Feature activation control and data prefetching with network-connected mobile devices

Abstract

In some embodiments, an electronic device is disclosed for intelligently prefetching data via a computer network. The electronic device can include a device housing, a user interface, a memory device, and a hardware processor. The hardware processor can: communicate via a communication network; determine that the hardware processor is expected to be unable to communicate via the communication network; responsive to determining that the hardware processor is expected to be unable to communicate via the communication network, determine prefetch data to request prior to the hardware processor being unable to communicate via the communication network; request the prefetch data; receive and store the prefetch data prior to the hardware processor being unable to communicate via the communication network; and subsequent to the hardware processor being unable to communicate via the communication network, process the prefetch data with an application responsive to processing a first user input with the application.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system for intelligently prefetching data via a computer network, the system comprising:
 a user interface configured to receive a plurality of user inputs from a user;   a memory device configured to store an application; and   a hardware processor configured to: 
 receive an instruction via a user input of the plurality of user inputs, the instruction indicating to activate a mode in which wireless communications by the hardware processor via a communication network are disabled; 
 responsive to receipt of the instruction and prior to activation of the mode, retrieve prefetch data via the communication network; and 
 activate the mode subsequent to retrieval of the prefetch data. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to process the prefetch data with the application responsive to processing a second user input of the plurality of user inputs. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to communicate over a plurality of different types of wireless communication networks. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein in the mode all wireless communications by the hardware processor are disabled. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the instruction to activate the mode corresponds to an instruction to activate an airplane mode. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to:
 determine application data that is likely to be utilized by an application subsequent to the activation of the mode; and   identify the prefetch data to request based on the application data.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to:
 determine a duration that the mode is expected to be active, and   identify the prefetch data to request based on the duration.   
     
     
         28 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 under control of a computing system comprising one or more computing devices configured to execute specific instructions: 
 receiving an instruction via a user input of a plurality of user inputs received by a user interface, the instruction indicating to activate a mode in which wireless communications by a hardware processor via a communication network are disabled; 
 responsive to receipt of the instruction and prior to activation of the mode, retrieving prefetch data via the communication network; and 
 activating the mode subsequent to retrieval of the prefetch data. 
   
     
     
         29 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 28 , further comprising processing the prefetch data with an application responsive to processing a second user input of the plurality of user inputs. 
     
     
         30 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 28 , further comprising communicating over a plurality of different types of wireless communication networks. 
     
     
         31 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 30 , wherein activating the mode comprises disabling all wireless communications by the hardware processor. 
     
     
         32 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 28 , wherein receiving the instruction to activate the mode comprises receiving an instruction to activate an airplane mode. 
     
     
         33 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 determining application data that is likely to be utilized by an application subsequent to the activation of the mode; and   identifying the prefetch data to request based on the application data.   
     
     
         34 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 determining a duration that the mode is expected to be active, and   identifying the prefetch data to request based on the duration.   
     
     
         35 . Non-transitory physical computer storage comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors of a mobile device, are configured to implement a process comprising:
 receiving an instruction via a user input of a plurality of user inputs received by a user interface, the instruction indicating to activate a mode in which wireless communications by a hardware processor via a communication network are disabled;   responsive to receipt of the instruction and prior to activation of the mode, retrieving prefetch data via the communication network; and   activating the mode subsequent to retrieval of the prefetch data via the communication network.   
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory physical computer storage of  claim 35 , wherein the process comprises processing the prefetch data with an application responsive to processing a second user input of the plurality of user inputs. 
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory physical computer storage of  claim 35 , wherein the process comprises communicating over a plurality of different types of wireless communication networks. 
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory physical computer storage of  claim 37 , wherein activating the mode comprises disabling all wireless communications by the hardware processor. 
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory physical computer storage of  claim 35 , wherein the process comprises:
 determining application data that is likely to be utilized by an application subsequent to the activation of the mode; and   identifying the prefetch data to request based on the application data.   
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory physical computer storage of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 determining a duration that the mode is expected to be active, and   identifying the prefetch data to request based on the duration.