Selective implementation of power management schemes based on detected computer operating environment

• US 20040205361A1
• Filed: 04/09/2003
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Briones, Luis J., Wortel, Klaas, Lovelace, David K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,055,047 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3259 Power saving in cursor control device, e.g. mouse, joystick, trackball
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Detecting a radio frequency (RF) environment around a computer and using a power management scheme for an RF user input device being used by the computer system. If the computer system is in a single user environment, a power management scheme may be used to conserve power on the RF user input device. If the computer system is in a multi-user environment, a power management scheme may be used to minimize interference between neighboring computer systems by minimizing the signal strength of the RF signal from the RF user input device and the RF signal from the computer system.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a processor;

a first radio frequency transmitter/receiver (RFTR);

a user input device comprising a second RFTR, wherein the first RFTR and the second RFTR are operable to communicate in a wireless fashion;

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

determine if the computer system is being used in a single user environment or a multi-user environment;

wherein the program instructions are executable to implement a first power management scheme for the user input device if the computer system is being used in the single user environment; and

wherein the program instructions are executable to implement a second power management scheme for the user input device if the computer system is being used in the multi-user environment.

2. The computer system of claim 1,

wherein the program instructions are executable to determine if the computer system is being used in the single user environment or the multi-user environment by monitoring a number of radio frequency (RF) signals being received by the first RFTR above a first threshold and within a set frequency range.

3. The computer system of claim 1,

wherein the first power management scheme comprises managing the user input device to operate at a power level in a range of minimally sufficient power levels to transmit an RF signal from the second RFTR at a power level receivable by the first RFTR.

4. The computer system of claim 3,

wherein the first power management scheme includes the first RFTR transmitting a received RF signal strength indication (RSSI) to the second RFTR, wherein the RSSI is based on RF signals transmitted from the second RFTR to the first RFTR;

wherein the first power management scheme includes the user input device adjusting the power level of the second RFTR based on the RSSI.

5. The computer system of claim 4,

wherein the first power management scheme includes the user input device adjusting the power level of the second RFTR based on the RSSI to maintain the power level in a range of minimally sufficient power levels to transmit the RF signal from the second RFTR at a power level receivable by the first RFTR.

6. The computer system of claim 1,

wherein the second power management scheme comprises managing the user input device to operate at a power level in a range of minimally sufficient power levels to transmit the RF signal from the second RFTR at a power level receivable by the first RFTR.

7. The computer system of claim 6,

wherein the second power management scheme includes the first RFTR transmitting a first RSSI to the second RFTR, and the second RFTR adjusting the RF signal from the second RFTR according to the first RSSI to maintain the power level the RF signal from the second RFTR is received at the first RFTR.

8. The computer system of claim 7,

wherein the second power management scheme includes the second RFTR transmitting a second RSSI to the first RFTR and the first RFTR adjusting the RF signal from the first RFTR according to the second RSSI to maintain the power level the RF signal from the first RFTR is received at the second RFTR.

9. The computer system of claim 6,

wherein the second power management scheme includes the second RFTR transmitting at a power level above a safety threshold.

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

a chipset logic coupled to the processor.

11. The computer system of claim 1,

wherein the user input device is one or more of a computer mouse, a keyboard, a microphone, a camera, a wireless pointing device, and a joystick.

12. The computer system of claim 1,

wherein the first power management scheme includes placing the user input device in an inactive status after a predetermined amount of time of non-use.

13. The computer system of claim 1,

wherein the second power management scheme includes not placing the user input device in an inactive status after a predetermined amount of time of non-use.

14. The computer system of claim 1,

wherein the first RFTR and the second RFTR have omni-directional antennae.

15. The computer system of claim 1,

wherein the first power management scheme includes transmitting the RSSI by the first RFTR at full power.

16. The computer system of claim 1,

wherein the first RFTR and/or the second RFTR are sensitive to three decibel steps in received RF signal strength.

17. A computer system, comprising:

a processor;

a first radio frequency transmitter/receiver (RFTR);

a user input device comprising a second RFTR, wherein the first RFTR and the second RFTR are operable to communicate in a wireless fashion;

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

determine an environment in which the computer system is being used;

wherein the program instructions are executable to implement a first power management scheme for the user input device if the computer system is being used in a first environment; and

wherein the program instructions are executable to implement a second power management scheme for the user input device if the computer system is being used in a second environment.

18. The computer system of claim 17,

wherein a first environment is defined as the first RFTR receiving only one RF signal from above a first threshold and within a set frequency range.

19. The computer system of claim 18,

wherein the first power management scheme for the user input device puts the user input device in an inactive status after a predetermined amount of time of non-use.

20. The computer system of claim 17,

wherein the second power management scheme keeps the user input device active if the user input device is not used after a predetermined amount of time.

21. The computer system of claim 17,

wherein the first RFTR and the second RFTR have omni-directional antennae.

22. The computer system of claim 17,

wherein the first power management scheme includes the first RFTR transmitting the RSSI at full power.

23. The computer system of claim 17,

wherein the first RFTR and/or the second RFTR are sensitive to three decibel steps in received RF signal strength.

24. The computer system of claim 17,

wherein the user input device is one or more of a computer mouse, a keyboard, a microphone, a camera, a wireless pointing device, and a joystick.

25. A method, comprising:

determining if a computer system is being used in a single user environment or a multi-user environment;

implementing a first power management scheme for the user input device if the computer system is being used in a single user environment; and

implementing a second power management scheme for the user input device if the computer system is being used in a multi-user environment.

26. The method of claim 25,

wherein determining if the computer system is being used in the single user environment or the multi-user environment includes monitoring a number of the RF signals being received above a first threshold and within a set frequency range by a first RFTR coupled to a computer system.

27. The method of claim 25,

wherein the first power management scheme comprises managing the user input device to operate at a power level in a range of minimally sufficient power levels to transmit an RF signal from a second RFTR at a power level receivable by the first RFTR.

28. The method of claim 27,

wherein implementing the first power management scheme comprises:

transmitting an RSSI from the first RFTR to the second RFTR, wherein the RSSI is based on RF signals transmitted from the second RFTR to the first RFTR;

adjusting the power level of the second RFTR by the user input device based on the RSSI.

29. The method of claim 28,

wherein adjusting the power level of the second RFTR by the user input device based on the RSSI includes maintaining the power level in a range of minimally sufficient power levels to transmit an RF signal from the second RFTR at a power level receivable by the first RFTR.

30. The method of claim 25,

wherein the second power management scheme includes managing the user input device to operate at a power level in a range of minimally sufficient power levels to transmit an RF signal from the second RFTR at a power level receivable by the first RFTR.

31. The method of claim 30,

wherein implementing the second power management scheme comprises:

transmitting a second RSSI to the second RFTR by the first RFTR, and

adjusting the RF signal from the second RFTR according to the second RSSI to maintain the power level the RF signal from the second RFTR is received at the first RFTR.

32. The method of claim 31,

wherein the second power management scheme includes:

transmitting an RSSI to the first RFTR by the second RFTR, and

adjusting the RF signal from the first RFTR according to the RSSI to maintain the power level the RF signal from the first RFTR is received at the second RFTR.

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

determine if a computer system is being used in a single user environment or a multi-user environment;

implement a first power management scheme for the user input device if the computer system is being used in a single user environment; and

implement a second power management scheme for the user input device if the computer system is being used in a multi-user environment.

34. The carrier medium of claim 33,

wherein determining if the computer system is being used in the single user environment or the multi-user environment includes monitoring a number of the RF signals being received above a first threshold and within a set frequency range by a first RFTR coupled to a computer system.

35. The carrier medium of claim 33,

wherein the first power management scheme comprises managing the user input device to operate at a power level in a range of minimally sufficient power levels to transmit an RF signal from a second RFTR at a power level receivable by the first RFTR.

36. The carrier medium of claim 33,

wherein implementing the first power management scheme comprises:

transmit an RSSI from the first RFTR to the second RFTR, wherein the RSSI is based on RF signals transmitted from the second RFTR to the first RFTR;

adjust the power level of the second RFTR by the user input device based on the RSSI.

37. The carrier medium of claim 36,

wherein adjusting the power level of the second RFTR by the user input device based on the RSSI includes maintaining the power level in a range of minimally sufficient power levels to transmit an RF signal from the second RFTR at a power level receivable by the first RFTR.

38. The carrier medium of claim 33,

wherein the second power management scheme includes managing the user input device to operate at a power level in a range of minimally sufficient power levels to transmit an RF signal from the second RFTR at a power level receivable by the first RFTR.

39. The carrier medium of claim 38,

wherein implementing the second power management scheme comprises:

transmitting a first RSSI to the second RFTR by the first RFTR, and

adjusting the RF signal from the second RFTR according to the first RSSI to maintain the power level the RF signal from the second RFTR is received at the first RFTR.

40. The carrier medium of claim 39,

wherein implementing the second power management scheme comprises:

transmitting a second RSSI to the first RFTR by the second RFTR, and

adjusting the RF signal from the first RFTR according to the second RSSI to maintain the power level the RF signal from the first RFTR is received at the second RFTR.