Controlling processor-based systems using a digital camera

• US 20060204085A1
• Filed: 05/18/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Blake R. Bender, Frederick J. Cooper, Girish Gopal, Keith E. Hopper, Ranjit R. Menon, Teresa L. Urutia
• Original Assignee: Blake R. Bender, Frederick J. Cooper, Girish Gopal, Keith E. Hopper, Ranjit R. Menon, Teresa L. Urutia
• Inventors: Menon, Ranjit R., Cooper, Frederick J., Gopal, Girish, Bender, Blake R., Urutia, Teresa L., Hopper, Keith E.
• Application Number:
  US11/436,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20060204085A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/162
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A processor-based system may be controlled using a digital camera. The digital camera can provide luminance and motion information which may be analyzed to determine whether to alter one or more of the power consumption state, the operation of system utilities, or the operation of a screen saver.

Claims

1. A processor-based system comprising:

a processor, said processor coupled to a storage device;

a digital camera coupled to said processor; and

said storage device storing software that controls the power consumption state of said system based on information received from said camera.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said software controls the power consumption state of said system based on information from said camera indicative of motion proximate to said camera.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said software controls the operation of system utilities based on information from said digital camera.