Patent ID: 7249269

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for managing a network device, the method comprising: retrieving usage data that indicates which of a plurality of operational states a network device operated in during a first plurality of time periods; estimating, based upon the usage data, from a second plurality of time periods, one or more time periods when the network device will be operating in a first operational state from the plurality of operational states, wherein the second plurality of time periods is both different than the first plurality of time periods and occurs after the first plurality of time periods; detecting whether one or more individuals associated with the network device are in a building; if the one or more individuals associated with the network device are in the building, then causing the network device to transition to the first operational state prior to each of the one or more time periods, so that the network device is operating in the first operational state at a start of each of the one or more time periods; and if the one or more individuals associated with the network device are not in the building then not causing the network device to transition to the first operational state prior to each of the one or more time periods.