Techniques to maintain power for a fundamental function on a device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10139895-B2
Application number	US-201514757768-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2015
Priority date	Dec 23, 2015
Publication date	Nov 27, 2018
Grant date	Nov 27, 2018

Abstract

Various embodiments are generally directed to an apparatus, method and other techniques to determine a threshold value of power for a fundamental function for a device, determine whether a current power level of a power source is equal to or less than the threshold value for the fundamental function. Further, and in response to determining the current power level is less than or equal to the threshold value, prohibit operation of an extended function, and in response to determining the current power level is not less than or equal to the threshold value, permit operation of the extended function.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
identify a request to enable execution of an extended function of a mobile device
determine a current power level of a power source,
determine whether the current power level of the power source is greater than a first threshold value, the first threshold value corresponding to a quantity of power needed to operate a fundamental function of the mobile device for a predetermined amount of time, and
permit operation of the extended function based on a determination that the current power level of the power source is greater than the first threshold value, or
determine whether the current power level of the power source is less than a second threshold value, the second threshold value lower than the first threshold value, and
prohibit operation of the extended function based on a determination that the current power level of the power source is less than the second threshold value to preserve operation of the fundamental function of the mobile device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , the instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to the processor to determine the fundamental function for the device based on a user setting or a provisioned setting, the fundamental function to comprise a default state for the device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , the instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to determine the first threshold value based on a user setting or a provisioned setting.

4. The apparatus claim 1 , the predetermined amount of time corresponding to a minimum operation time based on a user setting or a provisioned setting.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , the instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
detect a power level of the power source below the first threshold value; and
in response to the detection, terminate operation of one or more extended functions operating on the device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , the instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
terminate execution of one or more instructions for the one or more extended functions; and
cause one or more hardware components associated with the one the or more extended functions to enter a lower power state.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
a system on chip (SoC) comprising the processor, the memory, the power source, and an input/output (I/O) interface coupled with an input device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , the instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
receive a request to permit operation of the extended function despite a determination that the current power level of the power source is not greater than the first threshold value, and
permit operation of the extended function based on a determination that the current power level of the power source is not less than the second threshold value.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , the instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
request permission from a user to permit operation of the extended function despite the determination that the current power level of the power source is not greater than the first threshold value.

10. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
identifying a request to enable execution of an extended function of a mobile device;
determining a current power level of a power source;
determining whether the current power level of the power source is greater than a first threshold value, the first threshold value corresponding to a quantity of power needed to operate a fundamental function of the mobile device for a predetermined amount of time, and
permitting operation of the extended function based on a determination that the current power level of the power source is greater than the first threshold value, or
determining whether the current power level of the power source is less than a second threshold value, the second threshold value lower than the first threshold value, and
prohibiting operation of the extended function based on a determination that the current power level of the power source is less than the second threshold value to preserve operation of the fundamental function of the mobile device.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , comprising:
determining the fundamental function for the device based on a user setting or a provisioned setting, the fundamental function comprising a core function for the device.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , comprising:
determining the first threshold value based on a user setting or a provisioned setting.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , the predetermined amount of time corresponding to a minimum operation time based on a user setting or a provisioned setting.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , comprising:
detecting a power level of the power source below the first threshold value; and
in response to detecting, terminating operation of the extended function on the device.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 , comprising:
terminating execution of one or more instructions for the one or more extended functions; and
causing one or more hardware components associated with the one or more extended functions to enter a lower power state.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , comprising:
receiving a request to permit operation of the extended function despite a determination that the current power level of the power source is not greater than the first threshold value, and
permitting operation of the extended function based on a determination that the current power level of the power source is not less than the second threshold value.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16 , comprising:
request permission from a user to permit operation of the extended function despite the determination that the current power level of the power source is not greater than the first threshold value.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a plurality of instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, enable the processing circuitry to:
identify a request to enable execution of an extended function of a mobile device,
determine a current power level of a power source,
determine whether the current power level of the power source is greater than a first threshold value, the first threshold value corresponding to a quantity of power needed to operate a fundamental function of the mobile device for a predetermined amount of time, and
permit operation of the extended function based on a determination that the current power level of the power source is greater than the first threshold value, or
determine whether the current power level of the power source is less than a second threshold value, the second threshold value lower than the first threshold value, and
prohibit operation of the extended function based on a determination that the current power level of the power source is less than the second threshold value to preserve operation of the fundamental function of the mobile device.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 comprising a plurality of instructions, that when executed, enable processing circuitry to determine the fundamental function for the device based on a user setting or a provisioned setting, the fundamental function co

Assignees

• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Browning David W
• Zagacki Paul M

Classifications

• Y02D10/174

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• Y02D10/172

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• G06F1/3296

  by lowering the supply or operating voltage · CPC title

• G06F1/3212

  Monitoring battery levels, e.g. power saving mode being initiated when battery voltage goes below a certain level · CPC title

• G06F1/329 Primary

  by task scheduling · CPC title