Calendar-based power management

• US 6,457,132 B1
• Filed: 06/30/1999
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Borgendale, Kenneth Wayne, Rodriguez, Herman
• Primary Examiner(s): AUVE, GLENN ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US09/343,626
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/310, 713/320
• US Class Current: 713/320
• 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: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Upon creation of an event or activity entry within a calendar, the user is prompted to specify a power management mode to associate with the entry if the entry is not of a predefined type. Predefined entry types may be associated with default power management modes which the user may modify. When an event or activity entry associated with a non-null power management mode is reached, the calendar sends a power management event notification to the power manager, which responds appropriately. Thus, a user may specify that the system, if powered on, should automatically shut down for the duration of a planned vacation identified by an entry within the calendar. The system may thus distinguish between events during which the user is unavailable (e.g., on a business trip or at a remote meeting) from events during which the user is available but perhaps not actively using the system for a period. The calendar event power management modes complement and refine the preconfigured system power management schemes to take into account the user'"'"'s schedule of activities.

Claims

1. A method of calendar based power management, comprising:

creating a calendar entry that does not indicate an associated power management parameter within a user calendar;

associating a calendar event type with the calendar entry;

determining an associated power management parameter as a function of the associated calendar event type, wherein the associated power management parameter specifies a power management mode to be initiated upon reaching a start time for the calendar entry.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of creating a calendar entry within a user calendar further comprises:

setting the associated power management parameter to a predefined value for the associated calendar event type of the calendar entry.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of creating a calendar entry within a user calendar further comprises:

prompting the user to specify the associated power management parameter.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the associated power management parameter with the calendar entry further comprises:

associating an identifier of a power management mode with the calendar entry.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the associated power management parameter with the calendar entry further comprises:

associating a power management event with the calendar entry.

6. A method of calendar based power management, comprising:

determining whether a start time for a calendar entry that does not indicate an associated power management parameter within a user calendar has been reached, wherein the calendar entry has an associated calendar event type;

responsive to determining that the start time has been reached, determining whether a power management parameter is associated with the associated calendar event type; and

responsive to identifying a power management parameter associated with the associated calendar event type, performing a power management process utilizing the power management parameter.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of determining whether a power management parameter is associated with the associated calendar event type further comprises:

determining whether a power management mode has been specified for the calendar entry.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of performing a power management process utilizing the power management parameter further comprises:

sending a power management event notification corresponding to the power management parameter to a power manager; and

entering a power management mode specified by the power management event notification.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of performing a power management process utilizing the power management parameter further comprises:

responsive to detecting system activity conflicting with a power management mode specified by the power management parameter, delaying or cancelling initiation of the power management mode.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of performing a power management process utilizing the power management parameter further comprises:

setting a power management event to occur at a subsequent time; and

entering a power management mode specified in the power management parameter.

11. A system for calendar based power management, comprising:

a user calendar containing a calendar entry that does not indicate an associated power management parameter; and

a power management parameter associated with the calendar entry as a function of a calendar event type for the calendar entry, wherein the associated power management parameter specifies a power management mode to be initiated upon reaching a start time for the calendar entry.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the calendar entry further comprises:

a predefined value for the calendar event type of the calendar entry which is employed in setting the associated power management parameter.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the power management parameter further comprises:

a use-specified power management mode.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the power management parameter further comprises:

a power management event.

15. A system for calendar based power management, comprising:

a user calendar containing a calendar entry that does not indicate an associated power management parameter, wherein the calendar entry has an associated calendar event type; and

a power manager performing power management processes in response to receiving power management event notifications from the user calendar,

wherein the user calendar determines whether a start time for a calendar entry within the user calendar has been reached, and

responsive to determining that the start time has been reached, determines whether a power management parameter is associated with the calendar entry as a function of the associated calendar event type, and

responsive to determining a power management parameter is associated with the calendar entry, sends a power management event notification to the power manager.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the user calendar determines whether a power management mode has been specified for the calendar entry, and, responsive to finding a power management mode specified for the calendar entry, sends a power management event notification corresponding to the power management mode to the power manager.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the power manager initiates a power management mode specified by the power management event notification.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the power manager sets a power management event to occur at a subsequent time before initiating the power management mode specified in the power management parameter.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the user calendar checks for system activity conflicting with a power management mode specified by the power management parameter, and, responsive to detecting system activity conflicting with the power management mode, delays or cancels sending the power management event notification.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the power manager checks for system activity conflicting with a power management mode specified by the power management parameter, and, responsive to detecting system activity conflicting with the power management mode, delays or cancels initiating the power management event mode.

21. A computer program product within a computer usable medium, comprising:

instructions for creating a calendar entry that does not indicate an associated power management parameter within a user calendar;

instructions for associating a calendar event type with the calendar entry;

instructions for determining an associated power management parameter as a function of the associated calendar event type, wherein the associated power management parameter specifies a power management mode to be initiated upon reaching a start time for the calendar entry.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the instructions for creating a calendar entry within a user calendar further comprise:

instruction for setting the associated power management parameter to a predefined value for the associated calendar event type of the calendar entry.

23. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the instructions for creating a calendar entry within a user calendar further comprise:

instructions for prompting the user to specify the associated power management parameter.

24. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the instructions for associating a power management parameter with the calendar entry further comprise:

instructions for associating an identifier of a power management mode with the calendar entry.

25. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the instructions for associating a power management parameter with the calendar entry further comprise:

instructions for associating a power management event with the calendar entry.

26. A computer program product within a computer usable medium, comprising:

instructions for determining whether a start time for a calendar entry that does not indicate an associated power management parameter within a user calendar has been reached, wherein the calendar entry has an associated calendar event type;

instructions, responsive to determining that the start time has been reached, for determining whether a power management parameter is associated with the associated calendar event type; and

instructions, responsive to identifying a power management parameter associated with the associated calendar event type, for performing a power management process utilizing the power management parameter.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the instructions for determining whether a power management parameter is associated with the calendar entry further comprise:

instructions for determining whether a power management mode has been specified for the calendar entry.

28. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the instructions for performing a power management process utilizing the power management parameter further comprise:

instructions for sending a power management event notification corresponding to the power management parameter to a power manager; and

instructions for entering a power management mode specified by the power management event notification.

29. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the instructions for performing a power management process utilizing the power management parameter further comprise:

instructions, responsive to detecting system activity conflicting with a power management mode specified by the power management parameter, for delaying or cancelling initiation of the power management mode.

30. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the instructions for performing a power management process utilizing the power management parameter further comprise.

instructions for setting a power management event to occur at a subsequent time;

and

instructions for entering a power management mode specified in the power management parameter.