Reducing power consumption in a networked battery-operated device using sensors

Abstract

A method and system for mobile device power consumption management decreases the instantaneous power consumption of a mobile device, increasing operational lifetime of the device. In an embodiment of the invention, the mobile device is associated with a plurality of device behavior modification techniques that can be set in response to data collected from a plurality of sensors associated with the device. In an embodiment, the sensors detect the device's motion, tilt, proximity to a user, contact with a user, and orientation with respect to a user. In a further embodiment, the sensors detect a temperature related to the device or its environment.

1 . A method for reducing the power consumption of a mobile wireless device, comprising: 
 receiving a plurality of sensed values from a plurality of environmental sensors;    mapping the plurality of sensed values to a setting list for a plurality of power consumption variables, wherein the setting list comprises an indication of a state of each of the plurality of power consumption variables; and    setting the power consumption variables according to the setting list, whereby the average power consumption of the mobile wireless device is reduced.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the mobile wireless device comprises a screen, a non-visual notification mechanism, and a wireless network interface; and wherein the plurality of power consumption variables includes a screen setting, a nonvisual notification mechanism setting, and a registration frequency setting, wherein setting the power consumption variables further comprises: 
 setting the screen setting to one of an on value and an off value, wherein when the screen setting is set to the on value, information is presented on the screen, and when the screen setting is set to the off value, the screen is substantially darkened and does not present any information thereon;    setting the non-visual notification mechanism by setting an audible notification mechanism to one of a quiet, soft, and loud mode, and setting an inaudible notification mechanism to one of a stationary and vibrational mode; and    setting the registration frequency setting to one of a normal mode and a low frequency mode, wherein the normal mode causes the device to send registration or presence information from the wireless network interface at a first frequency, and    wherein the low frequency mode causes the device to send registration or presence information from the wireless network interface at a second frequency, wherein the second frequency is lower than the first frequency.    
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the quiet, soft, and loud modes of the audible notification mechanism cause the device to activate a ringer in response to incoming calls, wherein the ringer volume is zero, a first value, or a second value respectively, wherein the first value is less than the second value.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the stationary and vibrational modes of the inaudible notification mechanism cause the device to either deactivate or activate, respectively, a vibrator associated with the device in response to incoming calls.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of power consumption variables further comprises a standby setting, wherein the standby setting may be set to either a normal or standby mode, wherein the device uses less power in the standby mode than in the normal mode.  
   
   
       6 . A low power wireless device comprising: 
 a screen for displaying information to a user;    a ringer for audibly apprising the user of an incoming communication;    a vibrator for providing the user with a tactile prompt apprising the user of an incoming communication;    a network interface for interfacing the device to a wireless transceiver; and    a sensor array comprised of a plurality of sensors for sensing a plurality of qualities of an environment of the device and for yielding an output related thereto, wherein the sensor array output is utilized to affect the operation of at least one of the screen, the ringer, the vibrator, and the network interface.    
   
   
       7 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein the wireless transceiver resides at an access point to a network.  
   
   
       8 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein the wireless transceiver resides at another wireless mobile device.  
   
   
       9 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein when the sensor array output indicates that a user is not close to the device, the operation of the ringer and vibrator are affected so that in response to notification of an incoming communication received at the wireless interface, the ringer provides an audible signal of a maximum volume and the vibrator is not activated, and the operation of the screen is affected so that it does not receive full power.  
   
   
       10 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein when the sensor array output indicates that a user is close to the device, but not looking at the device screen or having the device in a pocket, the operation of the ringer and vibrator are affected so that in response to 
 notification of an incoming communication received at the wireless interface, the ringer provides an audible signal. of less than a maximum volume, and the vibrator is not activated, and the operation of the screen is affected so that it does not receive power.    
   
   
       11 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein when the sensor array output indicates that a user is touching the device or has the device in a pocket, but is not looking at the device screen, the operation of the ringer and vibrator are affected so that in response to notification of an incoming communication received at the wireless interface, the ringer provides no audible signal, and the vibrator is activated, and the operation of the screen is affected so that it does not receive power.  
   
   
       12 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein the device supports a normal mode of operation and a standby mode of operation, and wherein the device consumes less power in the standby mode than in the normal mode, whereby when the sensor array output indicates that a user is not close to the device, the device is placed in the standby mode.  
   
   
       13 . A method for modifying the operation of a battery-powered mobile device to extend the operational lifetime of the device battery, comprising: 
 detecting the status of a plurality of device environmental variables;    associating the status of the plurality of device environmental variables with a device behavior pattern; and    modifying the operation of the device so that such operation is consistent with the device behavior pattern.    
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein detecting the status of a plurality of device environmental variables further comprises receiving a sensor output from at least two of a proximity sensor, a ranging sensor, and an accelerometer.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein detecting the status of a plurality of device environmental variables further comprises receiving a sensor output from at least one of a touch sensor, a temperature sensor, and a tilt sensor.  
   
   
       16 . A method for reducing power consumption of a wireless device, comprising: 
 sensing a plurality of environmental values from a plurality of environmental sensors;    associating the plurality of sensed environmental values with a desired state of a plurality of power consumption variables; and    regulating a state of the plurality of power consumption variables according to the desired state of the plurality of power consumption variables, whereby the average power consumption of the mobile wireless device is reduced.    
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein associating the plurality of sensed environmental values with a desired state of a plurality of power consumption variables comprises using at least two of the plurality of sensed environmental values as input to at least one relational formula, whereby the at least one formula yields a desired state of at least one of the plurality of power consumption variables.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein associating the plurality of sensed environmental values with a desired state of a plurality of power consumption variables comprises using at least two of the plurality of sensed environmental values to search a table, whereby a table entry associated with the at least two of the plurality of sensed environmental values yields a desired state of at least one of the plurality of power consumption variables.