Information handling system including standby/wakeup feature dependent on sensed conditions

• US 7,406,612 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2003
• Issued: 07/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Connor, Clint, Stedman, Roy W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRIBBS, MALCOLM
• Application Number:
  US10/719,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20050114641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,712 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/300, 713/320, 713/323, 713/324, 345/418
• 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 portable information handling system is provided that monitors one or more sensed conditions to determine if the system is currently placed in an unusable state. If the system determines that it has been placed in an unusable state such as being placed in the dark or upside down, then a reduced power mode is entered. Significant power savings are thus achieved because the system consumes power at a substantially reduced rate when it is determined to be in an unusable state.

Claims

1. A method of operating a portable information handling system (IHS) comprising:

sensing a first condition to which the IHS is subjected in the course of operation to provide sensed information, wherein the first sensed condition is ambient light around the IHS;

the IHS including a display;

subsequently sensing a plurality of conditions to provide additional sensed information including orientation of the display and motion of the IHS;

analyzing the sensed information to determine if the IHS is currently in an unusable state due to the first condition and one of the plurality of conditions being sensed; and

entering a reduced power mode, by the IHS, if it is found that the IHS is currently in the unusable state.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein change in one sensed condition triggers wakeup of the IHS after the IHS has entered the reduced power mode.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein change in multiple sensed conditions triggers wakeup of the IHS after the portable IHS has entered the reduced power mode.

4. A method of operating a portable information handling system (IHS) comprising:

sensing first, second and third conditions to which the IHS is subjected in the course of operation to provide sensed information, wherein the first condition is ambient light around the IHS;

analyzing the sensed information to determine if the IHS is currently in an unusable state due to the first condition and any one of the second and third conditions being sensed; and

entering a reduced power mode, by the IHS, if it is found that the IHS is currently in the unusable state.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein change in one sensed condition triggers wakeup of the IHS after the IHS has entered the reduced power mode.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein change in multiple sensed conditions triggers wakeup of the IHS after the IHS has entered the reduced power mode.

7. A portable information handling system (IHS) comprising:

a display coupled to the IHS;

a processor;

a plurality of condition sensors, coupled to the processor, for sensing conditions to which the IHS is subjected in the course of operation to provide sensed information, wherein a first one of the sensed conditions is ambient light around the IHS, a second one of the sensed conditions is motion of the IHS, and a third one of the sensed conditions is orientation of the display; and

nonvolatile storage, coupled to the processor, for storing control software for analyzing the sensed information to determine if the portable IHS is currently in an unusable state due to the first condition and any one of the second and third conditions being sensed, and for causing the portable IHS to enter a reduced power mode if it is found that the portable IHS is currently in the unusable state.