Computer with low-power secondary processor and secondary display

• US 20050182980A1
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell World Trade Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Sutardja, Sehat
• Granted Patent: US 7,421,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/320
• 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 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• 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

Abstract

A computer includes a primary processor, a primary memory, and a primary input/output (I/O) interface that communicates with the primary processor and the primary memory. A primary display communicates with the primary I/O interface. The primary processor, the primary memory, and the primary display are operated in active and inactive modes and are powered down when the computer is in the inactive mode. A secondary processor dissipates less power than the primary processor. A secondary display communicates with the secondary processor. The secondary processor and the secondary display are powered up when the computer is in the inactive mode. The secondary processor and display support PDA-like functionality when the computer is in the inactive mode.

Claims

1. A computer comprising:

a primary processor;

primary memory;

a primary input/output (I/O) interface that communicates with said primary processor and said primary memory;

a primary display that communicates with said primary I/O interface, wherein said primary processor, said primary memory, and said primary display are operated in active and inactive modes and are powered down when said computer is in said inactive mode;

a secondary processor that dissipates less power than said primary processor; and

a secondary display that communicates with said secondary processor, wherein said secondary processor and said secondary display are powered up when said computer is in said inactive mode.

2. The computer of claim 1 further comprising a secondary memory that communicates with said secondary processor, that is powered up when said computer is in said inactive mode and that has a lower storage capacity than said primary memory.

3. The computer of claim 1 wherein said secondary processor and said secondary display support at least one of text messaging, e-mail delivery, securities quote retrieval and hot zone identification while said computer is in said inactive mode.

4. The computer of claim 1 wherein said computer is a laptop and said secondary display is integrated with an outer surface of said laptop.

5. The computer of claim 1 further comprising a disk drive system that communicates with said primary I/O interface, wherein said secondary processor and said secondary memory are integrated with said disk drive system.

6. The computer of claim 1 further comprising a wireless network interface that communicates with said primary I/O interface, wherein said secondary processor and said secondary memory are integrated with said wireless network interface.

7. The computer of claim 1 further comprising a secondary I/O device that communicates with said secondary processor.

8. The computer of claim 1 wherein said secondary display supports touch pad operation.

9. The computer of claim 1 wherein said computer is a desktop computer that includes an enclosure and wherein said secondary display is integrated with said enclosure.

10. A system comprising the computer of claim 1 and further comprising:

a wireless network interface that communicates with said secondary processor;

a distributed communications system that communicates with said wireless network interface;

a server that communicates with said distributed communications system; and

an agent module that is executed by said secondary processor and that retrieves at least one of e-mail messages and securities data from said server.

11. The computer of claim 1 further comprising a hot zone module that is executed by said secondary processor, that identifies when said computer is in a hot zone, and that provides a visual indication of said hot zone on said secondary display.

73. The computer of claim 1 wherein said secondary processor and said secondary display support PDA-like functionality.

74. The computer of claim 1 wherein said computer is a laptop that includes a keyboard and wherein said secondary display is located inside of said laptop adjacent to said keyboard.

75. The computer of claim 1 wherein said primary I/O interface is powered down during said inactive mode.

76. The computer of claim 1 wherein said primary I/O interface is powered up during said inactive mode.

77. The computer of claim 1 wherein said computer includes a keyboard and a mouse and wherein said primary I/O interface, said keyboard and said mouse are powered up during said inactive mode.

12. A computer having active and inactive modes, comprising:

a secondary processor; and

a secondary display that communicates with said secondary processor,

wherein said secondary processor and said secondary display are powered when said computer is in said inactive mode and support at least one of text messaging, e-mail delivery, securities quote retrieval and hot zone identification while said computer is in said inactive mode.

13. The computer of claim 12 further comprising a secondary memory that communicates with said secondary processor and that is powered when said computer is in said inactive mode.

14. The computer of claim 12 further comprising:

a primary processor;

a primary memory;

a primary I/O interface that communicates with said primary processor and said primary memory; and

a primary display that communicates with said primary I/O interface, wherein said primary processor, said primary memory, and said primary display are operated in active and inactive modes and are powered down when said computer is in said inactive mode.

15. The computer of claim 14 wherein said secondary processor dissipates less power than said primary processor.

16. The computer of claim 14 further comprising a secondary memory that communicates with said secondary processor, that is powered when said computer is in said inactive mode, and that has a lower storage capacity than said primary memory.

17. The computer of claim 12 wherein said computer is a laptop and said secondary display is integrated with an outer surface of said laptop.

18. The computer of claim 14 further comprising a disk drive system that communicates with said primary I/O interface, wherein said secondary processor is integrated with said disk drive system.

19. The computer of claim 14 further comprising a wireless network interface that communicates with said primary I/O interface, wherein said secondary processor is integrated with said wireless network interface.

20. The computer of claim 12 further comprising a secondary I/O device that communicates with said secondary processor.

21. The computer of claim 12 wherein said secondary display supports touch pad operation.

22. The computer of claim 12 wherein said computer is a desktop computer that includes an enclosure and wherein said secondary display is integrated with said enclosure.

23. A system comprising the computer of claim 12 and further comprising:

a wireless network interface that communicates with said secondary processor;

a distributed communications system that communicates with said wireless network interface;

a server that communicates with said distributed communications system; and

an agent module that is executed by said secondary processor and that retrieves at least one of e-mail messages and securities data from said server.

24. The computer of claim 14 further comprising a hot zone module that is executed by said secondary processor, that identifies when said computer is in a hot zone, and that provides a visual indication of said hot zone on said secondary display.

78. The computer of claim 12 wherein said secondary processor and said secondary display support PDA-like functionality.

79. The computer of claim 12 wherein said computer is a laptop that includes a keyboard and wherein said secondary display is located inside of said laptop adjacent to said keyboard.

80. The computer of claim 14 wherein said primary I/O interface is powered down during said inactive mode.

81. The computer of claim 14 wherein said primary I/O interface is powered up during said inactive mode.

82. The computer of claim 14 wherein said computer includes a keyboard and a mouse and wherein said primary I/O interface, said keyboard and said mouse are powered up during said inactive mode.

25. A computer comprising:

primary processing means for processing data;

primary storage means for storing data;

primary input/output (I/O) interface means for communicating with said primary processing means and said primary storage means;

primary display means for displaying data and that communicates with said primary I/O interface means, wherein said primary processing means, said primary storage means, and said primary display means are operated in active and inactive modes and are powered down when said computer is in said inactive mode;

secondary processing means for processing data and that dissipates less power than said primary processing means; and

secondary display means for displaying data and that communicates with said secondary processing means, wherein said secondary processing means and said secondary display means are powered up when said computer is in said inactive mode.

26. The computer of claim 25 further comprising secondary storage means that communicates with said secondary processing means, that is powered up when said computer is in said inactive mode and that has a lower storage capacity than said primary storage means.

27. The computer of claim 25 wherein said secondary processing means and said secondary display means support at least one of text messaging, e-mail delivery, securities quote retrieval and hot zone identification while said computer is in said inactive mode.

28. The computer of claim 25 wherein said computer is a laptop and said secondary display means is integrated with an outer surface of said laptop.

29. The computer of claim 25 further comprising disk drive means for storing data on a magnetic medium and that communicates with said primary I/O interface means, wherein said secondary processing means and said secondary storage means are integrated with said disk drive means.

30. The computer of claim 25 further comprising wireless network interface means for providing an interface to a wireless network and that communicates with said primary I/O interface means, wherein said secondary processing means and said secondary storage means are integrated with said wireless network interface means.

31. The computer of claim 25 further comprising secondary I/O means for inputting user data and that communicates with said secondary processing means.

32. The computer of claim 25 wherein said secondary display means supports touch pad operation.

33. The computer of claim 25 wherein said computer is a desktop computer that includes an enclosure and wherein said secondary display means is integrated with said enclosure.

34. A system comprising the computer of claim 25 and further comprising:

wireless network interface means for providing an interface to a wireless network and that communicates with said secondary processing means;

a distributed communications system that communicates with said wireless network interface means;

server means for serving e-mail messages and securities data and that communicates with said distributed communication system; and

agent means that is executed by said secondary processing means for retrieving at least one of e-mail messages and securities data from said server means.

35. The computer of claim 25 further comprising hot zone means that is executed by said secondary processing means for identifying when said computer is in a hot zone and for providing a visual indication of said hot zone using said secondary display means.

83. The computer of claim 25 wherein said secondary processing means and said secondary display means support PDA-like functionality.

84. The computer of claim 25 wherein said computer is a laptop that includes a keyboard and wherein said secondary display means is located inside of said laptop adjacent to said keyboard.

85. The computer of claim 25 wherein said primary I/O interface means is powered down during said inactive mode.

86. The computer of claim 25 wherein said primary I/O interface means is powered during said inactive mode.

87. The computer of claim 25 wherein said computer includes a keyboard and a mouse and wherein said primary I/O interface means, said keyboard and said mouse are powered during said inactive mode.

36. A computer having active and inactive modes, comprising:

secondary processing means for processing data; and

secondary display means for displaying data and that communicates with said secondary processing means,

wherein said secondary processing means and said secondary display means are powered when said computer is in said inactive mode and support at least one of text messaging, e-mail delivery, securities quote retrieval and hot zone identification while said computer is in said inactive mode.

37. The computer of claim 36 further comprising secondary storage means for storing data wherein said secondary storage means communicates with said secondary processing means and is powered when said computer is in said inactive mode.

38. The computer of claim 36 further comprising:

primary processing means for processing data;

primary storage means for storing data;

primary I/O interface means for communicating with said primary processing means and said primary storage means; and

primary display means for displaying data and that communicates with said primary I/O interface means, wherein said primary processing means, said primary storage means and said primary display means are operated in active and inactive modes and are powered down when said computer is in said inactive mode.

39. The computer of claim 38 wherein said secondary processing means dissipates less power than said primary processing means.

40. The computer of claim 38 further comprising secondary storage means for storing data, wherein said secondary storage means communicates with said secondary processing means, is powered when said computer is in said inactive mode, and has a lower storage capacity than said primary storage means.

41. The computer of claim 36 wherein said computer is a laptop and said secondary display means is integrated with an outer surface of said laptop.

42. The computer of claim 38 further comprising disk drive means for storing data on a magnetic medium and that communicates with said primary I/O interface means, wherein said secondary processing means is integrated with said disk drive means.

43. The computer of claim 38 further comprising wireless network interface means for providing an interface to a wireless network and that communicates with said primary I/O interface means, wherein said secondary processing means is integrated with said wireless network interface means.

44. The computer of claim 36 further comprising secondary I/O means for inputting user data and that communicates with said secondary processing means.

45. The computer of claim 36 wherein said secondary display means supports touch pad operation.

46. The computer of claim 36 wherein said computer is a desktop computer that includes an enclosure and wherein said secondary display means is integrated with said enclosure.

47. A system comprising the computer of claim 36 and further comprising:

wireless network interface means for providing an interface to a wireless network and that communicates with said secondary processing means;

a distributed communications system that communicates with said wireless network interface means;

server means for serving at least one of e-mail messages and securities data and that communicates with said distributed communications system; and

agent means that is associated with said secondary storage means for retrieving at least one of e-mail messages and securities data from said server means.

48. The computer of claim 38 further comprising hot zone means that is executed by said secondary processing means, for identifying when said computer is in a hot zone and for providing a visual indication of said hot zone on said secondary display means.

88. The computer of claim 36 wherein said secondary processing means and said secondary display means support PDA-like functionality.

89. The computer of claim 36 wherein said computer is a laptop that includes a keyboard and wherein said secondary display means is located inside of said laptop adjacent to said keyboard.

90. The computer of claim 38 wherein said primary I/O interface means is powered up down during said inactive mode.

91. The computer of claim 38 wherein said primary I/O interface means is powered during said inactive mode.

92. The computer of claim 38 wherein said computer includes a keyboard and a mouse and wherein said primary I/O interface means, said keyboard and said mouse are powered during said inactive mode.

49. A method for operating a computer comprising:

processing data using a primary processor during an active mode;

storing data in primary memory during said active mode;

displaying data using a primary display during said active mode;

powering down said primary processor, said primary memory, and said primary display when said computer is in an inactive mode;

processing data using a secondary processor, which dissipates less power than said primary processor, during said inactive mode; and

displaying data using a secondary display that communicates with said secondary processor during said inactive mode.

50. The method of claim 49 further comprising storing data in secondary memory that communicates with said secondary processor, wherein said secondary memory is powered up when said computer is in said inactive mode and has a lower storage capacity than said primary memory.

51. The method of claim 49 further comprising using said secondary processor and said secondary display to support at least one of text messaging, e-mail delivery, securities quote retrieval and hot zone identification while said computer is in said inactive mode.

52. The method of claim 49 wherein said computer is a laptop and further comprising integrating said secondary display with an outer surface of said laptop.

53. The method of claim 49 further comprising integrating said secondary processor and said secondary memory with a disk drive system.

54. The method of claim 49 further comprising integrating said secondary processor and said secondary memory with a wireless network interface.

55. The method of claim 49 further comprising using a secondary I/O device for inputting user data during said inactive mode.

56. The method of claim 49 wherein said secondary display supports touch pad operation.

57. The method of claim 49 wherein said computer is a desktop computer that includes an enclosure and further comprising integrating said secondary display with said enclosure.

58. The method of claim 49 further comprising retrieving at least one of e-mail messages and securities data from a server during said inactive mode.

59. The method of claim 49 further comprising:

identifying when said computer is located in a hot zone; and

providing a visual indication of said identified hot zone on said secondary display.

93. The method of claim 49 wherein said secondary processor and said secondary display support PDA-like functionality.

94. The method of claim 49 wherein said computer is a laptop that includes a keyboard and further comprising locating said secondary display inside of said laptop adjacent to said keyboard.

95. The method of claim 49 wherein said computer includes a primary I/O interface and further comprising powering down said primary I/O interface during said inactive mode.

96. The method of claim 49 wherein said computer includes a primary I/O interface and further comprising powering said primary I/O interface during said inactive mode.

97. The method of claim 49 wherein said computer includes a primary I/O interface, a keyboard and a mouse and further comprising powering said primary I/O interface, said keyboard and said mouse during said inactive mode.

60. A method for operating a computer having active and inactive modes, comprising:

processing data using a secondary processor;

displaying data using a secondary display that communicates with said secondary processor;

powering said secondary processor and said secondary display when said computer is in said inactive mode; and

supporting at least one of text messaging, e-mail delivery, securities quote retrieval and hot zone identification using said secondary processor and said secondary display while said computer is in said inactive mode.

61. The method of claim 60 further comprising storing data in secondary memory that communicates with said secondary processor and that is powered when said computer is in said inactive mode.

62. The method of claim 60 further comprising:

processing data using a primary processor when said computer is in said active mode;

storing data using a primary memory when said computer is in said active mode;

displaying data using a primary display; and

powering down said primary processor, said primary memory, and said primary display when said computer is in said inactive mode.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein said secondary processor dissipates less power than said primary processor.

64. The method of claim 62 further comprising storing data in secondary memory that communicates with said secondary processor, that is powered when said computer is in said inactive mode, and that has a lower storage capacity than said primary memory.

65. The method of claim 60 wherein said computer is a laptop and further comprising integrating said secondary display with an outer surface of said laptop.

66. The method of claim 62 further comprising integrating said secondary processor with a disk drive system.

67. The method of claim 62 further comprising integrating said secondary processor with a wireless network interface.

68. The method of claim 60 further comprising inputting user data using a secondary I/O device.

69. The method of claim 60 wherein said secondary display supports touch pad operation.

70. The method of claim 60 wherein said computer is a desktop computer that includes an enclosure and further comprising integrating said secondary display with said enclosure.

71. The method of claim 60 further comprising retrieving at least one of e-mail messages and securities data from a server using said secondary processor and said secondary memory.

72. The method of claim 62 further comprising:

identifying when said computer is located in a hot zone; and

providing a visual indication of said identified hot zone on said secondary display.

98. The method of claim 60 wherein said secondary processor and said secondary memory display PDA-like functionality.

99. The method of claim 60 wherein said computer is a laptop that includes a keyboard and wherein said secondary display is located inside of said laptop adjacent to said keyboard.

100. The method of claim 60 wherein said computer includes a primary I/O interface and further comprising powering down said primary I/O interface during said inactive mode.

101. The method of claim 60 wherein said computer includes a primary I/O interface and further comprising powering said primary I/O interface during said inactive mode.

102. The method of claim 60 wherein said computer includes a primary I/O interface, a keyboard and a mouse and further comprising powering said primary I/O interface, said keyboard and said mouse during said inactive mode.