Subsystem Handover for Seamless Multimedia Playback During Sleep Transitions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable computer systems face challenges in maintaining user experience due to battery life issues, as high power consumption modes drain batteries quickly, leading to abrupt application termination when transitioning to low power states, causing disruptions in data processing.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a computer system with multiple subsystems that share a data bus, allowing a second subsystem to seamlessly take over data processing from a first subsystem as it enters a low power state, identifying transition points to minimize disruptions, such as during silent periods in audio or scene changes in video, ensuring continuous data delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the computer system operates in a high power consumption mode to maintain excellent user experience, then the user experience is improved, but the battery life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser experienceVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The computer system is divided into multiple subsystems (first subsystem and second subsystem) that can operate independently. When the first subsystem enters sleep mode to conserve battery life, the second subsystem continues to process data, effectively segmenting the computational workload to resolve the contradiction between power consumption and user experience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second subsystem acts as an intermediary that takes over data processing tasks from the first subsystem when it transitions to sleep mode. This intermediary subsystem ensures continuous data processing without requiring the main subsystem to remain fully active, thus extending battery life while maintaining user experience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Duration of action of moving object

If the computer system transitions to low power state to extend battery life, then the battery life is improved, but the data processing is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery lifeVSAvoiddata processing continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The data processing function is segmented between multiple subsystems. When the first subsystem enters low power state, the second subsystem assumes responsibility for continuing data processing, ensuring that data processing continuity is maintained even though individual subsystems are entering sleep mode.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system ensures continuity of useful action by having the second subsystem continue data processing tasks while the first subsystem enters sleep mode. This maintains uninterrupted data processing flow, preventing the disruption that would normally occur during power state transitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Device complexity

If the application ends abruptly when battery is drained to simplify power management, then the power management is simplified, but the user experience is negatively affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower management complexityVSAvoiduser experience

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The power management function is segmented across multiple subsystems with different power states. The first subsystem can enter sleep mode while the second subsystem remains active to continue data processing, eliminating the need for abrupt application termination and simplifying power management while maintaining user experience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second subsystem serves as an intermediary that prevents abrupt application endings by continuing data processing tasks when the first subsystem enters sleep mode. This mediator subsystem ensures smooth power transitions and maintains user experience without requiring complex power management interventions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8738951B2Mobile systems with seamless transition by activating second subsystem to continue operation of application executed by first subsystem as it enters sleep mode

Publication Date: 2014.05.27 TAHOE RES LTD

AI summary

A computer system includes two or more subsystems. In one example, a first subsystem is executing a multimedia application using data stored in a first storage device. A copy of the data is also stored in a second storage device associated with a second subsystem. The second subsystem may be a dedicated multimedia player controller. When the first subsystem is to enter a sleep state, the second subsystem may continue to process the multimedia data stored in the second storage device. The second subsystem may also use the same audio port that the first subsystem was using before it enters the sleep state. Appropriate transition point may be determined by the second subsystem to ease audio disruption.