Abstract: An accessory device receives authentication information from a host computing device connected thereto and determines whether the authentication information is valid. If the authentication information is valid, the accessory device applies a first access policy that specifies whether the accessory device can provide the host computing device with access to none, some, or all of various computing resources of the accessory device. If the authentication information is not valid, the accessory device applies a second access policy that is different than the first access policy. The accessory device can also be provisioned with access policies by a host computing device if the host computing device successfully authenticates with the accessory device. In either case, authenticating the host computing device may include verifying a digital signature of a certificate provided by the host computing device using a public key of a certificate authority that has been provisioned to the accessory device.

Abstract: A computing device has an energy storage device system with multiple energy storage devices. Various different criteria are used to determine which one or more of the multiple energy storage devices to charge or discharge at any given time to provide power to the computing device. The criteria can include characteristics of the energy storage devices as well as hardware and/or physical characteristics of the computing device, characteristics of the energy storage devices and/or the computing device that change while the computing device operates, and predicted behavior or usage of the computing device. These criteria are evaluated during operation of the computing device, and the appropriate energy storage device(s) from which to draw power or to charge at any given time based on these criteria are determined.

Abstract: An accessory device receives authentication information from a host computing device connected thereto and determines whether the authentication information is valid. If the authentication information is valid, the accessory device applies a first access policy that specifies whether the accessory device can provide the host computing device with access to none, some, or all of various computing resources of the accessory device. If the authentication information is not valid, the accessory device applies a second access policy that is different than the first access policy. The accessory device can also be provisioned with access policies by a host computing device if the host computing device successfully authenticates with the accessory device. In either case, authenticating the host computing device may include verifying a digital signature of a certificate provided by the host computing device using a public key of a certificate authority that has been provisioned to the accessory device.

Abstract: An accessory device receives authentication information from a host computing device connected thereto and determines whether the authentication information is valid. If the authentication information is valid, the accessory device applies a first access policy that specifies whether the accessory device can provide the host computing device with access to none, some, or all of various computing resources of the accessory device. If the authentication information is not valid, the accessory device applies a second access policy that is different than the first access policy. The accessory device can also be provisioned with access policies by a host computing device if the host computing device successfully authenticates with the accessory device. In either case, authenticating the host computing device may include verifying a digital signature of a certificate provided by the host computing device using a public key of a certificate authority that has been provisioned to the accessory device.

Abstract: An accessory device receives authentication information from a host computing device connected thereto and determines whether the authentication information is valid. If the authentication information is valid, the accessory device applies a first access policy that specifies whether the accessory device can provide the host computing device with access to none, some, or all of various computing resources of the accessory device. If the authentication information is not valid, the accessory device applies a second access policy that is different than the first access policy. The accessory device can also be provisioned with access policies by a host computing device if the host computing device successfully authenticates with the accessory device. In either case, authenticating the host computing device may include verifying a digital signature of a certificate provided by the host computing device using a public key of a certificate authority that has been provisioned to the accessory device.

Abstract: A computing device has an energy storage device system with one or more energy storage devices. A target run-time is obtained, which refers to how long the computing device is to run given the current amount of energy in the energy storage device(s). A predicted power usage over the target run-time is determined, and what, if any, power management actions to take in order to achieve the target run-time are determined. The power management actions are then taken. A target charge-time is also obtained, which refers to how long the computing device is to take to charge the energy storage device(s) to a threshold level (e.g., 100% or fully charged). A predicted power gain over the target charge-time is determined, and what, if any, power management actions to take in order to achieve the target charge-time are determined. The power management actions are then taken.

Abstract: A computing device has an energy storage device system with multiple energy storage devices. Various different criteria are used to determine which one or more of the multiple energy storage devices to charge or discharge at any given time to provide power to the computing device. The criteria can include characteristics of the energy storage devices as well as hardware and/or physical characteristics of the computing device, characteristics of the energy storage devices and/or the computing device that change while the computing device operates, and predicted behavior or usage of the computing device. These criteria are evaluated during operation of the computing device, and the appropriate energy storage device(s) from which to draw power or to charge at any given time based on these criteria are determined.

Abstract: A computing device has an energy storage device system with multiple energy storage devices. Various different criteria are used to determine which one or more of the multiple energy storage devices to discharge at any given time to provide power to the computing device. The criteria can include characteristics of the energy storage devices as well as hardware and/or physical characteristics of the computing device, characteristics of the energy storage devices and/or the computing device that change while the computing device operates, and predicted behavior or usage of the computing device. These criteria are evaluated during operation of the computing device, and the appropriate energy storage device(s) from which to draw power at any given time based on these criteria are determined.

Abstract: A computing device has an energy storage device system with multiple energy storage devices. Various different criteria are used to determine which one or more of the multiple energy storage devices to discharge at any given time to provide power to the computing device. The criteria can include characteristics of the energy storage devices as well as hardware and/or physical characteristics of the computing device, characteristics of the energy storage devices and/or the computing device that change while the computing device operates, and predicted behavior or usage of the computing device. These criteria are evaluated during operation of the computing device, and the appropriate energy storage device(s) from which to draw power at any given time based on these criteria are determined.

Abstract: Hibernating a computing system. The method includes detecting at least one condition which indicates the availability of time to perform hibernation optimization steps on the computing system. The hibernation optimization steps optimize resume time from hibernate. The method further includes detecting a trigger indicating that the computing system is to be put into a hibernate state. As a result of detecting the at least one condition and the trigger, the method further includes performing hibernation steps to hibernate the computing system in a way that optimizes resume time from hibernate of the computing system.

Abstract: An operating system of a computing device determines an importance of the threads running on the computing device, such as assigning the importance of the threads as critical or non-critical. The operating system determines when there are no threads having at least a threshold importance (e.g., no critical threads), and forces one or more components of the computing device into a forced idle state in response to determining that there are no threads having at least the threshold importance. The forced idle state of a device component is a low power state, such as a state in which program instructions are not executed, so the computing device is forced into a forced idle state that reduces power usage in the computing device despite there being threads (e.g., non-critical threads) to be executed.

Abstract: Adaptive doze to hibernate scheme techniques are described for power management of a computing device. Rather than relying upon a fixed timer to control device power states, the adaptive doze to hibernate scheme monitors various hibernate parameters and adapts the hibernation experience in dependence upon the parameters. The hibernate parameters may include but are not limited to a standby budget, minimum standby time, reserve screen on time, and indications of user presence. In operation, a power manager monitors battery drain rate and adaptively determines when to change the device power states of the computing device based on the observed drain rate and the hibernate parameters. The power manager may selectively switch between various states (e.g., high performance, active, wake, standby, hibernate, off, etc.) accordingly.

Abstract: A computing device has an energy storage device system with one or more energy storage devices. A target run-time is obtained, which refers to how long the computing device is to run given the current amount of energy in the energy storage device(s). A predicted power usage over the target run-time is determined, and what, if any, power management actions to take in order to achieve the target run-time are determined. The power management actions are then taken. A target charge-time is also obtained, which refers to how long the computing device is to take to charge the energy storage device(s) to a threshold level (e.g., 100% or fully charged). A predicted power gain over the target charge-time is determined, and what, if any, power management actions to take in order to achieve the target charge-time are determined. The power management actions are then taken.

Abstract: When an activity agent desires to perform a particular task on a device, the activity agent communicates a request to a resource control system of the device. The request has an associated amount of energy that is expected to be used by the activity agent to perform the task. The resource control system receives the request, determines whether to grant the request based on the amount of energy expected to be used by the activity agent to carry out the task and various additional factors, and returns an indication to the activity agent that the request is granted or denied. If denied, the activity agent delays performing its desired task. If granted, the activity agent proceeds to perform its desired task. The resource control system also continues to monitor the system state of the device, and may revoke the grant depending on changes in the system state of the device.

Abstract: Moving a computing system to a mandated power state. The method includes a computing system component determining to move the computing system to a deeper power state. As a result, the method further includes the computing system component directing hardware and software agents on the computing system to move to a deeper power state. The method further includes the computing system component observing that at least one agent is preventing the computing system from moving to the deeper power state. As a result, the method includes the computing system component directing a system-wide movement to a mandated power state.

Abstract: Hibernating a computing system. The method includes detecting at least one condition which indicates the availability of time to perform hibernation optimization steps on the computing system. The hibernation optimization steps optimize resume time from hibernate. The method further includes detecting a trigger indicating that the computing system is to be put into a hibernate state. As a result of detecting the at least one condition and the trigger, the method further includes performing hibernation steps to hibernate the computing system in a way that optimizes resume time from hibernate of the computing system.

Abstract: A computing device has an energy storage device system with multiple energy storage devices. Various different criteria are used to determine which one or more of the multiple energy storage devices to discharge at any given time to provide power to the computing device. The criteria can include characteristics of the energy storage devices as well as hardware and/or physical characteristics of the computing device, characteristics of the energy storage devices and/or the computing device that change while the computing device operates, and predicted behavior or usage of the computing device. These criteria are evaluated during operation of the computing device, and the appropriate energy storage device(s) from which to draw power at any given time based on these criteria are determined.

Abstract: A computing device has an energy storage device system with one or more energy storage devices. The computing device can be connected to various different power resources (e.g., power sources and/or power profiles) to charge the energy storage device(s). Various different criteria are used to determine which one or more of the power resources to use at any given time to charge the energy storage device(s). The criteria can include physical characteristics of the computing device, characteristics of the energy storage devices and/or the computing device that change while the computing device operates, and estimated or predicted usage of the computing device. These criteria are evaluated during operation of the computing device, and the appropriate power resources to charge the energy storage device(s) at any given time based on these criteria are determined.

Abstract: A computing device has an energy storage device system with multiple energy storage devices. Various different criteria are used to determine which one or more of the multiple energy storage devices to charge at any given time to provide power to the computing device. The criteria can include characteristics of the energy storage devices and/or the computing device that change while the computing device operates, and estimated or predicted usage of the computing device. These criteria are evaluated during operation of the computing device, and the appropriate energy storage device(s) to charge at any given time based on these criteria are determined.

Abstract: An operating system of a computing device determines an importance of the threads running on the computing device, such as assigning the importance of the threads as critical or non-critical. The operating system determines when there are no threads having at least a threshold importance (e.g., no critical threads), and forces one or more components of the computing device into a forced idle state in response to determining that there are no threads having at least the threshold importance. The forced idle state of a device component is a low power state, such as a state in which program instructions are not executed, so the computing device is forced into a forced idle state that reduces power usage in the computing device despite there being threads (e.g., non-critical threads) to be executed.