Dynamic program suspension

• US 6,182,231 B1
• Filed: 03/31/1998
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gilgen, David Blair
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hartman, Jr., Ronald D
• Application Number:
  US09/052,839
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/323, 713/324, 713/321, 710/59
• US Class Current: 713/324
• 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

Abstract

Methods, systems and computer program products are provided which control execution of an application executing on a data processing system by receiving a first request for entry of sleep mode and determining a location in an application requesting entry of sleep mode. Execution of the application is suspended for a first predetermined time period based upon the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode. A sleep history associated with the location in the application may also be generated based on previous durations of sleep associated with the location in the application and the first predetermined time adjusted based upon the sleep history associated with the location in the application so as to control the number of requests for entry of sleep mode associated with the location in the application.

Claims

1. A method of controlling execution of an application executing on a data processing system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first request for entry of sleep mode;

then

determining a location in an application requesting entry of sleep mode in response to the first request for entry of sleep mode;

determining a duration of a first predetermined time period based on the application requesting sleep mode and the determined location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode; and

suspending execution of the application for the determined duration of the first predetermined time period.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first request for entry of sleep mode specifies the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode and wherein said step of determining the location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode comprises the step of inspecting the first request for entry of sleep mode to determine the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a second request for entry of sleep mode;

determining if the second request for entry of sleep mode is a continuation of the first request for entry of sleep mode; and

suspending execution of the application for a second predetermined time period.

4. A method of controlling execution of an application executing on a data processing system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first request for entry of sleep mode;

determining a location in an application requesting entry of sleep mode;

suspending execution of the application for a first predetermined time period based upon the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode;

generating a sleep history associated with the location in the application based on previous durations of sleep associated with the location in the application; and

adjusting the first predetermined time based upon the sleep history associated with the location in the application so as to control the number of requests for entry of sleep mode associated with the location in the application.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the first request for entry of sleep mode further specifies a first predetermined time period if a sleep history is not available for the location in the application.

6. A method of controlling execution of an application executing on a data processing system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first request for entry of sleep mode;

determining a location in an application requesting entry of sleep mode;

suspending execution of the application for a first predetermined time period based upon the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode;

receiving a second request for entry of sleep mode;

determining if the second request for entry of sleep mode is a continuation of the first request for entry of sleep mode;

suspending execution of the application for a second predetermined time period; and

updating the first predetermined time to reflect a time based upon the first predetermined time period and the second predetermined time period so as to provide a revised first predetermined time period for the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode.

7. A method according to claim 6 the second request is a continuation request and at least one additional continuation request associated with the first request and having an additional second predetermined time is received, and wherein the step of updating the first predetermined time comprises the steps of:

summing the first predetermined time associated with the first request and the second predetermined time and additional second predetermined times associated with the continuation requests to provide a total time; and

setting the first predetermined time to the total time.

8. A method of controlling execution of an application executing on a data processing system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first request for entry of sleep mode;

determining a location in an application requesting entry of sleep mode;

suspending execution of the application for a first predetermined time period based upon the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode;

receiving a second request for entry of sleep mode;

determining if the second request for entry of sleep mode is a continuation of the first request for entry of sleep mode; and

suspending execution of the application for a second predetermined time period wherein the second predetermined time period is determined based on the first predetermined time period.

9. A method of controlling execution of an application executing on a data processing system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first request for entry of sleep mode;

determining a location in an application requesting entry of sleep mode;

suspending execution of the application for a first predetermined time period based upon the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode;

receiving a second request for entry of sleep mode;

determining if the second request for entry of sleep mode is a continuation of the first request for entry of sleep mode; and

suspending execution of the application for a second predetermined time period; and

wherein the request for entry of sleep mode specifies whether the request is a request for continuation of sleep mode and wherein said step of determining if the request for entry of sleep mode is a continuation of a previous sleep mode request comprises the step of inspecting the sleep mode request to determine if the request is a request for continuation of sleep mode.

10. A method of controlling execution of an application executing on a data processing system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first request for entry of sleep mode;

determining a location in an application requesting entry of sleep mode;

suspending execution of the application for a first predetermined time period based upon the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode;

receiving a second request for entry of sleep mode;

determining if the second request for entry of sleep mode is a continuation of the first request for entry of sleep mode; and

suspending execution of the application for a second predetermined time period;

wherein a plurality of first requests for entry of sleep mode associated with the location in the application have been received and wherein at least one continuation request for entry of sleep mode was associated with a first request for entry of sleep mode immediately prior to a current first request for entry of sleep mode, the method further comprising the steps of;

increasing the first predetermined time to a sum of the first predetermined time associated with the current first request and the second predetermined times associated with any continuation requests associated with the current first request if the number of previous first requests for entry of sleep mode from the location in the application of the plurality of first requests having a continuation request for entry of sleep mode associated with the first request is above a predefined threshold value; and

increasing the first predetermined time by a first incremental amount if the number of previous first requests for entry of sleep mode from the location in the application of the plurality of first requests having a continuation request for entry of sleep mode associated with the first request is below the predefined threshold value.

11. A method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of adjusting the first incremental amount based on the number of previous first requests for entry of sleep mode from the location in the application of the plurality of first requests having a continuation request for entry of sleep mode associated with the first request.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the first incremental amount is determined based on the first predetermined time.

13. A method of controlling execution of an application executing on a data processing system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first request for entry of sleep mode;

determining a location in an application requesting entry of sleep mode;

suspending execution of the application for a first predetermined time period based upon the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode;

receiving a second request for entry of sleep mode;

determining if the second request for entry of sleep mode is a continuation of the first request for entry of sleep mode; and

suspending execution of the application for a second predetermined time period;

wherein a plurality of first requests for entry of sleep mode associated with the location in the application have been received and wherein no continuation requests for entry of sleep mode associated with a first request for entry of sleep mode immediately prior to a current first request for entry of sleep mode were received, the method further comprising the step of;

decreasing the first predetermined time by a second incremental amount if the number of previous first requests for entry of sleep mode from the location in the application of the plurality of first requests having a continuation request for entry of sleep mode associated with the first request is below a predefined threshold value.

14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of adjusting the second incremental amount based on the number of previous first requests for entry of sleep mode from the location in the application of the plurality of first requests having a continuation request for entry of sleep mode associated with the first request.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the second incremental amount is determined based on the first predetermined time.

16. A system for controlling execution of an application executing on a data processing system, comprising:

means for receiving a first request for entry of sleep mode;

means for determining a location in an application requesting entry of sleep mode responsive to the means for receiving a first request for entry of sleep mode;

means for determining a duration of a first predetermined time period based on the application requesting sleep mode and the determined location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode; and

means for suspending execution of the application for the first predetermined time period.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the first request for entry of sleep mode specifies the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode and wherein said means for determining the location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode comprises means for inspecting the first request for entry of sleep mode to determine the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode.

18. A system according to claim 16, further comprising:

means for receiving a second request for entry of sleep mode;

means for determining if the second request for entry of sleep mode is a continuation of the first request for entry of sleep mode; and

means for suspending execution of the application for a second predetermined time period.

19. A system for controlling execution of an application executing on a data processing system, comprising:

means for receiving a first request for entry of sleep mode;

means for determining a location in an application requesting entry of sleep mode;

means for suspending execution of the application for a first predetermined time period based upon the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode;

means for generating a sleep history associated with the location in the application based on previous durations of sleep associated with the location in the application; and

means for adjusting the first predetermined time based upon the sleep history associated with the location in the application so as to control the number of requests for entry of sleep mode associated with the location in the application.

20. A system according to claim 19, wherein the first request for entry of sleep mode further specifies a first predetermined time period if a sleep history is not available for the location in the application.

21. A computer program product for controlling execution of an application executing on a data processing system, comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising;

computer-readable program code means for receiving a first request for entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for determining a location in an application requesting entry of sleep mode responsive to the computer-readable program code means for receiving a first request for entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for determining a duration of a first predetermined time period based on the application requesting sleep mode and the determined location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode; and

computer-readable program code means for suspending execution of the application for the first predetermined time period.

22. A computer program product according to claim 21, wherein the first request for entry of sleep mode specifies the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode and wherein said computer-readable program code means for determining the location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode comprises computer-readable program code means for inspecting the first request for entry of sleep mode to determine the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode.

23. A computer program product according to claim 21, further comprising:

computer-readable program code means for receiving a second request for entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for determining if the second request for entry of sleep mode is a continuation of the first request for entry of sleep mode; and

computer-readable program code means for suspending execution of the application for a second predetermined time period.

24. A computer program product for controlling execution of an application executing on a data processing system, comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising;

computer-readable program code means for receiving a first request for entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for determining a location in an application requesting entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for suspending execution of the application for a first predetermined time period based upon the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for generating a sleep history associated with the location in the application based on previous durations of sleep associated with the location in the application; and

computer-readable program code means for adjusting the first predetermined time based upon the sleep history associated with the location in the application so as to control the number of requests for entry of sleep mode associated with the location in the application.

25. A computer program product according to claim 24, wherein the first request for entry of sleep mode further specifies a first predetermined time period if a sleep history is not available for the location in the application.

26. A system for controlling execution of an application executing on a data processing system, comprising:

means for receiving a first request for entry of sleep mode;

means for determining a location in an application requesting entry of sleep mode;

means for suspending execution of the application for a first predetermined time period based upon the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode;

means for receiving a second request for entry of sleep mode;

means for determining if the second request for entry of sleep mode is a continuation of the first request for entry of sleep mode;

means for suspending execution of the application for a second predetermined time period; and

means for updating the first predetermined time to reflect a time based upon the first predetermined time period and the second predetermined time period so as to provide a revised first predetermined time period for the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode.

27. A system for controlling execution of an application executing on a data processing system, comprising:

means for receiving a first request for entry of sleep mode;

means for determining a location in an application requesting entry of sleep mode;

means for suspending execution of the application for a first predetermined time period based upon the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode;

means for receiving a second request for entry of sleep mode;

means for determining if the second request for entry of sleep mode is a continuation of the first request for entry of sleep mode;

means for suspending execution of the application for a second predetermined time period, wherein the second predetermined time period is determined based on the first predetermined time period.

28. A system according to claim 27 wherein the second request is a continuation request and at least one additional continuation request associated with the first request and having an additional second predetermined time is received, and wherein the means for updating the first predetermined time comprises:

means for summing the first predetermined time associated with the first request and the second predetermined time and additional second predetermined times associated with the continuation requests to provide a total time; and

means for setting the first predetermined time to the total time.

29. A system for controlling execution of an application executing on a data processing system, comprising:

means for receiving a first request for entry of sleep mode;

means for determining a location in an application requesting entry of sleep mode;

means for suspending execution of the application for a first predetermined time period based upon the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode;

means for receiving a second request for entry of sleep mode;

means for determining if the second request for entry of sleep mode is a continuation of the first request for entry of sleep mode; and

means for suspending execution of the application for a second predetermined time period;

wherein the request for entry of sleep mode specifies whether the request is a request for continuation of sleep mode and wherein said means for determining if the request for entry of sleep mode is a continuation of a previous sleep mode request comprises means for inspecting the sleep mode request to determine if the request is a request for continuation of sleep mode.

30. A system for controlling execution of an application executing on a data processing system, comprising:

means for receiving a first request for entry of sleep mode;

means for determining a location in an application requesting entry of sleep mode;

means for suspending execution of the application for a first predetermined time period based upon the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode;

means for receiving a second request for entry of sleep mode;

means for determining if the second request for entry of sleep mode is a continuation of the first request for entry of sleep mode;

means for suspending execution of the application for a second predetermined time period;

means for increasing the first predetermined time to a sum of the first predetermined time associated with the current first request and the second predetermined times associated with any continuation requests associated with the current first request if a number of previous first requests for entry of sleep mode from the location in the application of the plurality of first requests having a continuation request for entry of sleep mode associated with the first request is above a predefined threshold value; and

means for increasing the first predetermined time by a first incremental amount if the number of previous first requests for entry of sleep mode from the location in the application of the plurality of first requests having a continuation request for entry of sleep mode associated with the first request is below the predefined threshold value.

31. A system according to claim 30 further comprising means for adjusting the first incremental amount based on the number of previous first requests for entry of sleep mode from the location in the application of the plurality of first requests having a continuation request for entry of sleep mode associated with the first request.

32. A system according to claim 30, wherein the first incremental amount is determined based on the first predetermined time.

33. A system for controlling execution of an application executing on a data processing system, comprising:

means for receiving a first request for entry of sleep mode;

means for determining a location in an application requesting entry of sleep mode;

means for suspending execution of the application for a first predetermined time period based upon the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode;

means for receiving a second request for entry of sleep mode;

means for determining if the second request for entry of sleep mode is a continuation of the first request for entry of sleep mode;

means for suspending execution of the application for a second predetermined time period; and

means for decreasing the first predetermined time by a second incremental amount if a number of previous first requests for entry of sleep mode from the location in the application of a plurality of first requests having a continuation request for entry of sleep mode associated with the first request is below a predefined threshold value.

34. A system according to claim 33, further comprising means for adjusting the second incremental amount based on the number of previous first requests for entry of sleep mode from the location in the application of the plurality of first requests having a continuation request for entry of sleep mode associated with the first request.

35. A system according to claim 33, wherein the second incremental amount is determined based on the first predetermined time.

36. A computer program product for controlling execution of an application executing on a data processing system, comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising;

computer-readable program code means for receiving a first request for entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for determining a location in an application requesting entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for suspending execution of the application for a first predetermined time period based upon the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for receiving a second request for entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for determining if the second request for entry of sleep mode is a continuation of the first request for entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for suspending execution of the application for a second predetermined time period; and

computer-readable program code means for updating the first predetermined time to reflect a time based upon the first predetermined time period and the second predetermined time period so as to provide a revised first predetermined time period for the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode.

37. A computer program product for controlling execution of an application executing on a data processing system, comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising;

computer-readable program code means for receiving a first request for entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for determining a location in an application requesting entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for suspending execution of the application for a first predetermined time period based upon the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for receiving a second request for entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for determining if the second request for entry of sleep mode is a continuation of the first request for entry of sleep mode; and

computer-readable program code means for suspending execution of the application for a second predetermined time period, wherein the second predetermined time period is determined based on the first predetermined time period.

38. A computer program product according to claim 37 wherein the second request is a continuation request and at least one additional continuation request associated with the first request and having an additional second predetermined time is received, and wherein the computer-readable program code means for updating the first predetermined time comprises:

computer-readable program code means for summing the first predetermined time associated with the first request and the second predetermined time and additional second predetermined times associated with the continuation requests to provide a total time; and

computer-readable program code means for setting the first predetermined time to the total time.

39. A computer program product for controlling execution of an application executing on a data processing system, comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising;

computer-readable program code means for receiving a first request for entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for determining a location in an application requesting entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for suspending execution of the application for a first predetermined time period based upon the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for receiving a second request for entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for determining if the second request for entry of sleep mode is a continuation of the first request for entry of sleep mode; and

computer-readable program code means for suspending execution of the application for a second predetermined time period;

wherein the request for entry of sleep mode specifies whether the request is a request for continuation of sleep mode and wherein said computer-readable program code means for determining if the request for entry of sleep mode is a continuation of a previous sleep mode request comprises computer-readable program code means for inspecting the sleep mode request to determine if the request is a request for continuation of sleep mode.

40. A computer program product for controlling execution of an application executing on a data processing system, comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising;

computer-readable program code means for receiving a first request for entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for determining a location in an application requesting entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for suspending execution of the application for a first predetermined time period based upon the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for receiving a second request for entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for determining if the second request for entry of sleep mode is a continuation of the first request for entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for suspending execution of the application for a second predetermined time period;

computer-readable program code means for increasing the first predetermined time to a sum of the first predetermined time associated with the current first request and the second predetermined times associated with any continuation requests associated with the current first request if a number of previous first requests for entry of sleep mode from the location in the application of the plurality of first requests having a continuation request for entry of sleep mode associated with the first request is above a predefined threshold value; and

computer-readable program code means for increasing the first predetermined time by a first incremental amount if the number of previous first requests for entry of sleep mode from the location in the application of the plurality of first requests having a continuation request for entry of sleep mode associated with the first request is below the predefined threshold value.

41. A computer program product according to claim 40 further comprising computer-readable program code means for adjusting the first incremental amount based on the number of previous first requests for entry of sleep mode from the location in the application of the plurality of first requests having a continuation request for entry of sleep mode associated with the first request.

42. A computer program product according to claim 40, wherein the first incremental amount is determined based on the first predetermined time.

43. A computer program product for controlling execution of an application executing on a data processing system, comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising;

computer-readable program code means for receiving a first request for entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for determining a location in an application requesting entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for suspending execution of the application for a first predetermined time period based upon the application and location in the application requesting entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for receiving a second request for entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for determining if the second request for entry of sleep mode is a continuation of the first request for entry of sleep mode;

computer-readable program code means for suspending execution of the application for a second predetermined time period; and

computer-readable program code means for decreasing the first predetermined time by a second incremental amount if a number of previous first requests for entry of sleep mode from the location in the application of a plurality of first requests having a continuation request for entry of sleep mode associated with the first request is below a predefined threshold value.

44. A computer program product according to claim 43, further comprising computer-readable program code means for adjusting the second incremental amount based on the number of previous first requests for entry of sleep mode from the location in the application of the plurality of first requests having a continuation request for entry of sleep mode associated with the first request.

45. A computer program product according to claim 43, wherein the second incremental amount is determined based on the first predetermined time.