Cooperative power savings among mobile computing devices

A method for identifying an optimal communication protocol for establishing a connection, the method comprising:

• by a portable electronic device:
• transmitting, to a neighboring wireless-enabled device, a request for observation information associated with different communication protocols;
• receiving, from the neighboring wireless-enabled device, at least:
• first observation information associated with a first communication protocol, and
• second observation information associated with a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol;
• in response to receiving the first and second observation information:
• determining the optimal communication protocol by comparing the first and second observation information to communication protocol requirements of the portable electronic device;
• and
• establishing connectivity through the optimal communication protocol.

A non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store instructions that, when executed by a processor included in a portable electronic device, cause the portable electronic device to carry out steps that include:

• in response to transmitting a request to establish a wireless connection:
• monitoring for at least a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol that are transmitted by at least one computing device in proximity to the portable electronic device, wherein the first and second communication protocols are different;
• selecting an optimal communication protocol based on comparing the first and second communication protocols to communication protocol requirements of the portable electronic device;
• and
• establishing the wireless connection based on the optimal communication protocol.

A portable electronic device, comprising:

• a processor;
• a low-energy communication interface;
• a high-energy communication interface;
• a memory configured to store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the portable electronic device to carry out steps that include:
• using the low-energy communication interface:
• transmitting a request to one or more neighboring wireless devices for observation information that is associated with a wireless connection, and
• receiving, from the one or more neighboring wireless devices, observation information that is associated with the wireless connection that includes a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol;
• comparing the first and second communication protocols to communication protocol criteria of the portable electronic device to determine an optimal communication protocol;
• and
• using the high-energy communication interface to establish connectivity through the optimal communication protocol.