1. A self-powered device configured to selectively communicate with a remote computing device, the self-powered device comprising: means for selecting one of a plurality of modes of operation, wherein the plurality of modes of operation include a first mode of operation in which the self-powered device consumes less than a pre-determined or adaptively-determined amount of power, and a second mode of operation in which self-powered device consumes more than the pre-determined or adaptively-determined amount of power; means for conserving power by alternating between the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation, such that the self-powered device is in the second mode of operation during pre-determined or adaptively-determined time intervals, and wherein a duty-cycle of the second mode of operation relative to the first mode of operation is in accordance with a power budget for the self-powered device; and means for communicating with the remote computing device only during the second mode of operation.