Wireless communications systems, remote communications devices, and wireless communications methods

A remote communications device comprising:

• communications circuitry configured to receive a plurality of wireless communications signals outputted by a reader;
• processing circuitry coupled with the communications circuitry and configured to process the wireless communications signals and to implement at least one operation of the remote communications device responsive to the processing;
• wherein the processing circuitry is operable in a plurality of operational states having different rates of consumption of electrical energy including a first operational state in the absence at the remote communications device of the wireless communications signals outputted by the reader and a second operational state corresponding to the presence at the remote communications device of the wireless communications signals outputted by the reader;
• and
• wherein the rate of consumption of electrical energy by the communications circuitry is greater in the second operational state compared with the first operational state.

A remote communications device comprising:

• first receiver means for monitoring for the presence of wireless communications signals outputted by a reader;
• second receiver means for receiving the wireless communications signals outputted by the reader;
• processing means for processing the wireless communications signals received by the second receiver means;
• and
• wherein the second receiver means and the processing means comprise means for operating in a plurality of operational states having different rates of electrical energy consumption including a first operational state corresponding to an absence of the wireless communications signals at the remote communications device and a second operational state corresponding to the presence of the wireless communications signals at the remote communications device, wherein the second receiver means and the processing means individually have an increased rate of consumption of electrical energy during operations in the second operational state compared with the first operational state.

A wireless communications method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of wireless communications signals outputted by a reader using a remote communications device;
• controlling processing circuitry of the remote communications device to consume electrical energy at different rates corresponding to respective ones of a presence and an absence of the wireless communications signals at the remote communications device, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control at least one operation of the remote communications device;
• first consuming electrical energy using the processing circuitry at a first rate corresponding to the presence of the wireless communications signals at the remote communications device;
• second consuming electrical energy using the processing circuitry at a second rate corresponding to the absence of the wireless communications signals at the remote communications device;
• and
• wherein the first consuming at the first rate comprises consuming the electrical energy at an increased rate compared with the second consuming at the second rate.

A wireless communications method comprising:

• providing a remote communications device;
• monitoring for the presence of wireless communications signals outputted by a reader using the remote communications device;
• changing operations of processing circuitry and receiver circuitry of the remote communications device from a reduced electrical energy consumption rate to an increased electrical energy consumption rate responsive to the monitoring detecting the presence of the wireless communications signals from the reader;
• operably receiving the wireless communications signals using the receiver circuitry operating at the increased electrical energy consumption rate;
• and
• returning operations of the receiver circuitry from the increased electrical energy consumption rate to the reduced electrical energy consumption rate after the receiving.