Waking a main computer system to pre-fetch data for an auxiliary computing device

• US 20060129855A1
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Fuller, Andrew J., Rhoten, Matthew P., Berkes, Otto G., Polivy, Daniel J., Wynn, Roger H., Bernstein, Michael S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,711,868 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/320
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode

Abstract

An auxiliary computing device wakes an associated main computer system to obtain data as needed, on-demand and/or in anticipation of demand. The wakeup operation is ordinarily temporary to fetch data, whereby only a small amount of power is consumed by the main computer system. In one implementation, a control channel between the auxiliary device and the main computer system is used to signal a wakeup. A main data channel is used to obtain the data, whereby the auxiliary device has access to a larger amount of data than it can cache. Moreover, the components of the main computer system may be leveraged, such as to use the main computer system'"'"'s digital rights management mechanisms. Additional data may be intelligently requested by the auxiliary device while the main computer system is powered up, e.g., to buffer media, and/or request a synchronization of calendar data, email data, and so forth.

Claims

1. In a computing environment having a computer system, a system comprising:

an auxiliary device configured to present auxiliary information, at least some of the auxiliary information provided by the computer system;

a wake mechanism in the auxiliary device for waking the main computer system into a state in which the main computer system is capable of accessing and communicating data; and

a communication mechanism for transferring data between the auxiliary computing device and the main computer system after waking the main computer system.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a control channel used by the wake mechanism to wake the main computer system, the control channel being separate from the communication mechanism for transferring data.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a control channel used by the wake mechanism to wake the main computer system, wherein the communication mechanism for transferring the data is also used for transferring information via the control channel.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a control channel used by the wake mechanism to wake the main computer system, wherein the control channel corresponds to at least one element of a set, the set containing:

a radio receiver;

a SPOT radio;

a Bluetooth radio;

a USB connection;

an SMBUS-based connection;

a serial connection;

a parallel connection;

an infrared connection;

a network connection; and

a telephone connection.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary device comprises a display screen connected to an SMBUS-based wake mechanism of the main computer system.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the wake mechanism in the auxiliary device returns the main computer system to a sleep state that consumes less power than the main computer system consumes in the awakened state.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein after the communication mechanism transfers the data, the main computer system returns itself to a sleep state that consumes less power than the main computer system consumes in the awakened state.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the main computer system includes at least one digital rights management component and a media application that provides media data to the communication mechanism.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary device comprises a device from among a set of device types containing:

a separate computer;

a mobile communications device;

a secondary display screen with button actuators;

a watch;

a wall display;

a display screen;

a digital picture frame;

a clock;

a television;

a radio;

a media player;

a device embedded within or using the main display of a consumer electronics device;

automotive, transportation or other vehicular units;

keyboards or other input devices of the main computer system;

a pager; and

a personal digital assistant.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the communications mechanism corresponds to at least one component of a set of components, the set containing:

a radio receiver;

a SPOT radio;

a Bluetooth radio;

a USB connection;

a serial connection;

a parallel connection;

an infrared connection a network connection; and

a telephone connection.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a cache manager on the auxiliary display system coupled to the wake mechanism to wake the main computer system into the awakened state upon detecting a need for an amount of data to be transferred from the main computer system.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the cache manager requests additional data unrelated to the amount of data corresponding to the detected need.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the cache manager requests the amount of data to be transferred, detects that the request is satisfied, and communicates with the wake manager to return the main computer system into a sleep state that consumes less power than the main computer system consumes in the awakened state.

14. In a computing environment having a main computer system and an auxiliary device coupled to the computer system, a method comprising:

processing data for output via the auxiliary device;

detecting a need for other data at the auxiliary device;

waking the main computer system from a sleep state into a state in which the main computer system is capable of accessing and communicating the other data; and

receiving the other data from the main computer system.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising, returning the main computer system to a sleep state that consumes less power than the main computer system consumes in the awakened state.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising, determining on the auxiliary display whether while in the awakened state, the main computer system has been otherwise used in a manner that would awaken it, and if so, leaving the computer system in a current state, and if not, returning the main computer system to a sleep state that consumes less power than the main computer system consumes in the awakened state.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising, determining on the main computer system whether while in the awakened state, the main computer system has been otherwise used in a manner that would awaken it, and if so, the main computer system leaving itself in a current state, and if not, the main computer system returning itself to a sleep state that consumes less power than the main computer system consumes in the awakened state.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein waking the main computer system comprises sending a signal on a control channel.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising, listening at the auxiliary device for data on the control channel.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein receiving the other data from the main computer system comprises receiving media data.

21. The method of claim 14 further comprising, requesting the other data and requesting additional data beyond the other data after waking the main computer system.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the additional data is obtained from a separate source with respect to the source of the other data.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising, rescheduling a timed retrieval of the additional data after receiving the additional data.

24. The method of claim 14 further comprising, detecting that no more data is presently needed after receiving the other data from the main computer system.

25. At least one computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions which when executed perform the method of claim 14.

26. At least one computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions which when executed perform steps, comprising:

processing data at an auxiliary device of a main computer when the main computer system is in a sleep state;

waking the main computer system into an awakened state in which the main computer system is at least capable of accessing and communicating data;

communicating with the main computer system when in the awakened state to exchange data; and

returning the main computer system to a sleep state that consumes less power than the main computer system consumes in the awakened state.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26 wherein waking the main computer system comprises sending a signal on a control channel.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27 further comprising, listening at the auxiliary device for data on the control channel.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 26 wherein communicating with the main computer system comprises sending data for storage on the main computer system.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 26 wherein communicating with the main computer system comprises receiving requested data.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 30 wherein receiving the requested data from the main computer system comprises receiving media data.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 30 wherein receiving the requested data from the main computer system comprises receiving displayable content.

33. The method of claim 30 further comprising, detecting that no more data is presently needed after receiving the requested data from the main computer system.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 26 further comprising, detecting a need for data and requesting the data, and wherein communicating with the main computer system comprises receiving the requested data.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 26 further comprising, detecting a need for data and requesting the data determined to be needed, and requesting additional data beyond that needed.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 35 wherein the additional data is obtained from a separate source with respect to the source of the data determined to be needed.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 26 further comprising, prior to waking the main computer system, evaluating one or more state criteria to decide whether to wake the main computer system.