Performing Selected Operations Using Low Power-Consuming Processors on User Devices

• US 20120278641A1
• Filed: 04/28/2011
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Papakipos, Matthew Nicholas, Garcia, David Harry
• Granted Patent: US 9,529,417 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 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3293 by switching to a less power-consuming processor, e.g. sub-CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/04 Protocols for data compression, e.g. ROHC
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

In one embodiment, a first computing device receives a communication from a second computing device; and if the communication is a ping from the second computing device, then sends a response to the ping to the second computing device using a secondary processor of the first computing device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

by a first computing device,

receiving a communication from a second computing device; and

if the communication is a ping from the second computing device, then sending a response to the ping to the second computing device using a secondary processor of the first computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication is received while a primary processor of the first computing device is in sleep mode.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising if the communication has a low priority, then storing the communication using the secondary processor without waking up the primary processor.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising if the communication has a high priority, then waking up the primary processor using the secondary processor.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a status of the first computing device using the secondary processor while a primary processor of the first computing device is in sleep mode; and

if there is a task that needs to be performed by the primary processor, then waking up the primary processor using the secondary processor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary processor is a sensors hub of the first computing device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary processor is a low power-consuming processor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first computing device is a mobile device.

9. A first system comprising:

a memory comprising instructions executable by one or more processors; and

the one or more processors coupled to the memory and operable to execute the instructions, the one or more processors being operable when executing the instructions to;

receive a communication from a second system; and

if the communication is a ping from the second system, then send a response to the ping to the second system using a secondary processor of the first system.

10. The first system of claim 9, wherein the communication is received while a primary processor of the first system is in sleep mode.

11. The first system of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are further operable when executing the instructions to if the communication has a low priority, then store the communication using the secondary processor without waking up the primary processor.

12. The first system of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are further operable when executing the instructions to if the communication has a high priority, then wake up the primary processor using the secondary processor.

13. The first system of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are further operable when executing the instructions to:

monitor a status of the first system using the secondary processor while a primary processor of the first system is in sleep mode; and

if there is a task that needs to be performed by the primary processor, then wake up the primary processor using the secondary processor.

14. The first system of claim 9, wherein the secondary processor is a sensors hub of the first system.

15. The first system of claim 9, wherein the secondary processor is a low power-consuming processor.

16. The first system of claim 9, wherein the first system is a mobile device.

17. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software operable when executed by a first computer system to:

receive a communication from a second computer system; and

if the communication is a ping from the second computer system, then send a response to the ping to the second computer system using a secondary processor of the first computer system.

18. The media of claim 17, wherein:

the communication is received while a primary processor of the first computer system is in sleep mode; and

the software is further operable when executed by the first computer system to;

if the communication has a low priority, then store the communication using the secondary processor without waking up the primary processor; and

if the communication has a high priority, then wake up the primary processor using the secondary processor.

19. The media of claim 17, wherein the software is further operable when executed by the first computer system to:

monitor a status of the first computer system using the secondary processor while a primary processor of the first computer system is in sleep mode; and

if there is a task that needs to be performed by the primary processor, then wake up the primary processor using the secondary processor.

20. The media of claim 17, wherein the secondary processor is a low power-consuming processor.