Method and Apparatus for Performing Energy Management via a Sub-System

• US 20120005509A1
• Filed: 12/22/2010
• Published: 01/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Nakayama, Takashi, Araki, Shunsuke, Takano, Toshiaki
• Granted Patent: US 8,898,500 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/323
• 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

Abstract

Various methods for performing energy management via a sub-system are provided. One example method includes receiving a user input while a main processing system is in a power saving mode and buffering a representation of the user input. The example method further includes, in response to receiving the user input, triggering a wake up of a main processing system from the power saving mode, and causing transmission of the representation of the user input to the main processing system for processing. Similar and related example methods and example apparatuses are also provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a user input while a processing system is in a power saving mode;

buffering a representation of the user input; and

in response to receiving the user input;

triggering, via a processor, a wake up of the processing system from the power saving mode, and

causing transmission of the representation of the user input to the processing system for processing.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an indication that the processing system has entered the power saving mode; and

in response to receiving the indication that the processing system has entered the power saving mode, implementing an active mode in preparation for receipt of user input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving user input includes receiving user input, the user input being in the form of a user input command.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising, subsequent to causing transmission of the representation of the user input, receiving an indication that the processing system has returned to the power saving mode in response to processing the user input.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein causing transmission of the representation of the user input includes causing transmission of the representation of the user input in response to receiving an indication that the processing system is prepared to receive the representation of the user input for processing.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein triggering the wake up of the processing system includes triggering the wake up of the processing system from a sub-system, the sub-system and the processing system being located in separate electronic devices.

7. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:

receiving a user input while a processing system is in a power saving mode;

buffering a representation of the user input; and

in response to receiving the user input;

triggering a wake up of the processing system from the power saving mode, and

causing transmission of the representation of the user input to the processing system for processing.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:

receiving an indication that the processing system has entered the power saving mode; and

in response to receiving the indication that the processing system has entered the power saving mode, implementing an active mode in preparation for receipt of user input.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus caused to perform receiving user input includes being caused to perform receiving user input, the user input being in the form of a user input command.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform, subsequent to causing transmission of the representation of the user input, receiving an indication that the processing system has returned to the power saving mode in response to processing the user input.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus being caused to perform causing transmission of the representation of the user input includes being caused to perform causing transmission of the representation of the user input in response to receiving an indication that the processing system is prepared to receive the representation of the user input for processing.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus caused to perform triggering the wake up of the processing system includes being caused to perform triggering the wake up of the processing system from a sub-system, the sub-system and the processing system being located in separate electronic devices.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile terminal;

and wherein the apparatus further comprises user interface circuitry and user interface software configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile terminal through the use of a display and configured to respond to user inputs, and a display and display circuitry configured to display at least a portion of a user interface of the mobile terminal, the display and the display circuitry configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of mobile terminal.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising the processing system, wherein the processing system includes a processor configured to implement the power saving mode.

15. A computer readable storage medium having computer program code stored thereon, the computer program code being configured to, when executed, cause an apparatus to perform:

receiving a user input while a processing system is in a power saving mode;

buffering a representation of the user input; and

in response to receiving the user input;

triggering a wake up of the processing system from the power saving mode, and

causing transmission of the representation of the user input to the processing system for processing.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the computer program code is further configured to cause the apparatus to perform:

receiving an indication that the processing system has entered the power saving mode; and

in response to receiving the indication that the processing system has entered the power saving mode, implementing an active mode in preparation for receipt of user input.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to perform receiving user input includes being configured to cause the apparatus to perform receiving user input, the user input being in the form of a user input command.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15 wherein the computer program code is further configured to cause the apparatus to perform, subsequent to causing transmission of the representation of the user input, receiving an indication that the processing system has returned to the power saving mode in response to processing the user input.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to perform causing transmission of the representation of the user input includes being configured to cause the apparatus to perform causing transmission of the representation of the user input in response to receiving an indication that the processing system is prepared to receive the representation of the user input for processing.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to perform triggering the wake up of the processing system includes being configured to cause the apparatus to perform triggering the wake up of the processing system from a sub-system, the sub-system and the processing system being located in separate electronic devices.