Computer battery event managing method with option to compulsorily execute a low battery capacity operation even when a program of the computer does not respond

• US 6,643,786 B1
• Filed: 01/24/2000
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawakami, Tomoyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): WANG, ALBERT C
• Application Number:
  US09/490,041
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 Days
• Field of Search: 340/636, 320/128, 320/135, 320/136, 713/340, 714/39
• US Class Current: 713/340
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode

Abstract

A battery event information setting controller causes a battery event information setting screen, receives battery event information made up of remaining battery capacity points and corresponding battery events, and sets the battery event information in a setting table. A remaining battery capacity monitor monitors a change in the remaining battery capacity and, when sensing a change, supplies the remaining battery capacity to an operation executing section. The operation executing section reads the battery event information and causes a display controller or a sound controller to execute the battery event indicated by the read-out battery event information, starts a specific application program, or causes the computer to carry out a specific operation.

Claims

1. An event managing method in a computer, comprising the steps of:

setting a remaining battery capacity point parameter which is an arbitrary ratio of a set remaining battery capacity to a predetermined charged battery capacity and an event parameter which relates to the remaining battery capacity point parameter, the event parameter including a parameter which is executed even when a program of the computer does not respond, and the event parameter representing an event for causing the computer to carry out a specified operation; and

performing an event represented by the set event parameter when a ratio of a remaining battery capacity to the predetermined charged battery capacity has reached the set remaining battery capacity point parameter.

2. The event managing method according to claim 1, wherein said setting step sets more than one remaining battery capacity point parameters and more than one event parameter.

3. The event managing method according to claim 1, wherein said setting step sets two remaining battery capacity point parameters related to the set remaining battery capacity in either the discharging or charging of the battery and sets two event parameters which are related to the two remaining battery capacity point parameters, and

said performing step determines whether the battery is charging or discharging, depending on whether the remaining battery capacity is increasing or decreasing and performs an event when the ratio of the remaining battery capacity to the predetermined charged battery capacity has reached the remaining battery capacity point parameter related to either discharging or charging of the battery in said setting step.

4. The event managing method according to claim 3, wherein said performing step requests an operating system to provide notification of a change of the remaining battery capacity when the remaining battery capacity has changed, when being informed of the change, requests the operating system to provide notification of a present remaining battery capacity, sets the remaining battery capacity when notification of the change is provided by the operating system, compares the present remaining battery capacity with a previously stored remaining battery capacity, and determines whether the battery is discharging or charging.

5. The event managing method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of, when having already set the remaining battery capacity point, displaying event information corresponding to the remaining battery capacity point parameter.

6. A computer comprising:

an event setting unit configured to set a set of parameters relating to an alarm in a power saving mode, the parameters including a remaining battery capacity point parameter which is an arbitrary ratio of a set remaining battery capacity to a predetermined charged battery capacity and an event parameter which relates to the remaining battery capacity point parameter, the event parameter including a parameter indicating an event which is compulsorily executed even when a program of the computer does not respond, the event parameter representing an event for causing the computer to carry out a specified operation; and

an event performing unit configured to perform an event represented by the set event parameter when a ratio of a remaining battery capacity to a fully charged battery capacity has reached the set remaining battery capacity point parameter.

7. The computer according to claim 6, wherein said event setting unit sets more than one set of parameters.

8. The computer according to claim 6, wherein said event setting unit sets two remaining battery capacity point parameters related to the set remaining battery capacity in either discharging or charging of the battery and two event parameters which are related to the two remaining battery capacity point parameters, and

said event performing unit determines whether the battery is charging or discharging, depending on whether the remaining battery capacity is increasing or decreasing and performs an event represented by the set event parameter related to either discharging or charging of the battery, when the ratio of the remaining battery capacity to the predetermined charged battery capacity has reached the set remaining battery capacity point parameter in discharging or charging of the battery.

9. The computer according to claim 6, wherein the event parameter further represents an a second event for reproducing a specified audio file.

10. The computer according to claim 6, wherein the event parameter further represents a second event for displaying a specified text file.

11. The computer according to claim 6, wherein the event parameter further represents a second event for executing a specified application program.

12. The computer according to claim 6, wherein the event parameter represents an event for causing the computer to carry out a specified operation.

13. The computer according to claim 6, wherein said event performing unit includes a remaining battery capacity monitor which requests an operating system to provide notification of a change of the remaining battery capacity when the remaining battery capacity has changed, and, when being informed of the change, requests the operating system to provide notification of a present remaining battery capacity.

14. The computer according to claim 13, wherein said remaining battery capacity monitor includes a setting unit configured to set the remaining battery capacity when notification of the change is provided by the operating system and a comparator configured to compare the present remaining battery capacity with a previously stored remaining battery capacity and determine whether the battery is discharging or charging.

15. The computer according to claim 6, wherein said event setting unit, when having already set the remaining battery capacity point parameter, displays event information corresponding to the remaining battery capacity point parameter.