MOBILE DEVICE POWER MANAGEMENT

• US 20080111698A1
• Filed: 11/09/2006
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Atherton, William E.
• Application Number:
  US11/558,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20080111698A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/601
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to power management and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for mobile device power management. In one embodiment of the invention, a mobile device power management method can be provided. The method can include sensing environmental conditions associated with the proximity of a mobile device to a human ear and determining a period of inactivity from the sensed environmental conditions. Responsive to determining a period of inactivity from the sensed environmental conditions, the mobile device can be placed in a state of lower power consumption. Optionally, a companion device can be notified of the state of lower power consumption.

Claims

1. In a mobile device, a mobile device power management method comprising:

sensing environmental conditions associated with a proximity of the mobile device to a human ear;

determining a period of inactivity from the sensed environmental conditions; and

,

responsive to determining a period of inactivity from the sensed environmental conditions, placing the mobile device in a state of lower power consumption.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying a companion device of the state of lower power consumption.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

continuing to sense environmental conditions associated with a proximity of the mobile device to a human ear;

determining a period of activity from the sensed environmental conditions; and

,

responsive to determining a period of activity from the sensed environmental conditions, placing the mobile device in a resumed state of power consumption.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing environmental conditions associated with a proximity of the mobile device to a human ear, comprises sensing temperature conditions associated with a proximity of the mobile device to a human ear.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing environmental conditions associated with a proximity of the mobile device to a human ear, comprises sensing audio reflectivity conditions associated with a proximity of the mobile device to a human ear.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a period of inactivity from the sensed environmental conditions, comprises determining a period of inactivity based upon a lapsed threshold period of time during which the sensed environmental conditions indicate a lack of proximity of the mobile device to the human ear.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein placing the mobile device in a state of lower power consumption, comprises suspending the mobile device.

8. A mobile device power management data processing system comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU) supported by a battery;

power management logic configured to manage utilization of the battery; and

,

a proximity sensor coupled to the power management logic;

the power management logic comprising program code enabled to reduce utilization of the battery based upon a detected close proximity to a human ear.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensor comprises a temperature sensor.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensor comprises an audio reflectivity sensor.

11. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium embodying computer usable program code for mobile device power management in a mobile device, the computer program product comprising:

computer usable program code for sensing environmental conditions associated with a proximity of the mobile device to a human ear;

computer usable program code for determining a period of inactivity from the sensed environmental conditions; and

,

computer usable program code for responsive to determining a period of inactivity from the sensed environmental conditions, placing the mobile device in a state of lower power consumption.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising computer usable program code for notifying a companion device of the state of lower power consumption.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising:

computer usable program code for continuing to sense environmental conditions associated with a proximity of the mobile device to a human ear;

computer usable program code for determining a period of activity from the sensed environmental conditions; and

,

computer usable program code for, responsive to determining a period of activity from the sensed environmental conditions, placing the mobile device in a resumed state of power consumption.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer usable program code for sensing environmental conditions associated with a proximity of the mobile device to a human ear, comprises computer usable program code for sensing temperature conditions associated with a proximity of the mobile device to a human ear.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer usable program code for sensing environmental conditions associated with a proximity of the mobile device to a human ear, comprises computer usable program code for sensing audio reflectivity conditions associated with a proximity of the mobile device to a human ear.

16. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer usable program code for determining a period of inactivity from the sensed environmental conditions, comprises computer usable program code for determining a period of inactivity based upon a lapsed threshold period of time during which the sensed environmental conditions indicate a lack of proximity of the mobile device to the human ear.

17. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer usable program code for placing the mobile device in a state of lower power consumption, comprises computer usable program code for suspending the mobile device.