Adaptive Inactivity Timeout Adjustment for Display Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inactivity timeout settings on display devices are not adaptive and may interrupt users engaged in time-consuming activities like reading or watching videos, as they do not account for user interactions without input device usage, leading to premature power saving modes.
Innovation Solution
A system and method to adaptively adjust inactivity timeout settings based on the application being used, the content displayed, and user historical data, by detecting the application focus, capturing content, monitoring user activity, determining an inactivity timeout modifier, and adjusting the timeout setting accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a fixed inactivity timeout setting is used to save power, then energy consumption is reduced, but user experience deteriorates due to premature dimming during time-consuming activities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic timeout adjustment by transitioning from a fixed timeout value to a variable timeout that adapts based on detected user activity patterns. The system continuously monitors user interactions and modifies the timeout setting in real-time, allowing the display to remain active longer during engaging activities while still saving power during genuine idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by monitoring user activity and using this information to adjust timeout settings. The display controller receives feedback about user engagement levels and modifies the inactivity timeout accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that responds to actual usage patterns rather than applying a static timeout value.
2Ease of operation
If the display remains active longer to improve user experience, then user experience is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating timeout behavior based on specific activity types and user engagement levels. Instead of a uniform timeout policy, the system applies different timeout characteristics to different usage scenarios - extending timeout for engaging activities like video playback or gaming while maintaining shorter timeouts for less engaging tasks, thereby optimizing the balance between user experience and power consumption for each local context.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the timeout parameter dynamically based on detected activity characteristics. By monitoring user interaction patterns and determining engagement levels, the system adjusts the timeout parameter value in response to changing conditions, allowing the display to remain active longer when needed while automatically reducing timeout duration to conserve power when activities are less engaging.
3Device complexity
If simple time-based timeout rules are used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different user activities deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by enabling the display controller to automatically monitor user activity and adjust timeout settings without requiring external intervention or complex external systems. The display device itself performs the adaptation by detecting user interactions and autonomously modifying its timeout behavior, thereby achieving enhanced adaptability while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
In general, embodiments of the invention provide an approach to proactively adjust timeout settings on a display device based on user activity. Specifically, a system and method are presented to adaptively adjust the inactivity timeout settings on a display device based on the application being used, the content being displayed on the device, and an analysis of the user's history with the application. The present invention calculates an inactivity timeout modifier which is utilized to modify the default operating system timeout value.