Methods and apparatus for communicating using a gateway communications device having alert generation capability

A gateway communications device, comprising:

• first receiving means for receiving an identifier from a first communications device, the first receiving means supporting a first communications protocol;
• means for powering down said first receiving means after said identifier is received;
• second receiving means for receiving, while said first receiving means is powered down, a signal, the second receiving means supporting a second communications protocol, the second communications protocol being different from the first communications protocol;
• means for determining if the received signal matches the identifier;
• means for powering on said first receiving means after determining that the received signal matches the identifier;
• and
• means for generating an externally perceivable alert in response to a determination that the received signal matches the identifier, said externally perceivable alert being one of an audio, vibratory or visual alert.

A gateway communications device, comprising:

• at least one processor configured to:
• receive on a first interface which supports a first communications protocol an identifier from a first communications device;
• power down said first interface after said identifier is received;
• receive, while said first interface is powered down, a signal on a second interface which supports a second communications protocol, the second communications protocol being different from the first communications protocol;
• determine if the received signal matches the identifier;
• power on said first interface after determining that the received signal matches the identifier;
• and
• generate an externally perceivable alert in response to a determination that the received signal matches the identifier, said externally perceivable alert being one of an audio, vibratory or visual alert;
• and
• a memory coupled to said at least one processor.

A computer program product, for use in a gateway communications device, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising:
• code for causing at least one computer to receive, on a first interface which supports a first communications protocol, an identifier from a first communications device;
• code for causing said at least one computer to power down said first interface after said identifier is received;
• code for causing said at least one computer, while said first interface is powered down, to receive a signal on a second interface which supports a second communications protocol, the second communications protocol being different from the first communications protocol;
• code for causing said at least one computer to determine if the received signal matches the identifier;
• code for causing said at least one computer to power on said first interface after determining that the received signal matches the identifier;
• and
• code for causing said at least one computer to generate an externally perceivable alert in response to a determination that the received signal matches the identifier, said externally perceivable alert being one of an audio, vibratory or visual alert.