Techniques for adjusting computing device sleep states using onboard sensors and learned user behaviors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10423212-B2
Application number	US-201715817113-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2017
Priority date	Jun 2, 2017
Publication date	Sep 24, 2019
Grant date	Sep 24, 2019

Abstract

This application relates to techniques that adjust the sleep states of a computing device based on user proximity detection procedures. The technique includes detecting a first pattern, using a first subset of sensors of one or more sensors coupled to the computing device, to determine if the object is proximate to the computing device. Provided the first pattern is not indicative of the object being proximate to the computing device, the technique detects a second pattern, using a second subset of sensors of the one or more sensors, to determine if the object is proximate to the computing device. Furthermore, provided either the first pattern or the second pattern is indicative of the object being proximate to the computing device and provided a first portion of a computer system within the computing device is operating within a low-power sleep state, the technique causes the first portion to enter into a high-power sleep state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for adjusting sleep states of a computing device based on a proximity of an object relative to the computing device, the method comprising, at the computing device:
detecting a first pattern, using a first subset of sensors of one or more sensors coupled to the computing device, to determine if the object is proximate to the computing device;
provided the first pattern is not indicative of the object being proximate to the computing device, detecting a second pattern, using a second subset of sensors of the one or more sensors, to determine if the object is proximate to the computing device, wherein the second subset is different from the first subset; and
provided either the first pattern or the second pattern is indicative of the object being proximate to the computing device and provided a first portion of a computer system within the computing device is operating within a low-power sleep state, causing the first portion to enter into a high-power sleep state.

2. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors are coupled to a second portion of the computer system and the first portion and the second portion consume power at different rates during a sleep state.

3. The method as described in claim 1 , further comprising:
provided the second pattern is not indicative of the object being proximate to the computing device, withholding instructions to cause the first portion to enter into a high-power sleep state.

4. The method as described in claim 1 , further comprising:
grouping the first subset of sensors based on a power consumption rate of the first subset relative to the second subset of sensors, wherein the first subset consumes less power than the second subset.

5. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein:
causing the first portion of the computer system to enter into a high-power sleep state comprises at least one of:
activating an increased number of components within the first portion, and
increasing an amount of power supplied to one more of the components included in the first portion.

6. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the first subset of sensors comprises: a proximity sensor and a light sensor.

7. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the second subset of sensors comprises: a microphone and a camera.

8. A computing device configured to adjust sleep states of the computing device based on a proximity of an object relative to the computing device, the computing device comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory configured to store instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to carry out steps that include:
detecting a first pattern, using a first subset of sensors of one or more sensors coupled to the computing device, to determine if the object is proximate to the computing device;
provided the first pattern is not indicative of the object being proximate to the computing device, detecting a second pattern, using a second subset of sensors of the one or more sensors, to determine if the object is proximate to the computing device, wherein the second subset is different from the first subset; and
provided either the first pattern or the second pattern is indicative of the object being proximate to the computing device and provided a first portion of a computer system within the computing device is operating within a low-power sleep state, causing the first portion to enter into a high-power sleep state.

9. The computing device as described in claim 8 , wherein the one or more sensors are coupled to a second portion of the computer system and the first portion and the second portion consume power at different rates during a sleep state.

10. The computing device as described in claim 8 , wherein the steps further comprise:
provided the second pattern is not indicative of the object being proximate to the computing device, withholding instructions to cause the first portion to enter into a high-power sleep state.

11. The computing device as described in claim 8 , wherein the steps further comprise:
grouping the first subset of sensors based on a power consumption rate of the first subset relative to the second subset of sensors, wherein the first subset consumes less power than the second subset.

12. The computing device as described in claim 8 , wherein:
the step of causing the first portion of the computer system to enter into a high-power sleep state comprises at least one of:
activating an increased number of components within the first portion, and
increasing an amount of power supplied to one more of the components included in the first portion.

13. The computing device as described in claim 8 , wherein the first subset of sensors comprises: a proximity sensor and a light sensor.

14. The computing device as described in claim 8 , wherein the second subset of sensors comprises: a microphone and a camera.

15. At least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions that, when executed by at least one processor included in a computing device, cause the computing device to adjust sleep states of a computing device based on a proximity of an object relative to the computing device, by carrying out steps that include:
detecting a first pattern, using a first subset of sensors of one or more sensors coupled to the computing device, to determine if the object is proximate to the computing device;
provided the first pattern is not indicative of the object being proximate to the computing device, detecting a second pattern, using a second subset of sensors of the one or more sensors, to determine if the object is proximate to the computing device, wherein the second subset is different from the first subset; and
provided either the first pattern or the second pattern is indicative of the object being proximate to the computing device and provided a first portion of a computer system within the computing device is operating within a low-power sleep state, causing the first portion to enter into a high-power sleep state.

16. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium as described in claim 15 , wherein the one or more sensors are coupled to a second portion of the computer system and the first portion and the second portion consume power at different rates during a sleep state.

17. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium as described in claim 15 , wherein the steps further comprise:
provided the second pattern is not indicative of the object being proximate to the computing device, withholding instructions to cause the first portion to enter into a high-power sleep state.

18. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium as described in claim 15 , wherein the steps further comprise:
grouping the first subset of sensors based on a power consumption rate of the first subset relative to the second subset of sensors, wherein the first subset consumes less power than the second subset.

19. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium as described in claim 15 , wherein the first subset of sensors comprises: a proximity sensor and a light sensor.

20. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium as described in claim 15 , wherein the second subset of sensors comprises: a microphone and a camera.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• De Cesare Joshua P
• Andrews Jonathan J
• Wilcox Jeffrey R

Classifications

• H04W52/0258

  controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day · CPC title

• G06F1/3231 Primary

  Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users · CPC title

• H04W52/0229

  where the received signal is a wanted signal · CPC title

• G06F1/3203

  Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode · CPC title

• G06F3/005

  Input arrangements through a video camera · CPC title