A property of a wireless signal over time is monitored while a processor is maintained in a first power state that utilizes less power than a second power state. While the processor remains in the first power state, a measure of the property is compared to a first threshold and to a second threshold. The processor can be transitioned from the first power state to the second power state if the measure crosses the first threshold and the second threshold, and otherwise the processor is maintained in the first power state.