Apparatus and method for passing event handling control from a primary processor to a secondary processor during sleep mode

Abstract

One disclosed method includes generating a rule set by an application running on a primary processor. The rule set specifies how the application handles events. The rule set is sent from the primary processor to a secondary processor and the primary processor is placed in sleep mode. The secondary processor may then handle at least one event corresponding to the application by executing the rule set while the primary processor is in sleep mode. In one embodiment, handling the event may include substituting for the application by the secondary processor by executing the rule set, and controlling a peripheral hardware device that is peripheral to the primary processor according to the rule set. Handling an event may also include waking the primary processor from sleep mode by the secondary processor and passing control back to the primary processor.