A system and method of using light-energy to communicate with a packaged computing device is described. In some embodiments, an optical detector of the computing device stored in a container receives light energy through a light-transparent window of the container. In some embodiments, the light energy is used to charge a battery of the computing device while the computing device is in the container. In some embodiments, a pre-defined pattern of light pulses is used to transition the computing device between a sleep state and a wake state while the computing device is in the container.