communication mode includes, for the at least one of the plurality of transceiver elements, delivering power on a periodic basis and subsequently and ceasing to deliver power to power down the at least one of the plurality of transceiver elements. 
     
     
         24 . The hand held transceiver device of  claim 23  wherein the hand held transceiver device is operable to download at least one pending message and then power down the at least one of the plurality of transceiver elements. 
     
     
         25 . A method for selectively providing power to at least one of a plurality of transceivers of a hand held transceiver device, comprising:
 displaying a menu of selectable transceiver elements to a user on a display of the hand held transceiver device for a programmable power mode of operation wherein the programmable power mode of operation is one of a plurality of selectable power modes of operation;   receiving a user input in response to the menu;   enabling the programmable power mode of operation; and   delivering power, based on the user input, to at least one of the selectable transceiver elements while the programmable power mode of operation is enabled.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein delivering power, based on the user input, to the at least one of the selectable transceiver elements while the programmable power mode of operation is enabled comprises delivering power to at least one of:
 a wireless personal area network transceiver;   a wireless local area network transceiver; and   a cellular radio network transceiver.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein delivering power, based on the user input, to the at least one of the selectable transceiver elements while the programmable power mode of operation is enabled comprises delivering power to at least one of:
 a short message server transceiver;   a pager transceiver; and   an infrared communication transceiver.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25  wherein delivering power, based on the user input, to the at least one of the selectable transceiver elements while the programmable power mode of operation is enabled comprises delivering power to operate in one of:
 a fully enabled communication mode; and   a periodically enabled communication mode.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein operating in the periodically enabled communication mode includes delivering power to the at least one of the selectable transceiver elements on a periodic basis and subsequently ceasing to deliver power to power down the at least one of the selectable transceiver elements. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  further including downloading at least one pending message and then powering down the at least one of the selectable transceiver elements. 
     
     
         31 . A hand held transceiver device, comprising:
 a plurality of transceiver elements operable to support wireless communications;   a display;   a processor that communicates with external devices through the plurality of transceiver elements; and   wherein the hand held transceiver device is operable to:
 produce display signals to the display of the hand held transceiver device to display a menu of selectable transceiver elements for a programmable power mode of operation wherein the programmable power mode of operation is one of a plurality of selectable power modes of operation; 
   receive a user input in response to the menu;   enable the programmable power mode of operation; and   deliver power, based on the user input, to at least one of the selectable transceiver elements while the programmable power mode of operation is enabled.   
     
     
         32 . The hand held transceiver device of  claim 31  wherein the hand held transceiver device is operable to deliver power, based on the user input, to at least one of the selectable transceiver elements while the programmable power mode of operation is enabled, for at least one of:
 a wireless personal area network transceiver;   a wireless local area network transceiver; and   a cellular radio network transceiver.   
     
     
         33 . The hand held transceiver device of  claim 31  wherein the hand held transceiver device is operable to deliver power, based on the user input, to at least one of the selectable transceiver elements while the programmable power mode of operation is enabled, for at least one of:
 a short message server transceiver;   a pager transceiver; and   an infrared communication transceiver.   
     
     
         34 . The hand held transceiver device of  claim 31  wherein the hand held transceiver device is operable to deliver power, based on the user input, to at least one of the selectable transceiver elements while the programmable power mode of operation is enabled, to operate in one of:
 a fully enabled communication mode; and   a periodically enabled communication mode.   
     
     
         35 . The hand held transceiver device of  claim 34  wherein operating in the periodically enabled communication mode includes, for the at least one of the plurality of transceiver elements, delivering power on a periodic basis and subsequently and ceasing to deliver power to power down the at least one of the plurality of transceiver elements. 
     
     
         36 . The hand held transceiver device of  claim 35  wherein the hand held transceiver device is operable to download at least one pending message and then power down the at least one of the plurality of transceiver elements.