Abstract: The present invention provides systems, methods, and articles for stress reduction and sleep promotion. A stress reduction and sleep promotion system includes at least one remote device, at least one body sensor, and at least one remote server. The sleep promotion devices includes a control unit able to thermoelectrically heat or cool a fluid circulating through a mattress pad. In one embodiment, the control unit includes Peltier chips connected to two heat sinks via heat pipes, with both heat sinks attached to a fan for dissipating heat. In another embodiment, the control unit further includes EMF shielding for reducing EMF interference with a user's sleep.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a wye connector for use in fluidly coupling two or more thermally regulated articles to a fluid source. The wye connector includes quick disconnect elements attachable to a corresponding quick disconnect element attached to the fluid source and/or to the two or more thermally regulated articles, and a plurality of tubes connecting each quick disconnect element. The tubes connecting each quick disconnect element are attached to at least one thermoelectric module capable of heating and/or cooling fluid moving through the tubes.

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 temperature modulation system for a bed, blanket, or other furniture includes a fluid for moderating temperature change, a number of conduit circuits for directing the fluid through respective zones, a control unit including a thermoelectric device for modulating temperature of the fluid, and a pump. Each of the conduit circuits selectively and independently directs fluid through its respective zone in order to produce a temperature within the zone that is independent of the temperature outside the zone. The system also includes an arrangement of one or more zones in an arrangement in which the control unit is programmed to vary the zone temperature over time according to a schedule.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems, methods, and articles for stress reduction and sleep promotion. A stress reduction and sleep promotion system includes at least one remote device, at least one body sensor, and at least one remote server. The sleep promotion devices includes a control unit able to thermoelectrically heat or cool a fluid circulating through a mattress pad. In one embodiment, the control unit includes Peltier chips connected to two heat sinks via heat pipes, with both heat sinks attached to a fan for dissipating heat. In another embodiment, the control unit further includes EMF shielding for reducing EMF interference with a user's sleep.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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 component of a computing device such as a processor is operated based on a clock signal oscillating at a frequency. Power management for the computing device is performed by adjusting the frequency of the clock signal applied to the component when warranted and also by idling the component when the component experiences a period of inactivity longer than an idle detection metric scaled according to the adjusted frequency.

Abstract: A method of controlling power management is provided. In an embodiment, the user provides feedback that the inactivity period before a display blanks is too short. In response to the user feedback, a behavior tracking mode is entered and the inactivity period is adjusted to a period that is more suitable to the user's needs. In an embodiment, the adjustment may be done through incrementing a counter and changing the inactivity period based on the value of the counter.

Abstract: Dynamic power controller apparatus, systems and methods are provided which utilize system and user data to control power to components. The present invention employs dynamically controlled idle timeout values which are based, in part, on the historical use of the component. It can also employ user settings, event occurrences and available resources of a system to dynamically control the power to one of the system's components or a remote component. In an instance of the present invention related to hard disk power control, it is employed in an operating system's kernel where disk idleness is monitored. When the hard disk's idle time meets a dynamically computed power control idle timeout, the disk driver is commanded to power down the device.