Power management in mobile computer for allocating power to peripheral device when version of expansion port may support second amount of power

Abstract

The present invention introduces a power management system interface for a mobile computer system. The power management system interface allows peripheral devices to query the present power situation before activating peripheral devices that will draw power. Furthermore, peripheral devices register their power usage with the operating system such that the operating system can accurately determine the remaining power available in the battery.

1 . (cancel)  
     
     
         2 . A method of providing power from a first device to a second device requiring a predetermined amount of power, the method comprising: 
 detecting insertion of the second device into the first device via an interface between the first device and the second device, the interface being capable of providing different amounts of power depending upon a version of the interface;    determining the version of the interface; and    responsive to determining that the version of the interface is compatible with providing the amount of power required by the second device, providing the amount of power from the first device to the second device via the interface.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the version of the interface is capable of providing a first amount of power and the second device requires a second amount of power smaller than the first amount of power, and providing the amount of power comprises providing the second amount of power from the first device to the second device.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the version of the interface is capable of providing a first amount of power and the second device requires a second amount of power larger than the first amount of power, and the method further comprises: 
 responsive to determining that the version of the interface is not capable of providing the second amount of power, providing the first amount of power from the first device to the second device via the interface, the second device operating in an operation mode compatible with the first amount of power.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 registering the amount of power provided to the second device on the first device.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first device is a computer apparatus and the second device is a peripheral device configured to operate with the computer apparatus.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the peripheral device is a memory device.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the peripheral device is a digital camera.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the peripheral device is a cellular telephone.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the peripheral device is a modem.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the peripheral device is a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the peripheral device is a MPEG audio layer 3 (MP3) player.  
     
     
         13 . A first device for providing power to a second device requiring a predetermined amount of power, the first device comprising: 
 an interface capable of providing different amounts of power depending upon a version of the interface, the second device being inserted into the first device via the interface; and    a processor configured to execute a set of instructions, including instructions for: 
 detecting insertion of the second device into the first device via the interface;  
 determining the version of the interface; and  
 responsive to determining that the version of the interface is compatible with providing the amount of power required by the second device, providing the amount of power from the first device to the second device via the interface.  
   
     
     
         14 . The first device of  claim 13 , wherein the version of the interface is capable of providing a first amount of power and the second device requires a second amount of power smaller than the first amount of power, and providing the amount of power comprises providing the second amount of power from the first device to the second device.  
     
     
         15 . The first device of  claim 13 , wherein the version of the interface is capable of providing a first amount of power and the second device requires a second amount of power larger than the first amount of power, and the set of instructions further includes instructions for: 
 responsive to determining that the version of the interface is not capable of providing the second amount of power, providing the first amount of power from the first device to the second device via the interface, the second device operating in an operation mode compatible with the first amount of power.    
     
     
         16 . The first device of  claim 13 , wherein the set of instructions further includes instructions for: 
 registering the amount of power provided to the second device on the first device.    
     
     
         17 . The first device of  claim 13 , wherein the first device is a computer apparatus and the second device is a peripheral device designed to operate with the computer apparatus.  
     
     
         18 . The first device of  claim 17 , wherein the computer apparatus is a mobile computer.