Patent · US Active

Power management of computers based on user inactivity and power state requirements for active processes

US8583952B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
7References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 29, 2010
Grant dateNov 12, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 27, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D10/00
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method of controlling power consumption in a computer by detecting whether or not there is any user activity, and also the identity of each process running on the computer. The identity of each process running on the computer is compared with a set of identities of previously identified processes, these having been deemed to be processes for which it is desirable that the computer maintains a high power state. The computer adopts a low power state if all the detected identities of processes are not in the set of high power state processes or no user activity is detected. The low power state is a state in which the computer is able to service requests. The computer freely adopts any available higher power state if user activity is detected or a detected process is in the set of high power state processes. The power state selected may depend on workload.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.