Controlling Power Levels Of Electronic Devices Through User Interaction

• US 20110298967A1
• Filed: 06/04/2010
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Clavin, John, Tardif, John
• Granted Patent: US 9,113,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/372
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4436 Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A processor-implemented method, system and computer readable medium for intelligently controlling the power level of an electronic device in a multimedia system based on user intent, is provided. The method includes receiving data relating to a first user interaction with a device in a multimedia system. The method includes determining if the first user interaction corresponds to a user'"'"'s intent to interact with the device. The method then includes setting a power level for the device based on the first user interaction. The method further includes receiving data relating to a second user interaction with the device. The method then includes altering the power level of the device based on the second user interaction to activate the device for the user.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for controlling power to a device in a multimedia system comprising:

receiving data relating to a first user interaction with a device;

determining if the first user interaction corresponds to a user intent to interact with the device;

setting a power level for the device based on the first user interaction;

receiving data relating to a second user interaction with the device;

altering the power level for the device based on the second user interaction, to generate an altered power level for the device; and

activating the device for the user, based on the altered power level.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the data comprises detecting the user'"'"'s presence in a field of view of the device.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the device is a computing environment in the multimedia system.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein setting the power level comprises displaying a power level progression associated with the device to the user.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein activating the device comprises displaying at least one of an audio output or a video display associated with the device, to the user.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the second user interaction comprises at least one of a gesture or a voice input from the user.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising analyzing the data relating to the second user interaction to determine the user'"'"'s intent to interact with at least one additional device in the multimedia system.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 7 comprising altering a power level of the at least one additional device based on the second user interaction.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 7 comprising activating the at least one additional device for the user, based on the altered power level.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising analyzing a voice input from a user, wherein the voice input corresponds to a user'"'"'s intent to interact with the device when the user is outside a field of view of the device.

11. A multimedia system, comprising:

a capture device, wherein the capture device detects a user'"'"'s presence in a field of view; and

a computing environment in communication with the capture device and one or more devices in the multimedia system, wherein the computing environment includes a processing module that includes instructions to;

receive data relating to a first user interaction from the capture device;

set a power level for the computing environment based on the first user interaction;

receive data relating to a second user interaction from the capture device;

alter the power level for the computing environment based on the second user interaction, to generate an altered power level for the computing environment; and

activate the computing environment for the user, based on the altered power level.

12. The multimedia system of claim 11, wherein one or more of the devices comprise at least one of a compact disc (CD) player, a digital video disc/videocassette recorder (DVD/VCR) player, an audio/video (A/V) amplifier, a television (TV) and a personal computer (PC).

13. The multimedia system of claim 11, wherein the processing module includes instructions to display at least one of an audio output or a video display associated with the computing environment to the user, based on the altered power level.

14. The multimedia system of claim 11, wherein the processing module includes instructions to display a power level progression associated with the computing environment to the user.

15. The multimedia system of claim 11, wherein the first user interaction corresponds to a user intent to interact with the computing environment.

16. The multimedia system of claim 11, wherein the second user interaction comprises at least one of a gesture or a voice input from the user.

17. The multimedia system of claim 11, wherein the processing module includes instructions to analyze the data relating to the second user interaction to determine a user'"'"'s intent to interact with one or more of the devices in the multimedia system.

18. The multimedia system of claim 11, wherein the processing module includes instructions to analyze a voice input from a user, wherein the voice input corresponds to a user'"'"'s intent to interact with the computing environment when the user is outside a field of view of the computing environment.

19. A computer readable storage medium for controlling power to a computing environment in a multimedia system comprising executable instructions to:

receive data relating to a first user interaction with the computing environment;

set a power level for the computing environment based on the first user interaction;

display a power level progression associated with the computing environment to the user;

receive data relating to a second user interaction with the computing environment;

alter the power level for the computing environment based on the second user interaction, to generate an altered power level; and

activate the computing environment for the user, based on the altered power level.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the executable instructions to activate the computing environment comprise executable instructions to display at least one of an audio output or a video display associated with the computing environment, to the user.