Patent ID: 8504066

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for reducing power consumption of a power source used by a mobile device, comprising: receiving, at a mobile device, via a wireless communication link, a message from a computing device proximate to the mobile device, the message providing an indication of one or more functions that are performed by the computing device; identifying, by the mobile device, a given function enabled at the mobile device that is performed by the computing device; disabling, by the mobile device, in accordance with a device usage policy, the given function, wherein at least one of the identifying and the disabling is based at least in part on receiving a message from the proximate computing device; determining, by the mobile device, that a device type of the computing device is not specified in the device usage policy; retrieving, by the mobile device, a default rule from the device usage policy, the retrieving being performed in response to the determination that the device type is not specified in the device usage policy; and determining, by the mobile device, a particular action for reducing power consumption in accordance with the default rule.