Patent ID: 8760294

Claim:
A portable electronic device sized and shaped to be received within a holster in a plurality of orientations, the portable electronic device comprising: a communication module adapted to provide data communications and voice communications over a wireless network; an electronic compass including a single magnetometer, the single magnetometer adapted to measure a magnetic pattern of a single magnetic element in the holster along three axes when the portable electronic device is received within the holster; and a processor adapted to: compare the measured pattern with at least one known magnetic pattern associated with the single magnetic element for at least one of the plurality of orientations to determine whether the portable device is received within the holster, and if so, whether the portable electronic device is in a first orientation or a second orientation of the plurality of orientations; if the device is in the holster, then initiate a low power mode; and if the device is out of the holster then initiate a normal power mode.