Information processing apparatus and control method

• US 7,631,205 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2005
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Wachi, Junichiro, Sakemoto, Mikio, Agata, Kenichi, Narukawa, Yoshitaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, VINCENT HUY
• Application Number:
  US11/255,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20060117196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,506 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/320, 345/173, 345/158
• 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 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

An information processing apparatus having a system body, a body operation unit provided on the system body, and a remote operation unit configured to perform a remote operation of the system body. The information processing apparatus performs processing according to operational information obtained by the body operation unit or the remote operation unit. The information processing apparatus includes a detecting unit to detect the operation performed by the body operation unit and the remote operation performed by the remote operation unit. Power control of each device in the system body is performed according to either a second set state in which power consumption is lower than in a first set state.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus having a system body, a body operation unit provided on said system body, and a remote operation unit configured to perform a remote operation of said system body, said information processing apparatus being configured to perform processing according to operational information obtained by said body operation unit or said remote operation unit, said information processing apparatus comprising:

a detecting unit configured to detect the operation performed by said body operation unit and the remote operation performed by said remote operation unit; and

a power control unit configured to

control each device in said system body according to at least one of a first state and a second state, said first state defining a state in which power saving control is either not performed or is performed according to a predetermined condition, said second state defining a state in which power consumption is lower than in said first state,

invalidate a part of the operation of said body operation unit when said detecting unit detects the remote operation performed by said remote operation unit, and

validate a part of the operation of said body operation unit when said detecting unit detects the operation of said body operation unit, wherein said first state is changed to said second state only if the remote operation unit is operated in a battery powered state, and said second state is changed to said first state only if the body operation unit is being operated.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting unit is further configured to detect a connection and a disconnection of an AC adapter, and said power control unit is further configured to control each device in said system body according to said first state when said AC adapter is connected and to control each device in said system body according to a said second state when said AC adapter is disconnected.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a third state is interposed between the first state and the second state, the first state being changed through the third state to the second state, and the second state being changed through the third state to the first state.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein power saving control includes at least one of changing a CPU performance, changing an image displaying performance, changing a brightness of a display screen, changing a radiation control method, electrically cutting off a semiconductor memory detachable to the system body or an auxiliary storage apparatus that is not in use, and stopping a supply of power to a link, connection port, or wireless LAN board that can receive power.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein changing a CPU performance includes minimizing a clock frequency and supply voltage for the CPU.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein changing a radiation control method includes operating a cooling fan to radiate heat when a temperature of the system body rises by controlling a rotating speed of the cooling fan to suppress fan noise and reduce power consumption.

7. A control method for an information processing apparatus configured to perform processing according to operational information obtained by a body operation unit provided on a system body, or obtained by a remote operation unit configured to perform a remote operation of said system body, said control method comprising:

detecting an operation by at least one of said body operation unit and said remote operation unit;

performing power control of each device in said system body according to at least one of a first state and a second state, said first state defining a state in which power saving control is either not performed or is performed according to a predetermined condition, said second state defining a state in which power consumption is lower than in said first state;

validating a part of the operation performed by said body operation unit when said detecting detects the operation of said body operation unit; and

invalidating a part of the operation of said body operation unit when said detecting detects the remote operation performed by said remote operation unit, wherein

said first state is changed to said second state only if the remote operation unit is operated in a battery powered state, and said second state is changed to said first state only if the body operation unit is being operated.

8. The control method according to claim 7, wherein said detecting includes detecting a connection and a disconnection of an AC adapter, and said performing power control includes controlling each device in said system body according to said first state when said AC adapter is connected and controlling each device in said system body according to a said second state when said AC adapter is disconnected.