Method and apparatus for saving power of portable electronic device

Abstract

A method of saving the power of a portable electronic device is provided. The method includes starting a power saving mode, identifying an application executed in a foreground, and changing operation settings of the portable electronic device for the identified application.

1 . A portable communication device comprising:
 a touchscreen display;   a memory configured to store a plurality of applications; and   a processor configured to:
 display, via the touchscreen display, a user interface including a list of a plurality of items, at least one of the plurality of items including an indication of at least one application of the plurality of applications, and a graphic user interface (GUI) element associated with the at least one application, 
 receive, via the touchscreen display, a user input with respect to the GUI element, and 
 in response to the user input, change an operation setting with respect to the at least one application from a first setting to a second setting, 
   wherein a first power consumption corresponding to the first setting is different from a second power consumption corresponding to the second setting.   
     
     
         2 . The portable communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 display an identifier of the at least one application as at least part of the indication.   
     
     
         3 . The portable communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of applications comprise an application to provide a social networking service. 
     
     
         4 . The portable communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 identify one or more applications being executed in a foreground as the at least one application.   
     
     
         5 . The portable communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 after entering a power saving mode with respect to the portable communication device, change an operation state with respect to the at least one application based at least in part on the change of the operation setting.   
     
     
         6 . The portable communication device of  claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 change an operation frequency of a central processing unit or a graphic processing unit as at least part of the changing of the operation state.   
     
     
         7 . The portable communication device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a battery; and   a battery gage configured to measure usage information related to the battery, and wherein the processor is further configured to:   if the usage information of the battery satisfies a specified condition, enter a power saving mode with respect to the portable communication device while the at least one application is executed.   
     
     
         8 . The portable communication device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the user interface includes another GUI element associated with the plurality of applications, and   wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive another user input with respect to the other GUI element, and 
 turn on or off a power saving mode with respect to the plurality of applications. 
   
     
     
         9 . A portable communication device comprising:
 a touchscreen display;   a memory configured to store a plurality of applications; and   a processor further configured to:
 display, via a touchscreen display, a first user interface including a list of a plurality of items and at least one of the plurality of items including an indication of at least one application of the plurality of applications, 
 receive, via the touchscreen display, a user input with respect to the at least one of the plurality of items, 
 in response to the user input, display, via the touchscreen display, a second user interface associated with the at least one application, the second user interface including at least one selectable graphic user interface (GUI) element indicative of a plurality of power saving levels, 
 select at least one power saving level from the plurality of power saving levels based at least in part on another user input with respect to the at least one selectable GUI element, and 
 change an operation setting with respect to the at least one application based at least in part on the at least one power saving level. 
   
     
     
         10 . The portable communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 display an identifier of the at least one application as at least part of the indication.   
     
     
         11 . The portable communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of applications include a mobile game application. 
     
     
         12 . The portable communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 change a setting corresponding to a resolution or a frame rate as at least part of the changing of the operation setting.   
     
     
         13 . The portable communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 identify one or more applications being executed in a foreground.   
     
     
         14 . The portable communication device of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 change a resolution of the portable communication device for the one or more applications based at least in part on a determination that the one or more applications correspond to the at least one application.   
     
     
         15 . The portable communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 after entering a power saving mode with respect to the portable communication device, change a resolution or a frame of the portable communication device for the at least one application based at least in part on the change of the operation setting.   
     
     
         16 . The portable communication device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a battery; and   a battery gage configured to measure usage information related to the battery, and wherein the processor is adapted to:   if the usage information of the battery satisfies a specified condition, enter a power saving mode with respect to the portable communication device while the at least one application is executed.   
     
     
         17 . A portable communication device comprising:
 a touchscreen display; and   a processor further configured to:
 display, via the touchscreen display, a user interface including at least one selectable graphic user interface (GUI) element indicative of a plurality of power saving levels; 
 select at least one power saving level from the plurality of power saving levels based at least in part on a user input with respect to the at least one selectable GUI element; and 
 change an operation setting with respect to the portable communication device based at least in part on the at least one power saving level. 
   
     
     
         18 . The portable communication device of  claim 17 , further comprising a battery, and
 wherein the processor is further configured to:
 display a plurality of battery levels related to the battery as at least part of the plurality of power saving levels. 
   
     
     
         19 . The portable communication device of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a battery; and   a battery gage to measure usage information related to the battery, and wherein the processor is further configured to:   if the usage information of the battery satisfies a specified condition, enter a power saving mode with respect to the portable communication device while the at least one application is executed.   
     
     
         20 . The portable communication device of  claim 19 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 enter the power saving mode based at least in part on a determination that the usage information is equal to or higher than the at least one power saving level as part of the specified condition.