Management Server Power Control for Multi-Device User Ecosystems
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Solution Overview
Problem
In corporate networked systems, user devices often remain active or operate redundantly, leading to unnecessary power consumption and battery drain, particularly when employees use multiple devices for similar tasks without properly powering down.
Innovation Solution
A management server system that identifies active and inactive user devices associated with the same user and sends instructions to inactive devices to conserve power by turning off functionalities, such as placing smartphones in power-down mode or adjusting laptop settings to reduce battery drain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If user devices remain active or operate redundantly to ensure task continuity and accessibility, then task completion reliability is improved, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The management server continuously monitors the operational states of multiple user devices, receiving indications of active/inactive status and application execution states. Based on this feedback, the server dynamically sends instructions to adjust device functionalities, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes power consumption while maintaining task reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables user devices to automatically adjust their own operational states based on instructions from the management server. Inactive devices autonomously power down functionalities or shut down without user intervention, while active devices continue normal operations, allowing each device to self-manage its power consumption based on actual usage requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple user devices are kept active simultaneously for task redundancy and accessibility, then task accessibility is improved, but energy wastage increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of completely shutting down all devices, the system applies partial action by selectively powering down only the inactive second user device while keeping the active first user device operational. This ensures task accessibility is maintained through the active device while eliminating energy wastage from redundant inactive devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The management server changes the operational parameters of user devices dynamically - transitioning devices between active, inactive, and powered-off states based on real-time monitoring of task execution requirements. This parameter adjustment allows the system to adapt accessibility levels while optimizing energy consumption.
3Use of energy by moving object
If user devices automatically power down to conserve energy, then power consumption is reduced, but device availability and responsiveness decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The management server performs preliminary monitoring and analysis of device usage patterns before making power management decisions. By anticipating when devices will be needed based on task context and user behavior patterns, the server can pre-prepare power state transitions, ensuring devices are activated in time to maintain responsiveness while still achieving energy savings during inactive periods.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples described herein include systems and methods for reducing power consumption among multiple user devices that are communicatively coupled to a management server. The management server can receive an indication that a first user device (a laptop computer, for example) is in an active state and that a first application (an email application or a web browser, for example), is executing at the laptop computer. The management server determines that a second user device (a smartphone, for example) is associated with the same user and further determines that a second application is installed on the smartphone. The management server can determine that the smartphone is in an inactive state or that the second application is currently not executing on the smartphone. The management server sends an instruction to the smartphone to turn off at least one functionality so as to reduce power consumption.