Idle Time Service

Abstract

In embodiments of an idle time service, it can be determined that processing on a device is in an idle state. An execution duration of applications that are scheduled to be executed by a processor of the device can then be extended to reduce power consumption by the device. In other embodiments, it can be determined that an application configured to execute on a device is a background application. The execution duration of the background application can then be extended to reduce power consumption by the device.

1 . A system, comprising:
 at least a memory and a processor to implement an operating system, the operating system including an idle time service configured to perform operations comprising:
 determining that processing on a computing device is in an idle state; and 
 responsive to determining that processing on the computing device is in an idle state, extending an execution duration of at least one application task to be executed by a processor of the computing device. 
   
     
     
         2 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein determining that processing on the computing device is in an idle state is based on determining that the computing device has not received a user input for a specified amount of time. 
     
     
         3 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein extending the execution duration of the at least one application task is performed without modifying an execution duration of a different application task. 
     
     
         4 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein extending the execution duration of the at least one application task includes extending an idle duration during which the processor is idle. 
     
     
         5 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein extending the execution duration of the at least one application task comprises delaying execution of the at least one application task for a specified period of time. 
     
     
         6 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein extending the execution duration of the at least one application task comprises extending an execution duration for all application tasks of an application. 
     
     
         7 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein extending the execution duration of the at least one application task comprises extending an execution duration for one or a subset of application tasks of an application. 
     
     
         8 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one application task is a background application task. 
     
     
         9 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 determining that processing on a computing device is in an idle state; and   responsive to determining that processing on the computing device is in an idle state, extending an execution duration of at least one application task to be executed by a processor of the computing device.   
     
     
         11 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein determining that processing on the computing device is in an idle state is based on determining that the computing device has not received a user input for a specified amount of time. 
     
     
         12 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein extending the execution duration of the at least one application task is performed without modifying an execution duration of a different application task. 
     
     
         13 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein extending the execution duration of the at least one application task includes extending an idle duration during which the processor is idle. 
     
     
         14 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein extending the execution duration of the at least one application task comprises delaying execution of the at least one application task for a specified period of time. 
     
     
         15 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein extending the execution duration of the at least one application task comprises extending an execution duration for all application tasks of an application. 
     
     
         16 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein extending the execution duration of the at least one application task comprises extending an execution duration for one or a subset of application tasks of an application. 
     
     
         17 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the at least one application task is a background application task. 
     
     
         18 . A computing device comprising:
 at least a memory and a processor to implement an idle time service configured to perform operations comprising:
 determining that processing on a computing device is in an idle state; and 
 responsive to determining that processing on the computing device is in an idle state, extending an execution duration of at least one application task to be executed by a processor of the computing device. 
   
     
     
         19 . A computing device as recited in  claim 18 , wherein extending the execution duration of the at least one application task is performed without modifying an execution duration of a different application task. 
     
     
         20 . A computing device as recited in  claim 18 , wherein extending the execution duration of the at least one application task comprises extending an execution duration for one or a subset of application tasks of an application.