Power management schemes for apparatus with converged functionalities

• US 6,285,406 B1
• Filed: 03/28/1997
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Brusky, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lo, Linus H.
• Application Number:
  US08/829,437
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.563, H04/N.700, 348/552, 348/705, 348/706, 348/554, 348/558, 348/730, 395/651, 395/652, 395/750.05, 395/750.06, 345/214, 345/211, 345/212, 455/38.3, 713/300, 713/320
• US Class Current: 348/552
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/63 Generation or supply of power specially adapted for television receivers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A power management system for a converged functionality apparatus enables primary control to be effected through an actuating mechanism. In general operation, the actuating mechanism switches between “on” and “suspended” states. The power management system includes various defaults, memories, and priority setting schemes that enable fully integrated, but wholly intelligent, operation of the converged functionality apparatus.

Claims

1. A system for operating in a TV mode and in a PC mode, said system comprising:

a PC/TV convergence component including a processor coupled to storage device, and further including a TV tuner operable in said system TV mode to generate television display scan signals;

a display device connected to said PC/TV convergence component, said display device operable to display said television display scan signals when powered on in said system TV mode;

a power distribution subsystem for selectively empowering said PC/TV convergence component and said display device; and

a power distribution control subsystem for controlling power to said PC/TV convergence component, and for controlling power to said display device,

wherein said power distribution control subsystem is configured to cause said PC/TV convergence component and the display device to operate in an on state and a suspend state, and wherein said power distribution control subsystem causes said PC/TV convergence component to change from the suspend state to the on state responsive to at least one selected TV mode wake-up event, and wherein said display device remains in the suspend state responsive to the selected TV mode wake-up event;

and wherein said power distribution control subsystem is configured to cause said PC/TV component and said display device to switch from the suspend state to the on state only in response to a validated PC power distribution system invoked wake up event or to operation of a user actuable device.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said power distribution control subsystem comprises a remote control unit for controlling said power distribution control subsystem.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said power distribution control subsystem comprises operational logic that causes said power distribution control subsystem to switch back and forth between an on state and a standby state in response to operation of an actuating mechanism.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a convergence device;

wherein the wake-up event is indicated by an input from said convergence device.

5. A system as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

a memory device connected to the power distribution control subsystem, the memory device for storing an indicator of whether the power distribution control subsystem is configured to cause the PC/TV and the display device to operate in an on state or a suspend state;

wherein the indicator is stored prior to power-down so that said power distribution control subsystem can return said PC/TV components to a power state represented by the indicator upon power-up, wherein said display device is operable in the suspend state upon power-up independent of the indicator.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said TV/PC convergence component includes television components.

7. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said TV/PC convergence component includes video game components.

8. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said TV/PC convergence component includes a video outputting apparatus.

9. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein said video outputting apparatus comprises a video telephone.

10. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein said video outputting apparatus comprises a video playback device.

11. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein said video outputting apparatus comprises a video recording device.

12. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein said video outputting apparatus comprises a video recording and playback apparatus.

13. A system for operating in a TV mode and in a PC mode, said system comprising:

a PC/TV convergence component including a TV tuner operable in said system TV mode to generate television display scan signals;

a display device connected to said PC/TV convergence component, said display device operable to display said television display scan signals when powered on in said system TV mode;

a software operable power distribution subsystem for selectively empowering said PC/TV convergence component and said display device;

a power distribution control subsystem for controlling power to said PC/TV convergence component and for controlling power to said display device in response to selected operational events of said system, and in response to operation of a user actuable device;

wherein said power distribution control subsystem is configured to switch said PC/TV convergence component and the display device between at least an off state, an on state, and a suspend state, and to switch said PC/TV convergence component and the display device to a suspend state after a predetermined period of activity when said system is operating in said PC mode but not when said system is operating in said TV mode;

a memory device operatively associated with the power distribution control subsystem, the memory device storing an indicator of whether the power distribution control subsystem is configured to switch the PC/TV and the display device from an off state to operate in the on state or in the suspend state;

wherein the indicator is stored prior to power-down so that said power distribution control subsystem can return said PC/TV components to a power state represented by the indicator upon power-up, wherein when returned power state is a suspend state, said display device is operable by said user actuable device to switch from the suspend state to the on state; and

wherein said power distribution control subsystem causes said PC/TV convergence component to change from the suspend state to the on state responsive to one or more selected TV mode wake-up events, and wherein said display device remains in the suspend state responsive to a said selected TV mode wake-up event;

and wherein said power distribution control subsystem is configured to cause said PC/TV component and said display device to switch from the suspend state to the on state only in response to a validated PC power distribution system invoked wake up event or to operation of said user actuable device.

14. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein said software operable power distribution subsystem is controlled by power management application software in conjunction with power management BIOS.

15. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein said selected TV mode wake up events include at least one preprogrammable timed event registered with said power distribution control subsystem.

16. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein switching of said display device to the suspend state also causes corresponding muting of an audio component.

17. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein operation of said user actuable device to switch the PC/TV convergence component from a suspend state to an on state automatically causes system operation in said TV mode.

18. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein in said TV mode, the display device is operated in an overscan mode.

19. A system for operating in a TV mode and in a PC mode, said system comprising:

a PC/TV convergence component including a TV tuner operable in said system TV mode to generate television display scan signals;

a display device connected to said PC/TV convergence component, said display device operable to display said television display scan signals when powered on in said system TV mode;

a software operable power distribution subsystem for selectively empowering said PC/TV convergence component and said display device;

a power distribution control subsystem for controlling power to said PC/TV convergence component and for controlling power to said display device in response to selected operational events of said system and in response to operation of a user actuable device;

wherein said power distribution control subsystem is configured to switch said PC/TV convergence component and the display device between at least an off state, an on state, and a suspend state, and to switch said PC/TV convergence component and the display device to a suspend state after a predetermined period of activity when said system is operating in said PC mode but not when said system is operating in said TV mode;

in said system TV mode, (a) operation of the user actuable switch device to switch the PC/TV convergence component from an on state switches the PC/TV convergence component and the display device to said suspend state, and (b) switching of the PC/TV convergence component to an on state from a suspend state is enabled only by operation of the user actuable switch device;

a memory device operatively associated with the power distribution control subsystem, the memory device storing an indicator of whether the power distribution control subsystem is configured to switch the PC/TV and the display device from an off state to operate in the on state or in the suspend state;

wherein the indicator is stored prior to power-down so that said power distribution control subsystem can return said PC/TV components to a power state represented by the indicator upon power-up, wherein when returned power state is a suspend state, said display device is operable by said user actuable device to switch from the suspend state to the on state; and

wherein said power distribution control subsystem causes said PC/TV convergence component to change from the suspend state to the on state responsive to one or more selected TV mode wake-up events, and wherein said display device remains in the suspend state responsive to a said selected TV mode wake-up event;

and wherein said power distribution control subsystem is configured to cause said PC/TV component and said display device to switch from the suspend state to the on state only in response to a validated PC power distribution system invoked wake up event or to operation of said user actuable device.