Patent ID: 7389436

Claim:
An apparatus which communicates with other apparatuses over radio frequencies, the apparatus comprising: a first component configured to be switched between low or high power states, the first component operatively coupled to a first power controller; and the first power controller, including a first plurality of power modules, configured to switch the first component between low or high power, states, each power module of the first plurality associated with an associated component configured to use the first component; wherein each power module of the first plurality sends at least one signal to the first power controller indicating whether or not the associated component associated with the power module is currently required to be in a high power state, wherein the first power controller is configured to switch the associated component associated with the power module between low or high power states in dependence on the at least one signals received from the power modules, wherein the first power controller switches the first component to the low power state after a predetermined delay and a re-examination of a status of the at least one signal received from the power modules.