By Shutdown Of Only Part Of System Patents (Class 713/324)
  • Publication number: 20140365804
    Abstract: A method and system for managing power consumption of a pool of computing devices are disclosed. One aspect of certain embodiments includes managing resource utilization for each computing device without installing customized software, firmware or hardware on the computing device and dynamically selecting, one or more candidate computing devices for altering their respective power states based on at least real-time information on the quantity of requests.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: TSO LOGIC INC.
    Inventor: Aaron J. Rallo
  • Patent number: 8909947
    Abstract: An information handling system plays audio provided from a portable audio device at an information handling system audio subsystem in operating and powered down states of the information handling system. In the operating state, digital audio information is communicated from the portable audio device through a serial link for rendering at the information handling system into an analog audio signal presented by the audio subsystem. In the powered down state, digital audio information is rendered at the portable audio device and communicated as an analog audio signal through the serial link to the information handling system. A system module at the information handling system selectively switches the serial link to interface with the audio subsystem and play the analog signal as audible sounds. The system module supplies power to the audio subsystem to support playing the analog signal with the information handling system in the powered down state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Art Achariyakosol, David Konetski, Douglas Peeler
  • Patent number: 8909946
    Abstract: Efficient power management of a system with virtual machines is disclosed. In particular, such efficient power management may enable coordination of system-wide power changes with virtual machines. Additionally, such efficient power management may enable coherent power changes in a system with a virtual machine monitor. Furthermore, such efficient power management may enable dynamic control and communication of power state changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Adrian J. Oney, Bryan Mark Willman, Eric P. Traut, Forrest Curtis Foltz, Matthew D. Hendel, Rene Antonio Vega
  • Patent number: 8908105
    Abstract: A wireless displaying system, a wireless displaying device and a method for switching working mode are provided. The method includes: determining whether a video signal is received from a source device by a wireless module of the wireless displaying device during a waiting time when a processing module of the wireless displaying device works in a normal working mode; switching the processing module into a power-saving mode when the video signal is not received by the wireless module during the waiting time; receiving a specified packet from the source device by the wireless module, so as to generate a wake-up signal according to the specified packet when the processing module is in the power-saving mode; and recovering the processing module to work in the normal working mode according to the wake-up signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventor: Feng-Yuan Chen
  • Patent number: 8909949
    Abstract: A method comprises predicting a workload required for decoding a code block using a turbo decoder and selecting a power mode of the turbo decoder, the selection of the power mode depending on the prediction of the workload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Mobile Communications GmbH
    Inventor: Erick Amador
  • Publication number: 20140359334
    Abstract: An embodiment may include circuitry to be included, at least in part, in at least one node to be used in a network. The circuitry may (a) receive, at least in part, via at least one power supply line of the at least one node, at least one packet, and/or (b) issue, at least in part, via the at least one power supply line, the at least one packet. The at least one packet may request at least one change, at least in part, in at least one power consumption state of at least one portion of the at least one node. Many modifications, variations, and alternatives are possible without departing from this embodiment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Patrick G. Kutch, Brian P. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20140359335
    Abstract: A multi-core apparatus includes cores each including an active cycle counting unit configured to store an active cycle count, and a stall cycle counting unit configured to store a stall cycle count. The multi-core apparatus further includes a job scheduler configured to determine an optimal number of cores in an active state based on state information received from each of the cores, and adjust power to maintain the optimal number of cores.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicants: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woong SEO, Yeon-Gon CHO, Soo-Jung RYU, Seok-Woo SONG, John Dongjun KIM, Min-Seok LEE
  • Patent number: 8904206
    Abstract: A method of maintaining application continuity (900) and mobile computing device (200) are described. The method involves a mobile device running an application in synchronous communication with an application server. The application has a threshold communication null period for maintaining application continuity. The method (900) can include the steps of: operating (910) the application in synchronous communication with an application server, defining an active mode, wherein the synchronous communication is automatically enabled; providing (920) a dormant mode wherein the synchronous communication is automatically disabled in the mobile device for a predetermined duration; and interrupting (930) the dormant mode by momentarily communicating with the application server prior to a threshold communication null period, for maintaining application continuity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Gregory R. Black, John P. Boos
  • Patent number: 8904219
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing power consumption in a portable terminal are provided. The apparatus includes a display unit for displaying at least one indicator that indicates status information measured by a slave processor, a master processor for controlling one of ON and OFF of the display unit and for providing image data to the display unit, and the slave processor for transmitting to the master processor indicator update information for updating the at least one indicator, wherein transmission to the master processor of the indicator update information is discontinued if the status of the display unit is OFF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang-Jin Park, Hong Kim
  • Patent number: 8904218
    Abstract: A portable device and a method for controlling the device are disclosed. The portable device includes sensors configured to sense user inputs; a sensor hub configured to activate a main processor and control the sensors including a touch sensor, the touch sensor sensing touch inputs while the portable device is in a standby mode; and the main processor configured to execute an application and control the portable device, wherein, when the portable device is in the standby mode, the touch sensor is in an active state and at least one of the sensors except the touch sensor is in an inactive state, and when the touch sensor detects a first touch input which corresponds to a pre-stored pattern, the sensor hub activates the main processor and switches the portable device from the standby mode to an active mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kiwon Lee, Suyoung Lee, Hokyuong Ka, Youngwoo Kim
  • Patent number: 8904157
    Abstract: A computer including a main body in which a system is built, a peripheral device coupled to the main body, a power supplying part to supply power to the system and/or the peripheral device, an interface part to communicate with an external device, and a controller to control the power supplying part to apply power to the system but not to the peripheral device if a power-saving power applying signal is received through the interface part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Su-yong Kim
  • Patent number: 8904197
    Abstract: Power usage of a portable computing device is modified to more efficiently use a power supply included in the portable computing device. Power usage by different components of the portable computing device is modified based on use of the portable computing device to allow dynamic modification of power consumption. The portable computing device includes data describing various power management states and the portable computing device transitions between different power management states as it is used, modifying the power consumption of various components in different power management states. Various communication device operating states are also defined to modify power usage by communication devices included in the portable computing device based on device usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kurt W. Piersol, Kanae Amemiya, Bradley J. Rhodes, Edward L. Schwartz, Kenneth F. Gudan
  • Patent number: 8904112
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for disabling ways of a cache memory in response to history based usage patterns is herein described. Way predicting logic is to keep track of cache accesses to the ways and determine if an access to some ways are to be disabled to save power, based upon way power signals having a logical state representing a predicted miss to the way. One or more counters associated with the ways count accesses, wherein a power signal is set to the logical state representing a predicted miss when one of said one or more counters reaches a saturation value. Control logic adjusts said one or more counters associated with the ways according to the accesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Licht, Jonathan Combs, Andrew Huang
  • Patent number: 8904213
    Abstract: A system method and computer program product for managing readiness states of a plurality of computing devices. In response to a request, a computer system operates to either: provide one or more computing devices from an inactive pool to an active pool, or accept one or more active computing devices into the inactive pool. An Inactive Pool Manager proactively manages the inactive states of each computing device by: determining the desired number (and identities) of computing devices to be placed in each inactive state of readiness by solving a constraint optimization problem that describes a user-specified trade-off between expected readiness (estimated time to be able to activate computing devices when they are needed next) and conserving energy; generating a plan for changing the current set of inactive states to the desired set; and, executing the plan. Multiple alternative ways of quantifying the desired responsiveness to surges in demand are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hoi Y. Chan, Rajarshi Das, James E. Hanson, Canturk Isci, Jeffrey O. Kephart, David W. Levine
  • Patent number: 8898499
    Abstract: The present invention relates to platform power management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ren Wang, Christian Mociocco, Sanjay Bakshi, Tsung-Yuan Charles Tai
  • Patent number: 8898490
    Abstract: The information processing apparatus generates and notifies, in the first power state, a prohibition condition for prohibiting the information processing apparatus from returning to the first power state even if an interface unit has received data from an external apparatus in the second power state and the received data matches a return condition for causing the information processing apparatus to return from the second power state to the first power state. When data is received from the external apparatus in the second power state, if the received data matches the prohibition condition, the interface unit does not transmit a return command to the power control unit, and if the received data does not match the prohibition condition, the interface unit transmits the return command to the power control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Koga
  • Patent number: 8898486
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling an input power according to power management modes of a display device. In a saving mode of the power management modes, a power supply to the system is turned OFF according to an organic operation between components of the system. Thus, because the power supply to a power block within the system is turned OFF all, a consumed power is in a substantially zero state, comparable to a state in which a power plug is physically pulled out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Min Goo Kang
  • Patent number: 8898500
    Abstract: Various methods for performing energy management via a sub-system are provided. One example method includes receiving a user input while a main processing system is in a power saving mode and buffering a representation of the user input. The example method further includes, in response to receiving the user input, triggering a wake up of a main processing system from the power saving mode, and causing transmission of the representation of the user input to the main processing system for processing. Similar and related example methods and example apparatuses are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Shunsuke Araki, Takashi Nakayama, Toshiaki Takano
  • Patent number: 8898386
    Abstract: A volume group power control system and a corresponding method are disclosed. The system is to organize a plurality of drive systems into a plurality of logical volume groups and to store group data identifying each of the plurality of logical volume groups. Each of the logical volume groups includes a plurality of the drive systems. The array controller includes a power management component to monitor activity of each of the plurality of drive systems in each of the plurality of logical volume groups and to deactivate the plurality of drive systems associated with a given one of the plurality of logical volume groups in response to the power management component determining that the plurality of drive systems associated with the given one of the plurality of logical volume groups is substantially inactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond A Ritter, Balaji Natrajan, Michael G Myrah
  • Patent number: 8898446
    Abstract: A power over Ethernet extender arranged to detect if power is received over 2 pairs of wires or over 4 pairs of wires. If power is received over 4 pairs of wires, power is output over only 2 pairs of wires. Preferably, the power signature of the received power is further detected. If the incoming power over a first 2 pairs of wires supports in excess of 13 watts of power consumption, and power is received over 4 pairs, then the output power supports in excess of 13 watts of power consumption; and if the incoming power over a first 2 pairs of wires supports in excess of 13 watts of power consumption, and power is not received over 4 pairs, then the output power does not support in excess of 13 watts of power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Microsemi Corp.—Analog Mixed Signal Group, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sani Ronen, Yaniv Giat, Nadav Gleit
  • Patent number: 8898501
    Abstract: A multiprocessor system dynamically updates CPU affinities for processes executing on processors of the multiprocessor system based on an external signal. The external signal is generated by a monitor device. The external signal identifies the processors and the processes that require updating. In response to the external signal, the multiprocessor system redistributes the processes identified in the external signal and powers on or off one or more processors based on a processor threshold associated with the multiprocessor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: David Wayne Haney, Christopher Joseph Mateski, Andrew Lee Davey
  • Publication number: 20140344608
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes receiving user interface information having event registrations for a user interface to be displayed on a display of a system, partitioning the display into an unused display area and an active display area based on the event registrations, and power managing the unused display area while maintaining the active display area fully powered. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventor: Wenlong Wang
  • Publication number: 20140344607
    Abstract: File sharing circuit and computer using the same are provided. The computer includes a computer host and a file sharing circuit. The computer host includes a first storage device, a first system control chip, a control unit, and a power integrated circuit. The file sharing circuit includes a second system control chip and a first bus switch. When the second system control chip performs a file sharing procedure, the power integrated circuit powers the first storage device, the second system control chip, and the first bus switch, and the control unit switches the first bus switch to a first state so that the second system control chip accesses the first storage device. When the second system control chip does not perform the file sharing procedure, the control unit switches the first bus switch to a second state so that the first system control chip accesses the first storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Yung-Chi Sung, En-Shan Tsuei
  • Publication number: 20140344605
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and system for content presentation in a main processor shutoff mode. A method for content presentation includes transferring content to at least one of a co-processor and storage accessible by the co-processor and shutting off the main processor in response to the transferring of content such that the main processor is disabled while the co-processor presents the content stored in the storage. The content may include at least one of multimedia data, text data, and image data. A disclosed system includes a main processor in communication with a co-processor. The main processor includes data transfer logic operative to transfer the content and to shut off the main processor in response to the transferring of content such that the main processor is disabled while the co-processor presents the content stored in the storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: ATI TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventor: Bin Xie
  • Publication number: 20140344606
    Abstract: A method for starting an electronic system through CEC is disclosed, in which the electronic system includes a power management controller and a processing circuit controlled by the power management controller. In the method, a CEC bus which is electrically connected to the power management controller is detected, and a CEC data transmitted from the CEC bus is compared with a pre-determined logic value. After that, the processing circuit is powered on when the CEC data is equal to the pre-determined logic value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventor: Sheng-Yang HUANG
  • Patent number: 8892928
    Abstract: A system and method for maintaining connectivity between a host system running an Always-On-Always-Connected (AOAC) application and an associated remote application server. The system further includes circuitry configured to establish a communication link between the host system and the remote application server. The circuitry is configured periodically transmit keep-alive messages to the remote application server after the host system transitions to and remains in a low-power state. The keep-alive messages are configured to maintain connectivity and presence of the AOAC application with the remote application server while the host system is in the low-power state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Christian Maciocco, Sameh Gobriel, Kristoffer Fleming, Gideon Prat, Tsung-Yuan Charlie Tai
  • Patent number: 8892924
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a multi-core processor includes multiple cores and an uncore, where the uncore includes various logic units including a cache memory, a router, and a power control unit (PCU). The PCU can clock gate at least one of the logic units and the cache memory when the multi-core processor is in a low power state to thus reduce dynamic power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Srikanth Balasubramanian, Tessil Thomas, Satish Shrimali, Baskaran Ganesan
  • Patent number: 8892910
    Abstract: Embodiments include a network switch for use in a local area network that interconnects the switch and one or more network powered devices, the switch also being operatively connected to at least one power supply that powers the switch, the switch comprising a plurality of ports to which network powered devices are connected, at least one management module for controlling the operation of the switch, the module having memory for storing information relating to the power and operating requirements of each connected network device, and a processor for controlling the distribution of power from the power supply among the ports, including selectively time slicing power provided to at least selected ones of the ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Rupal Bhavin Shah
  • Patent number: 8892919
    Abstract: A method and apparatus determines an activity history context for each of a plurality of virtual machines sharing use of a graphics processing core. Each activity history context provides information related to a power setting of at least one engine of the graphics processing core during at least one prior use of the graphics processing core by the corresponding virtual machine. The method and apparatus controls a power setting of the at least one engine of the graphics processing core based on the activity history context corresponding to an active virtual machine using the graphics processing core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Oleksandr Khodorkovsky, Stephen D. Presant
  • Patent number: 8892920
    Abstract: A method and apparatus configures a power level for a device able to receive audio, video, and data signals. An input signal is received by a receiver capable of receiving broadcast data signals and digital home networking signals. The system determines if the receiver is operating in a first mode having a first power level or a second mode having a second power level based on a type of input signal received by the receiver. A control signal is generated for modifying at least one setting on a first circuit for configuring the first circuit to operate according to the first power level if the input signal is a first type of input signal. The control signal is provided to the first circuit and the first circuit is configured to operate according to the first power level based on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Daniel Mark Hutchinson, Dinesh Ambravaneswaran, William John Testin
  • Patent number: 8892930
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for managing power consumption in electronic devices. In certain embodiments, an integrated circuit for managing power consumption in an electronic device includes an input/output (I/O) interface, a first circuit block coupled to the I/O interface, and an interface circuit coupled between the I/O interface and the first circuit block, the interface circuit configured to provide a defined logic state to the first circuit block or a second circuit block external to the integrated circuit if one of the first circuit block or the second circuit block is powered down. By providing a defined logic state to the first circuit block or the second circuit block when one of the first circuit block or the second circuit block is powered down, power consumption of the electronic device may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Integrated Device Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Tzong-Kwang Henry Yeh, Tak Kwong Wong
  • Patent number: 8892611
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for improving performance when retrieving data from one or more storage media. Files to be stored on the one or more storage media are classified into a ranking of different sets. Differences in retrieval value of different regions of the one or more storage media are exploited by selecting which files to store in which regions. For example, files that have a higher classification are stored in regions with faster retrieval values. The files can be classified based on frequency of access. Thus, files that are more frequently accessed are stored in regions that have a faster retrieval value. The files can be classified by another measure such as priority. For example, the classification for some or all of the files can be based on user-assigned priority. The classification may be based on events or data grouping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Condusiv Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Craig Jensen, Andrew Staffer, Robert Stevens Kleinschmidt, Jr., Sopurkh Khalsa, Gary Quan
  • Patent number: 8892929
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a multi-core processor includes multiple cores and an uncore, where the uncore includes various logic units including a cache memory, a router, and a power control unit (PCU). The PCU can clock gate at least one of the logic units and the cache memory when the multi-core processor is in a low power state to thus reduce dynamic power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Srikanth Balasubramanian, Tessil Thomas, Satish Shrimali, Baskaran Ganesan
  • Patent number: 8892925
    Abstract: A device (D) is dedicated to the control of the waking of facilities (OE11-OE23) forming part of an assembly of at least one multiplexed network (R1-R2) managed by a management facility (OM).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroën Automobiles SA
    Inventors: Matthieu Merey-Marzat, Antony Boisserie, Vincent Sollier
  • Patent number: 8892917
    Abstract: A memory system includes a memory which asserts a high-power-consumption operation output when an amount of the power consumption is high in internal operations in respective operations, and a controller which has an interface function between a host and the memory and receives the high-power-consumption operation output. The controller switches an operation mode thereof to a low power consumption mode when the high-power-consumption operation output is asserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hiroshi Sukegawa
  • Patent number: 8886982
    Abstract: A system for controlling power usage in a storage cluster by dynamically controlling membership in the storage cluster is disclosed. The storage cluster includes multiple storage servers that provide access to one or more storage subsystems. The power management system uses a power management policy to set parameters for controlling membership in the storage cluster and monitors the storage cluster based on the policy. Based on the monitoring, the system detects when the number of storage servers in the storage cluster should be reduced or increased. To reduce the number, the system selects a storage server to deactivate and directs the selected storage server to migrate storage resources (e.g., data, metadata) associated with the server to a different storage server. The system then deactivates the selected storage server by directing it to transition to a low power mode. The system may increase the number of servers in the storage cluster by reversing these steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
    Inventor: Dean Kalman
  • Patent number: 8886980
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for operating motion sensors in a power-efficient manner. An example technique described herein includes obtaining, at a motion sensor, first indications of sensed motion of a device associated with the motion sensor; integrating, at the motion sensor, the first indications of the sensed motion to obtain integrated motion information; generating, at the motion sensor, second indications of the integrated motion information; and sampling, at a processor disparate from the motion sensor, selective ones of the second indications. Another example technique includes obtaining a first indication of a motion state anomaly associated with motion of a mobile device and causing a gyroscope associated with the mobile device to transition between a first operating mode and a second operating mode in response to the first indication, where the first operating mode is a reduced-power mode compared to the second operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Victor Kulik
  • Patent number: 8886983
    Abstract: A battery monitoring apparatus that senses battery conditions such as low battery charge, end of battery capacity, and end of battery life, and responds by taking actions such as sending messages to a remote site and/or powering down. A rechargeable battery is coupled to one or more power-consuming electrical components, including battery monitoring equipment. The battery monitoring equipment senses battery charge. In response to a low-battery-charge condition, the battery monitoring equipment transmits a battery status message to a remote site and powers-down some of the electrical components. Whenever the battery nears the end of its capacity, the monitoring equipment powers down all electronic components and awaits the application of external power. The invention also tracks the time required for the battery charge to deplete. Charge duration decreases over time, and whenever it reaches a predetermined minimum, the battery monitoring equipment transmits a representative status message to the remote site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Maxime Matton, Puvikumar Sinnathamby
  • Patent number: 8886258
    Abstract: A wireless communication device (200) is disclosed. It can include: an electronic device (210) including a display (240); a wearable device (242) including a first orientation detector (244) configured to detect a suitable display viewing orientation; and a controller (220) including a power saving module (290) coupled to the electronic device (210), the controller (220) configured to control the operations of at least the display (240) in response to a suitable orientation detection. Advantageously, the wireless communication device (200) can provides a simple, portable, compact and robust power savings feature that can actuate a display when properly orientated for viewing by a user and not actuate the display when not suitably oriented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Rachid M Alameh, Gregory R. Black, Daniel J Sadler
  • Patent number: 8886974
    Abstract: A first controller can provide system state information and a second controller can receive the system state information. The second controller can be programmed to control the state of a component. The state of the component can be based on information programmed in the second controller and the system state information. The component can include an off state and an operating state indicated by a signal from the second controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mark D. Tupa, Michael R. Durham, Christopher Rijken, Louis B. Hobson, Joshua N. McMahon
  • Patent number: 8885200
    Abstract: A first image forming apparatus includes a first communication unit to communicate with a second image forming apparatus with a communication scheme without using a network; a monitoring unit to monitor a print job amount; a first control unit to, when the print job amount is not larger than a first threshold, perform control so that a first control signal for causing the second image forming apparatus to shift into a first mode is transmitted to the second image forming apparatus; and a second control unit to, when the second image forming apparatus is in the first mode and the print job amount for the first image forming apparatus is larger than a second threshold, perform control so that a second control signal for causing the second image forming apparatus to shift into a second mode is transmitted to the second image forming apparatus through the first communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Taichi Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 8884896
    Abstract: A computing device may detect the presence of a user after the user has not interacted with the computing device for a predetermined time period. The user may leave the device powered up, but after the predetermined time period has expired, the device enters a user detection mode from a normal operation mode such that nonessential components are powered down. A trackpad may be used to detect the presence of the user in the user detection mode. An electric field is generated by conductive plates of the trackpad. When the user extends his hand over the trackpad, sense lines in the track pad detect the interference with the electric field caused by the hand. A processor is signaled to return the device normal operation mode and restore full power to the device. A camera may be also used to detect the user's presence during the user detection mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Tabone, Anton Valdemar Staaf
  • Patent number: 8880924
    Abstract: A method of hot-plugging a multi-core processor includes monitoring respective workload levels of multiple processor cores, hot-plugging off a first core among the processor cores upon determining that its workload level has fallen below a lower reference value, and hot-plugging on a second core among the processor cores upon determining that its workload level has risen above an upper reference value while the first core is hot-plugged off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Je-Myoung Ko, Boo-Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 8874950
    Abstract: A method for managing power consumption by a network device is disclosed. The network device includes first and second ports, each of the first and second ports identified by a unique identifier and adapted to handle separate network traffic. The method includes verifying that the first and the second ports are connected to a common network end node; shutting off a link between the first port and the network end node; obtaining the unique identifier of the first port; creating, on the second port, a virtual port in response to the unique identifier of the first port; discovering the virtual port on the network device; and redirecting traffic formerly routed through the link through the virtual port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Emulex Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Joseph Karnowski
  • Patent number: 8874944
    Abstract: Provided is a communication device connected to a network access device constituting a network and capable of communication through the network, includes: a circumstance determining unit that determines whether or not the network is in a circumstance of executing a protocol causing blocking of communication on the network by changing the link speed to the network access device; a power saving determining unit that determines whether or not a predetermined power saving performance condition is satisfied; and a link speed control unit that maintains the link speed when it is determined that the power saving performance condition is satisfied and when the network is in the circumstance of executing the protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kyoichi Kamijima
  • Publication number: 20140317431
    Abstract: System and method for remotely performing a power cycle operation for a storage shelf of a storage server using a control path independent of a data path used for processing I/O requests is provided. The storage server maintains a data structure for storing information regarding a state of a plurality of power latches that are used to control power for the storage shelf having an alternate control path module for receiving control commands via the control path. Depending on the state of the plurality of power latches, the storage server sends one or more commands to the alternate control path module to turn off power to the storage shelf during a power cycle operation. When the power shelf is powered off, the storage server waits for a certain duration and then sends one or more power on commands to the alternate control path module to power on the storage shelf.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: NETAPP, INC.
    Inventors: Mayank Saxena, Rohan Gupta
  • Patent number: 8868950
    Abstract: A token value is maintained based on an allowable number of low power transitions of a hard disk drive without adversely affecting reliability, compared to an actual number of low power transitions of said hard disk drive. The allowable number of low power transitions increases over the hard disk drive's lifetime. Before the hard disk drive performs a low power transition, the token is evaluated to determine if the hard disk drive is allowed to perform a low power transition. Low power transitions discussed include parking the head and spinning-down the hard disk drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John B. Carter, Wesley M. Felter, Anthony N. Hylick
  • Patent number: 8868957
    Abstract: The invention provides a data storage system, comprising: one or more data storage media; a midplane to which the one or more data storage media are, in use, connected; at least one input/output module for providing control of data transfer between the or each of the data storage media and one or more hosts to which, in use, the data storage system is connected; and a back-up power supply to provide power to the input/output modules in the event of a failure of regular power sources therefor, the back-up power supply being provided separately from the at least one input/output module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Xyratex Technology Limited
    Inventors: David M. Davis, Alan Westrop
  • Patent number: 8868953
    Abstract: A method of controlling power consumption of an image forming apparatus includes outputting information regarding power consumption of a plurality of operation units if a power consumption check mode is set, performing power save operation in which at least one operation unit from among the plurality of operation units is turned on and the remaining operation units are turned off if a power save mode is set. Accordingly, on/off of the plurality of operation units may be controlled in the power save mode based on power consumption of each of the operation units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-kyu Kim, Min-seon Kim
  • Patent number: 8868947
    Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes running a cooling fan within a computer at low speed while the computer is in low temperature operations (e.g., idle). The operation of the cooling fan may reduce CPU temperature enough to decrease CPU leakage power, offsetting the power consumption of the fan, and possibly resulting in a net system power reduction. The benefit at the platform level increases further when considering the low efficiency of voltage regulation (VR) in this lower power regime, and potentially reductions in other components (e.g., graphics processor). The optimal fan speed is the speed at which the overall system power is reduced the most (e.g., CPU power savings is greater than fan power utilized). The optimal temperature may be determined dynamically during operation or may be determined in manufacturing and applied statically during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Hee-jun Park, John Wallace