Method and apparatus for synchronizing wake-ups of offline mobile devices

Abstract

An scheduler module is provided for acting on a request to establish a communication session between a first device and a second device, wherein the first device, the second device, or both are associated with a respective activity schedule that specifies, at least in part, a wake-up time when the respective device will be in an active state. The scheduler module also determines whether the first device, the second device, or both are in an inactive state, to determine a next wake-up time to effect establishment of the communication session.

1 . A method comprising:
 acting on a request to establish a communication session between a first device and a second device, wherein the first device, the second device, or both are associated with a respective activity schedule that specifies, at least in part, a wake-up time when the respective device will be in an active state;   determining whether the first device, the second device, or both are in an inactive state;   determining a next wake-up time to effect establishment of the communication session; and   causing, at least in part, transmission of the next wake-up time to the first device and the second device.   
     
     
         2 . A method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an update message from the first device or the second device, the update message indicating, at least in part, a request to update the activity schedule of the respective device; and   wherein the transmission of the next wake-up time is triggered, at least in part, by receipt of the update message.   
     
     
         3 . A method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 maintaining a log of the communication session and other prior communication sessions involving the first device, the second device, or both, wherein the log includes, at least in part, a time and a duration of the communications,   wherein determining of the next wake-up time and a duration of the next wake-up time is based, at least in part, on the log.   
     
     
         4 . A method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining contextual information associated with the communication session, the first device, the second device, or a combination thereof,   wherein determining of the next wake-up time is based, at least in part, on the contextual information.   
     
     
         5 . A method of  claim 4 , wherein the contextual information includes battery level, recharge frequency, location, time, weather patterns, anticipated network traffic used during the communication session, current network traffic load, or combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . A method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining whether the first device, the second device, or both are associated with respective proxy devices;   causing, at least in part, establishment of the communication session via the proxy device of the first device, the proxy device of the second device, or both based, at least in part, on the determination with respect to association with the proxy devices and the determination of whether the respective devices are in an inactive state.   
     
     
         7 . A method of  claim 6 , wherein the first device, the second device, or both are associated with multiple proxy devices, the method further comprising:
 selecting the respective proxy devices from among the multiple proxy devices based, at least in part, on proximity to the first device or the second device.   
     
     
         8 . A method of  claim 6 , wherein the respective proxy devices include a local connectivity mechanism, the method further comprising:
 causing, at least in part, the respective proxy devices to alert the first device, the second device, or both of the communication session via the local connectivity mechanism.   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory including computer program code,   the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,
 act on a request to establish a communication session between a first device and a second device, wherein the first device, the second device, or both are associated with a respective activity schedule that specifies, at least in part, a wake-up time when the respective device will be in an active state; 
 determine whether the first device, the second device, or both are in an inactive state; 
 determine a next wake-up time to effect establishment of the communication session; and 
 cause, at least in part, transmission of the next wake-up time to the first device and the second device. 
   
     
     
         10 . An apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 receive an update message from the first device or the second device, the update message indicating, at least in part, a request to update the activity schedule of the respective device; and   wherein the transmission of the next wake-up time is triggered, at least in part, by receipt of the update message.   
     
     
         11 . An apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 maintain a log of the communication session and other prior communication sessions involving the first device, the second device, or both, wherein the log includes, at least in part, a time and a duration of the communications,   wherein determining of the next wake-up time and a duration of the next wake-up time is based, at least in part, on the log.   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 determining contextual information associated with the communication session, the first device, the second device, or a combination thereof,   wherein determining of the next wake-up time is based, at least in part, on the contextual information.   
     
     
         13 . An apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the contextual information includes battery level, recharge frequency, location, time, weather patterns, anticipated network traffic used during the communication session, current network traffic load, or combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 determine whether the first device, the second device, or both are associated with respective proxy devices;   cause, at least in part, establishment of the communication session via the proxy device of the first device, the proxy device of the second device, or both based, at least in part, on the determination with respect to association with the proxy devices and the determination of whether the respective devices are in an inactive state.   
     
     
         15 . An apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first device, the second device, or both are associated with multiple proxy devices, and wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 select the respective proxy devices from among the multiple proxy devices based, at least in part, on proximity to the first device or the second device.   
     
     
         16 . An apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the respective proxy devices include a local connectivity mechanism, and wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 cause, at least in part, the respective proxy devices to alert the first device, the second device, or both of the communication session via the local connectivity mechanism.   
     
     
         17 . A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following:
 acting on a request to establish a communication session between a first device and a second device, wherein the first device, the second device, or both are associated with a respective activity schedule that specifies, at least in part, a wake-up time when the respective device will be in an active state;   determining whether the first device, the second device, or both are in an inactive state;   determining a next wake-up time to effect establishment of the communication session; and   causing, at least in part, transmission of the next wake-up time to the first device and the second device.   
     
     
         18 . A computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:
 receiving an update message from the first device or the second device, the update message indicating, at least in part, a request to update the activity schedule of the respective device; and   wherein the transmission of the next wake-up time is triggered, at least in part, by receipt of the update message.   
     
     
         19 . A computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:
 maintaining a log of the communication session and other prior communication sessions involving the first device, the second device, or both, wherein the log includes, at least in part, a time and a duration of the communications,   wherein determining of the next wake-up time and a duration of the next wake-up time is based, at least in part, on the log.   
     
     
         20 . A computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:
 determining whether the first device, the second device, or both are associated with respective proxy devices;   causing, at least in part, establishment of the communication session via the proxy device of the first device, the proxy device of the second device, or both based, at least in part, on the determination with respect to association with the proxy devices and the determination of whether the respective devices are in an inactive state.   
     
     
         21 - 53 . (canceled)