USER INPUT TRIGGERED DEVICE POWER MANAGEMENT

• US 20120284543A1
• Filed: 05/02/2011
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Worthington, Bruce L., Xian, Changjiu
• Application Number:
  US13/099,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20120284543A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/320
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality

Abstract

Techniques for user input triggered device power management are described that enable user inputs and activities to cause selective changes in power states for a device. Power can be boosted to a high power state to improve responsiveness for designated inputs and/or activities. When responsiveness is deemed less important in connection with particular inputs and/or activities, a low power state can be set to reduce energy consumption. In at least some embodiments, selectively switching between power states includes detecting various user inputs at a device and filtering the inputs to select power states associated with the user inputs. The device can then be operated in a selected power state until a transition to a different power state is triggered by occurrence of designated events, such as running of a set time interval, further user input, and/or completion of user activity.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

detecting user input at a computing device;

filtering to categorize the detected user input for power management of the computing device;

selecting a power state corresponding to filtered input; and

operating the computing device using a selected power state during user activity initiated by the user input.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

transitioning to a different power state responsive to completion of the user activity.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising transitioning to a different power state responsive to passing of an interval configured to control how long the computing device remains in the selected power state.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the interval is based upon an amount of energy consumed in the selected power state.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the interval comprises a predetermined interval of time.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the selected power state comprises a high power state configured to boost responsiveness during the user activity.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the selected power state comprises a low power state configured to reduce energy consumption during the user activity.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the filtering comprises ascertaining a power state corresponding to the user input based on an input filtering data structure configured to match different user inputs to different power management options.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the selected power state is associated with the detected user input on an individual basis.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the selected power state is configured to apply component-specific power state changes to one or more power manageable components of the computing device.

11. A computer implemented method comprising:

ascertaining user inputs designated to trigger a high power state for a device;

on the device, switching to the high power state in accordance with the ascertained user inputs to process user operations;

determining when to switch away from the high power state; and

transitioning out of the high power state to a different power state.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 11, wherein determining when to switch comprises monitoring one or more parameters designated to set an interval for using the high power state.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 11, wherein determining when to switch comprises monitoring to detect further user input that triggers a transition out of the high power state.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 11, wherein transitioning out of the high power state comprises transitioning to a default power state defined for the device or a previous power state.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 11, wherein transitioning out of the high power state comprises:

identifying a user configurable power management scheme selected to control transitions between power states and associating the different power state with the ascertained user inputs; and

setting the computing device to the different power state in accordance with the identified power management scheme.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 11, wherein the different power state comprises a state that boosts responsiveness of the computing device to a higher level than the high power state.

17. One or more computer-readable storage media storing instructions that, when executed via a computing device, implement an power manager module for managing power states of the computing device, the power manager module configured to:

monitor one or more parameters configured to set an interval for a selected power state that is set for the computing device based at least in part upon detection by the power manager module of user inputs that trigger the selected power state;

determine when to switch away from the selected power state based on the monitoring; and

transition to a different power state.

18. One or more computer-readable storage media of claim 17, wherein the different power state is determined in accordance with a user configurable power management scheme selected for the computing device.

19. One or more computer-readable storage media of claim 17, wherein the one or more parameters that are monitored include a timer configured to run for a pre-determined time interval, energy consumption of the computing device in the selected power state, and further user input that indicates when to transition out of the selected power state.

20. One or more computer-readable storage media of claim 17, wherein the power manager module is further configured to initiate the selected power state to boost responsiveness for activities associated with the user inputs responsive to the detection of the user inputs by the power manager module.