Always ready computing device
First Claim
1. A method of providing a simulated off condition in a computing device via a set of software extensions, said method comprising:
- providing a device driver for each component to be managed;
providing a policy driver to coordinate information from device drivers to determine a power state of said computing device;
receiving a signal to change the power state of said computing device;
instructing system components to change their respective power states in accordance with said signal;
if said signal is representative of a request to enter a low power state, reducing power consumption of said system components such that said computing device enters a simulated off state, wherein said computing device remains at a fully on and said system components remain enabled to run applications when the computing device is in the simulated off condition;
if said signal is representative to a request to enter a fully on power state, returning said system components to said fully on power state;
locking human interface devices by discarding inputs; and
detecting a predefined input sequence, said predefined sequence being said signal.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for producing a simulated off condition in a computing device using a set of software drivers that interact with a system service and the device BIOS. The computing device includes system components such as a power supply, processors and fans that are put into a low power state upon receiving a signal to power off the device. This provides the appearance to users that the computing device is off. The system components, however, remain enabled to run applications when the computing device is in the simulated off condition. If necessary, the device can be returned to a fully on condition to process applications that require the system components to be brought out of the low power state to execute.
26 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of providing a simulated off condition in a computing device via a set of software extensions, said method comprising:
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providing a device driver for each component to be managed; providing a policy driver to coordinate information from device drivers to determine a power state of said computing device; receiving a signal to change the power state of said computing device; instructing system components to change their respective power states in accordance with said signal; if said signal is representative of a request to enter a low power state, reducing power consumption of said system components such that said computing device enters a simulated off state, wherein said computing device remains at a fully on and said system components remain enabled to run applications when the computing device is in the simulated off condition; if said signal is representative to a request to enter a fully on power state, returning said system components to said fully on power state; locking human interface devices by discarding inputs; and detecting a predefined input sequence, said predefined sequence being said signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of producing a simulated off condition in a computing device when the computing device is in an ACPI S0 state, the method comprising:
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providing a device driver for each component to be managed; providing a policy driver to coordinate information from device drivers to determine a power state of said computing device; receiving a signal to change the power state of said computing device; instructing system components to change their respective power states in accordance with said signal; if said signal is representative of a request to enter a low power state, reducing power consumption of said system components using ACPI methods such that said computing device enters a simulated off state, wherein said computing device at a fully on and said system components remain enabled to run applications when the computing device is in the simulated off condition; if said signal is representative to a request to enter a fully on power state, returning said system components to said fully on power state using ACPI methods; locking human interface devices by discarding inputs; and detecting a predefined input sequence, said predefined sequence being said signal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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Specification