US Patent 7904739 Managing a power state for a peripheral

A method for managing a power state for a peripheral includes listening for activity packets communicated from one or more of a plurality of clients configured to utilize the peripheral. Activity packets received during a selected period are examined. Each activity packet, if any, includes activity data representative of a likelihood that one of the plurality of clients will utilize the peripheral. A power state is selected according to the examination of the activity packets received during the selected period and the peripheral is caused to enter the selected power state.