Adaptive User Absence Thresholds for Power State Transitions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power management systems face inefficiencies due to the use of fixed probability limits, leading to either wasted energy or poor responsiveness, as they fail to account for both device-specific and user-specific time-usage characteristics.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an adaptive threshold for power state transitions based on a dynamic probability threshold that combines device-specific and user-specific time-usage characteristics, allowing for optimized energy savings and responsiveness by adjusting the heuristic probability threshold to match user presence states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed probability limit is used for power state transitions, then the system is simple to implement, but it results in either wasted energy or poor responsiveness because it cannot adapt to device-specific and user-specific time-usage characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to user behaviorVSAvoidcomplexity of power management system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic probability threshold that changes over time based on learned user behavior patterns. Instead of using a fixed threshold, the system continuously adapts the threshold value to match actual user presence patterns, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity by making the system dynamically responsive rather than statically complex

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback loops where user presence/absence data is continuously monitored and used to adjust the probability threshold. This feedback mechanism enables the system to learn from actual usage patterns and automatically optimize power state transitions, achieving adaptability without requiring complex manual configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the probability limit is set high to ensure responsiveness, then the device remains active more often, but energy is wasted during active state while the user is actually away

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponsiveness to userVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of the probability threshold from a fixed high value to a dynamically adjusted value based on learned user patterns. By modifying this key parameter adaptively, the system can transition to sleep state with higher confidence when user absence is predicted, reducing energy waste while maintaining responsiveness when the user is actually present

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If the probability limit is set low to save energy, then the device suspends more frequently, but responsiveness deteriorates with long suspend durations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoiddevice responsiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

By making the probability threshold dynamic rather than statically low, the system can confidently suspend the device for longer periods when user absence is highly probable, while automatically adjusting to maintain short suspend durations when user presence is likely. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between energy savings and responsiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If a fixed probability limit is used, then the system is easy to operate, but it fails to account for device-specific and user-specific time-usage characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of power managementVSAvoidcustomization to usage patterns

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically learning and adapting to device-specific and user-specific time-usage characteristics without requiring manual configuration or user intervention. The power management system autonomously optimizes itself based on observed patterns, maintaining ease of operation while achieving high adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12554308B2Adaptive threshold for user absence prediction for power state transitions

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Systems and methods are provided for implementing an adaptive threshold for user absence prediction for power state transitions. A controller of a device monitors a user presence and/or absence of a user, in some cases, correlated with time, and determines whether the user presence and/or absence at the correlated time is consistent with a power management model that is based on a time-based probability of user absence relative to a dynamic probability threshold. The dynamic probability threshold is a function (e.g., a sum) of a base probability threshold corresponding to device-specific time-usage characteristics and a heuristic probability threshold corresponding to user-specific time-usage characteristics. When inconsistent, the controller adjusts the dynamic probability threshold to account for the user presence and/or absence at the correlated time. The controller updates the power management model based on the dynamic probability threshold, and sets a sleep or wake state of the device accordingly.