Context-dependent operation of computer devices

• US 20030134632A1
• Filed: 11/27/2002
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Loughran, Stephen A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,231,198 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode

Abstract

A computing device such as a notebook computer comprises a processor and one or more power sources. A plurality of operational states are defined, each with a set of device operation choices for settings (such as power management or configuration) appropriate to that operational state. The processor is adapted to determine a present operational state. The present operational state is not defined solely by the active power source—it may be defined in part by the location of the mobile computing device, its network status, the active power source, the state of battery charge, or by a model of user behaviour. The processor is further adapted to implement the device operation choices for the present operational state.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising a processor and one or more power sources and having a plurality of operational states each with a set of device operation settings appropriate to that operational state;

wherein the processor is adapted to determine a present operational state not defined solely by the nature or state of the active power source, and is further adapted to implement the device operation choices for the present operational state.

2. A computing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least some of the device operation settings are choices for power management.

3. A computing device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein one input used by the processor to determine the present operational state is present location of the computing device.

4. A computing device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the computing device comprises Global Positioning System apparatus to provide location information.

5. A computing device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the computing device comprises wireless telephony apparatus to provide location information.

6. A computing device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein one input used by the processor to determine the present operational state is a current network address of the computing device.

7. A computing device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein one input used by the processor to determine the present operational state is information supplied by one or more devices over a network to the computing device.

8. A computing device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein one input used by the processor to determine the present operational state is the active power source.

9. A computing device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein one of said power sources is a battery, and one input used by the processor to determine the present operational state is the charge state of the battery.

10. A computing device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein one input used by the processor to determine the present operational state is a model of user behaviour based upon prior usage of the computing device.

11. A computing device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein one operational state is adapted to optimise performance regardless of the active power source.

12. A computing device as claimed in claim 3, wherein one operational state is adapted for power conservation and is adapted to be the present operational state except in specific defined locations.

13. A computing device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the computing device comprises buttons adapted to change the power status of the computing device, and wherein the processor is adapted to change the functionality of these buttons with change in present operational state.

14. A computing device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the computing device has installed one or more applications, and wherein the processor is adapted to enable or disable features of these installed applications with change in operational state.

15. A computing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more of the device operation settings relate to a preferred configuration of the computing device for an operational state.

16. A computing device as claimed in claim 15, wherein one of the device operation settings relates to default printer.

17. A computing device as claimed in claim 15, wherein one of the device operation settings relates to proxy server.

18. A computing device as claimed in claim 15, wherein one of the device operation settings relates to a desktop of the computing device.

19. A computing device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the computing device is adapted such that the user may override the processor determination of present operational state.

20. A computing device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the computing device is adapted such that the user may define a new operational state and rules to determine when the new operational state is the present operational state.

21. A computing device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the computing device is adapted such that the user may modify the device operation choices or the rules for determination of an existing operational state.

22. A computing device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein no operational state is defined solely by the presence or absence of a resource available to the computing device.

23. A computing device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the computing device is a mobile computing device.

24. A computing device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the computing device is a notebook computer.

25. A computing device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the computing device is a personal digital assistant.

26. A portable computing device, comprising a processor and one or more optionally usable resources and having a plurality of operational states each with a set of device operation settings appropriate to that operational state;

wherein the processor is adapted to determine a present operational state not defined solely by whether or not any one of the optionally usable resources is in use, and is further adapted to implement the device operation choices for the present operational state.

27. A portable computing device as claimed in claim 26, wherein one of said optionally usable resources is a power supply.

28. A portable computing device as claimed in claim 26 or 27, wherein one of said optionally usable resources is a network connection.

29. A data structure for use in a mobile computing device, the data structure comprising:

a definition of a plurality of operational states each with a set of device operation settings appropriate to that operational state;

executable code comprising a process for determining a present operational state not defined solely by the nature or state of an active power source of a mobile computing device; and

executable code comprising a process for implementing the device operation choices for the present operational state.

30. A data structure as claimed in claim 29, wherein at least one of said device operation settings is a choice for power management.

31. A data structure as claimed in claim 29 or claim 30, wherein at least one of said device operation settings is a device configuration setting.

32. A data structure as defined in any of claims 29 to 31, wherein the process for determining present operational state is adapted to poll one or more sources providing direct or indirect power requirement information.

33. A data structure as claimed in claim 32, wherein one of said sources is apparatus for detecting the present location of the mobile computing device.

34. A data structure as claimed in claim 29, further adapted to allow user creation of an additional operational state with a set of device operation choices and rules for determining when the additional operational state is the present operational state.

35. A data structure as claimed in claim 29, further adapted to allow user modification of the device operation choices for an existing operational state.

36. A data structure as claimed in claim 29, further adapted to allow a user to override the determination of present operational state.

37. A method of power management in a computing device having one or more selectively usable resources, the method comprising:

defining a plurality of operational states each with a set of device operation choices for power management appropriate to that operational state;

determining a present operational state, where the present operational state is not defined solely by whether a specific one of the one or more selectable resources is in use; and

implementing the device operation choices for the present operational state.

38. A method as claimed in claim 37, wherein the step of determining the present operational state comprises polling one or more sources providing direct or indirect power management requirement information.

39. A method as claimed in claim 38, wherein one source is apparatus for detecting the present location of the computing device.

40. A method as claimed in claim 38, wherein one source is apparatus for determining the present operational state is a model of user behaviour based upon prior usage of the computing device.

41. A method as claimed in claim 38, wherein one input used by the processor to determine the present operational state is a current network address of the computing device.

42. A method as claimed in claim 38, wherein one input used by the processor to determine the present operational state is the active power source.

43. A method as claimed in claim 38, wherein one of said power sources is a battery, and one input used by the processor to determine the present operational state is the charge state of the battery.

44. A method as claimed in claim 39, wherein one operational state is adapted for power conservation and is adapted to be the present operational state except in specific defined locations.

45. A method as claimed in claim 37, wherein the computing device has installed one or more applications, and wherein implementation of device operation choices for the present operational state comprises enabling or disabling features of these installed applications.

46. A method as claimed in any of claims 37 to 45, wherein the computing device is a mobile computing device.

47. A method as claimed in any of claims 37 to 46, wherein the one or more selectively usable resources comprise a battery and a power supply.

48. A method as claimed in any of claims 37 to 47, wherein the one or more selectively usable resources comprise a network connection.