Method and apparatus for real time monitoring of user presence to prolong a portable computer battery operation time

• US 20040073827A1
• Filed: 10/08/2003
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Buchheit, Paul T., Tsirkel, Aaron M., Holler, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,152,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3228 Monitoring task completion, e.g. by use of idle timers, stop commands or wait commands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/022 in absence of operation, e.g. no data being entered during a predetermined time
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A computer is power managed by detecting the presence of a user. A camera is associated with the computer and the output from the camera is analyzed to determine if the user is present. If the user is present, then the computer is maintained in its non-power manage state. When the user leaves, however, the user'"'"'s presence is no longer detected by the camera, and the power managed state can be quickly entered.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a user interaction detector to produce a signal indicative of whether a user is interacting with the system;

a user proximity detector to determine whether a user is proximate to the system and to produce a signal indicative of user proximity, the user proximity detector separate from and responsive to the user interaction detector;

a power management module to manage power in the system, the power management module responsive to the signal indicative of user proximity; and

a connector shaped and configured to receive a battery to provide power to the system, the connector in communication with the power management module.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user proximity detector is inactive when the signal indicative of whether a user is interacting with the system indicates that a user is interacting with the system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interaction detector comprises circuitry to determine whether a user is interacting with the system via at least one of a mouse and a keyboard.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the user proximity detector comprises a camera.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the camera comprises active pixel sensors.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the power management module is to reduce system power consumption in response to the signal indicative of user proximity indicating that a user is not proximate to the system.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the system further includes a display, and wherein the power management module is to reduce system power consumption by reducing an amount of power to the display.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is a mobile computing system.

9. A power control device for a computer, comprising:

user interaction circuitry to produce a signal indicative of whether a user is interacting with the computer;

a user proximity detector separate from the user interaction circuitry and responsive to the signal indicative of whether a user is interacting with the computer, the user proximity detector to produce a signal indicative of user proximity to the computer; and

a power control module to manage power in the computer, the power management module responsive to the signal indicative of user proximity.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the user proximity detector is inactive when the signal indicative of whether a user is interacting with the computer indicates that a user is interacting with the computer.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the user proximity detector is active immediately after the signal indicative of whether a user is interacting with the computer indicates that a user is not interacting with the computer.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the user proximity detector is active after the signal indicative of whether a user is interacting with the computer indicates that a user is not interacting with the computer for a time equal to a user inactivity time.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the user inactivity time is user selectable.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein the user proximity detector comprises a camera.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the user proximity detector further comprises an image processor to receive image information from the camera and further to process the image information.