Power management of computer peripheral devices which determines non-usage of a device through usage detection of other devices

• US 7,222,252 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2003
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dutton, Drew J., MacDonald, James R., Cox, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Perveen; Rehana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown; Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/366,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20040163003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/310, 713/320, 713/323
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring usage of peripheral devices and placing a second peripheral device in a low power state when the usage indicates that a second peripheral device is not being used. For example, if a computer system detects that a user'"'"'s current typing rate indicates the user probably has both hands on a keyboard, the computer system may generate a signal to the computer mouse to enter a low power state. The computer system may use prior usage for a user to determine when current usage indicates that the second peripheral device is not being used. After the second peripheral device is placed in a low power state, the computer system may generate a signal to the second peripheral device to return to a normal power state when the computer system determines that the user no longer has both hands occupied.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a processor;

a keyboard coupled to the processor;

a second peripheral device coupled to the processor;

a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store program instructions executable by the processor to;

monitor usage of the keyboard; and

wherein, if the usage indicates that the second peripheral device is not currently being used by detecting a keyboard typing rate of the keyboard greater than a threshold value, generate a signal to place the second peripheral device in a low power state.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to:

wherein, if the usage indicates that the second peripheral device is possibly being used and if the second peripheral device is in the low power state, generate a signal to place the second peripheral device in a normal power state.

3. The computer system of claim 1,

wherein the threshold value is determined based on a past typing history of a user.

4. The computer system of claim 1,

wherein the threshold value comprises a calculated typing rate.

5. The computer system of claim 1,

wherein said determining if the usage indicates that the second peripheral device is not currently being used comprises using user information and a user'"'"'s prior usage of a user that is currently logged into the computer system.

6. The computer system of claim 1,

wherein the program instructions are executable to determine if the usage indicates that the second peripheral device is not currently being used by:

1) storing information on a user'"'"'s prior usage of the keyboard; and

2) comparing a current typing pattern with the threshold, wherein the threshold is based on the user'"'"'s prior usage.

7. A method, comprising:

determining if a keyboard is being used to determine if a second peripheral device is being used, wherein the keyboard being used indicates that the second peripheral device is not being used; and

generating a signal to place the second peripheral device in a low power state if the usage indicates that the second peripheral device is not currently being used;

wherein said determining if the keyboard is being used comprises determining if a typing rate of the keyboard exceeds a threshold value.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

generating a signal to place the second peripheral device in a normal power state, if the usage indicates that the second peripheral device is possibly being used, and if the second peripheral device is in the low power state.

9. The method of claim 7,

wherein the threshold value comprises a calculated typing rate.

10. The method of claim 7,

wherein the threshold value is determined based on a past typing history of a user.

11. The method of claim 7,

wherein, in monitoring usage of the keyboard, determining if the usage indicates that the second peripheral device is currently being used comprises:

1) storing information on a user'"'"'s prior usage of the keyboard; and

2) comparing a current typing pattern with a typing pattern of the user'"'"'s prior usage.

12. A method, comprising:

monitoring usage of a keyboard to determine if the keyboard is currently being used by a user, wherein said monitoring usage of the keyboard comprises determining if a keyboard typing rate of the keyboard is higher than a threshold value;

generating a signal to place a second peripheral device in a low power state if the usage indicates that the keyboard is currently being used by the user.

13. A method, comprising:

monitoring usage of a keyboard to determine if the keyboard is currently being used by both hands of a user, wherein said monitoring usage of the keyboard comprises determining if a keyboard typing rate of the keyboard is higher than a threshold value;

generating a signal to place a second peripheral device in a low power state if the usage indicates that the keyboard is currently being used by both hands of the user.

14. A computer system, comprising:

a processor;

a keyboard coupled to the processor;

a second peripheral device coupled to the processor;

a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store program instructions executable by the processor to;

monitor usage of the keyboard; and

wherein, if the usage indicates that the second peripheral device is not currently being used by detecting a time delay between a user pressing distant keys on the keyboard in less than a threshold value, generate a signal to place the second peripheral device in a low power state.