POWER MANAGEMENT FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20130191662A1
• Filed: 01/25/2012
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ingrassia, Michael I. Jr., Lee, Jeffery T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,793,520 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/320
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method for modifying one or more characteristics of a mobile electronic device in order to save or reduce power consumption of the device. The method includes determining by, a processor of the mobile electronic device, an estimated use of the mobile electronic device during an upcoming time period; using the estimated use, determining, by the processor, whether an internal power source of the mobile electronic device has sufficient power to continue operation of the mobile electronic device in a first state during the upcoming time period; based on the estimated use and the internal power source, if the internal power source does not have sufficient power, adjusting the one or more characteristics to reduce a power consumption of the mobile electronic device during the upcoming time period.

Claims

1. A method for modifying one or more characteristics of a mobile electronic device comprising:

determining, by a processor of the mobile electronic device, an estimated use of the mobile electronic device during an upcoming time period;

determining, by the processor, whether an internal power source of the mobile electronic device has sufficient power to continue operation of the mobile electronic device in a first state during the upcoming time period; and

if the internal power source does not have sufficient power, adjusting the one or more characteristics to reduce a power consumption of the mobile electronic device during the upcoming time period.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising estimating, by the processor, a time until the mobile electronic device is communicatively coupled to an external power source.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the processor estimates the time until the mobile electronic device is communicatively coupled to the external power source by analyzing a current location of the mobile electronic device in comparison to a known charging location of the mobile electronic device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising storing in memory a charging location of the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is receiving power from an external power source.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the estimated use of the mobile electronic device is determined by analyzing at least one of the following:

a typical use pattern of the mobile electronic device or a projected use of the mobile electronic device during the time period.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more characteristics are at least one of an application setting, a data fetch rate, a sampling rate, or an application activation.

7. A mobile electronic device comprising:

an internal power supply configured to supply power to one or more components of the mobile electronic device;

a processor in communication with the internal power supply and configured to;

determine an estimated use of the mobile electronic device during a time period;

analyze a charge of the internal power supply to determine if the internal power source has sufficient power to provide power through the time period; and

adjust a power management scheme if the internal power supply does not have sufficient power; and

a location mechanism in communication with the processor, the location mechanism configured to determine a location of the mobile electronic device.

8. The mobile electronic device of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to use the location determined by the location mechanism to determine the estimated use of the mobile electronic device during the time period.

9. The mobile electronic device of claim 7, wherein the power management scheme controls one or more characteristics of the one or more components of the mobile electronic device.

10. The mobile electronic device of claim 7, further comprising a memory component configured to store a first location and a second location of the mobile electronic device.

11. The mobile electronic device of claim 10, wherein the first location corresponds to a first external power source and the second location corresponds to a second external power source.

12. The mobile electronic device of claim 11, wherein the memory stores data corresponding to the first location when the internal power source is in communication with the first external power source.

13. The mobile electronic device of claim 12, wherein the memory stores data corresponding to the second location when the internal power source is in communication with the second external power source.

14. A method for implementing a power management scheme of an electronic device comprising:

charging an internal power source of the electronic device from an external power source;

determining, by a processor of the electronic device, if a location of the external power source is known; and

if the location is not known, modifying a power transfer rate between the internal power source and the external power source.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein if the location is known, determining, by the processor, whether an anticipated charge time is sufficient to recharge the internal power source to a predetermined level.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the anticipated charge time is determined by analyzing data corresponding to a typical charge time data stored in a memory component for the location of the external power source.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein if the anticipated charge time is not sufficient to recharge the internal power source, increasing the power transfer rate between the internal power source and the external power source.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the internal power source and the external power source are in communication with a charge cord, wherein the charge cord transmits power from the external power source to the internal power source.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

removing a connection between the internal power source and the external power; and

determining, by the processor, if the electronic device is in use.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein if the electronic device is not in use the method further comprises:

determining, by the processor, an estimated use of the electronic device during a time period;

determining, by the processor, whether the internal power source has sufficient power to run during the time period; and

if the internal power source does not have sufficient power, adjusting the one or more characteristics to reduce a power consumption of the mobile electronic device during the time period.