Computer system power policy adjustment in response to an affirmative indication from a user

• US 20050044241A1
• Filed: 08/18/2003
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Dunstan, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,353,413 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a computer system power policy is adjusted in response to an affirmative indication from a user.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving from a user an affirmative indication that the user is no longer using a system; and

adjusting an original power policy associated with the system in response to the received indication.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the original power policy places the system in a low-power state after a pre-determined period of time associated with at least one of:

(i) a keyboard key press, (ii) mouse activity, and (iii) a device access.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the low-power state is associated with an advanced configuration and power interface low-power state.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the low-power state is associated with at least one of:

(i) a global state, (ii) a device power state, (iii) a sleep state, (iv) a processor power state, and (v) a performance state.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said adjusting comprises reducing the pre-determined period of time.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

saving the original power policy.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

arranging for the system to enter a low-power state in accordance with the adjusted power policy.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving from a user a second indication that the user is again using the system; and

restoring the original power policy associated with the system in response to the second indication.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the system includes a processor and comprises at least one of:

(i) a desktop personal computer;

(ii) a mobile system, (iii) a workstation, (iv) a server, (v) a set top box, and (vi) a game system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said receiving and said adjusting is performed by at least one of:

(i) a software application, (ii) a hardware device, (iii) an operating system, (iv) a driver, and (v) a basic input/output system.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the received indication is a request to turn off a display unit associated with the system.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the original power policy is configurable by the user.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the original power policy is associated with operating system power management.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

an input to receive an affirmative indication from a user that the user is no longer using a system; and

a power policy adjustment unit to adjust an original power policy associated with the system in response to the received indication.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the original power policy places the system in a low-power state after a predetermined period of time associated with a user activity and said adjusting comprises reducing the pre-determined period of time.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a storage medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed by a machine result in the following;

receiving from a user an affirmative indication that the user is no longer using a system, and

adjusting an original power policy associated with the system in response to the received indication.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the original power policy places the system in a low-power state after a pre-determined period of time associated with a user activity and said adjusting comprises reducing the pre-determined period of time.

18. A method, comprising:

receiving from a user a request to turn off a display unit associated with a system;

saving timeout values associated with an original set of power policies, the timeout values indicating when the system will be placed in an advanced configuration and power interface low-power state;

reducing the timeout values associated with the original set of power policies;

if no work is being done by the system, arranging for the system to enter the low-power state in accordance with the reduced timeout values.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the original set of power policies is associated with operating system power management and is configurable by the user.

20. A computer system, comprising:

a user display unit control input to receive a request to turn off a display unit associated with the computer system; and

an apparatus, including;

an operating system power management unit, and

a power policy adjustment unit to adjust an original power policy associated with the operating system power management unit in accordance with the received request.

21. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the original power policy places the computer system in a low-power state after a pre-determined period of time associated with a user activity and said adjusting comprises reducing the pre-determined period of time.