Patent ID: 8305249

Claim:
A method of controlling power consumption in an electronic device including at least three modes, the method comprising: from either a first mode of the electronic device in which first circuitry of the electronic device is configured to perform a first operation or a second mode of the electronic device in which second circuitry of the electronic device is configured to perform a second operation, entering a third mode of the electronic device for a set period of time in response to an input, the third mode configuring the electronic device to control the second circuitry to reduce a frequency of or suspend performance of the second operation; and signaling an associated electronic device, that is associated with the electronic device and is configurable to operate in a first associated electronic device mode, a second associated electronic device mode, and a third associated electronic device mode, to enter the third associated electronic device mode when the electronic device enters the third mode; wherein the associated electronic device performs fewer operations in the third associated electronic device mode than in the second associated electronic device mode and fewer operations in the second associated electronic device mode than in the first associated electronic device mode; and wherein operations performed by the electronic device in the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode are user configurable.