Dynamic Power Mode Timer for Application-Specific Resource Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable electronic devices face challenges in managing power consumption effectively, as fixed global time settings for backlighting do not adapt to the specific needs of active applications, leading to inefficient power usage and potential reduction in battery life.

Innovation Solution

A resource management module dynamically sets full-power and reduced-power mode timers based on application-specific requirements, adjusting power modes in response to application initiation, switching, and user inputs to optimize power usage without compromising user experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If fixed global time settings are used for backlighting, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but power consumption efficiency deteriorates and battery life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidpower consumption efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic power mode timers that automatically adjust backlighting duration based on the characteristics of active applications. Instead of fixed global settings, the system dynamically selects between short-duration and long-duration power modes depending on whether the active application is likely to generate user input, thereby optimizing power consumption while maintaining user experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by monitoring which applications are active and using this information to adjust power mode settings. The resource management module continuously evaluates application characteristics and modifies backlighting timer settings accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to actual device usage patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If fixed global time settings are used for backlighting, then device complexity is reduced, but power consumption efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidpower consumption efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the power management system into distinct application profiles, each with predetermined power mode characteristics. By categorizing applications into groups with similar input patterns, the system can apply appropriate power settings without requiring complex real-time analysis of every application's behavior, thus balancing simplicity with efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes key parameters (backlighting timer duration) based on application type. By pre-defining power mode parameters for different application categories, the system achieves efficient power management through parameter selection rather than complex calculation, maintaining relative simplicity while improving energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Use of energy by moving object

If power modes are reduced to save energy, then power consumption efficiency is improved, but user experience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumption efficiencyVSAvoiduser experience
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts power mode settings based on the active application's characteristics. By selecting appropriate timer durations from predefined profiles, the system ensures that backlighting remains on long enough for applications requiring user interaction while reducing power consumption for applications unlikely to generate input, thus maintaining user experience while improving energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Use of energy by moving object

If application-specific power requirements are implemented, then power consumption efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumption efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides applications into segmented categories with predetermined power mode profiles. This segmentation approach allows the system to implement application-specific power management by simply identifying which category the active application belongs to, rather than requiring complex individual analysis of each application's power needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements application-specific power management by changing power mode parameters based on application category. Pre-defined power profiles for different application types enable the system to adjust settings efficiently without requiring complex real-time computation, thus improving power efficiency while limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3180673B1Decentralized architecture for dynamic resource management
Publication Date: 2018.09.26 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3180673B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3180673B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3180673B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electronic device includes a compute system configured to concurrently execute a primary application and one or more secondary applications, one or more subsystems configured to operate in a full-power mode and one or more reduced-power modes, and a resource management module including one or more power mode timers. The resource management module sets a full-power mode timer based on an application-specific full-power requirement for the primary application executing on the electronic device, and instructs the one or more subsystems to operate in full-power mode for a duration of the full-power mode timer. Responsive to an indication of an input to the electronic device, the indication including an input-specific full-power requirement, the resource management module increases the duration of the full-power mode timer based on the duration of the application-specific full-power requirement for the primary application.