Power management for electronic devices

• US 9,058,128 B1
• Filed: 02/18/2013
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Robison, Keela N., Freed, Ian W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elamin, M
• Application Number:
  US13/769,746
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/08 Clock generators with changeable or programmable clock frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/002 in which a reserve is maintained in an energy source by disconnecting non-critical loads, e.g. maintaining a reserve of charge in a vehicle battery for starting an engine
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0264 by selectively disabling software applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An electronic user device can provide intelligent power management. The device can monitor information such as charge level and rate of power consumption, and determine an appropriate time to charge the device. If a device is placed on a charger at a time when the device does not require charging, and the charging could potentially shorten the life of the device battery, the device might activate an internal switch or communicate with the charger to prevent the device from being charged. The device can be configured to notify the user when the device should be charged using any number of notification approaches. If the device is unable to be charged during a certain period, or the rate of power consumption exceeds at least one set value, the device can adjust functionality of various components and/or applications in order to conserve power until the device is able to be charged.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

analyzing, using at least one processor of an electronic device, behavioral information of a user of the electronic device;

determining, based at least in part on the behavioral information, a first period of time in which the electronic device will be unable to be charged;

determining, using the at least one processor, that the electronic device is capable of being powered for a second period of time without being charged based at least in part on at least one of a current power level or a rate of power consumption, the second period of time being shorter than the first period of time;

generating, using the at least one processor, a notification to indicate to a user that the electronic device should be charged prior to the first period of time; and

adjusting, using the at least one processor and based at least in part on the behavioral information, functionality of the electronic device to reduce the rate of power consumption.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein adjusting functionality includes at least one of terminating an application, adjusting a frequency of an operation, or adjusting functionality of at least one component of the electronic device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the electronic device should be charged within the first period of time includes analyzing functionality executing on the electronic device, schedule information for the user, a location of the electronic device, or historical usage data for the electronic device.

4. The computer-implemented-method of claim 1, wherein the notification is a message generated for at least one of the user of the electronic device or a device associated with the electronic device, and wherein the message indicates that the electronic device should be charged.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the functionality of the electronic device includes:

determining, based at least in part on the behavioral information, at least one application that the user is unlikely to access; and

shutting down the at least one application.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the first period of time in which the electronic device will be unable to be charged includes:

analyzing at least one of schedule or location information from at least one of a location determining element or a calendar application of the electronic device.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

analyze behavioral information of a user of an electronic device;

determine, based at least in part on the behavioral information, a first period of time in which the electronic device will be unable to be charged;

determine that the electronic device is capable of being powered for a second period of time without being charged based at least in part upon a current power level of the electronic device, the second period of time being shorter than the first period of time; and

cause, based at least in part on the behavioral information, functionality of the electronic device to be adjusted to reduce a rate of power consumption on the electronic device until the electronic device is able to be charged.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

generate a notification that the electronic device should be charged prior to the first period of time.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein determining that the electronic device is capable of being powered for the second period of time includes predicting power consumption for the electronic device over a determined period of time.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein predicting the power consumption is further based at least in part upon at least one of the behavioral information for the user of the electronic device, functionality executing on the electronic device, schedule information for the user, a location of the electronic device, and historical usage data for the electronic device.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein causing functionality of the electronic device to be adjusted includes at least one of terminating an application, adjusting a frequency of an operation, and adjusting functionality of at least one component of the electronic device.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

predict, based at least in part upon the current power level, an appropriate future time to charge the electronic device.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

manage a state of a power accepting mechanism of the electronic device whereby the electronic device is operable to selectively accept power from a charging device.

13. An electronic device, comprising:

a processor;

a power storage element; and

memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to;

analyze behavioral information of a user of an electronic device;

determine, based at least in part on the behavioral information, a first period of time in which the electronic device will be unable to be charged;

determine that the electronic device is capable of being powered for a second period of time without being charged based at least in part upon a current power level of the electronic device, the second period of time being shorter than the first period of time;

generate a notification that the electronic device should be charged prior to the first period of time; and

cause, based at least in part on the behavioral information, functionality of the electronic device to be adjusted to reduce a rate of power consumption on the electronic device until the electronic device is able to be charged.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, the instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the electronic device to:

predict, based at least in part upon the current power level, an appropriate future time to charge the electronic device.

15. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein determining that the electronic device is capable of being powered for the second period of time includes predicting power consumption for the electronic device over a determined period of time.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

manage a state of a power accepting mechanism of the electronic device whereby the electronic device is operable to selectively accept power from a charging device.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein predicting the power consumption is further based at least in part upon at least one of the behavioral information for the user of the electronic device, functionality executing on the electronic device, schedule information for the user, a location of the electronic device, and historical usage data for the electronic device.

18. The electronic device of claim 13, further comprising:

a power accepting mechanism having a state controllable by the processor to selectively accept power from a charging device.

19. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein determining the first period of time in which the electronic device will be unable to be charged includes:

analyzing at least one of schedule or location information from at least one of a location determining element or a calendar application of the electronic device.