Automatic management of a power state of a device with network connections

• US 8,185,767 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2008
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Shakib, Darren, Mason, Kevin Eugene, Ballou, Nat, Kaufmann, Kevin, Cates, Brian, Casperson, William, Olarig, Sompong Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, NITIN C
• Application Number:
  US12/147,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20090327782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/330
• US Class Current: 713/330
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements

Abstract

Embodiments provide a process and system for automatic management of networked devices based on the state of the network connection. The process automatically manages the power state of a networked computerized device according to a trigger event that corresponds to the state of an attached network connection. The network connection of an attached networked device is monitored for a pre-defined trigger event. Once a trigger event has been observed, the power state of the attached network device is managed to correspond to the trigger event.

Claims

1. A process of automatically managing a power state of a computing device with a network connection to a network, the process comprising:

monitoring, in the computing device, the network connection for a trigger event; and

managing the power state of the computing device to correspond to an occurrence of the trigger event, the trigger event comprising a change in a link state of a first port of a network device providing access to the network connection to the computing device.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein managing the power state comprises power cycling the computing device

3. The process of claim 1, wherein managing the power state comprises changing the power state of the computing device from a first power state and a second power state, the second power state consuming less power than the first power state.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein managing the power state comprises changing the power state of the computing device from a first power state and a second power state, the second power state consuming more power than the first power state.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the trigger event comprises network activity transmitted through the first port of the network device.

6. The process of claim 5, wherein the trigger event is a receipt or transmission of network packets through the first port of the network device within a pre-defined period of time.

7. The process of claim 5, wherein the trigger event is an absence of network packets received or transmitted through the first port of the network device within a pre-defined period of time.

8. The process of claim 6, wherein network packets further comprise a specific set of instructional packets.

9. The process of claim 1, wherein the trigger event comprises detecting a transmission of power to the device over a network cable.

10. The process claim 1, wherein a trigger event comprises detecting a termination of power transmitted to the system over a network cable.

11. A non-transitory computer readable media having computer executable components which, when executed by the computing device, causes the computing device to implement a power state management application, comprising:

a network monitor for monitoring a network connection for a trigger event, the network connection comprising a first port of a plurality of ports of a network device facilitating the network connection;

a trigger analysis engine for analyzing an observed trigger event to determine an appropriate corresponding power state for the computing device; and

a power state manager for managing the power state of the computing device to conform to the appropriate power state corresponding to the observed trigger event,

wherein, the trigger event is a state of the network connection.

12. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 11, wherein the trigger event is comprised of network activity detected over the first port of the network device.

13. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 11, wherein the trigger event is comprised of network inactivity in the first port of the network device.

14. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 11, wherein the computer readable media is implemented in a data storage device.

15. A system, comprising:

a computer having a processor coupled to a memory, the computer receiving power through a network cable;

a network device comprising a plurality of ports, a first port of the plurality of ports being coupled to the computer via a network cable;

wherein, a power state of the computer is automatically managed according to a trigger event corresponding to the transmission of power from the first port of the network device to the computer through the network cable.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the trigger event is comprised of the commencement of power transmitted to the computer over the network cable.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the trigger event is comprised of the termination of power transmitted to the computer over the network cable.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the power state of the computer is automatically managed between a first power state and a second power state, the second power state consuming less power than the first power state.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the power state of the computer is managed by power-cycling the computer.