Remote wake-up of mobile devices

A docking station comprising:

• a Local Area Network (LAN) connection;
• a data module configured to send/receive data over a data connection;
• and
• a power source configured to transfer power over a power transfer connection;
• wherein the docking station is configured to wake a mobile device from a sleep mode, the mobile device comprising a power module capable of receiving power over the power transfer connection from the power source, a data module capable of transferring data to/from the data module of the docking station over the data connection, the mobile device having a sleep mode in which the data module of the mobile device is powered off and the power module is powered on, whereby the mobile device can be charged from the docking station over the power transfer connection, the docking station configured to:
• receive, over the LAN connection, a wake-up message destined for the mobile device;
• generate, in response to receiving the wake-up message, a wake-up control signal for transmittal over the power transfer connection to the mobile device;
• and
• transmit the wake-up control signal over the power transfer connection to the mobile device.

A mobile device comprising:

• a power module configured to receive power over a power transfer connection from a power source in a docking station;
• and
• a data module configured to transfer data to/from the docking station over a data connection;
• the mobile device having a sleep mode in which the data module is powered off and the power module is powered on, whereby the mobile device can be charged from the docking station over the power transfer connection, the mobile device configured to:
• receive a wake-up control signal from the docking station over the power transfer connection;
• and
• control, in response to receiving the wake-up control signal, the data module to receive power from the power module and to thereby wake from the sleep mode.

A method of controlling a docking station to wake a mobile device from a sleep mode, the mobile device comprising a short-range wireless communication module capable of transferring data over a short-range wireless, connection, a data module capable of transferring data over a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) connection, the mobile device having a sleep mode in which the data module is powered off and the short-range wireless communication module is powered on, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the docking station over a Local Area Network (LAN) connection, a wake-up message destined for the mobile device;
• generating, by the docking station, in response to receiving the wake-up message, a wake-up control signal for transmittal over the short-range wireless connection to the mobile device;
• and
• transmitting the wake-up control signal, from the docking station, over the short-range wireless connection to the mobile device.

A docking station comprising:

• a Local Area Network (LAN) connection;
• a data module configured to send/receive data over a wireless LAN connection;
• and
• a short-range wireless communication module capable of transferring data over a short-range wireless connection;
• wherein the docking station is configured to wake a mobile device from a sleep mode, the mobile device comprising a sort-range wireless communication module capable of transferring data over the short-range wireless connection, a data module capable of transferring data over the wireless LAN connection, the mobile device having a sleep mode in which the data module is powered off and the short-range wireless communication module is powered on, the docking station configured to:
• receive, over the LAN connection, a wake-up message destined for the mobile device;
• generate, in response to receiving the wake-up message, a wake-up control signal for transmittal over the short-range wireless connection to the mobile device;
• and
• transmit the wake-up control signal, from the docking station, over the short-range wireless connection to the mobile device.

A mobile device comprising:

• a data module configured to send/receive data over a wireless Local Area Network LAND connection;
• and
• a short-range wireless communication module capable of transferring data over a short-range wireless connection;
• the mobile device having a sleep mode in which the data module is powered off and the short-range wireless communication module is powered on, the mobile device configured to:
• receive a wake-up control signal from the docking station over the short-range wireless connection;
• and
• control, in response to receiving the wake-up control signal, the data module to wake from the sleep mode.