User interface for easily setting computer speaker volume and power conservation levels

• US 5,640,176 A
• Filed: 01/24/1992
• Issued: 06/17/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Mundt, Kevin Warren, Hess, Randall L., Potter, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): STOLL, KARA FARNANDEZ
• Application Number:
  US07/825,118
• Time in Patent Office: 1,971 Days
• Field of Search: 340/706, 340/753, 340/754, 340/636, 395/159, 395/161, 395/155, 358/75, 364/492, 364/707, 345/145, 345/146, 345/902
• US Class Current: 715/839
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3246 by software initiated power-off
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A user interface of simplifying selection of speaker volume level and power conservation level in a computer system. An icon is presented for setting the speaker volume which includes a bar graph of relative speaker volume. By depressing left or right arrow keys the graph moves and the volume level of the speaker is changed. By depressing the down arrow key when setting the volume level, the speaker is beeped to allow for a level check during the setting process. A series of icons are used to indicate and select power conservation level. Each icon includes a battery with a faucet attached to the side of the battery. Different water flow rates indicate the various conservation levels. A human figure is located adjacent the faucet to indicate the user-customerized conservation level.

Claims

1. In a battery-powered, microprocessor-based computer system having peripheral devices and a clock for the microprocessor with power conservation features including structure to vary the number and state of peripheral devices in operation and structure to adjust the clock rate of the microprocessor, a user interface for selecting and indicating the power conservation level of the battery-powered computer system, the user interface comprising:

means selectively forming a plurality of display images, each display image including;

a representation of a battery;

a representation of a faucet projecting from said battery representation; and

means to indicate selection of a change in said plurality of display images and related power conservation level,

a first one of said display images having a representation of a first, high level of water flowing from the faucet and being related to a lowest level of power conservation, a second one of said display images having a representation of a second, lower level of water flowing from the faucet and being related to an intermediate level of power conservation, and another one of said display images having a representation of a user located adjacent the faucet and being related to a user selected level of power conservation; and

user operable key means in the computer system coupled to said means selectively forming a plurality of display images for adjusting the indicated selection of change find cycling through available power conservation levels and their related display images and thereby selecting a change in said display image being presented and the related power conservation level.

2. The user interface of claim 1, wherein a third one of said display images has a representation of a third, lowest level of water flowing from the faucet and is related to a high level of power conservation.

3. The user interface of claim 1, wherein said user operable key means for selecting a change includes left arrow and right arrow keys of the computer system.

4. The user interface of claim 1, further including:

means for requesting an indication of the power conservation level being employed by the computer system.

5. The user interface of claim 4, wherein:

said means for requesting comprises a function key in the computer system.

6. In a battery-powered, microprocessor-based computer system having peripheral devices and a clock for the microprocessor with power conversation features including structure to vary the number and state of peripheral devices in operation and structure to adjust the clock rate of the microprocessor, an apparatus for selecting and indicating the power conservation level of the battery-powered computer system, the apparatus comprising:

means for displaying a plurality of display images, each display image including;

a representation of a battery;

a representation of a faucet projecting from said battery representation; and

means to indicate selection of a change in said plurality of displays and related power conservation level,

a first one of said display images having a representation of a first, high level of water flowing from the faucet and being related to a lowest level of power conservation, a second one of said display images having a representation of a second, lower level of water flowing from the faucet and being related to an intermediate level of power conservation, and another one of said display images having a representation era user located adjacent the faucet axed being related to a user selected level of power conservation; and

user operable key means in the computer system coupled to said means for displaying for adjusting the indicated selection of change cycling through available power conservation levels and their related display images and thereby selecting a change in said display being presented and the related power conservation level.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a third one of said display images has a representation of a third, lowest level of water flowing from the faucet and is related to a highest level of power conservation.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said user operable key means for selecting a change includes left arrow and right arrow keys of the computer system.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, further including:

means for requesting an indication of the power conservation level being employed by the computer system.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

said means for requesting comprises a function key in the computer system.

11. In a battery-powered, microprocessor-based computer system having peripheral devices and a clock for the microprocessor with power conservation features including structure to vary the number and state of peripheral devices in operation and structure to adjust the clock rate of the microprocessor, a method for selecting and indicating the power conservation level of the battery-powered computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

presenting a selected one of plurality of power conservation level display images when requested, the display images indicating the levels of power conservation of 1he computer system and including;

a representation of a battery;

a representation of faucet projecting from said battery representation; and

means to indicate selection of a change in said plurality of displays and related power conservation level,

a first one of said display images having a representation of a first, high level of water flowing from the faucet and being related to a lowest level of power conservation, a second one of said displays having a representation of a second, lower level of water flowing from the faucet and being related to an intermediate level of power conservation, and another one of the display images having a representation of a user located adjacent the faucet and being related to a user selected level of power conservation; and

adjusting the indicated selection of change in response to a user request by cycling through available power conservation levels and their related display images, thereby selecting a change in said display image being presented and the related power conservation level of the computer system.

12. The method of claim 11, including a third one of said display images having a representation of a third, lowest level of water flowing from the faucet and being related to a highest level of power conservation.

13. The method of claim 11, further including the step of:

requesting an indication of the power conservation level being employed by the computer system.