US5692204A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for computer system power management
Assignee: Lenovo PC International Ltd
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Filing: 1996-06-19
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Granted: 1997-11-25
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Expires: 2016-06-19
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for managing power states of at least one hardware resource, including registering at least one hardware resource power state corresponding to a software process, determining whether a current hardware resource power state fulfills the registered hardware resource power state corresponding to the software process, and modifying the current hardware resource power state that is determined not to fulfill the registered hardware resource power state prior to executing the software process.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew Radcliffe Rawson
- 👤 Guy Gil Sotomayor, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:31
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203; G06F1/3234; G06F1/3287; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D10/00; Y02D30/00; Y02D30/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 56
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
An apparatus for managing power states of hardware resources of a computing system comprising: means for receiving a service call from a software process; means, responsive to said service call, for registering a power state of at least one hardware resource to be utilized by an application program; and means for comparing a current power state of said at least one hardware resource to said registered power state and means for modifying said current power state prior to executing said application program if said current power state is lower than said registered power state.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
An apparatus for managing power states of hardware resources of a computing system comprising: means for receiving a service call from a software process; means, responsive to said service call, for registering a power state of at least one hardware resource to be utilized by an application program; and means for comparing a current power state of said at least one hardware resource to said registered power state and means for modifying said current power state prior to executing said application program if said current power state is lower than said registered power state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said computing system is a multi-tasking computing system, said means for receiving includes means for receiving service calls from a first set of software processes, said means for registering includes means for registering power states of hardware resources to be utilized by said first set of software processes, and said means for modifying includes means for modifying power states of hardware resources to be utilized by said first set of software processes if current power states are lower than said registered power states.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a second set of software processes are executed before said step of modifying if current power states of hardware resources to be used by both the first and the second set of software processes are equal or higher than power states registered in response to service calls received from said second set of software processes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein additional hardware resource power states are registered during execution of said first set of software processes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein an operating system maintains a history of a second set of said plurality of software processes for determining what hardware resource power states correspond to said second set of software processes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said application program is a software process.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for managing power states of hardware resources of a computing system comprising the steps of: receiving a service call from a software process; registering, in response to said service call, a power state of at least one hardware resource to be utilized by an application program; and comparing a current power state of said at least one hardware resource to said registered power state and modifying said current power state prior to executing said application program if said current power state is lower than said registered power state.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for managing power states of hardware resources of a computing system comprising the steps of: receiving a service call from a software process; registering, in response to said service call, a power state of at least one hardware resource to be utilized by an application program; and comparing a current power state of said at least one hardware resource to said registered power state and modifying said current power state prior to executing said application program if said current power state is lower than said registered power state.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said computing system is a multi-tasking system, said step of receiving includes the step of receiving service calls from a first set of software processes, said step of registering includes the step of registering power states of hardware resources to be utilized by said first set of software processes, and said step of modifying includes the step of modifying power states of hardware resources to be utilized by said first set of software processes if current power states are lower than said registered power states.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 8 wherein a second set of said software processes are executed before said step of modifying if current power states of hardware resources to be used by both the first and the second set of software processes are equal or higher than power states registered in response to service calls received from said second set of software processes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 8 wherein additional hardware resource power states are registered during execution of said first set of software processes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 8 wherein an operating system maintains a history of a second set of said plurality of software processes for determining what hardware resource power states correspond to said second set of software processes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said application program is a software process.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said first set of software processes being executed initiates service calls for either itself and/or a second set of software processes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
109 words
A data processing system for managing power states of hardware resources of a computing system comprising: a memory for storing data to be processed; a processor for processing data; means for receiving a service call from a software process; means, responsive to said service call, for registering a power state of at least one hardware resource to be utilized by an application program; and means for comparing a current power state of said at least one hardware resource to said registered power state and means for modifying said current power state prior to executing said application program if said current power state is lower than said registered power state.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
109 words
A data processing system for managing power states of hardware resources of a computing system comprising: a memory for storing data to be processed; a processor for processing data; means for receiving a service call from a software process; means, responsive to said service call, for registering a power state of at least one hardware resource to be utilized by an application program; and means for comparing a current power state of said at least one hardware resource to said registered power state and means for modifying said current power state prior to executing said application program if said current power state is lower than said registered power state.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
91 words
The data processing system of claim 14 wherein said computing system is a multi-tasking computing system, said means for receiving includes means for receiving service calls from a first set of software processes, said means for registering includes means for registering power states of hardware resources to be utilized by said first set of software processes, and said means for modifying includes means for modifying power states of hardware resources to be utilized by said first set of software processes if current power states are lower than said registered power states.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
63 words
The data processing system of claim 15 wherein a second set of software processes are executed before said step of modifying if current power states of hardware resources to be used by both the first and the second set of software processes are equal or higher than power states registered in response to service calls received from said second set of software processes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The data processing system of claim 15 wherein additional hardware resource power states are registered during execution of said first set of software processes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The data processing system of claim 15 wherein an operating system maintains a history of a fourth set of said plurality of software processes for determining what hardware resource power states correspond to said fourth set of software processes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The data processing system of claim 18 wherein said application program is a software process.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The data processing system of claim 17 wherein said first set of software processes being executed initiates service calls for either itself and/or a second set of software processes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
113 words
A computer program product stored in memory and executable by a processor for managing power states of hardware resources of a computing system comprising: means, stored in memory, for receiving a service call from a software process; means, stored in memory and responsive to said service call, for registering a power state of at least one hardware resource to be utilized by an application program; and means, stored in memory, for comparing a current power state of said at least one hardware resource to said registered power state and for modifying said current power state prior to executing said application program if said current power state is lower than said registered power state.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
113 words
A computer program product stored in memory and executable by a processor for managing power states of hardware resources of a computing system comprising: means, stored in memory, for receiving a service call from a software process; means, stored in memory and responsive to said service call, for registering a power state of at least one hardware resource to be utilized by an application program; and means, stored in memory, for comparing a current power state of said at least one hardware resource to said registered power state and for modifying said current power state prior to executing said application program if said current power state is lower than said registered power state.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
100 words
The computer program product of claim 21 wherein said computing system is a multi-tasking computing system, said means stored in memory for receiving includes means for receiving service calls from a first set of software processes, said means stored in memory for registering includes means for registering power states of hardware resources to be utilized by said first set of software processes, and said means stored in memory for modifying includes means for modifying power states of hardware resources to be utilized by said first set of software processes if current power states are lower than said registered power states.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
63 words
The computer program product of claim 22 wherein a second set of software processes are executed before said step of modifying if current power states of hardware resources to be used by both the first and the second set of software processes are equal or higher than power states registered in response to service calls received from said second set of software processes.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer program product of claim 22 wherein additional hardware resource power states are registered during execution of said first set of software processes.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
The computer program product of claim 22 wherein an operating system maintains a history of a second set of said plurality of software processes for determining what hardware resource power states correspond to said second set of software processes.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer program product of claim 25 wherein said application program is a software process.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer program product of claim 24 wherein said first set of software processes being executed initiates service calls for either itself and/or a second set of software processes.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
90 words
An apparatus for obtaining power states of at least one hardware resource, comprising: means for requesting at least one hardware resource power state corresponding to a software process, said requesting means including means for receiving a service call from a command script, said command script being written by a user if said software process is power management unaware; means for waiting for a response that confirms a current hardware resource power state fulfills said requested hardware resource power state; and means for executing the software process upon receiving the response.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
90 words
An apparatus for obtaining power states of at least one hardware resource, comprising: means for requesting at least one hardware resource power state corresponding to a software process, said requesting means including means for receiving a service call from a command script, said command script being written by a user if said software process is power management unaware; means for waiting for a response that confirms a current hardware resource power state fulfills said requested hardware resource power state; and means for executing the software process upon receiving the response.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising means for suspending execution of the software process and for requesting at least one hardware resource power state corresponding to the software process while the execution of the software process is suspended.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of obtaining power states of at least one hardware resource, comprising the steps of: requesting at least one hardware resource power state corresponding to a software process, said step of requesting including the step of receiving a service call from a command script written by a user if said software process is power management unaware; waiting for a response that confirms a current hardware resource power state fulfills said requested hardware resource power state; and executing the software process upon receiving the response.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of obtaining power states of at least one hardware resource, comprising the steps of: requesting at least one hardware resource power state corresponding to a software process, said step of requesting including the step of receiving a service call from a command script written by a user if said software process is power management unaware; waiting for a response that confirms a current hardware resource power state fulfills said requested hardware resource power state; and executing the software process upon receiving the response.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 30 further comprising a step of suspending execution of the software process and requesting at least one hardware resource power state corresponding to the software process while the execution of the software process is suspended.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
108 words
A computer program product stored in memory and executable by a processor for obtaining power states of at least one hardware resource, comprising: means, stored in memory, for requesting at least one hardware resource power state corresponding to a software process, said requesting means including means stored in memory for receiving a service call from a command script written by a user if said software process is power management unaware; means, stored in memory, for waiting for a response that confirms a current hardware resource power state fulfills said requested hardware resource power state; and means, stored in memory, for executing the software process upon receiving the response.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
108 words
A computer program product stored in memory and executable by a processor for obtaining power states of at least one hardware resource, comprising: means, stored in memory, for requesting at least one hardware resource power state corresponding to a software process, said requesting means including means stored in memory for receiving a service call from a command script written by a user if said software process is power management unaware; means, stored in memory, for waiting for a response that confirms a current hardware resource power state fulfills said requested hardware resource power state; and means, stored in memory, for executing the software process upon receiving the response.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
44 words
The computer program product of claim 32 further comprising means, stored in memory, for suspending execution of the software process and for requesting at least one hardware resource power state corresponding to the software process while the execution of the software process is suspended.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said first set of software processes being executed initiates service calls for either itself and/or a second set of software processes.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
57 words
An apparatus for scheduling executions of software processes in a multi-tasking computing system comprising: means for receiving required minimum power states of hardware resources to be utilized by said software processes; means for determining current power states of said hardware resources; and means, responsive to said receiving and determining means, for scheduling execution of said software processes.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
57 words
An apparatus for scheduling executions of software processes in a multi-tasking computing system comprising: means for receiving required minimum power states of hardware resources to be utilized by said software processes; means for determining current power states of said hardware resources; and means, responsive to said receiving and determining means, for scheduling execution of said software processes.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 35 wherein software processes using hardware resources with required minimum power states meeting current power states of said hardware resources are scheduled to be executed first.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 36 wherein software processes using hardware resources with required minimum power states being next levels of current power states of said hardware resources are scheduled to be executed next.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 37 wherein upgrading current power states of said hardware resources to said next levels of power states occurs during execution of software processes.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of scheduling executions of software processes in a multi-tasking computing system comprising the steps of: receiving required minimum power states of hardware resources to be utilized by said software processes; determining current power states of said hardware resources; and using said minimum power states and said current power states to schedule execution of said software processes.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of scheduling executions of software processes in a multi-tasking computing system comprising the steps of: receiving required minimum power states of hardware resources to be utilized by said software processes; determining current power states of said hardware resources; and using said minimum power states and said current power states to schedule execution of said software processes.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 39 wherein software processes using hardware resources with required minimum power states meeting current power states of said hardware resources are scheduled to be executed first.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 40 wherein software processes using hardware resources with required minimum power states being next levels of current power states of said hardware resources are scheduled to be executed next.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 41 wherein upgrading current power states of said hardware resources to said next levels of power states occurs during execution of software processes.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
73 words
A computer program product stored in memory and executable by a processor for scheduling executions of software processes in a multi-tasking computing system comprising: computer executable means for receiving required minimum power states of hardware resources to be utilized by said software processes; computer executable means for determining current power states of said hardware resources; and computer executable means, responsive to said receiving and determining means, for scheduling execution of said software processes.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
73 words
A computer program product stored in memory and executable by a processor for scheduling executions of software processes in a multi-tasking computing system comprising: computer executable means for receiving required minimum power states of hardware resources to be utilized by said software processes; computer executable means for determining current power states of said hardware resources; and computer executable means, responsive to said receiving and determining means, for scheduling execution of said software processes.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer program product of claim 43 wherein software processes using hardware resources with required minimum power states meeting current power states of said hardware resources are scheduled to be executed first.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer program product of claim 44 wherein software processes using hardware resources with required minimum power states being next levels of current power states of said hardware resources are scheduled to be executed next.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer program product of claim 45 wherein upgrading current power states of said hardware resources to said next levels of power states occurs during execution of software processes.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-11-24 | 2001-05-26 | 2001-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-24 | 2005-05-26 | 2005-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-24 | 2009-05-26 | 2009-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |