Host Power Management for External Interface Battery Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Information handling systems, such as desktop and notebook computers, often provide constant power to external interfaces like USB and Firewire ports regardless of system state, leading to battery drainage when operating on battery power and lack of power management awareness, which can deplete the battery of connected devices and the host system.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a power management system that monitors and controls power supply to external interfaces independently of the host system's operation state, using hardware, firmware, or software components, allowing selective power distribution based on user needs and battery capacity, with features like BIOS settings and embedded controller programming to manage power transfer even when the main OS is inactive.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If constant power is provided to external interfaces regardless of system state, then external devices can always be powered and charged, but battery power is drained completely and power is wasted when the host system is inactive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power management by transitioning external interface power states based on host system activity. When the host system is active, full power is provided to external interfaces. When the host system enters inactive states (sleep, hibernate, shutdown), the power management component dynamically reduces or eliminates power to external interfaces, preventing battery drainage while maintaining functionality when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the power management component continuously monitors host system state (active, sleep, hibernate, shutdown) and adjusts external interface power supply accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures power is provided only when the host system intends to supply it, preventing complete battery drainage while maintaining reliability during active operation.
2Loss of energy
If power is provided to external interfaces only when the host system is powered on, then battery drainage is prevented during inactive states, but external devices cannot be charged when the host system is in sleep or hibernate mode
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments power management control between the host system's main power controller and a dedicated independent power management component. This segmentation allows the power management component to maintain control over external interface power supply even when the host system is in inactive states, enabling continuous charging capability while conserving battery power through selective activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The power management component operates autonomously to manage external interface power supply without requiring host system intervention. It can independently detect external device presence, monitor battery charge levels, and control power flow to external devices even when the host system is inactive, providing self-service power management that bridges the gap between complete power cutoff and constant power supply.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the host system monitors and controls power to external interfaces, then power usage is optimized and battery life is extended, but system complexity increases with additional power management components
Solution Approach 1:
The power management component is designed with multi-functionality, serving as a bridge between host system power control and external interface power supply. It performs multiple functions including monitoring host system state, detecting external device presence, regulating power output, and maintaining power supply during inactive states, thereby extending battery life without requiring multiple separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The power management component acts as an intermediary between the host system's power source and external devices. This intermediary role allows it to optimize power flow, implement power conservation strategies, and extend battery life by controlling when and how power is supplied to external interfaces, while adding only a single intermediate component rather than complex distributed control.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for providing smart power management to one or more external interfaces of an information handling system that is capable of acting as a host for charging and/or otherwise powering one or more external devices via external interface/s that have both data exchange and power transfer capability, such as USB or Firewire interfaces. A host-based power source may be provided that is capable of managing power when a host information handling system is in inactive, and a user-based methodology may be implemented to selectively provide power to one or more external interfaces of a host information handling system based on user need or desire for access to external interface power, even when the host information handling system is inactive.