Electronic device, electronic device control method, computer program, and storage medium

Abstract

To provide a piece of electronic equipment capable of saving power consumption when using electronic equipment, a control method of the electronic equipment, a computer program, and a storage medium.SOLUTION: Electronic equipment includes: a display part that displays at least one application window; and a control unit that controls the display part. The control unit acquires a piece of first trigger information for starting a series of power-saving processing and starts the power-saving processing on the basis of the first trigger information. In an example of the power-saving processing, the control unit acquires a still image on the basis of a screen of the display part, displays the still image on the display part, then, while the still image is being displayed, minimizes a size of at least one window.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2B

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electronic device, a control method for an electronic device, a computer program, and a storage medium. [Background technology]

[0002] The usable time of an electronic device powered by a battery is closely related to the amount of power consumed when the electronic device is in use. Reducing power consumption allows the electronic device to be used for a longer period of time. Patent Document 1 describes a technique for reducing the power consumption of a display. The computer described in Patent Document 1 reduces power consumption by generating a black full-screen window and displaying the active window in front of it. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-202750 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 still has room for improvement in terms of saving power consumption.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an electronic device, a control method for an electronic device, a computer program, and a storage medium that can save power consumption when the electronic device is in use. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present disclosure provides an electronic device, a control method for an electronic device, a computer program, and a storage medium.

[0007] An electronic device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a display unit that displays a window of at least one application; and a control unit that controls the display unit. an input unit; The control unit acquires first trigger information for starting the power saving process, and starts the power saving process based on the first trigger information. and acquires second trigger information for canceling the power saving process, and starts a restoration process for canceling the power saving process based on the second trigger information. In the power saving process, the control unit: Disable the input section, Acquire a still image based on the screen of the display unit; After disabling the input unit, Still image on the display At the forefront and minimize the size of at least one window while the still image is displayed. In the restoration process, the control unit restores the size of at least one minimized window to the size before the power saving process started, cancels the display of the still image, and enables the input unit after canceling the display of the still image.

[0009] In addition, other aspects of the present disclosure The control method includes: an input unit; and a display unit that displays a window of at least one application. Control method for electronic devices The control method a step of acquiring first trigger information for starting a power saving process; and a step of starting the power saving process based on the acquired first trigger information; a step of acquiring second trigger information for canceling the power saving process; and a step of starting a restoration process for canceling the power saving process based on the second trigger information; The power saving process includes: Disabling the input unit; acquiring a still image based on a screen of a display unit; After disabling the input unit, The method includes the steps of displaying a still image on a display unit, and minimizing the size of a window of at least one application while the still image is being displayed. The restoration process includes a step of restoring the size of the at least one minimized window to the size it had before the power saving process started, a step of canceling the display of the still image, and a step of enabling the input unit after canceling the display of the still image.

[0011] A computer program according to another aspect of the present disclosure is a computer program for causing an electronic device to execute the above-described control method.

[0012] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a storage medium that is non-transitory and computer-readable and stores a computer program that, when executed by a processor, realizes the control method described above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present disclosure, the electronic device, the control method for the electronic device, the computer program, and the storage medium can reduce power consumption when the electronic device is in use. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an electronic device according to a first embodiment; [Figure 2A] 1 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control method for an electronic device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2B] 1 is a flowchart illustrating an example of power saving processing according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3A] 10 is an example of a screen before power saving processing is performed in the first embodiment. [Figure 3B] An example of a screen that has been power-saving processed in the first embodiment [Figure 4A] An example of a still image in the first embodiment [Figure 4B] An example of a still image in the first embodiment [Figure 4C] An example of a still image in the first embodiment [Figure 4D] An example of a still image in the first embodiment [Figure 5A] 10 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the control method for the electronic device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5B] 1 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a restoration process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6A] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of power saving processing according to the second embodiment. [Figure 6B] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a restoration process according to the second embodiment. [Figure 7A] 10 is an example of a screen before power saving processing in the second embodiment. [Figure 7B] An example of a screen that has been power-saving processed in the second embodiment [Figure 8A] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of power saving processing according to the third embodiment. [Figure 8B] 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a restoration process according to the third embodiment. [Figure 9A] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of power saving processing according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 9B]13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a restoration process according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 10A] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of power saving processing according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 10B] 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a restoration process according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 11A] 13 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the power saving process according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 11B] 13 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the restoration process according to the fifth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] First, various aspects of an electronic device, a control method for an electronic device, a computer program, and a storage medium will be described.

[0016] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, an electronic device includes a display unit that displays at least one application window, and a control unit that controls the display unit. The control unit acquires first trigger information for starting a power-saving process and starts the power-saving process based on the first trigger information. In the power-saving process, the control unit acquires a still image based on the screen of the display unit, displays the still image on the display unit, and minimizes the size of at least one window while the still image is displayed.

[0017] This configuration allows power-saving processing to be performed when the electronic device is in use. Since the power-saving processing minimizes the size of the window, it is possible to omit the calculation processing for displaying the application corresponding to the window, thereby reducing the power consumption of the electronic device. Furthermore, since the power-saving processing displays a still image and then minimizes the window in the background of the still image, it is also possible to suppress screen flickering during minimization.

[0018] In the electronic device of the second aspect of the present disclosure, in the first aspect, the first trigger information may be information indicating that the user's gaze is not directed toward the display unit, that the user is not in front of the display unit, or that the user has input a specific command.

[0019] According to such trigger information, for example, when the user's line of sight is not directed at the display unit or when the user is not in front of the display unit, the power-saving process can be triggered and executed automatically. The power-saving process can also be triggered and executed in response to a command from the user. Such trigger information allows the power-saving process to be automatically started while the user is not using the electronic device, thereby improving the usability of the electronic device.

[0020] In the electronic device of a third aspect according to the present disclosure, in the first or second aspect, the control unit may further acquire second trigger information for canceling the power saving process, and start a restoration process for canceling the power saving process based on the second trigger information. In the restoration process, the control unit may restore the size of at least one minimized window to the size before the power saving process started, and cancel the display of the still image.

[0021] This allows the power saving process to be cancelled automatically or manually. Also, in the restoration process, the still image display is cancelled after the window size is restored, which can prevent screen flickering when the window size is restored.

[0022] In the electronic device of a fourth aspect according to the present disclosure, in the third aspect, in the power saving process, the control unit may further reduce the brightness of the display unit before displaying the still image on the display unit. In the restoration process, the control unit may further restore the brightness of the display unit to the brightness before the power saving process started after canceling the display of the still image.

[0023] By reducing the brightness of the display unit through power saving processing, it is possible to further reduce the power consumption of the electronic device.

[0024] In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, the electronic device is the third or fourth aspect, and the electronic device may further include an input unit. In the power saving process, the control unit may further disable the input unit before displaying the still image on the display unit. In the restoration process, the control unit may further enable the input unit after canceling the display of the still image.

[0025] By disabling the input unit through power saving processing, it is possible to further reduce the power consumption of the electronic device.

[0026] In the electronic device of a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the still image may be a screenshot of at least one window before minimizing its size, a blurred image of the screenshot, or a pre-saved image.

[0027] Such a still image can reduce flickering when the window size changes, and can also enhance the security of the electronic device when the user is not in front of the electronic device, for example.

[0028] In a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, in the electronic device of any one of the first to sixth aspects, the application may be an application that performs image processing in real time, or may be an application that has a configuration in which power consumption when executed in a minimized state is less than a predetermined threshold of power consumption when executed in a non-minimized state.

[0029] Such applications are particularly suitable for the electronic device and its control method etc. disclosed herein, since minimizing the size of the corresponding window results in a relatively large reduction in power consumption.

[0030] According to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, an electronic device includes a display unit that displays at least one application window, and a control unit that controls the display unit. The control unit acquires first trigger information for starting power saving processing, and starts the power saving processing based on the first trigger information. In the power saving processing, the control unit reduces the size of the at least one window.

[0031] This configuration allows for power-saving processing when the electronic device is in use. In the power-saving processing, the size of the window is reduced, thereby reducing the area to be displayed based on the application corresponding to the window. This reduces the amount of calculation required for the display, thereby reducing the power consumption of the electronic device.

[0032] In a ninth aspect of the electronic device of the present disclosure, in the eighth aspect, the first trigger information may be information indicating that the user's gaze is not directed toward the display unit, that the user is not in front of the display unit, or that the user has input a specific command.

[0033] An electronic device according to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure includes a display unit that displays a window of at least one application, and a control unit that controls the display unit. The control unit acquires first trigger information for starting power saving processing, and starts the power saving processing based on the first trigger information. In the power saving processing, the control unit may acquire a still image based on a screen of the display unit, display the still image on the display unit, and while the still image is being displayed, acquire another still image based on the screen of the display unit, and display the still image on the display unit.

[0034] According to this configuration, in the power saving process, a still image is displayed and then the window is made smaller in size in the background of the still image, so that flickering on the screen when the window is reduced can also be suppressed.

[0035] In an eleventh aspect of the electronic device of the present disclosure, in the tenth aspect, the first trigger information may be information indicating that the user's gaze is not directed toward the display unit, that the user is not in front of the display unit, or that the user has input a specific command.

[0036] A twelfth aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for controlling an electronic device, comprising the steps of: acquiring first trigger information for starting a power saving process; and starting the power saving process based on the acquired first trigger information. The power saving process includes the steps of acquiring a still image based on a screen of a display unit, displaying the still image on the display unit, and minimizing the size of a window of at least one application while the still image is being displayed.

[0037] A thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for controlling an electronic device, the method including: acquiring first trigger information for starting a power saving process; and starting the power saving process based on the acquired first trigger information. The power saving process includes reducing the size of a window of at least one application displayed on a display unit of the electronic device.

[0038] A computer program according to a fourteenth aspect of the present disclosure is a computer program for causing an electronic device to execute the control method according to the twelfth or thirteenth aspect.

[0039] A storage medium according to a fifteenth aspect of the present disclosure is a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, realizes the control method according to the twelfth or thirteenth aspect.

[0040] According to the methods, computer programs, or recording media of the twelfth to fifteenth aspects, power saving processing can be performed when an electronic device is in use. In the power saving processing, the size of a window is minimized or reduced, so that the calculation processing for displaying an application corresponding to the window can be omitted, thereby reducing the power consumption of the electronic device.

[0041] 《Technical concept》 Before describing specific embodiments of the electronic device, the control method for the electronic device, the computer program, and the storage medium according to the present disclosure, an example will be used to explain the technical concept described in the present disclosure. In this example, the electronic device includes a display unit and a control unit. The control unit executes an operating system (OS) having a window system and controls the display unit. The control unit displays a window of at least one application on the display unit under the window system.

[0042] The control unit of the electronic device acquires first trigger information for initiating power-saving processing and starts the power-saving processing based on the acquired first trigger information. For example, if the control unit acquires first trigger information indicating that the user has not looked at the display unit for a predetermined period of time, the control unit automatically starts the power-saving processing. In the power-saving processing, the control unit minimizes or reduces the size of at least one currently open window. This reduces the amount of computation required to display on the screen an application corresponding to the minimized or reduced window, thereby reducing the power consumption of the electronic device.

[0043] Each of the embodiments described below represents an example of the present disclosure. The numerical values, shapes, configurations, steps, and step orders shown in each of the following embodiments are examples and do not limit the present disclosure. Among the components in the following embodiment 1, components that are not described in the independent claims that represent the highest concept are described as optional components.

[0044] In each of the embodiments described below, certain elements may be modified, and other elements may be appropriately combined with any configuration, and the combined configurations will provide the respective effects. In the embodiments, the respective combinations of the respective modified configurations will provide the respective effects of the respective modified configurations.

[0045] In the following detailed description, terms such as "first," "second," etc. are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as expressing or implying the relative importance or ranking of technical features. Features qualified as "first" and "second" expressly or imply the inclusion of one or more of that feature.

[0046] First Embodiment Hereinafter, a first embodiment of an electronic device, a control method for an electronic device, a computer program, and a storage medium according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings as appropriate.

[0047] <Overall structure> FIG. 1 is an example of a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic device 10 according to the first embodiment.

[0048] <Electronic equipment 10> As shown in FIG. 1 , the electronic device 10 includes a display unit 11 and a control unit 12 that controls the display unit 11. The electronic device 10 may be a laptop computer including a notebook computer, a tablet terminal, a smartphone, or the like. In one embodiment, the electronic device 10 further includes a power supply unit 13. The power supply unit 13 supplies power for operation of the electronic device 10 using an internal battery, a removable battery, or an external power source as a driving power source. The electronic device 10 may also include a storage unit 14, which is a recording medium that stores various information and control programs. The electronic device 10 may also include at least one detection unit 15 and / or an input unit 16, as appropriate, depending on its intended use.

[0049] <Display section 11> Display unit 11 is a device capable of displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) including windows based on an operating system. Display unit 11 may be, for example, a display using self-luminous elements such as organic EL, or a display using an LCD or CRT.

[0050] <Control unit 12> The control unit 12 is a controller that controls the entire electronic device 10. The control unit 12 includes a general-purpose processor such as a CPU or MPU that implements predetermined functions by executing programs stored in the storage unit 14. The control unit 12 implements various controls in the electronic device 10 by calling and executing control programs based on control methods. The control unit 12 is not limited to a device that implements predetermined functions through the cooperation of hardware and software, but may also be a hardware circuit designed specifically to implement predetermined functions. In other words, the control unit 12 can be implemented using various processors such as a CPU, MPU, GPU, FPGA, DSP, or ASIC.

[0051] The control unit 12 executes an OS having a window system, and the display unit 11 displays windows under the control of the control unit 12. For example, the control unit 12 may execute an OS such as Windows (registered trademark), Unix (registered trademark), MacOS (registered trademark), iOS (registered trademark), or Android (registered trademark). The control unit 12 causes the display unit 11 to display a GUI under the window system. The control unit 12 may cause the display unit 11 to display a GUI using an overlapped window method or a tiling window method. In the overlapping window method, rectangular windows of any size are displayed overlapping at any position on the screen. In the tiling window method, the screen is divided into at least one area by a boundary line, and each window is assigned to an area and displayed so that the windows do not overlap.

[0052] The control unit 12 can open multiple windows simultaneously and execute corresponding applications for each. In this disclosure, an open window refers to a window that is not minimized and is displayed on at least a portion of the desktop as long as no other windows are displayed in front of it. Open windows include both active windows (also called foreground windows) and inactive windows. An active window refers to a window that is located at the foreground of the screen, is fully visible, and is currently the target of user operation. An inactive window refers to any open window that is not the active window.

[0053] The control unit 12 can minimize open windows using an application programming interface (API) of the OS. Minimized windows are stored in a dedicated area on the desktop (for example, the "taskbar" in Windows® or the "Dock" in macOS®) in the form of an icon, button, or the like. Unlike closed windows, minimized windows can be quickly restored to their original state at any time because the corresponding application continues to run.

[0054] Control unit 12 can acquire first trigger information for starting the power saving process and start the power saving process based on the acquired first trigger information. In addition, control unit 12 can minimize the size of at least one currently open window during the power saving process and cause display unit 11 to display a screen with the minimized window.

[0055] <Storage section 14> The storage unit 14 is a recording medium that records various information and control programs, and may be a memory that functions as a work area for the control unit 12. The storage unit 14 is realized by, for example, a flash memory, a RAM, an SSD (Solid State Device), a hard disk, or other storage device, or an appropriate combination of these.

[0056] <Method for controlling electronic device 10> The above-described control unit 12 can execute a method for controlling the electronic device 10. Fig. 2A is a flowchart showing an example of a method for controlling the electronic device according to the first embodiment.

[0057] The control unit 12 acquires first trigger information for starting power saving processing (step S110). The first trigger information may be information indicating that the user's line of sight is not directed toward the display unit 11, or may be information indicating that the user's line of sight is not directed toward the display unit 11 continuously for a predetermined period of time. The user's line of sight is not directed toward the display unit 11, which is also referred to as the user's line of sight being away from the display unit 11. The first trigger information may also be information indicating that the user is not in front of the display unit 11, or may be information indicating that the user has not been in front of the display unit 11 for a predetermined period of time. For example, the first trigger information may be information indicating that the user's line of sight is not directed toward the display unit 11 continuously for three seconds.

[0058] In one embodiment, the electronic device 10 further includes a connection port 17 for connecting to at least one external display 20. The connection port 17 may include, for example, a USB port, an HDMI (registered trademark) port, a DVI, a DisplayPort, or a VGA. When using the electronic device 10, the user directs their gaze toward the display unit 11 or the external display 20. In this case, the control unit 12 may set the first trigger information based on one of the display unit 11 and the external display 20. For example, the first trigger information may be information indicating that the user's gaze is not directed toward the external display 20 continuously for a predetermined period of time. Alternatively, the first trigger information may be information indicating that the user's gaze is not directed toward either the display unit 11 or the external display 20 continuously for a predetermined period of time.

[0059] The electronic device 10 may include a detection unit 15 for acquiring the first trigger information as described above. For example, the detection unit 15 may be a camera or an infrared camera capable of capturing images of the space in front of the display unit 11, or may be a human presence sensor using ultrasound, visible light, or infrared light. The detection unit 15 may also be glasses or other wearable devices capable of detecting the user's line of sight. The control unit 12 may acquire the first trigger information directly from the detection unit 15, or may acquire the first trigger information by receiving detection data from the detection unit 15 and performing image processing on the detection data.

[0060] In another embodiment, the first trigger information is information indicating that a user has input a specific command. The electronic device 10 may include an input unit 16 for acquiring such first trigger information. The input unit 16 is an input interface that accepts commands from a user. The input unit 16 may include, for example, a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, a touch pad, a switch, a button, a microphone, a camera, etc. The input unit 16 converts the command or operation content accepted from the user into an electrical signal and transmits it to the control unit 12.

[0061] The specific command associated with the first trigger information may be an initial setting (default setting) stored in advance in the storage unit 14, or may be a command defined by the user. The specific command associated with the first trigger information may be a shortcut key consisting of at least one key combination, or may be a command based on a single key or button. The specific command may also be a command based on a combination of inputs from a plurality of input units 16. For example, the specific command may be a command based on an input in which a specific key on the keyboard is pressed, or a command based on an input in which a specific key on the keyboard and a specific button on the mouse are pressed simultaneously. The control unit 12 may acquire the first trigger information directly from the input unit 16, or may acquire the first trigger information by receiving data input by the input unit 16 and analyzing the input data.

[0062] In addition, the first trigger information may be information indicating that a specific command has not been input for a predetermined time, or may be information indicating that there has been no input from the input unit 16 for a predetermined time.

[0063] Next, the control unit 12 starts the power saving process based on the acquired first trigger information (step S120). Specifically, when the control unit 12 receives the first trigger information directly from the detection unit 15, the power saving process starts immediately upon receiving the data (first trigger information) from the detection unit 15. When the control unit 12 receives detected data such as image data or raw data from the detection unit 15, the control unit 12 starts the power saving process if it determines that the data acquired from the detection unit 15 or the input unit 16 matches the first trigger information.

[0064] 2B is a flowchart of an example of power saving processing in the first embodiment. In the power saving processing, the control unit 12 acquires a still image based on the screen of the display unit 11 (step S210) and displays the still image on the display unit 11 (step S220). In one embodiment, the size of the still image is the same as the size of the entire screen of the display unit 11. Therefore, when the still image is displayed, the still image covers the entire screen of the display unit 11, and the displayed screen does not move. Even if a movie continues to play in a media player application, the still image is displayed in the forefront, so the screen of the display unit 11 appears to be frozen.

[0065] In the power saving process, while the still image is being displayed, control unit 12 minimizes the size of at least one currently open window (step S230). In step S230, even if multiple windows are open, control unit 12 only needs to minimize at least one of them.

[0066] A minimized window means that the corresponding application continues to be executed by the control unit 12, but is not displayed on the screen. This eliminates the need for computational processing to display the application in a window, thereby reducing power consumption by the electronic device 10. Also, some applications can run in the background when structurally minimized. Minimizing the windows of such applications can further reduce power consumption by the electronic device 10. For even more efficient power saving, the control unit 12 may minimize all open windows.

[0067] In the power saving process, the window size is minimized while a still image is displayed. Flickering caused by the minimization effect or animation is blocked by the displayed still image and is not displayed on display unit 11. Therefore, by displaying a still image, it is possible to suppress screen flickering during minimization.

[0068] After minimizing the window, the control unit 12 may cancel the display of the still image, or may continue to display the still image. Canceling the still image means stopping the display of the still image. When the display of the still image is canceled, the still image is no longer displayed, and the desktop and windows that have not yet been minimized are displayed.

[0069] Furthermore, when electronic device 10 is in a sleep state or is on a screen waiting for OS login, when display unit 11 is not turned on, or when display unit 11 is displaying a screen saver, it is not necessary to acquire and display a still image. However, in these cases, control unit 12 may minimize the size of at least one currently open window.

[0070] FIG. 3A is an example of a screen before power saving processing in the first embodiment, and FIG. 3B is an example of a screen after power saving processing. Screen 50 shows a screen displayed by display unit 11 when power saving processing starts. In the example shown in FIG. 3A, two windows are open, and display unit 11 displays these two windows on the desktop and also displays icons indicating applications corresponding to these two windows on the taskbar. In power saving processing, control unit 12 acquires a screenshot of screen 50 as a still image and displays it on screenshot display unit 11. Then, control unit 12 minimizes all windows behind the displayed still image and then cancels the display of the screenshot. When the screenshot of screen 50 is canceled, the desktop with all windows minimized is displayed, as shown in screen 52 in FIG. 3B.

[0071] <Still image> The still images that can be displayed using the power-saving process will be described in detail below.

[0072] In one embodiment, the still image is a screenshot taken before minimizing the size of at least one window. For example, the still image may be a screenshot taken at the start of a power saving process. In this case, the control unit 12 can obtain the still image using an API of the OS or other software.

[0073] 4A is an example of a still image in embodiment 1. Still image 60 shown in FIG. 4A is a screenshot before the window size is minimized, that is, the screen displayed on display unit 11 immediately before minimization. Using such a still image not only reduces flickering but also makes it difficult for a user to notice the automatic power saving process, thereby improving the usability of electronic device 10.

[0074] In one example, the still image is an image obtained by blurring a screenshot. Fig. 4B is an example of a still image in the first embodiment. The still image 62 shown in Fig. 4B is an image obtained by blurring a screenshot (Fig. 4A) before minimizing the window size. The control unit 12 can obtain a blurred still image by performing, for example, low pass blurring, Gaussian blurring, mosaic processing, or the like on the screenshot obtained by an API of the OS or the like.

[0075] In power-saving processing, displaying a blurred screenshot as a still image not only reduces flickering but also enhances the security of the electronic device 10. For example, when a user is not in front of the electronic device, the electronic device 10 automatically performs power-saving processing and displays a blurred image on the display unit 11. If the original screen contains personal or confidential information, this information cannot be read from the blurred image, so there is no risk of information leaking even if a third party other than the user of the electronic device 10 views the screen. Therefore, the power-saving processing of the present disclosure also serves as a security measure, and can enhance the security and usability of the electronic device 10.

[0076] In one embodiment, the still image is a pre-stored image. In this case, the control unit 12 acquires the still image by reading out the still image stored in the storage unit 14. If the electronic device 10 includes a communication unit (not shown), the control unit 12 may acquire the still image via the communication unit and a network. For example, the control unit 12 can download the still image from a specific server.

[0077] 4C and 4D are examples of still images according to the first embodiment. In still image 64 shown in FIG. 4C, hatching 65 indicates that the image is filled with a specific color, such as black. Still image 66 shown in FIG. 4D is an image filled with a specific pattern. If such an image is displayed as a still image during power saving processing, the information displayed on the original screen cannot be viewed by a third party, thereby enhancing the security of electronic device 10.

[0078] Note that any media format that can suppress flicker may be used instead of a still image. For example, moving images such as GIF images or PNG images, or moving images such as AVI, WMV, or MPEG4 may be displayed on the display unit 11 instead of a still image.

[0079] <Restore process> After performing the power saving process, the control unit 12 of the electronic device 10 can perform a restoration process to restore the window size to its original size. The restoration process will be described below.

[0080] 5A is a flowchart of another example of the control method for the electronic device according to the first embodiment. In the example of FIG. 5A, the control method for the electronic device further includes steps S130 and S140. After starting the power saving process (step S120), the control unit 12 acquires second trigger information for canceling the power saving process (step S130). Then, based on the acquired second trigger information, the control unit 12 starts a restoration process for canceling the power saving process (step S140).

[0081] The second trigger information may be information indicating that the user's gaze is directed toward the display unit 11, or information indicating that the user's gaze is directed toward the display unit 11 continuously for a predetermined period of time. The second trigger information may also be information indicating that the user is in front of the display unit 11, or information indicating that the user is in front of the display unit 11 for a predetermined period of time. For example, the second trigger information may be information indicating that the user's gaze is directed toward the display unit 11 continuously for three seconds.

[0082] The second trigger information may also be information indicating that the user has input a specific command. The specific command related to the second trigger information may be a default setting stored in advance in the storage unit 14, as with the first trigger information, or may be a command defined by the user.

[0083] The control unit 12 can acquire the above-mentioned second trigger information by the detection unit 15 and / or the input unit 16. The second trigger information may be a pair with the first trigger information (for example, the user's line of sight is not directed toward the display unit 11 and is directed toward it), or may be information unrelated to the first trigger information. For example, the first trigger information may be set to "the user is not in front of the display unit 11," and the second trigger information may be set to "input of a specific command."

[0084] When the control unit 12 receives the second trigger information directly from the detection unit 15, the control unit 12 starts the restoration process as soon as it receives the data (second trigger information) from the detection unit 15. When the control unit 12 receives detected data such as image data or raw data from the detection unit 15, the control unit 12 starts the restoration process if it determines that the data acquired from the detection unit 15 or the input unit 16 matches the second trigger information.

[0085] FIG. 5B is a flowchart of an example of the restoration process in the first embodiment. In the restoration process, the control unit 12 restores the size of at least one minimized window to the size before the power saving process started (step S310). The control unit 12 can restore the size and display position of the minimized window using an API of the OS. Alternatively, the control unit 12 may store the size and position of the window in the storage unit 14 before minimizing the window in the power saving process, and restore the window to its original state using the stored data in step S310. In one embodiment, the control unit 12 restores all windows minimized in the power saving process. Note that in the present disclosure, the position of a window refers to the coordinates of the window on the screen.

[0086] After restoring the size and position of the window, the control unit 12 cancels the display of the displayed still image (step S320). For example, when the still image, which is a screenshot of screen 50 in Fig. 3A, is canceled, the desktop with all windows minimized is displayed, as shown in screen 52 in Fig. 3B.

[0087] Note that the control unit 12 may cancel the still image at a timing other than step S320. For example, the control unit 12 may cancel the still image immediately after step S230 (FIG. 2B) or before step S310 (FIG. 5B). If the still image has already been canceled after step S230 (FIG. 2B) of the power saving process, step S320 can be omitted.

[0088] In one embodiment, to suppress flickering caused by effects or animations when restoring a window, the window is restored while a still image is displayed. For example, the still image may continue to be displayed until the window is restored. Alternatively, the display of the still image may be temporarily canceled after the window is minimized, but the still image may be displayed again before the window is restored. The still image used in the power-saving process and the still image used in the restoration process may be different. For example, the power-saving process may use a screenshot of the window before minimizing it, and the restoration process may use a screenshot of the window before restoring it (i.e., after minimizing it). In this way, flickering caused by effects or animations when restoring the window is blocked by the displayed still image and is not displayed on display unit 11.

[0089] Note that restoration processing may not be performed when the electronic device 10 is in a sleep state or is on a screen waiting for OS login, when the display unit 11 is not turned on, or when the display unit 11 is displaying a screen saver. For example, if the electronic device 10 is not used for a certain period of time after the power saving processing is performed, the electronic device 10 may enter a sleep state or display a screen saver. In these cases, since a certain degree of power saving effect is expected and the user is not using the electronic device 10, it is not necessary to restore the electronic device to the state before the power saving processing started.

[0090] Furthermore, even if the data acquired from the detection unit 15 or the input unit 16 matches the first trigger information, the control unit 12 may not start the power saving process in the following cases.

[0091] The first case is when a match with second trigger information for restoration processing is determined while power-saving processing is being performed after a match with first trigger information is determined. For example, the first trigger information is information indicating that the user's gaze is not directed toward the display unit 11. While using the electronic device 10, there is a possibility that the user may briefly turn their gaze away from the display unit 11 and instead look toward the surrounding scenery, documents on the desk, or other people. In such a case, the power-saving effect of the power-saving processing is limited, and minimizing the window size may instead impair the usability of the electronic device 10. Therefore, the power-saving processing being performed may be stopped. After the power-saving processing is stopped, the restoration processing may or may not be performed.

[0092] The second case is when a match with the first trigger information is determined, but it is possible to confirm based on other information that the electronic device 10 is being used by a user. For example, the user may not look at the display unit 11 for a short period of time, but may continue to operate the input unit 16, such as a keyboard or mouse. Therefore, while receiving an input from the input unit 16 that does not match the first trigger information, the control unit 12 may not need to perform power saving processing even if it determines that the data acquired from the detection unit 15 matches the first trigger information.

[0093] <Applications suitable for power-saving processing> According to the control method for an electronic device of the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce power consumption by a window displaying any application, but it is particularly possible to reduce power consumption for the following applications.

[0094] In one embodiment, the application is an application that performs image processing in real time. When executing such an application, the control unit 12 performs image processing in real time and displays the processing results in the application's window. For example, power-saving processing is suitable for applications that make heavy use of the CPU and / or graphics processing unit (GPU).

[0095] In one embodiment, the application is configured to consume less power when run minimized than a predetermined threshold of power consumption when run non-minimized, for example, power saving processing is preferred for applications that can run in the background when minimized.

[0096] Specific examples of such applications include browser-related applications such as Chrome (registered trademark) and Edge (registered trademark), online conference applications such as Teams (registered trademark) and Zoom (registered trademark), image processing applications such as CAD (registered trademark) and Photoshop (registered trademark), media player applications, and game applications. Such applications are particularly suitable for the electronic device and its control method disclosed herein, because minimizing the size of the corresponding window results in a relatively large reduction in power consumption. For example, for an online conference application running a screen sharing function, the CPU usage and power consumption when the window is minimized can be half or less of the CPU usage and power consumption when the window is maximized.

[0097] This completes the control of electronic device 10 to perform power saving processing to minimize the window size. This makes it possible to save power consumption when the user's line of sight is not directed at display unit 11. After that, a restoration process to restore the window size may be further performed.

[0098] The present disclosure also provides a computer program and a storage medium for controlling the electronic device 10.

[0099] In one embodiment, a computer program is provided that is used to cause the electronic device 10 to execute the control method for the electronic device 10 described above.

[0100] In one embodiment, the above-described computer program is stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, and when the computer program is read and executed by the control unit 12 of the electronic device 10, the above-described control method is realized.

[0101] The configuration of the electronic device 10, the control method for the electronic device 10, the computer program, and the recording medium described above enable power-saving processing when the electronic device 10 is in use. In the power-saving processing, the size of a window can be minimized and the computational processing for displaying an application corresponding to the window can be omitted, thereby reducing the power consumption of the electronic device 10. Furthermore, because the window is minimized while a still image is displayed, screen flickering during minimization can be reduced. Similarly, in the restoration processing, if the window can be restored while a still image is displayed, screen flickering during restoration of the window size can also be reduced. Furthermore, by using the first trigger information, the second trigger information, and / or the application described above, power consumption can be reduced more efficiently, thereby improving the usability of the electronic device.

[0102] Second Embodiment <Power saving process by reducing the window size> In the second embodiment, the control unit 12 can reduce the power consumption of the electronic device 10 by reducing the size of the window through power saving processing.

[0103] Fig. 6A is a flowchart of an example of power saving processing in embodiment 2, and Fig. 6B is a flowchart of an example of restoration processing in embodiment 2. In embodiment 2, the main flow of starting power saving processing in response to first trigger information and starting restoration processing in response to second trigger information is the same as in embodiment 1. In embodiment 2, the window size is reduced without being minimized, and a still image is not displayed.

[0104] In the power saving process shown in FIG. 6A, control unit 12 reduces the size of the window of at least one application displayed on display unit 11 of electronic device 10 (step S230A). Control unit 12 can reduce the size of all open windows using an API of the OS. Generally, API functions for minimizing window size and for reducing window size are different, and each performs separate processes. An application corresponding to a window that has been reduced without being minimized does not run only in the background. Therefore, the power consumption of a reduced window is slightly higher than the power consumption of a minimized window, even though they are both windows of the same application.

[0105] The window reduction ratio (i.e., the degree to which the window is made smaller) may be set according to an initial setting stored in advance in storage unit 14 or a setting input by the user. For example, the size of an open window may be reduced to 2 / 3, 1 / 2, 1 / 3, 1 / 4, etc., of its current size, or may be reduced to a fixed size such as 100 x 100 (pixels x pixels, the same applies below), 120 x 90, 160 x 90, etc. Furthermore, the position (coordinates) of the reduced window may be the same as or different from the position of the original window.

[0106] Corresponding to the power-saving process, in the restoration process shown in FIG. 6B, the size of at least one window that has been reduced is restored to the size before the power-saving process started (step S310A). Control unit 12 can restore the size and display position of a reduced window using an API of the OS. Alternatively, control unit 12 may store the size and position of a window in storage unit 14 before reducing the window in the power-saving process, and then use the stored data in step S310A to restore the window to its original size and display position. In one embodiment, control unit 12 restores all windows that have been reduced in the power-saving process to their original size and display position.

[0107] Fig. 7A is an example of a screen after power saving processing in embodiment 2, and Fig. 7B is an example of a screen after power saving processing in embodiment 2. Screen 54 in Fig. 7A displays a media player window playing a movie. In step S230A, as shown in screen 56 in Fig. 7B, control unit 12 reduces the size of the window to one-third of its original size and displays the reduced window in the same position as the original window.

[0108] According to this control, the size of the window is reduced in the power saving process, so the area to be displayed based on the application corresponding to the window is reduced. This reduces the amount of calculation required for the display, thereby reducing the power consumption of electronic device 10.

[0109] Third Embodiment <Power saving process using still images to reduce the size of the window> In the third embodiment, control unit 12 displays a still image before and after reducing the size of a window and / or before and after restoring the size of a window, thereby making it possible to suppress flickering when the window size changes.

[0110] In the third embodiment, the main flow of starting the power saving process in response to the first trigger information and starting the restoration process in response to the second trigger information is the same as in the first embodiment. Fig. 8A is a flowchart of an example of the power saving process in the third embodiment, and Fig. 8B is a flowchart of an example of the restoration process in the third embodiment. The third embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that the power saving process further includes steps S210 and S220, and the restoration process further includes step S320.

[0111] Steps S210 and S220 of the power saving process in Fig. 8A and step S320 of the restoration process in Fig. 8B are the same as steps S210 and S220 of Fig. 2B and step S320 of Fig. 5B in embodiment 1. Furthermore, the content, acquisition method, cancellation method, and display timing of the still image are the same as those in embodiment 1, and therefore redundant explanations will be omitted here.

[0112] In the power saving process of the third embodiment, while a still image is being displayed, control unit 12 reduces the size of the window of at least one application displayed on display unit 11 (step S230A). In one example, control unit 12 reduces the size of all open windows.

[0113] On the other hand, in the restoration process, control unit 12 restores the size of the window to the size before the power saving process started (step S310A), and then cancels the display of the still image (step S320).

[0114] Such control not only reduces the power consumption of the electronic device 10 but also suppresses flickering when the window size changes. It also improves the security of the electronic device when the user is not in front of the electronic device, for example.

[0115] Fourth Embodiment <Power saving process for brightness adjustment> In the fourth embodiment, the control unit 12 reduces the brightness of the display unit 11, thereby further reducing the power consumption of the electronic device 10.

[0116] In the fourth embodiment, the main flow of starting the power saving process in response to the first trigger information and starting the restoration process in response to the second trigger information is the same as that in the first embodiment. Fig. 9A is a flowchart of an example of the power saving process in the fourth embodiment, and Fig. 9B is a flowchart of an example of the restoration process in the fourth embodiment. The fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the size of the window may be minimized or reduced, and the brightness of the display unit 11 is adjusted.

[0117] Steps S210 and S220 of the power saving process in Fig. 9A and step S320 of the restoration process in Fig. 9B are the same as steps S210 and S220 of Fig. 2B and step S320 of Fig. 5B in embodiment 1. Furthermore, when a still image is used, the content, acquisition method, cancellation method, and display timing of the still image are the same as in embodiment 1, and therefore redundant explanations will be omitted here.

[0118] In the power saving process shown in Fig. 9A, the size of the window is minimized or reduced while the still image is displayed (step S230B). In the power saving process, the control unit 12 reduces the brightness of the display unit 11 (step S201). Note that, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 9A, the reduction in brightness (step S201) is performed before the display of the still image (step S220), but this is not limiting.

[0119] When the luminance is reduced, the control unit 12 outputs the value of the reduced luminance (for example, in "nits" or "cd / m 2Alternatively, the control unit 12 may directly specify the brightness after reduction as a percentage of the maximum brightness or as a percentage of the original brightness. The degree of reduction may be set according to an initial setting stored in advance in the storage unit 14 or a setting input by the user. For example, the brightness may be reduced to 2 / 3, 1 / 2, 1 / 3, 1 / 4, etc. of the original brightness, and may be reduced to 100 cd / m 2 , 50cd / m 2 , 30cd / m 2 The temperature may be reduced to, for example,

[0120] 9B, after the window size is restored (step S310B), the brightness of display unit 11 is restored to the brightness before the power saving process started (step S330). For example, control unit 12 may store the brightness at the start of the power saving process in storage unit 13, and restore the brightness using the stored data in step S330. Note that restoring the brightness (step S330) may be performed before restoring the window size (step S310B) and / or canceling the display of the still image (step S320).

[0121] Furthermore, the technology for adjusting the brightness can be implemented regardless of the display of a still image. In the examples of Figures 9A and 9B, a still screen is used and the brightness of the display unit 11 is adjusted. However, when the technology for adjusting the brightness is combined with the second embodiment, steps S210, S220, and S320 for acquiring, displaying, and canceling the display of a still image may be omitted.

[0122] This completes the power saving process and / or restoration process for adjusting the brightness. By reducing the brightness of display unit 11 through the power saving process, it is possible to further reduce power consumption when electronic device 10 is in use.

[0123] Fifth Embodiment <Power saving process that disables the input section> In the fifth embodiment, the control unit 12 disables the input unit 16, thereby further reducing the power consumption of the electronic device 10.

[0124] In the fifth embodiment, the main flow of starting the power saving process in response to the first trigger information and starting the restoration process in response to the second trigger information is the same as that in the first embodiment. Fig. 10A is a flowchart of an example of the power saving process in the fifth embodiment, and Fig. 10B is a flowchart of an example of the restoration process in the fifth embodiment. The fifth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the window size may be minimized or reduced, and in that the input unit 16 is disabled.

[0125] Steps S210 and S220 of the power saving process in Fig. 10A and step S320 of the restoration process in Fig. 10B are the same as steps S210 and S220 of Fig. 2B and step S320 of Fig. 5B in embodiment 1. Step S230B of the power saving process in Fig. 10A and step S310 of the restoration process in Fig. 10B are the same as step S230B of Fig. 9A and step S310 of Fig. 9B. Furthermore, when a still image is used, the content, acquisition method, cancellation method, and display timing of the still image are the same as in embodiment 1, and therefore redundant explanations will be omitted here.

[0126] In the power saving process shown in Fig. 10A, the control unit 12 uses an API of the OS or software other than the OS to disable the input unit 16 (step S202). Note that, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 10A, disabling of the input unit 16 (step S202) is performed before displaying a still image (step S220), but this is not limiting.

[0127] Disabling the input unit 16 means discarding input data from the input unit 16, that is, no longer accepting input from the input unit 16. While the input from the input unit 16 is disabled, the microcomputer of the input unit 16 does not transmit the input data to the control unit 12. Since transmission of the input data and processing of instructions in the input data can be omitted, the power consumption of the electronic device 10 can be further reduced.

[0128] 10B, control unit 12 restores the size of the window (step S310B) and then enables input unit 16 using an API of the OS or the like (step S340). Note that enabling input unit 16 (step S340) may be performed before restoring the size of the window (step S310B) and / or canceling the display of the still image (step S320).

[0129] For example, suppose the input unit 16 is a keyboard, and the first trigger information and the second trigger information are information indicating that the same specific shortcut has been input. When the user presses the shortcut, the control unit 12 starts a power saving process and disables the input unit 16. When the user presses the same shortcut again, the control unit 12 starts a restoration process and releases the disablement of the input unit 16, i.e., enables the input unit 16.

[0130] In one embodiment, the control unit 12 stops supplying power to the input unit 16 while the input unit 16 is disabled. This can further reduce power consumption of the electronic device 10. In this case, the first trigger information and the second trigger information are information independent of the input unit 16, and may be information obtained from the detection result by the detection unit 15, for example.

[0131] The technique for disabling and enabling the input unit 16 can be performed regardless of the display of a still image. In the examples of Figures 10A and 10B, a still screen is used and the input unit 16 is disabled and enabled. However, when the technique for disabling and enabling the input unit 16 is combined with the second embodiment, steps S210, S220, and S320 for acquiring, displaying, and canceling the display of a still image may be omitted.

[0132] This completes the process of disabling and enabling the input unit 16. Such control can reduce the power consumption of the input unit 16, thereby further reducing the power consumption of the electronic device 10.

[0133] The above-described techniques for changing the window size, using a still image, adjusting the brightness of the display unit 11, and disabling and enabling the input unit 16 can be combined in any manner. For example, power saving processing and restoration processing that combine all of these techniques are shown in Figures 11A and 11B, respectively. Note that the order of these steps shown in Figures 11A and 11B is merely an example and is not limited to this.

[0134] 11A, control unit 12 disables input unit 16 (step S202) and reduces the brightness of display unit 11 (step S201). Then, control unit 12 acquires a still image (step S210) and displays the still image on display unit 11 (step S220). While the still image is being displayed, control unit 12 minimizes or reduces the size of the window (step S230B).

[0135] 11B, control unit 12 restores the size of the minimized or reduced window to the size before the power saving process started (step S310B). Then, control unit 12 cancels the display of the still image (step S320), restores the brightness of display unit 11 (step S330), and enables input unit 16 (step S340).

[0136] Combining various power-saving technologies in this way can further reduce the power consumption of electronic device 10. Also, by displaying a still image, flickering that occurs when the window size changes can be suppressed, thereby improving the usability of electronic device 10.

[0137] The present disclosure also provides a computer program and a storage medium for a control method for the electronic device 10, corresponding to the second to fifth embodiments.

[0138] The above are merely specific embodiments of the present disclosure, and the scope of protection of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The present disclosure includes the contents described above in the drawings and the specific embodiments described above, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Various disclosed embodiments or examples can be combined without departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. Modifications that do not depart from the functional and structural principles of the present disclosure are within the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0139] 10 Electronic equipment 11 Display section 12 Control Unit 13 Power supply unit 14 Storage section 15 Detector 16 Input section 17 Connection Ports 20 External Display 50, 52, 54, 56 screens 60, 62, 64, 66 Still images 65 Hatching

Claims

1. a display unit that displays a window of at least one application; a control unit that controls the display unit; an input unit; Equipped with The control unit obtaining first trigger information for starting a power saving process; starting the power saving process based on the first trigger information; acquiring second trigger information for canceling the power saving process; starting a restoration process for canceling the power saving process based on the second trigger information; In the power saving process, the control unit Disabling the input unit; acquiring a still image based on the screen of the display unit; After disabling the input unit, the still image is displayed in the foreground on the display unit; minimizing the size of the at least one window in the background of the still image while the still image is being displayed; In the restoration process, the control unit returning the size of the at least one minimized window to the size it had before the power saving process began; canceling the display of the still image; After canceling the display of the still image, the input unit is enabled. electronic equipment.

2. the first trigger information is information indicating that the user's line of sight is not directed toward the display unit, that the user is not in front of the display unit, or that the user has input a specific command; The electronic device according to claim 1 .

3. In the power saving process, the control unit further before displaying the still image on the display unit, reducing the brightness of the display unit; In the restoration process, the control unit further After canceling the display of the still image, the brightness of the display unit is returned to the brightness before the start of the power saving process. The electronic device according to claim 1 .

4. The still image is a screenshot of the at least one window before minimizing its size, a blurred image of the screenshot, or a pre-saved image. The electronic device according to claim 1 .

5. The application Applications that perform image processing in real time, or The application has a configuration in which the power consumption when executed in a minimized state is less than a predetermined threshold of the power consumption when executed in a non-minimized state. The electronic device according to claim 1 .

6. A method for controlling an electronic device having an input unit and a display unit that displays a window of at least one application, comprising: obtaining first trigger information for starting a power saving process; starting the power saving process based on the acquired first trigger information; acquiring second trigger information for canceling the power saving process; starting a restoration process for canceling the power saving process based on the second trigger information; Including, The power saving process includes: Disabling the input unit; acquiring a still image based on the screen of the display unit; after disabling the input unit, displaying the still image on the display unit in the foreground; minimizing a size of a window of the at least one application in the background of the still image while the still image is being displayed; Including, The restoration process includes: restoring the size of the at least one minimized window to the size it had before the power saving process began; canceling the display of the still image; enabling the input unit after canceling the display of the still image; Including, Control method.

7. The first trigger information is information indicating that the user's line of sight is not directed toward the display unit, that the user is not in front of the display unit, or that the user has input a specific command. The control method according to claim 6.

8. The power saving process comprises: reducing the brightness of the display unit before displaying the still image on the display unit; further comprising The restoration process includes: a step of returning the brightness of the display unit to the brightness before the start of the power saving process after canceling the display of the still image; further comprising: The control method according to claim 6.

9. The still image is a screenshot of the at least one window before minimizing its size, a blurred version of the screenshot, or a pre-saved image. The control method according to claim 6.

10. The application Applications that perform image processing in real time, or The application has a configuration in which the power consumption when executed in a minimized state is less than a predetermined threshold of the power consumption when executed in a non-minimized state. The control method according to claim 6.

11. A computer program comprising: A computer program for causing an electronic device to execute the control method according to any one of claims 6 to 10. Computer program.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium on which a computer program is stored, When the computer program is executed by a processor, the control method according to any one of claims 6 to 10 is realized. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

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