Detecting a Wireless Signal Based on Context

A computing device, comprising:

• a communication interface component that is configured to receive activation instructions from a mode-selecting component, the mode-selecting component generating the activation instructions, for a particular user, based at least on calendar information that identifies at least one scheduled event;
• a power source;
• a probe control component that is configured to choose a detection rate to be applied at a given time based on the activation instructions;
• and
• a probing component that is configured to perform a detection activity at the detection rate to enable detection of a wireless signal emitted by a beacon-emitting mechanism, the probing component performing the detection activity by:
• checking, at the detection rate, to determine whether the wireless signal is present in a local environment;
• and/or
• broadcasting, at the detection rate, the wireless signal into the local environment,
• wherein the detection activity consumes an amount of power from the power source that depends on the detection rate.

A system for detecting a wireless signal, comprising:

• a computing device;
• and
• a mode-selecting component that is configured to:
• receive calendar information from a calendar system that identifies at least one scheduled event that is to take place in a local environment, the scheduled event having a start time and a set of participants, including a particular user;
• generate activation instructions associated with the particular user based at least on the calendar information, the activation instructions identifying, in one particular case, at least one span of time at which the computing device is to perform a detection activity at an increased detection rate;
• and
• send the activation instructions to the computing device;
• and
• the computing device being configured to receive the activation instructions and to perform the detection activity based on the activation instructions, the detection activity being performed to detect a presence of the particular user within the local environment.