Power management in computing applications

• US 20030135769A1
• 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 7,185,211 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/310
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Power consumption of software applications on a computing device is managed in accordance with a plurality of defined power management states. User selectable features for one or more software applications are identified, and choices for these user selectable features defined for each power management state. When the active power management state changes, the choice of each user selectable feature for that power management state is then imposed on the relevant software applications on the computing device.

Claims

1. A method of managing power consumption of software applications on a computing device, comprising:

determining a plurality of power management states for the computing device;

identifying user selectable features of one or more software applications and holding selection choices for said user selectable features for a plurality of power management states; and

recognising a change of power management state, and imposing the selection choice of the user selectable features on software applications on the computing device for the new power management state.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selection choice is imposed on software applications active at the change of power management state.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the selection choice is imposed on software applications as they become active in the new power management state.

4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein imposing the selection choice comprises providing an input to a software application in a macro language appropriate to that software application.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the macro language input to the software application is not made until that software application is activated.

6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein imposition of the selection choice includes providing simulated user input to a software application.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the simulated user input is provided by activation of a menu item of the software application.

8. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein input for a software application is provided in information accessed by the software application when it starts up.

9. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a user selectable feature may be a feature normally enabled during operation of a software application but which can be disabled by the user.

10. A method as claimed in as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a valid selection choice for a user selectable feature may be to retain a normal user default selection for that feature.

11. A data structure adapted for power management of applications on a computing device, comprising:

a database identifying user selectable features of one or more software applications and holding selection choices for said user selectable features for a plurality of power management states; and

an executable structure such that on input of a change of power management state, the executable structure controls software applications on the computing device to impose the selection choice of user selectable features for the new power management state.

12. A data structure as claimed in claim 11 such that the executable structure acts on currently active software applications.

13. A data structure as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 such that the executable structure acts on software applications as they become active in the new power management state.

14. A data structure as claimed in any of claims 11 to 13, wherein the executable structure provides an input to a software application in a macro language appropriate to that software application.

15. A data structure as claimed in claim 14, wherein the executable structure is adapted to prevent provision of a macro language input to a software application until that software application is activated.

16. A data structure as claimed in any of claims 11 to 15, wherein the executable structure provides simulated user input to a software application.

17. A data structure as claimed in claim 16, wherein the simulated user input is provided by activation of a menu item of the software application.

18. A data structure as claimed in any of claims 11 to 17, wherein input for a software application is provided in information accessed by the software application when it starts up.

19. A data structure as claimed in any of claims 11 to 18, wherein a user selectable feature may be a feature normally enabled during operation of a software application but which can be disabled by the user.

20. A data structure as claimed in any of claims 11 to 19, wherein a valid selection choice for a user selectable feature may be to retain a normal user default selection for that feature.

21. A data carrier recorded with a data structure as claimed in any of claims 11 to 20.

22. A computing device programmed to manage power consumption of software applications, the computing device comprising:

a memory storing an identification of user selectable features of one or more software applications and storing selection choices for said user selectable features for a plurality of power management states; and

a processor programmed such that on input of a change of power management state, the executable structure controls software applications on the computing device to impose the selection choice of user selectable features for the new power management state.

23. A computing device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the processor is programmed to detect a change of power management state.

24. A computing device as claimed in claim 22 or claim 23, wherein the processor is programmed to allow user input of a change of power management state.

25. A computing device as claimed in any of claims 22 to 24, such that the selection choice is imposed on currently active software applications.

26. A computing device as claimed in any of claims 22 to 25, such that the executable structure acts on software applications as they become active in the new power management state.