Intuitive energy management of a short-range communication transceiver associated with a mobile terminal

A method comprising:

• receiving an illuminating input at an apparatus, the apparatus being associated with a radio frequency identification reader;
• causing a user-interface of the apparatus to be illuminated in response to the illuminating input;
• causing the radio frequency identification reader associated with the apparatus to be activated in response to illumination of the user-interface;
• and
• keeping the radio frequency identification reader active in response to de-illumination of the user-interface, and causing the radio frequency identification reader to be de-activated after a period of time after de-illumination of the user-interface.

A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code routines stored therein, the computer-readable program code routines comprising:

• a first executable routine configured to detect an illuminating input to an apparatus, the apparatus being associated with a radio frequency identification reader;
• a second executable routine configured to cause a user-interface to be illuminated in response to the detection of the illuminating input;
• a third executable routine configured to cause the radio frequency identification reader to be activated in response to illumination of the user-interface;
• and
• a fourth executable routine configured to keep the radio frequency identification reader active in response to de-illumination of the user-interface, and cause the radio frequency identification reader to be de-activated after a period of time after de-illumination of the user-interface.

An apparatus comprising:

• a processor configured to receive an indication of illumination of a user-interface, the processor also being configured to provide a transceiver-controlling input to a short-range communication transceiver in response to illumination of the user-interface, the processor being configured to provide the transceiver-controlling input such that the transceiver activates in response to the transceiver-controlling input,
• wherein the processor is configured to receive an illuminating input, and illuminate the user-interface in response to the illuminating input, the processor further being configured to de-illuminate the user-interface after passage of a period of time following receipt of the illuminating input, absent a subsequent illuminating input before passage of the period of time,
• wherein the processor is configured to provide a second transceiver-controlling input to the transceiver in response to de-illumination of the user-interface, the transceiver being configured to de-activate in response to the second transceiver-controlling input, and
• wherein the processor is configured to receive the subsequent illuminating input before passage of the period of time to thereby enable completion of a short-range communication act via the transceiver, the act requiring more than the period of time.

A method comprising:

• receiving an illuminating input at an apparatus, the apparatus being associated with a short-range communication transceiver;
• causing a user-interface of the apparatus to be illuminated in response to the illuminating input;
• and
• causing the transceiver associated with the apparatus to be activated in response to illumination of the user-interface, wherein the apparatus is configured to de-illuminate the user-interface after passage of a period of time following receipt of the illuminating input, absent a subsequent illuminating input before passage of the period of time, the transceiver being deactivated in response to de-illumination of the user-interface, the method further comprising:
• receiving the subsequent illuminating input before passage of the period of time to thereby enable completion of a short-range communication act via the transceiver, the act requiring more than the period of time.

A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code routines stored therein, the computer-readable program code routines comprising:

• a first executable routine configured to detect an illuminating input to an apparatus, the apparatus being associated with a short-range communication transceiver;
• a second executable routine configured to cause a user-interface to be illuminated in response to the detection of the illuminating input;
• a third executable routine configured to cause the transceiver to be activated in response to illumination of the user-interface;
• a fourth executable routine configured to de-illuminate the user-interface after passage of a period of time following receipt of the illuminating input, absent a subsequent illuminating input before passage of the period of time;
• and
• a fifth executable routine configured to deactivate the transceiver in response to de-illumination of the user-interface,
• wherein the first executable routine is further configured to receive the subsequent illuminating input before passage of the period of time to thereby enable completion of a short-range communication act via the transceiver, the act requiring more than the period of time.

An apparatus comprising:

• a first means for receiving an indication relating to illumination of a user-interface;
• a second means for generating a transceiver-controlling input in response to the indication relating to illumination of the user-interface;
• a third means for providing the generated transceiver-controlling input to a radio frequency identification reader, the generated transceiver-controlling input thereby being provided to the radio frequency identification reader in response to illumination of the user-interface;
• and
• a fourth means for keeping the radio frequency identification reader active in response to receipt of an indication relating to de-illumination of the user-interface, and providing a second transceiver-controlling input to de-activate the radio frequency identification reader after a period of time after receipt of the indication relating to de-illumination of the user-interface.

An apparatus comprising:

• a first interface means for receiving an indication of illumination of a user-interface;
• a processing means for generating a transceiver-controlling input in response to the indication of illumination of the user-interface;
• and
• a second interface means for providing the generated transceiver-controlling input to a short-range communication transceiver, the generated transceiver-controlling input thereby being provided to the short-range communication transceiver in response to illumination of the user-interface,
• wherein the first interface means is further for receiving an indication of de-illumination of the user-interface,
• wherein the processing means is further for generating a second transceiver-controlling input in response to the indication of de-illumination of the user-interface, and
• wherein the second interface means is further for providing the generated second transceiver-controlling input to the short-range communication transceiver, the generated second transceiver-controlling input thereby being provided to the short-range communication transceiver in response to de-illumination of the user-interface.