Always ready computing device

• US 20050182978A1
• Filed: 02/17/2004
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Westerinen, William Jefferson, Anderson, Jason Michael, Marshall, Allen, Pierce, Tony Dwayne
• Application Number:
  US10/780,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20050182978A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3234 Power saving characterised by the action undertaken
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• 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

Abstract

Systems and methods for producing a simulated off condition in a computing device. The computing device includes system components such as a power supply, processors and fans that are put into a low power state upon receiving a signal to power off the device. This provides the appearance to users that the computing device is off. The system components, however, remain enabled to run applications when the computing device is in the simulated off condition. If necessary, the device can be returned to a fully on condition to process applications that require the system components to be brought out of the low power state to execute.

Claims

1. A method of providing a simulated off condition in a computing device, said method comprising:

receiving a signal to power off the computing device;

notifying system components of a low power request; and

reducing power consumption of said system components to a low power state such that said computing device appears to be off, wherein said system components remain enabled to run applications when the computing device is in the simulated off condition.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if running applications require full processing when the computing device receives said signal to power off; and

providing a notification that applications will be canceled if the computing device is turned off.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving an input to override the signal to power down the computing device.

4. The method of claim 1, said notifying system components of a low power request further comprising sending a request to software drivers that control power management features of said system components to place said system components into the low power state.

5. The method of claim 1, said reducing power consumption of said system components further comprising:

instructing processors within said system to clock-down to a lowest state;

discontinuing a display signal to turn off a monitor;

reducing a power supply output;

turning off cooling fans; and

indicating that the computing device is in the simulated off condition.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring for applications that require said system components to utilize more power than said low power state; and

bringing predetermined ones of said system components out of said lower power state to process the applications that require more power.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising returning the computing device to said simulated off condition after the applications that require said system components to utilize more power have completed.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device is in an ACPI S0 state when the computing device is in said simulated off condition, and

wherein the computing device enters an ACPI S3 state after a predetermined period of time.

16. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the computing device is in an ACPI S0 state when the computing device is in said simulated off state, and

wherein the computing device enters an ACPI S3 state after a predetermined period of time.

9. A computing device having a simulated off state, comprising:

a central processing unit;

a graphics processing unit;

a hard disk drive;

random access memory; and

a power supply,

wherein when said computing device is powered down, the computing device is placed into the simulated off state by placing the system components into a low power state such that the computing device appears to be off, and

wherein the computing device remains enabled to run applications when in the simulated off state.

10. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the computing device determines if running applications require full processing when the computing device is powered down, and

wherein the computing device provides a notification that applications will be canceled.

11. The computing device of claim 10, further comprising receiving an input to override the signal to power down the computing device.

12. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the computing device sends a request to software drivers that control power management features of said system components to place said system components into the low power state.

13. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the computing device instructs processors within said system to clock-down to a lowest state, discontinues a display signal to turn off a monitor, mutes system audio, pauses media playback, locks input devices, reduces a power supply output, turns off cooling fans, and indicates that the computing device is in the simulated off condition.

14. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the computing device monitors for applications that require said system components to utilize more power than said low power state, and wherein predetermined ones of said system components are taken out of said lower power state to process the applications that require more power.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the computing device is returned to said simulated off state after the applications that require said system components to utilize more power have completed.

17. A method of producing a simulated off condition in a computing device when the computing device is in an ACPI S0 state, the method comprising:

receiving a signal to power off the computing device;

notifying system components of a low power request; and

reducing power consumption of said system components via software using ACPI methods to a low power state such that said computing device appears to be off, wherein said system components remain enabled to run applications when the computing device is in the simulated off condition.

18. The method of claim 17, said reducing power consumption of said system components further comprising:

instructing processors within said system to clock-down to a lowest state;

discontinuing a display signal to turn off a monitor;

muting system audio pausing media playback reducing a power supply output;

turning off cooling fans; and

indicating that the computing device is in the simulated off condition.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

monitoring for applications that require said system components to utilize more power than said low power state; and

bringing predetermined ones of said system components out of said lower power state to process the applications that require more power.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising returning the computing device to said simulated off condition after the applications that require said system components to utilize more power have completed.