System for reconfiguring a computer between a high power and high functionality configuration and a low power and low functionality configuration
First Claim
1. Computer-readable storage medium having thereon computer-executable instructions for maintaining functional availability in a power-constrained personal computer over extended periods of time comprising:
- configuring a first timer to generate an up alarm signal;
reconfiguring the power-constrained personal computer from a first of a set of relatively high functionality and high power configurations to one of a set of relatively low functionality and low power configurations; and
in response to the up alarm signal, reconfiguring the power-constrained personal computer from said one of the set of relatively low functionality and low power configurations to a second of the set of relatively high functionality and high power configurations;
wherein;
each power-constrained personal computer configuration is associated with at least one software power set;
each software power set references at least one software component of the power-constrained personal computer;
the power-constrained personal computer includes a plurality of storage types for software components;
at least one of the plurality of storage types is capable of being powered down while other storage types remain powered; and
reconfiguring the power-constrained personal computer from said one of the set of relatively low functionality and low power configurations to the second of the set of relatively high functionality and high power configurations comprises loading, from a newly powered storage type, at least said at least one software component referenced by said at least one software power set associated with the second of the set of relatively high functionality and high power configurations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An intermittent computing system state and intermittent computing module is described for a power-constrained personal computer. In the intermittent computing system state, the power-constrained personal computer may transition between sub-states of the intermittent computing system state according to an intermittent computing schedule. Each intermittent computing sub-state may be associated with hardware power sets and software power sets. Altering power supply to hardware components referenced by hardware power sets may alter power consumed in associated intermittent computing sub-states. A caching mechanism may be configured to make it likely that software components referenced by software power sets are loaded into powered storage types during associated intermittent computing sub-states. In the intermittent computing system state, periods of high functionality may be available over extended periods without the high power consumption associated with a continuous working system state. Average power consumption may be adjusted by varying the intermittent computing schedule.
23 Citations
27 Claims
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1. Computer-readable storage medium having thereon computer-executable instructions for maintaining functional availability in a power-constrained personal computer over extended periods of time comprising:
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configuring a first timer to generate an up alarm signal; reconfiguring the power-constrained personal computer from a first of a set of relatively high functionality and high power configurations to one of a set of relatively low functionality and low power configurations; and in response to the up alarm signal, reconfiguring the power-constrained personal computer from said one of the set of relatively low functionality and low power configurations to a second of the set of relatively high functionality and high power configurations; wherein; each power-constrained personal computer configuration is associated with at least one software power set; each software power set references at least one software component of the power-constrained personal computer; the power-constrained personal computer includes a plurality of storage types for software components; at least one of the plurality of storage types is capable of being powered down while other storage types remain powered; and reconfiguring the power-constrained personal computer from said one of the set of relatively low functionality and low power configurations to the second of the set of relatively high functionality and high power configurations comprises loading, from a newly powered storage type, at least said at least one software component referenced by said at least one software power set associated with the second of the set of relatively high functionality and high power configurations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A power-constrained personal computer, comprising an intermittent computing module, the intermittent computing module comprising a power cycle engine configured to, at least:
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transition the power-constrained personal computer to an intermittent computing system state; transition the power-constrained personal computer between sub-states of the intermittent computing system state according to an intermittent computing schedule; and alter a level of power consumed by the power-constrained personal computer in each sub-state of the intermittent computing system state; wherein the intermittent computing module further comprises an application programming interface, the application programming interface comprising; an Enter Intermittent Computing State element capable of triggering the transition of the power-constrained personal computer to the intermittent computing system state; a Get/Set Intermittent Computing Schedule element capable of configuring the intermittent computing schedule; and an Edit Power Set element enabling the configuration of said at least one hardware power set wherein; each sub-state of the intermittent computing system state is associated with at least one hardware power set; and each hardware power set references at least one hardware component of the power-constrained personal computer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. Computer-readable storage medium having thereon computer-executable instructions for interacting with at least one element of an application programming interface of an intermittent computing module, the application programming interface of the intermittent computing module comprising:
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an Enter Intermittent Computing State element capable of transitioning a power-constrained personal computer to an intermittent computing system state having sub-states that transition according to an intermittent computing schedule; and a Get/Set Intermittent Computing Schedule element capable of configuring the intermittent computing schedule; wherein; each sub-state of the intermittent computing system state is associated with at least one of (i) at least one hardware power set, (ii) at least one software power set; each hardware power set references at least one hardware component of the power-constrained personal computer; each software power set references at least one software component of the power-constrained personal computer; and the application programming interface of the intermittent computing module further comprises an Edit Power Set element enabling the configuration of at least one of (i) said at least one hardware power set, and (ii) said at least one software power set. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. Computer-readable storage medium having thereon computer-executable instructions for maintaining functional availability in a power-constrained personal computer over extended periods of time comprising:
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configuring a first timer to generate an up alarm signal; reconfiguring the power-constrained personal computer from a first of a set of relatively high functionality and high power configurations to one of a set of relatively low functionality and low power configurations; in response to the up alarm signal, reconfiguring the power-constrained personal computer from said one of the set of relatively low functionality and low power configurations to a second of the set of relatively high functionality and high power configurations; each power-constrained personal computer configuration is associated with at least one software power set; each software power set references at least one software component of the power-constrained personal computer; the power-constrained personal computer includes a plurality of storage types for software components; at least one of the plurality of storage types is capable of being powered down while other storage types remain powered; the power-constrained personal computer includes a caching mechanism for transferring software components between scarce and plentiful storage types; and the computer-executable instructions further comprise configuring the caching mechanism to transfer software components referenced by software power sets associated with each power-constrained personal computer configuration to at least one storage type that remains powered in the power-constrained personal computer configuration.
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27. Computer-readable storage medium having thereon computer-executable instructions for interacting with at least one element of an application programming interface of an intermittent computing module, the application programming interface of the intermittent computing module comprising:
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an Enter Intermittent Computing State element capable of transitioning a power-constrained personal computer to an intermittent computing system state having sub-states that transition according to an intermittent computing schedule; and a Get/Set Intermittent Computing Schedule element capable of configuring the intermittent computing schedule; wherein the application programming interface of the intermittent computing module further comprises a Subscribe to Cycle Event element enabling subscription to a set of power cycle events, the set of power cycle events comprising an entering intermittent computing sub-state event.
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Specification