DISPLAY MANAGEMENT FOR MULTI-SCREEN COMPUTING ENVIRONMENTS

• US 20120324256A1
• Filed: 06/14/2011
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Deakin, Jasmin H., Deakin, Oliver M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,806,235 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/320
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for power management for a multi-display computing environment. In an embodiment of the invention, a computer data processing system can be configured for power management for a multi-display computing environment. The system can include a computer with at least one processor and memory, a video display adapter disposed in the computer and multiple different displays driven by the adapter. The system also can include a selective power management module coupled to the computer and configured to selectively apply power management to only one of the displays in which a period of inactivity is detected, while not applying power management to remaining ones of the displays.

Claims

1. A computer data processing system configured for power management for a multi-display computing environment, the system comprising:

a computer with at least one processor and memory;

a video display adapter disposed in the computer;

multiple different displays driven by the adapter; and

,

a selective power management module coupled to the computer and configured to selectively apply power management to only one of the displays in which a period of inactivity is detected, while not applying power management to remaining ones of the displays.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an eye detector detecting when a gaze from an end user indicates a period of inactivity with respect to a display amongst the displays.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the selectively applied power management is a dimming of a corresponding display.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the selectively applied power management is a putting to sleep of a corresponding display.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the selectively applied power management is an invoking of a screen saver in a corresponding display.

6. A power management method for a multi-display computing environment, the method comprising:

monitoring activity in connection with a plurality of displays coupled to a single computer;

detecting a period of inactivity in a particular one of the displays; and

,

directing power management only in the particular one of the displays, but not in remaining others of the displays in response to detecting a period of activity in the particular one of the displays.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the activity is monitored through eye tracking and gaze detection.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the power management is a dimming of the particular one of the displays.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the power management is a putting to sleep of the particular one of the displays.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the power management is an invoking of a screen saver in the particular one of the displays.

11. A computer program product for power management for a multi-display computing environment, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer readable program code for monitoring activity in connection with a plurality of displays coupled to a single computer;

computer readable program code for detecting a period of inactivity in a particular one of the displays; and

,

computer readable program code for directing power management only in the particular one of the displays, but not in remaining others of the displays in response to detecting a period of activity in the particular one of the displays.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the activity is monitored through eye tracking and gaze detection.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the power management is a dimming of the particular one of the displays.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the power management is a putting to sleep of the particular one of the displays.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the power management is an invoking of a screen saver in the particular one of the displays.