Apparatus and method for managing power consumption by I/O ports in a computer system
US5675814A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 26, 1996 |
| Grant date | Oct 7, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 26, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F1/325
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A portable computer is provided in which the consumption of power by the I/O ports of the computer is reduced. The processor of the computer distinguishes port I/O operations that require an actual data transfer from port I/O operations that do not require an actual data transfer. The I/O ports of the computer remain off until an I/O operation involving an actual data transfer at a particular port is required. When an I/O operation which requires an actual data transfer is encountered, then the appropriate port is powered up. In this manner, power consumption by the I/O ports of the computer is significantly reduced. Advantageously, the disclosed technique for reducing power consumption by the I/O ports of the computer is operating system independent. In this manner, the power management feature functions regardless of which particular operating system or application software is installed on the computer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.