Windows-driven power management for peripheral devices in a computer system
US7334138B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 8, 2004 |
| Grant date | Feb 19, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 18, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02D10/00
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus for dynamically managing the power consumption of peripheral devices in a computer includes at least one peripheral device, a power management unit, and a memory unit. The power management unit includes a daemon program and a device idle time table. The daemon program is used for carrying out a first criterion by determining whether the power supplied to the device is associated with an active application program of the computer based on the device idle time table, and carrying out a second criterion by determining whether the power supplied to the device is associated with the inactive application programs of the computer based on the device idle time table. A power-saving signal is sent to an operating system of the computer when both criteria are satisfied, and the operating system activates an embedded power management utility to turn off the peripheral device in response to the power-saving signal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.