US5944831A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power management apparatus and method for managing power application to individual circuit cards
Assignee: Dell USA LP
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Filing: 1997-06-13
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Granted: 1999-08-31
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Expires: 2017-06-13
Abstract
Abstract Communication interface PCCards are commonly attached, both physically and electrically, to a notebook computer whether the communication interface PCCards are connected to a communication channel or disconnected from the communication channel. It has further been discovered that communication interface PCCards consume power when attached to the notebook computer and that power consumption is advantageously reduced and battery life extended by detecting when the communication channel is disconnected from the communication interface PCCard and terminating power supplied to the communication interface PCCard when the communication channel is disconnected. A power management method in a computer system having a PCCard connected to a communication channel includes detecting a disconnection of the communication channel from the PCCard and terminating power supplied to the PCCard in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel.
Inventors
- 👤 John C. Pate
- 👤 John J. Pearce
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 19:25
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203; G06F1/3206; G06F1/3215; G06F1/3225; G06F1/3234; G06F1/325; G06F1/3281; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D10/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A power management method in a computer system having a PCCard, the PCCard having a memory, the PCCard connected to a communication channel, the method comprising: detecting a disconnection of the communication channel from the PCCard; terminating power supplied to the PCCard in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel; and operating the PCCard in a power management mode responsive to power events; and recording a power state in the PCCard memory in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel; and posting an event to the computer system indicating the power state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A power management method in a computer system having a PCCard, the PCCard having a memory, the PCCard connected to a communication channel, the method comprising: detecting a disconnection of the communication channel from the PCCard; terminating power supplied to the PCCard in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel; and operating the PCCard in a power management mode responsive to power events; and recording a power state in the PCCard memory in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel; and posting an event to the computer system indicating the power state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein: the power management mode is a mode according to an Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) specification.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising: operating the PCCard in a power management mode responsive to power events by actions including: (1) entering a fully-powered state; and (2) entering a suspended state.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein: the power management mode is a mode according to an Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) specification.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein: the PCCard is a Personal Computer Memory Card Industry Association (PCMCIA) card.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein: the PCCard is a Local Area Network (LAN) interface card.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein: the PCCard is a modulator/demodulator (modem) interface card.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein: the PCCard is an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) interface card.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein: the PCCard is a generic communication interface card.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
The power management method of claim 1, wherein the power events include: (1) setting of a carry-bit of a power management timer, (2) actuating of a power button, (3) actuating of a sleep button, (4) setting a real-time clock (RTC) alarm wakeup, (5) setting of a wake status bit, (6) receipt of a system bus master request, and (7) raising of a global release status.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
104 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computable readable code embodied therein including an executable program code for performing: detection of a disconnection of a communication channel from a PCCard, the PCCard having a memory; termination of power supplied to the PCCard in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel; operation of the PCCard in a power management mode responsive to power events; recordation of a power state in the PCCard memory in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel; and posting of an event to the computer system indicating the power state.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
104 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computable readable code embodied therein including an executable program code for performing: detection of a disconnection of a communication channel from a PCCard, the PCCard having a memory; termination of power supplied to the PCCard in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel; operation of the PCCard in a power management mode responsive to power events; recordation of a power state in the PCCard memory in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel; and posting of an event to the computer system indicating the power state.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
The computer program product of claim 11, wherein power events include: (1) setting of a carry-bit of a power management timer, (2) actuating of a power button, (3) actuating of a sleep button, (4) setting a real-time clock (RTC) alarm wakeup, (5) setting of a wake status bit, (6) receipt of a system bus master request, and (7) raising of a global release status.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
162 words
A computer system comprising: a processor; a storage coupled to the processor, the storage including a program storage; a PCCard detachably connected to the processor, the PCCard including a memory and a communication interface for interfacing to a communication channel; and a sensor for detecting connection and disconnection of a cable linking the communication interface to the communication channel; an executable program code stored in the program storage, the executable program code including: a routine for detecting a disconnection of the communication channel from the PCCard; and a routine for terminating power supplied to the PCCard in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel; and a routine for operating the PCCard in a power management mode responsive to power events; a routine for recording a power state in the PCCard memory in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel; and a routine for posting an event to the computer system indicating the power state.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
162 words
A computer system comprising: a processor; a storage coupled to the processor, the storage including a program storage; a PCCard detachably connected to the processor, the PCCard including a memory and a communication interface for interfacing to a communication channel; and a sensor for detecting connection and disconnection of a cable linking the communication interface to the communication channel; an executable program code stored in the program storage, the executable program code including: a routine for detecting a disconnection of the communication channel from the PCCard; and a routine for terminating power supplied to the PCCard in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel; and a routine for operating the PCCard in a power management mode responsive to power events; a routine for recording a power state in the PCCard memory in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel; and a routine for posting an event to the computer system indicating the power state.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
A computer system according to claim 13 wherein the executable program code further includes: a routine for operating the PCCard in a power management mode responsive to power events by actions including: (1) entering a fully-powered state; and (2) entering a suspended state.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A computer system according to claim 14 wherein: the power management mode is a mode according to the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) specification.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A computer system according to claim 13 wherein: the PCCard is a Personal Computer Memory Card Industry Association (PCMCIA) card.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer system according to claim 13 wherein: the PCCard is a Local Area Network (LAN) interface card.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A computer system according to claim 13 wherein: the PCCard is a modulator/demodulator (modem) interface card.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
A computer system according to claim 13 wherein: the PCCard is an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) interface card.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 13 wherein: the PCCard is a generic communication interface card.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
79 words
The computer system of claim 13, wherein the routine for operating the PCCard in a power management mode detects the power events, the power events including: (1) setting of a carry-bit of a power management timer, (2) actuating of a power button, (3) actuating of a sleep button, (4) setting a real-time clock (RTC) alarm wakeup, (5) setting of a wake status bit, (6) receipt of a system bus master request, and (7) raising of a global release status.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
114 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computable readable code embodied therein including an executable program code for performing: a routine for detecting a disconnection of a communication channel from a PCCard, the PCCard having a memory; a routine for terminating power supplied to the PCCard in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel; a routine for operating the PCCard in a power management mode responsive to power events; a routine for recording a power state in the PCCard memory in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel; and a routine for posting an event to the computer system indicating the power state.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
114 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computable readable code embodied therein including an executable program code for performing: a routine for detecting a disconnection of a communication channel from a PCCard, the PCCard having a memory; a routine for terminating power supplied to the PCCard in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel; a routine for operating the PCCard in a power management mode responsive to power events; a routine for recording a power state in the PCCard memory in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel; and a routine for posting an event to the computer system indicating the power state.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
85 words
A PCCard comprising: a memory; a communication interface for interfacing to a communication channel; a sensor for detecting connection and disconnection of a cable linking the communication interface to the communication channel; a means for operating the PCCard in a power management mode responsive to power events; a means for recording a power state in the PCCard memory in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel; and a means for posting an event to the computer system indicating the power state.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
85 words
A PCCard comprising: a memory; a communication interface for interfacing to a communication channel; a sensor for detecting connection and disconnection of a cable linking the communication interface to the communication channel; a means for operating the PCCard in a power management mode responsive to power events; a means for recording a power state in the PCCard memory in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel; and a means for posting an event to the computer system indicating the power state.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
A PCCard according to claim 23 wherein: the PCCard is a Personal Computer Memory Card Industry Association (PCMCIA) card.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
A PCCard according to claim 23 wherein: the PCCard is a Local Area Network (LAN) interface card.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
A PCCard according to claim 23 wherein: the PCCard is a modulator/demodulator (modem) interface card.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
A PCCard according to claim 23 wherein: the PCCard is an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) interface card.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
63 words
The PCCard of claim 23 wherein the power events include: (1) setting of a carry-bit of a power management timer, (2) actuating of a power button, (3) actuating of a sleep button, (4) setting a real-time clock (RTC) alarm wakeup, (5) setting of a wake status bit, (6) receipt of a system bus master request, and (7) raising of a global release status.
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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) | 2002-08-30 | 2003-03-01 | 2003-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-30 | 2007-03-01 | 2007-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-30 | 2011-03-01 | 2011-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |