Portable electronic device having high and low power processors operable in a low power mode

• US 20050066209A1
• Filed: 06/17/2004
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vulcan Portals Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vulcan Portals Incorporated
• Inventors: Chen, Chao-Chi, Perrin, Stephen L., Fleck, Rod G., O'Connell, Craig W., Kee, Martin J., Clarke, Michael S.
• Application Number:
  US10/871,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20050066209A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/165 the additional display being small, e.g. for presenting status information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3293 by switching to a less power-consuming processor, e.g. sub-CPU
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A computer system has a main display attached to a computer chassis. The computer chassis includes a high power, high performance main processor running applications on a first operating system platform. The auxiliary display module has a low power, low performance auxiliary processor, a small touch-screen display and a keypad. The main processor interfaces with a keyboard on the upper surface of the chassis and a main display. In a high power mode, there is no display and keypad input in the auxiliary display module. In a power sleep mode, power is removed from the first processor, the main display and many of the components in the computer chassis. However, key functions, such as email, a contact list, and an appointment calendar can be accessed using the auxiliary display module. In a low power mode, the main display shuts off and many of the components in the computer chassis are powered down. However, key functions, such as email, a contact list, an appointment calendar, and a media player, can be accessed using the auxiliary display module.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a computer chassis comprising a base and a lid for the base;

a keyboard mounted on an inner surface of the base for the chassis;

a main display mounted on an inner surface of the lid;

a first processor operatively coupled to the keyboard and main display;

an auxiliary display mounted on an outer surface of the lid;

a keypad mounted on the outer surface of the lid;

a second processor having less computing performance than the first processor and consuming substantially less power than the first processor, the second processor being operatively coupled to the auxiliary display and keypad; and

a power controller operatively coupled to the first and second processors, the power controller causing the computer system to operate in either a high power mode or a low power mode.

2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the power controller causes power to be applied to the first processor in the high power mode and causes power to be removed from the first processor and applied to the second processor in the low power mode, the second processor operating with the auxiliary display and the keypad to provide functionality in the low power mode that is less than the functionality of the computer system provided in the high power mode.

3. The computer system of claim 2 wherein the power controller is operative to cause power to be applied to the second processor in the high power mode so that the second processor is operative in the high power mode.

4. The computer system of claim 2 wherein the power controller is operative to cause power to be removed from the auxiliary display in the high power mode so that the auxiliary display provides no functionality to the computer system.

5. The computer system of claim 2 wherein the power controller is operative to cause power to be removed from the keypad in the high power mode so that the auxiliary display provides no functionality to the computer system.

6. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary random access memory operatively coupled to the second processor and being powered in the low power mode, the auxiliary random access memory hosting the execution environment of an operating system and at least one application program that are accessed by the second processor in the low power. mode.

7. The computer system of claim 6, further comprising a non-volatile memory storing the operating system and the at least one application program, the operating system and the at least one application program being transferred from the non-volatile memory to the auxiliary memory for execution by the second processor.

8. The computer system of claim 7 wherein the non-volatile memory comprises a read only memory device.

9. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the second processor accesses at least one application program in the low power mode.

10. The computer system of claim 9 wherein the application program comprises an email application program.

11. The computer system of claim 10 wherein the email application program is operable to periodically synchronize email messages without user action.

12. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the email application program is operable to select whether attachments will be downloaded with the periodically synchronized email messages.

13. The computer system of claim 6 wherein the application program comprises an appointment calendar application program.

14. The computer system of claim 6 wherein the application program comprises a contact address application program.

15. The computer system of claim 6, further comprising a mass storage device operable to store music files, the mass storage device being coupled to the second processor and being powered in the low power mode, and wherein the application program comprises a music player application program.

16. The computer system of claim 6 further comprising a side wheel that can provide user input for use by the at least one application program in the low power mode.

17. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transceiver coupled to the second processor and being powered in the low power mode, the wireless transceiver being operatively coupled to the second processor to provide wireless communication capability in the low power mode.

18. The computer system of claim 2, wherein the first processor accesses a first application running on a first operating system platform, and wherein the second processor accesses a second application running on a second operating system platform.

19. The computer system of claim 18 wherein the first processor is operable to access the second application in both the high power mode and the low power mode.

20. The computer system of claim 18 wherein the second processor is operable to access the first application in both the high power mode and the low power mode.

21. The computer system of claim 20 wherein the second processor is operable to access the first application in the low power mode by use of an application protocol message.

22. The computer system of claim 21 wherein the application protocol message comprises a type field identifying an application pertaining to the application protocol message, the application protocol message further comprising a data field having a format corresponding to the application identified by the type field.

23. The computer system of claim 20 wherein the application protocol message is operable to configure the first application so that the first application provides plug and play compatibility to features provided by applications accessed by the second processor.

24. The computer system of claim 20 the second processor is operable to cause the power controller to apply power to the first processor when the computer system is in the low power mode.

25. A computer system, comprising:

a main computer chassis, comprising;

a keyboard;

a main display;

a first processor operatively coupled to the keyboard and main display; and

a first operating system running on the first processor;

an auxiliary computer module, comprising;

an auxiliary user interface device;

a second processor having less computing performance than the first processor and consuming substantially less power than the first processor, the second processor being operatively coupled to the auxiliary user interface device; and

a second operating system running on the second processor; and

a power controller operatively coupled to the first and second processors, the power controller causing the computer system to operate in either a high power mode or a low power mode.

26. The computer system of claim 25 wherein the power controller causes power to be applied to the first processor in the high power mode and causes power to be removed from the first processor and applied to the second processor in the low power mode, the second processor operating with the auxiliary user interface device to provide functionality in the low power mode that is substantially less than the functionality of the computer system provided in the high power mode.

27. The computer system of claim 26 wherein the power controller is operative to cause power to be applied to the second processor in the high power mode so that the second processor is operative in the high power mode.

28. The computer system of claim 25 wherein the user interface device comprises an auxiliary display and a keypad.

29. The computer system of claim 26 wherein the power controller is operative to cause power to be removed from the auxiliary display in the high power mode so that the auxiliary display provides no functionality to the computer system.

30. The computer system of claim 26 wherein the power controller is operative to cause power to be removed from the keypad in the high power mode so that the auxiliary display provides no functionality to the computer system.

31. The computer system of claim 26 wherein the auxiliary computer module further comprises a random access memory operatively coupled to the second processor and being powered in the low power mode, the auxiliary random access memory storing the operating system and at least one application program that are accessed by the second processor in the low power mode.

32. The computer system of claim 31 wherein the auxiliary computer module further comprises a non-volatile memory storing the operating system and the at least one application program, the operating system and the at least one application program being transferred from the non-volatile memory to the auxiliary memory for execution by the second processor.

33. The computer system of claim 25 wherein the second processor accesses at least one application program in the low power mode.

34. The computer system of claim 33 wherein the application program comprises an email application program.

35. The computer system of claim 34 wherein the email application program is operable to periodically download email messages without user action.

36. The computer system of claim 35 wherein the email application program is operable to select whether attachments will be downloaded with the periodically downloaded email messages.

37. The computer system of claim 33 wherein the application program comprises an appointment calendar application program.

38. The computer system of claim 33 wherein the application program comprises a contact address application program.

39. The computer system of claim 33 wherein the main computer chassis further comprises a mass storage device operable to store music files, the mass storage device being coupled to the second processor and being powered in the low power mode, and wherein the application program comprises a music player application program.

40. The computer system of claim 33 wherein the main computer chassis further comprises a side wheel that may provide user input for use by the at least one application program in the low power mode.

41. The computer system of claim 26, further comprising a wireless transceiver coupled to the second processor and being powered in the low power mode, the wireless transceiver being operatively coupled to the second processor to provide wireless communication capability in the low power mode.

42. The computer system of claim 26 wherein the auxiliary computer module is operable to access an application running on the first operating system using the first processor by use of an application protocol message passed between the auxiliary computer module and the main computer chassis.

43. The computer system of claim 42 wherein the application protocol message comprises a type field identifying an application pertaining to the application protocol message, the application protocol message further comprising a data field having a format corresponding to the application identified by the type field.

44. The computer system of claim 42 wherein the application protocol message is operable to configure the application running on the first operating system so that the application running in the main computer chassis on the first operating system provides plug and play compatibility for features provided by the auxiliary computer module.

45. The computer system of claim 42 wherein the application protocol message is passed from the auxiliary computer module to the main computer chassis.

46. The computer system of claim 45 wherein the main computer chassis further comprises a module service to which the application protocol message is passed, the module service being operative to extract control information from the application protocol to control the running of the application running on the first operating system.

47. The computer system of claim 42 wherein the application protocol message is passed from the auxiliary computer module to the main computer chassis.

48. The computer system of claim 47 wherein the main computer chassis further comprises a module service from which the application protocol message is passed, the module service being operative to generate the application protocol from data passed to the module service by the application running on the first operating system using the first processor.

49. A computer system, comprising:

a main computer chassis having a first processor running first application on a first operating system platform; and

an auxiliary computer module having a second processor running a second application on a second operating system platform, an application protocol message passing between the auxiliary computer module and the main computer chassis in connection with the running of the first application on the first operating system platform.

50. The computer system of claim 49 wherein the application protocol message comprises a type field identifying an application pertaining to the application protocol message, the application protocol message further comprising a data field having a format corresponding to the application identified by the type field.

51. The computer system of claim 49 wherein the application protocol message is operable to configure the first application running on the first operating system platform so that the main computer chassis provides plug and play compatibility for features provided by the auxiliary computer module.

52. The computer system of claim 49 wherein the application protocol message is passed from the auxiliary computer module to the main computer chassis.

53. The computer system of claim 49 wherein the main computer chassis further comprises a module service to which the application protocol message is passed, the module service being operative to extract control information from the application protocol to control the running of the first application running on the first operating system platform.

54. The computer system of claim 49 wherein the application protocol message is passed from the auxiliary computer module to the main computer chassis.

55. The computer system of claim 54 wherein the main computer chassis further comprises a module service from which the application protocol message is passed, the module service being operative to generate the application protocol from data passed to the module service by the first application running on the first operating system platform.

56. The computer system of claim 49 wherein the main computer chassis further comprises a power controller operatively coupled to the first and second processors, the power controller causing the computer system to operate in either a high power mode or a low power mode, the power controller causing power to be applied to the first processor in the high power mode and causing power to be removed from the first processor and applied to the second processor in the low power mode, the second processor operating with the auxiliary display and the keypad to provide functionality in the low power mode that is substantially less than the functionality of the computer system provided in the high power mode.

57. The computer system of claim 49 wherein the first application running on the first operating system platform comprises a media player application.

58. The computer system of claim 49 wherein the first application running on the first operating system platform comprises an email application.

59. The computer system of claim 58 wherein the email application is operable to periodically download email messages without user action.

60. The computer system of claim 59 wherein the email application is operable to allow selection of whether attachments will be downloaded with the periodically downloaded email messages.

61. The computer system of claim 49 wherein the first application running on the first operating system platform comprises a voice memo application.

62. The computer system of claim 49 wherein computer system software, including the first operating system and the first application, run on the first computer processor, and wherein auxiliary computer module software, including the second operating system and the second application, run on the second computer processor, and wherein the computer system further comprises a module service that interfaces the computer system software with the auxiliary computer module software using application protocol messages, the application protocol messages providing information about the auxiliary computer system software to configure the computer system software.

63. The computer system of claim 62, further comprising an auxiliary computer module detection manager that provides information about properties of a plurality of components in the auxiliary computer module to allow the module service to configure the computer system software.

64. The computer system of claim 62, further comprising a configuration wizard that is operable to configure the computer system software using the application protocol messages providing information about the auxiliary computer system software.

65. A method of operating a computer system having a first processor operatively coupled to a main display and a second processor operatively coupled to an auxiliary display, the first processor having substantially higher performance and substantially higher power consumption than the second processor, the method comprising:

in a high power mode, applying power to the first processor so that the first processor can function with the main display in the high power mode; and

in a low power operating mode, removing power to the first processor and applying power to the second processor so that the second processor can function with the auxiliary display in the low power operating mode.

66. The method of claim 65, further comprising applying power to the second processor in the high power mode so that the second processor and auxiliary display are functional in the high power mode.

67. The method of claim 65, further comprising passing an application protocol message between the first processor and the second processor in connection with the running of a first application using the first processor.

68. The method of claim 67 wherein the application protocol message comprises a type field identifying an application pertaining to the application protocol message, the application protocol message further comprising a data field having a format corresponding to the application identified by the type field.

69. The method of claim 67 wherein the application protocol message is operable to configure the first application to provide plug and play compatibility for features provided by the first application.

70. The method of claim 67 wherein the application protocol message is passed from the second processor to the first processor.

71. The method of claim 70 wherein the computer system further comprises a module service to which the application protocol message is passed, and wherein the method further comprises using the module service to extract control information from the application protocol to control the running of a first application using the first processor.

72. The method of claim 67 wherein the application protocol message is passed from the second processor to the first processor.

73. The method of claim 72 wherein the computer system further comprises a module service to which the application protocol message is passed, and wherein the method further comprises using the module service to generate the application protocol from data passed to the module service by the first application.

74. A method of operating a computer system having a main computer chassis running a first application on a first operating system platform, and an auxiliary computer module running a second application on a second operating system platform, the method comprising passing an application protocol message passing between the auxiliary computer module and the main computer chassis in connection with the running of the first application on the first operating system platform.

75. The method of claim 74 wherein the application protocol message comprises a type field identifying an application pertaining to the application protocol message, the application protocol message further comprising a data field having a format corresponding to the application identified by the type field.

76. The method of claim 74, further comprising using the application protocol message to configure the first application running on the first operating system platform so that the main computer chassis provides plug and play compatibility for features provided by the auxiliary computer module.

77. The method of claim 74 wherein the application protocol message is passed from the auxiliary computer module to the main computer chassis.

78. The method of claim 74 wherein the main computer chassis further comprises a module service to which the application protocol message is passed, and wherein the method further comprises using the module service to extract control information from the application protocol to control the running of the first application running on the first operating system platform.

79. The method of claim 74 wherein the application protocol message is passed from the auxiliary computer module to the main computer chassis.

80. The method of claim 79 wherein the main computer chassis further comprises a module service from which the application protocol message is passed, and wherein the method further comprises using the module service to generate the application protocol from data passed to the module service by the first application running on the first operating system platform.

81. The method of claim 74 wherein the application protocol message provides information about the second application that is sufficient to configure the first application.

82. The method of claim 74, further comprising providing to the first application information about the properties of components in the auxiliary computer module that is sufficient to allow the first application to be configured.

83. The method of claim 74 wherein the main computer chassis further comprises a first processor running the first application on the first operating system platform, and the auxiliary computer module comprises a second processor running the second application on the second operating system platform, and wherein the method further comprises operating the computer system in either a high power mode or a low power mode, power being applied to the first processor in the high power mode and power being removed from the first processor and applied to the second processor in the low power mode.

84. The method of claim 74 wherein the first application running on the first operating system platform comprises a media player application.

85. The method of claim 74 wherein the first application running on the first operating system platform comprises an email application.

86. The method of claim 85 wherein the method further comprises periodically downloading email messages without user action.

87. The method of claim 86 wherein the method further comprises allowing selection of whether attachments will be downloaded with the periodically downloaded email messages.

88. The method of claim 74 wherein the first application running on the first operating system platform comprises a voice memo application.