Power state selection heuristic

• US 20060101292A1
• Filed: 11/10/2004
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Lettvin, Jonathan Moishe, Hahn, Christopher M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,296,171 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4418 Suspend and resume; Hibernate and awake

Abstract

An algorithm automatically selects a power state based on device configuration parameters. The selected power state may then be returned and/or automatically implemented in a shutdown of the device. The parameters can include whether the device supports a system battery, whether the device is connected to an uninterruptible power supply, whether a value is available for remaining battery life, whether the device is receiving AC power and/or whether a hibernate fail safe feature is available. A shutdown failure algorithm may also be included. The shutdown failure algorithm detects a failed attempt to shut down the device using a selected power state. The power state selection is changed and shutdown is then re-attempted. If shutdown again fails, a force shutdown flag is set. If shutdown again fails, a shutdown failure is reported.

Claims

1. A method of selecting a power state for an electronic device, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a first instruction to select an unspecified one of a plurality of selectable power states, the plurality of power states including

a first power state in which supply of electrical power to selected device components is discontinued but in which power supply to a volatile memory storing user data is maintained, and

a second power state in which supply of electrical power to the volatile memory is removed and in which, prior to said removal, at least some of the user data is transferred from the volatile memory to a non-volatile memory;

(b) receiving a first collection of system data regarding one or more device configuration parameters; and

(c) selecting one of the first and second power states based on the first collection of system data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of power states includes a third power state distinct from the first and second power states, and comprising the steps of:

(d) receiving a second instruction to select an unspecified one of the plurality of power states;

(e) receiving a second collection of system data regarding one or more device configuration parameters; and

(f) selecting the third power state based on the second collection of system data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the device configuration parameters for which system data is received in step (b) include:

whether the device supports a system battery, and

whether a value is determinable for remaining battery life.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein step (c) comprises selecting the second power state based on the device supporting a system battery and a value for remaining battery life being not determinable.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the device configuration parameters for which system data is received in step (b) include:

(1) whether the device supports a system battery,

(2) whether the device is connected to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS),

(3) whether the device is capable of automatically transitioning from the first power state to the second power state if battery power reaches a predetermined level, and

(4) whether a value is determinable for remaining battery life.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein step (c) comprises selecting the first power state based on:

(1) the device supporting a system battery,

(2) a value for remaining battery life being determinable,

(3) the device being capable of automatically transitioning from the first power state to the second power state if battery power reaches a predetermined level, and

(4) the device not being connected to a UPS.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the device configuration parameters for which system data is received in step (b) include whether the device is receiving AC power.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein step (c) comprises selecting the first power state based on:

(1) the device supporting a system battery,

(2) a value for remaining battery life being determinable,

(3) the device being connected to a UPS, and

(4) the device receiving AC power.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the device configuration parameters for which system data is received in step (b) include

(1) whether the device supports a system battery,

(2) whether the device is connected to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS),

(3) whether a value is determinable for remaining battery life, and

(4) whether the device is receiving AC power, and

step (c) comprises selecting the first power state based on

(1) the device not supporting a system battery,

(2) a value for remaining battery life not being determinable,

(3) the device receiving AC power, and

(4) the device not being connected to a UPS.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the device configuration parameters for which system data is received in step (b) include

(1) whether the device supports a system battery,

(2) whether the device is connected to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and

(3) whether the device is receiving AC power, and

step (c) comprises selecting the first power state based on

(1) the device supporting a system battery,

(2) the device receiving AC power, and

(3) the device being connected to a UPS.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the device configuration parameters for which system data is received in step (b) include

(1) whether the device supports a system battery,

(2) whether the device is connected to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and

(3) a value for remaining battery life, and

step (c) comprises selecting the first power state based on

(1) the device supporting a system battery,

(2) the device not being connected to a UPS, and

(3) the value of remaining battery life exceeding a non-zero value for a time out interval after which the device is configured to automatically transition from the first power state to the second power state.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

(d) determining the device does not provide a value for remaining battery life;

(e) determining the availability of a value for fully charged battery life;

(f) calculating battery life, if a value for fully charged battery life is unavailable, as a constant multiplied by a value for remaining percentage of battery charge and divided by 100; and

(g) calculating battery life, if a value for fully charged battery life is available, as the value for fully charged battery life multiplied by a value for remaining percentage of battery charge and divided by 100.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the device configuration parameters for which system data is received in step (b) include

(1) whether the device supports a system battery,

(2) whether the device is connected to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and

(3) a value for remaining battery life, and

step (c) comprises selecting the second power state based on

(1) the device supporting a system battery,

(2) the device not being connected to a UPS, and

(3) the value of remaining battery life not exceeding a non-zero value for a time out interval after which the device is configured to automatically transition from the first power state to the second power state.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

(d) determining the device does not provide a value for remaining battery life;

(e) determining the availability of a value for fully charged battery life;

(f) calculating battery life, if a value for fully charged battery life is unavailable, as a constant multiplied by a value for remaining percentage of battery charge and divided by 100; and

(g) calculating battery life, if a value for fully charged battery life is available, as the value for fully charged battery life multiplied by a value for remaining percentage of battery charge and divided by 100.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of power states includes a third power state distinct from the first and second power states, and further comprising the steps of:

(d) receiving, subsequent to a return of the device to a fully-powered state after performance of steps (a) through (c), a request to shut down the device;

(e) determining an attempt to shut down the device has been unsuccessful;

(f) determining a user has not responded to a request for additional instructions regarding device shutdown;

(g) changing a power state selection; and

(h) re-attempting shutdown of the device using the changed power state selection.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

(i) setting a flag indicative that an application program blocking shutdown should be closed; and

(j) re-attempting shutdown of the device with the set flag.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

(k) determining that shutdown has not succeeded after performance of steps (d) through (j); and

(l) reporting an inability to shut down the device.

18. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform steps of a method of selecting a power state for an electronic device, the steps comprising:

(a) receiving an instruction to select an unspecified one of a plurality of selectable power states, the plurality of power states including

a first power state in which supply of electrical power to selected device components is discontinued but in which power supply to a volatile memory storing user data is maintained, and

a second power state in which supply of electrical power to the volatile memory is removed and in which, prior to said removal, at least some of the user data is transferred from the volatile memory to a non-volatile memory;

(b) selecting the first power state based on a first set of device configuration parameters; and

(c) selecting the second power state based on a second set of device configuration parameters.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the plurality of power states includes a third power state distinct from the first and second power states, and comprising further instructions for performing steps comprising:

(d) selecting the third power state based on a third set of device configuration parameters.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the device configuration parameters include:

whether the device supports a system battery, and

whether a value is determinable for remaining battery life.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein step (c) comprises selecting the second power state based on the device supporting a system battery and a value for remaining battery life being not determinable.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the device configuration parameters include:

(1) whether the device supports a system battery,

(2) whether the device is connected to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS),

(3) whether the device is capable of automatically transitioning from the first power state to the second power state if battery power reaches a predetermined level, and

(4) whether a value is determinable for remaining battery life.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein step (b) comprises selecting the first power state based on:

(1) the device supporting a system battery,

(2) a value for remaining battery life being determinable,

(3) the device being capable of automatically transitioning from the first power state to the second power state if battery power reaches a predetermined level, and

(4) the device not being connected to a UPS.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the device configuration parameters for which system data is received include whether the device is receiving AC power.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein step (b) comprises selecting the first power state based on:

(1) the device supporting a system battery,

(2) a value for remaining battery life being determinable,

(3) the device being connected to a UPS, and

(4) the device receiving AC power.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein:

the device configuration parameters include

(1) whether the device supports a system battery,

(2) whether the device is connected to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS),

(3) whether a value is determinable for remaining battery life, and

(4) whether the device is receiving AC power, and

step (b) comprises selecting the first power state based on

(1) the device not supporting a system battery,

(2) a value for remaining battery life not being determinable,

(3) the device receiving AC power, and

(4) the device not being connected to a UPS.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein:

the device configuration parameters include

(1) whether the device supports a system battery,

(2) whether the device is connected to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and

(3) whether the device is receiving AC power, and

step (b) comprises selecting the first power state based on

(1) the device supporting a system battery,

(2) the device receiving AC power, and

(3) the device being connected to a UPS.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein:

the device configuration parameters include

(1) whether the device supports a system battery,

(2) whether the device is connected to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and

(3) a value for remaining battery life, and

step (b) comprises selecting the first power state based on

(1) the device supporting a system battery,

(2) the device not being connected to a UPS, and

(3) the value of remaining battery life exceeding a non-zero value for a time out interval after which the device is configured to automatically transition from the first power state to the second power state.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, further comprising the steps of:

(d) determining the device does not provide a value for remaining battery life;

(e) determining the availability of a value for fully charged battery life;

(f) calculating battery life, if a value for fully charged battery life is unavailable, as a constant multiplied by a value for remaining percentage of battery charge and divided by 100; and

(g) calculating battery life, if a value for fully charged battery life is available, as the value for fully charged battery life multiplied by a value for remaining percentage of battery charge and divided by 100.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein:

the device configuration parameters include

(1) whether the device supports a system battery,

(2) whether the device is connected to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and

(3) a value for remaining battery life, and

step (c) comprises selecting the second power state based on

(1) the device supporting a system battery,

(2) the device not being connected to a UPS, and

(3) the value of remaining battery life not exceeding a non-zero value for a time out interval after which the device is configured to automatically transition from the first power state to the second power state.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, further comprising the steps of:

(d) determining the device does not provide a value for remaining battery life;

(e) determining the availability of a value for fully charged battery life;

(f) calculating battery life, if a value for fully charged battery life is unavailable, as a constant multiplied by a value for remaining percentage of battery charge and divided by 100; and

(g) calculating battery life, if a value for fully charged battery life is available, as the value for fully charged battery life multiplied by a value for remaining percentage of battery charge and divided by 100.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the plurality of power states includes a third power state distinct from the first and second power states, and further comprising the steps of:

(d) receiving a request to shut down the device;

(e) determining an attempt to shut down the device has been unsuccessful;

(f) determining a user has not responded to a request for additional instructions regarding device shutdown;

(g) changing a power state selection; and

(h) re-attempting shutdown of the device using the changed power state selection.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, further comprising:

(i) setting a flag indicative that an application program blocking shutdown should be closed; and

re-attempting shutdown of the device with the set flag.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, further comprising:

(k) determining that shutdown has not succeeded after performance of steps (d) through (j); and

(l) reporting an inability to shut down the device.