US6885974B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Dynamic power control apparatus, systems and methods
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
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Filing: 2003-01-31
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Granted: 2005-04-26
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Expires: 2023-01-31
Abstract
Abstract Dynamic power controller apparatus, systems and methods are provided which utilize system and user data to control power to components. The present invention employs dynamically controlled idle timeout values which are based, in part, on the historical use of the component. It can also employ user settings, event occurrences and available resources of a system to dynamically control the power to one of the system's components or a remote component. In an instance of the present invention related to hard disk power control, it is employed in an operating system's kernel where disk idleness is monitored. When the hard disk's idle time meets a dynamically computed power control idle timeout, the disk driver is commanded to power down the device.
Inventors
- 👤 Matthew H. Holle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:54
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203; G06F1/3206; G06F1/3228; G06F1/3234; G06F1/3287; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D10/00; Y02D30/00; Y02D30/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A system facilitating dynamic component power control, comprising: a power control device that provides information associated with component power control, based, at least in part, upon historical component usage information; and a component controller that controls power to a component, based, at least in part, upon the information from the power control device, wherein the component controller formulates a dynamic idle timeout value which includes accounting for user settings related to the component and wherein the user settings are reduced substantially in an approximate range of 50% to 95% when component power is removed a first time.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
97 words
A system facilitating dynamic component power control, comprising: a power control device that provides information associated with component power control, based, at least in part, upon historical component usage information; and a component controller that controls power to a component, based, at least in part, upon the information from the power control device, wherein the component controller formulates a dynamic idle timeout value which includes accounting for user settings related to the component and wherein the user settings are reduced substantially in an approximate range of 50% to 95% when component power is removed a first time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 1 , the component comprising a hard disk.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 , the component controller comprising a disk controller component.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 , the power control device comprising a disk idleness component in an operating system's kernel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 , the component controller comprising a device driver for the component, interfacing to both the component and power control device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 1 , the power control device comprising: a component power controller for sending, receiving and analyzing information pertinent to power control of a component; and at least one subcomponent interfacing with the component power controller, providing data related to the power control of the component.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 6 , the subcomponents provided by an operating system hosting the power control device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 6 , the subcomponents comprising: a current idle time monitor subcomponent; and a component usage monitor subcomponent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 8 , the component usage monitor subcomponent comprising, at least in part, inputs relating to a user's status for determining if the user is present.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 6 , the subcomponents further comprising a user settings subcomponent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 6 , the subcomponents further comprising a resource monitor subcomponent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 6 , the subcomponents further comprising an event monitor subcomponent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 12 , the event monitor subcomponent comprising: an application monitor entity; and an event request monitor entity.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
75 words
A system facilitating dynamic component power control, comprising a power control device that provides information associated with component power control, based, at least in part, upon historical component usage information, wherein the power control device formulates a dynamic idle timeout value which includes accounting for user settings related to the component and wherein the user settings are reduced substantially in an approximate range of 50% to 95% when component power is removed a first time.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
75 words
A system facilitating dynamic component power control, comprising a power control device that provides information associated with component power control, based, at least in part, upon historical component usage information, wherein the power control device formulates a dynamic idle timeout value which includes accounting for user settings related to the component and wherein the user settings are reduced substantially in an approximate range of 50% to 95% when component power is removed a first time.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 14 , the power control device comprising: a component power controller for sending, receiving and analyzing information pertinent to power control of a component; and at least one subcomponent interfacing with the component power controller, providing data related to the power control of the component.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 15 , the power control device having a capability to send power control information to at least one remote component controller.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 15 , the power control device having a capability to send power control information to at least one remote component.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 15 , the power control device residing within an operating system's kernel.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for facilitating dynamic component power control, comprising: determining a component's usage; and formulating a dynamic idle timeout value based on the component's usage, wherein formulating a dynamic idle timeout value includes accounting for user settings related to the component and wherein the user settings are reduced substantially in an approximate range of 50% to 95% when component power is removed a first time.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for facilitating dynamic component power control, comprising: determining a component's usage; and formulating a dynamic idle timeout value based on the component's usage, wherein formulating a dynamic idle timeout value includes accounting for user settings related to the component and wherein the user settings are reduced substantially in an approximate range of 50% to 95% when component power is removed a first time.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein determining a component's usage is based on a previous duration of a component's power removed time.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein determining a component's usage is based on a previous duration of a process requiring utilization of the component.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein determining a component's usage is based on a previous duration of a component's power applied time.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein formulating a dynamic idle timeout value includes accounting for resources available to a system.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein formulating a dynamic idle timeout value includes accounting for resources available to the component.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein formulating a dynamic idle timeout value includes accounting for events requiring utilization of the component.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for facilitating dynamic component power control, comprising: determining a component's usage; and formulating a dynamic idle timeout value based on the component's usage, wherein formulating a dynamic idle timeout value include accounting for user settings related to the component and wherein the user settings are reduced in an approximate range of 5% to 20% when component power is removed alter a first time.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for facilitating dynamic component power control, comprising: determining a component's usage; and formulating a dynamic idle timeout value based on the component's usage, wherein formulating a dynamic idle timeout value include accounting for user settings related to the component and wherein the user settings are reduced in an approximate range of 5% to 20% when component power is removed alter a first time.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein formulating a dynamic idle timeout value includes accounting for system settings related to the component.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein formulating a dynamic idle timeout value includes accounting for a user's status.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 19 , further comprising: comparing the dynamic idle timeout value to the component's current idle time value; and providing notice when the dynamic idle timeout value approximates the current idle time value.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 29 , further comprising interfacing with a component controller to relay information related to dynamically controlling power of the component.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 29 , further comprising interfacing with a component to relay information related to dynamically controlling power of the component.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for facilitating dynamic component power control, comprising: monitoring power states of a component; monitoring events requiring utilization of the component; weighting the events based on a priority level; determining component's usage; formulating a dynamic idle timeout value based on the component's usage and weight of the events requiring utilization of the component; comparing the dynamic idle timeout value to the component's current idle time value; providing notice when the dynamic idle timeout value approximates the current idle time value; and determining a weighting threshold, wherein the dynamic idle timeout is increased substantially in an approximate range of 50% to 200% when the weighting threshold is surpassed.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for facilitating dynamic component power control, comprising: monitoring power states of a component; monitoring events requiring utilization of the component; weighting the events based on a priority level; determining component's usage; formulating a dynamic idle timeout value based on the component's usage and weight of the events requiring utilization of the component; comparing the dynamic idle timeout value to the component's current idle time value; providing notice when the dynamic idle timeout value approximates the current idle time value; and determining a weighting threshold, wherein the dynamic idle timeout is increased substantially in an approximate range of 50% to 200% when the weighting threshold is surpassed.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein monitoring power states includes at least one from a group consisting of power applied, power removed, power apply request, and power remove request.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein monitoring events includes at least one from a group consisting of application requests for utilization of the component and system requests for utilization of the component.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein weighting the events is based on at least one from a group consisting of frequency of the event, predicted frequency of the event, and priority of the event.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 32 , further including determining if power resources are limited for the component.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for facilitating dynamic component power control, comprising: monitoring power states of a component; monitoring events requiting utilization of the component; weighting the events based on a priority level; determining a component's usage; formulating a dynamic idle timeout value based on the component's usage and weight of the events requiring utilization of the component; comparing the dynamic idle timeout value to the component's current idle time value; providing notice when the dynamic idle timeout value approximates the current idle time value; determining a weighting threshold; and determining if power resources are limited for the component, wherein the dynamic idle timeout is increased substantially in an approximate range of 50% to 200% when resources are not limited and the weighting threshold is surpassed.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for facilitating dynamic component power control, comprising: monitoring power states of a component; monitoring events requiting utilization of the component; weighting the events based on a priority level; determining a component's usage; formulating a dynamic idle timeout value based on the component's usage and weight of the events requiring utilization of the component; comparing the dynamic idle timeout value to the component's current idle time value; providing notice when the dynamic idle timeout value approximates the current idle time value; determining a weighting threshold; and determining if power resources are limited for the component, wherein the dynamic idle timeout is increased substantially in an approximate range of 50% to 200% when resources are not limited and the weighting threshold is surpassed.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
73 words
A computer readable medium storing computer executable components of a system for controlling power of a component, comprising a power control device that provides information associated with component power control, based, at least in part, upon historical component usage information, wherein the power user settings related to the component and wherein the user settings are reduced substantially in an approximate range of 50% to 95% when component power is removed a first time.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
73 words
A computer readable medium storing computer executable components of a system for controlling power of a component, comprising a power control device that provides information associated with component power control, based, at least in part, upon historical component usage information, wherein the power user settings related to the component and wherein the user settings are reduced substantially in an approximate range of 50% to 95% when component power is removed a first time.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
51 words
The computer readable medium of claim 38 , the power control device comprises: a component power controller for sending, receiving and analyzing information pertinent to power control of a component; and at least one subcomponent interfacing with the component power controller, providing data related to the power control of the component.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device employing the system of claim 14 comprising at least one from a group consisting of a computer, a server, a handheld electronic device, a photocopier, a scanner, a fax machine, a digital camera, and a digital video camera.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
93 words
A dynamic component power control system, comprising: means for receiving usage information of a component; means for determining a dynamic idle timeout value, based, in part, on historical usage information of the component; means for comparing the dynamic idle timeout value to a current idle time value; means for notifying the component when the dynamic idle timeout value approximately equals the current idle time value; and means for determining a weighting threshold, wherein the dynamic idle timeout value is increased substantially in an approximate 50% to 200% when the weighting threshold is surpassed.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
93 words
A dynamic component power control system, comprising: means for receiving usage information of a component; means for determining a dynamic idle timeout value, based, in part, on historical usage information of the component; means for comparing the dynamic idle timeout value to a current idle time value; means for notifying the component when the dynamic idle timeout value approximately equals the current idle time value; and means for determining a weighting threshold, wherein the dynamic idle timeout value is increased substantially in an approximate 50% to 200% when the weighting threshold is surpassed.
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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) | 2008-04-25 | 2008-10-25 | 2009-04-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-04-25 | 2012-10-25 | 2013-04-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-04-25 | 2016-10-25 | 2017-04-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |