Computing device having programmable state transitions

• US 6,961,859 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2002
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Derocher, Michael D, Fogle, Steven L
• Primary Examiner(s): ELAMIN, ABDELMONIEM I
• Application Number:
  US10/066,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20030145242A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,371 Days
• Field of Search: 713/320, 713/323, 713/322, 710/15
• US Class Current: 713/320
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode

Abstract

A computing device having programmable state transitions is disclosed. The device includes a real-time clock that generates a signal in response to the real-time clock attaining a programmed time of day. The device additionally includes a processor, coupled to the real-time clock that receives the signal and transitions from a first state to a second state, such as from a hibernate state to a standby state.

Claims

1. In a computing device having programmable state transitions, a method for responding to a power management event, comprising:

canceling a time event flag stored in a memory location;

determining said power management event;

storing a second time event flag into said memory location, wherein said second time event flag is set to one of a standby and a hibernate state, said storing occurring if said power management event is a request to transition to an active state and if a current time of day corresponds to a scheduled active time period;

wherein

if said power management event is a request to transition to said standby state and if said current time of day does not correspond to a scheduled active period, then additionally performing;

rejecting said request to transition said computing device to said standby state;

setting said second time event flag to standby; and

setting said time event flag to hibernate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said second time event flag is a request to transition to said hibernate state.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said second time event flag is a request to transition to said standby state.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein if said power management event is a request to transition to a hibernate state, then additionally performing:

setting said time event flag to hibernate.

5. In a computing device having programmable state transitions, a method for responding to a time event flag, comprising:

determining if said time event flag is a request to set said computing device to a hibernate state;

setting a second time event flag to standby if said time event flag is set to hibernate; and

requesting said computing device to enter said hibernate state, wherein if said time event flag is not a request to set said computing device to a hibernate state, the method further comprising;

setting said second time event flag to hibernate; and

requesting said computing device to enter a standby state.

6. The method of claim 5, additionally comprising prompting a user of said computing device to confirm that said computing device should enter said hibernate state, said prompting being performed prior to said requesting action.

7. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to generate a file used to transition from a hibernate to a standby state, the method comprising:

canceling a time event flag stored in a memory location;

determining said power management event;

storing a second time event flag into said memory location, wherein said second time event flag is set to one of a standby and a hibernate state, said storing occurring if said power management event is a request to transition to an active state and if a current time of day corresponds to a scheduled active time period, wherein

if said power management event is a request to transition to said standby state and if a current time of day does not correspond to a scheduled active period, then additionally performing;

rejecting said request to transition said computing device to said standby state;

setting said second time event flag to standby; and

setting said time event flag to hibernate.

10. The computer-readable media of claim 7, wherein said second time event flag of the method is a request to transition to said hibernate state.

11. The computer-readable media of claim 7, wherein said second time event flag of the method is a request to transition to said standby state.

12. The computer-readable media of claim 7, wherein if said power management event is a request to transition to a hibernate state, then the method additionally performing:

setting said time event flag to hibernate.

8. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to generate a file used to transition from a hibernate to a standby state, the method comprising:

determining if said time event flag is a request to set said computing device to a hibernate state;

setting a second time event flag to standby if said time event flag is set to hibernate; and

requesting the computing device to enter the hibernate state, wherein if said time event flag is not a request to set said computing device to a hibernate state, the method further comprising;

setting said second time event flag to hibernate; and

requesting said computing device to enter a standby state.

9. The computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises prompting a user of said computing device to confirm that said computing device should enter said hibernate state, said prompting being performed prior to said requesting action.