Context based power management

Abstract

According to some embodiments, context information associated with a processing system may be determined. It may then be automatically arranged for a power state associated with the processing system to transition from a first power state to a second power state based on the context information.

1 . A method, comprising:
 automatically evaluating subsystem usage associated with a plurality of applications being executed by a processing system;   sensing a user generated condition external to the processing system that represents a potential usage of the processing system by a user; and   automatically arranging for a power state associated with the processing system to transition from a first power state to a second power state based on said evaluation and external condition.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said arranging comprises:
 arranging for a power state associated with a subsystem to transition from the first power state to the second power state based on said evaluation and external condition.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the subsystems comprises at least one of: (i) a processor, (ii) a hard disk drive, (iii) an audio subsystem, (iv) a display device, or (v) a communication device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the power state is an advanced configuration and power interface specification power state. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the power state is associated with at least one of: (i) a global state, (ii) a device power state, (iii) a sleep state, (iv) a processor power state, or (v) a performance state. 
     
     
         6 . A method, comprising:
 automatically determining context information associated with a processing system that includes a number of subsystems, wherein said determining comprises sensing a user generated condition external to the processing system that represents a potential usage of the processing system by a user; and   automatically arranging for a power state associated with the processing system to transition from a first power state to a second power state based on the context information.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the external condition is associated with at least one of: (i) ambient light, (ii) a motion associated with the processing system, (iii) a location associated with the processing system, or (iv) a location associated with a remote device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the power state is an advanced configuration and power interface specification power state. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the power state is associated with at least one of: (i) a global state, (ii) a device power state, (iii) a sleep state, (iv) a processor power state, or (v) a performance state. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said arranging is performed in accordance with a context-aware power management extension and an operating system power policy manager. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the processing system comprises at least one of: (i) a desktop personal computer; (ii) a mobile computer, (iii) a workstation, (iv) a server, (v) a set-top box, (vi) a wireless telephone, or (vii) a game system. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said determining is performed by at least one of: (i) a software application, (ii) a hardware device, (iii) an operating system, (iv) a driver, or (v) a basic input/output system. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a plurality of subsystems;   a processor; and   a power manager to: (i) automatically evaluate context information associated with the apparatus, wherein the context information is based at least in part on an evaluation of subsystem requirements associated with a plurality of applications currently being executed by the processor, (ii) sensing a user generated condition external to the apparatus that represents a potential usage of the apparatus by a user, and (iii) automatically arrange for a power state associated with the apparatus to transition from a first power state to a second power state based on the evaluation and external condition.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the subsystems comprises at least one of: (i) a processor, (ii) a hard disk drive, (iii) an audio subsystem, (iv) a display device, or (v) a communication device. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the apparatus further includes a sensor to sense the external condition. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of: (i) an ambient light sensor, (ii) a motion sensor, or (iii) a location sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the power state is an advanced configuration and power interface specification power state and is associated with at least one of: (i) a global state, (ii) a device power state, (iii) a sleep state, (iv) a processor power state, or (v) a performance state. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the power manager is an operating system power policy manager adapted to use context-aware power manager extensions. 
     
     
         19 . A computer system, comprising:
 a plurality of subsystems;   a processor;   a battery to supply power to the processor; and   a power manager to: (i) automatically determine minimum subsystem requirements associated with a plurality of applications being executed by the processor, (ii) sense a user generated condition external to the computer system that represents a potential usage of the computer system by a user, and (iii) automatically arrange for a power state associated with a subsystem to transition from a first power state to a second power state based on a largest minimum subsystem requirement for that subsystem and the external condition.   
     
     
         20 . The computer system of  claim 19 , wherein the power state is an advanced configuration and power interface specification power state and is associated with at least one of: (i) a global state, (ii) a device power state, (iii) a sleep state, (iv) a processor power state, or (v) a performance state.