Power management of computer peripheral devices which determines non-usage of a device through usage detection of other devices

• US 20040163003A1
• Filed: 02/13/2003
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dutton, Drew J., MacDonald, James R., Cox, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,222,252 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/320
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring usage of peripheral devices and placing a second peripheral device in a low power state when the usage indicates that a second peripheral device is not being used. For example, if a computer system detects that a user'"'"'s current typing rate indicates the user probably has both hands on a keyboard, the computer system may generate a signal to the computer mouse to enter a low power state. The computer system may use prior usage for a user to determine when current usage indicates that the second peripheral device is not being used. After the second peripheral device is placed in a low power state, the computer system may generate a signal to the second peripheral device to return to a normal power state when the computer system determines that the user no longer has both hands occupied.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a processor;

a first peripheral device coupled to the processor;

a second peripheral device coupled to the processor;

a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store program instructions executable to;

monitor usage of the first peripheral device; and

wherein, if the usage indicates that the second peripheral device is not currently being used, then generating a signal to place the second peripheral device in a low power state.

2. The computer system of claim 1,

wherein, if the usage indicates that the second peripheral device is possibly being used and if the second peripheral device is in the low power state, then generating a signal to place the second peripheral device in a normal power state.

3. The computer system of claim 1,

wherein the program instructions are executable to determine if the usage indicates that the second peripheral device is not currently being used by detecting a hands-busy event.

4. The computer system of claim 3,

wherein the first peripheral device is a keyboard;

wherein the hands-busy event comprises a typing rate greater than a threshold value.

5. The computer system of claim 4,

wherein the threshold value is determined based on a past typing history of a user.

6. The computer system of claim 3,

wherein the first peripheral device is a keyboard;

wherein the hands-busy event comprises a time delay between a user pressing distant keys in less than a threshold value.

7. The computer system of claim 3,

wherein the first peripheral device is a keyboard;

wherein the hands-busy event comprises at least one of a user typing faster than a calculated typing rate or a current typing pattern is comparable to a user'"'"'s prior usage during a hands-busy event.

8. The computer system of claim 3,

wherein determining if the usage indicates that the second peripheral device is not currently being used includes using user information and a user'"'"'s prior usage of a user that is currently logged into the computer system.

9. The computer system of claim 1,

wherein the program instructions are executable to determine if the usage indicates that the second peripheral device is not currently being used by:

1) storing information on a user'"'"'s prior usage of the first peripheral device; and

2) comparing a current typing pattern with the user'"'"'s prior usage.

10. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third peripheral device;

wherein the program instructions are executable to determine if the usage indicates that the second peripheral device is not currently being used by detecting a time delay between a user using the first peripheral device and using the third peripheral device in less than a threshold value.

11. The computer system of claim 10,

wherein, the first peripheral device is a keyboard, the second peripheral device is a computer mouse, and the third peripheral device is a touchscreen.

12. The computer system of claim 1,

wherein the first peripheral device and the second peripheral device comprise one or more of a computer mouse, a keyboard, a microphone, a monitor, a speaker, a camera, a light pen, a joystick, a gamepad, and a touchscreen.

13. A method, comprising:

monitoring usage of a first peripheral device to determine if a second peripheral device is currently being used; and

generating a signal to place the second peripheral device in a low power state if the usage indicates that the second peripheral device is not currently being used.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

generating a signal to place the second peripheral device in a normal power state, if the usage indicates that the second peripheral device is possibly being used, and if the second peripheral device is in the low power state.

15. The method of claim 13,

wherein, in monitoring usage of the first peripheral device, determining if the usage indicates that the second peripheral device is not currently being used comprises detecting a hands-busy event.

16. The method of claim 15,

wherein the first peripheral device is a keyboard;

wherein the hands-busy event comprises a typing rate greater than a threshold value.

17. The method of claim 16,

wherein the threshold value is determined based on a past typing history of a user.

18. The method of claim 15,

wherein the first peripheral device is a keyboard;

wherein the hands-busy event comprises a time delay between a user pressing distant keys in less than a threshold value.

19. The method of claim 15,

wherein the first peripheral device is a keyboard;

wherein the hands-busy event comprises at least one of a user typing faster than a calculated typing rate or a current typing pattern is comparable to a user'"'"'s prior usage during a hands-busy event.

20. The method of claim 15,

wherein determining if the usage indicates that the second peripheral device is not currently being used includes using user information and a user'"'"'s prior usage of a user that is currently logged into the computer system.

21. The method of claim 13,

wherein, in monitoring usage of the first peripheral device, determining if the usage indicates that the second peripheral device is not currently being used comprises:

1) storing information on a user'"'"'s prior usage of the first peripheral device; and

2) comparing a current typing pattern with the user'"'"'s prior usage.

22. The method of claim 13,

wherein, in monitoring usage of the first peripheral device, determining if the usage indicates that the second peripheral device is not currently being used comprises detecting a time delay between a user using the first peripheral device and using a third peripheral device in less than a threshold value.

23. The method of claim 22,

wherein, the first peripheral device is a keyboard, the second peripheral device is a computer mouse, and the third peripheral device is a touchscreen.

24. The method of claim 13,

wherein the first peripheral device and the second peripheral device comprise one or more of a computer mouse, a keyboard, a microphone, a monitor, a speaker, a camera, a light pen, a joystick, a gamepad, and a touchscreen.

25. A method, comprising:

monitoring usage of a keyboard to determine if the keyboard is currently being used by both hands of a user;

generating a signal to place a second peripheral device in a low power state if the usage indicates that the keyboard is currently being used by both hands of a user.

26. A system, comprising:

means for monitoring usage of a first peripheral device to determine if a second peripheral device is currently being used; and

means generating a signal to place the second peripheral device in a low power state if the usage indicates that the second peripheral device is not currently being used.

27. A carrier medium comprising program instructions, wherein program instructions are computer-executable to:

monitor usage of a first peripheral device to determine if a second peripheral device is currently being used;

generate a signal to place the second peripheral device in a low power state if the usage indicates that the second peripheral device is not currently being used.