Power-saving method and associated electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016018879-A1
Application number	US-201514748409-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 24, 2015
Priority date	Jul 16, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A power-saving method and associated electronic device are provided. The electronic device is connected with a first external electronic device and a second external electronic device, and a first sensor and a second sensor are deployed on the first external electronic device and the second electronic device, respectively. The electronic device includes: a third sensor, and a processor, wherein the first, second, and third sensors have the same type. The processor gathers information from the first pedometer sensor, the second pedometer sensor, the first external electronic device, and the second external electronic device, and determines whether to turn off at least one of the first, second, and third pedometer sensors according to the information gathered.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electronic device, comprising;
a processor, for connecting the electronic device with a first external electronic device and a second external electronic device, wherein a first sensor and a second sensor are deployed on the first external electronic device and the second electronic device, respectively; and a third sensor for gathering sensor data from the electronic device, wherein the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor have the same type, wherein the processor gathers information from the first sensor, the second sensor, the first external electronic device, and the second external electronic device, and determines whether to turn off at least one of the first, second, and third sensors according to the information gathered.

2 . The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the electronic device, the first external electronic device, and the second external electronic device are carried by a user.

3 . The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor are pedometer sensors.

4 . The electronic device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the information gathered comprises accuracy rating, power consumption, and longevity of the first sensor and the second sensor, and remaining battery levels of the first external electronic device and the second external electronic device.

5 . The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when a balance configuration is used, the processor turns on one of the first, second, and third sensors having the best accuracy rating and a longer battery life according to the information gathered and the remaining battery levels of the electronic device, the first external electronic device, and the second external electronic device.

6 . The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when a power-saving configuration is used, the processor activates one of the first, second, and third sensors having the longest battery life according to the information gathered and the remaining battery levels of the electronic device, the first external electronic device, and the second external electronic device.

7 . The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when a sensor-quality configuration is used, the processor activates one or more of the first, second, and third sensors having the longest battery life according to the information gathered and the remaining battery levels of the electronic device, the first external electronic device, and the second external electronic device, and combine the sensor data from the activated sensors to obtain refined sensor data.

8 . The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first external electronic device further comprises an activity recognition sensor for gathering activity sensor data of the first external electronic device, and the electronic device further comprises a location sensor for detecting location sensor data of the electronic device,
wherein the processor retrieves the activity sensor data from the first external electronic device and determines whether the first external electronic device is stationary according to the retrieved activity sensor data, wherein the processor turns off the third sensor and the location sensor when the processor determines that the first external electronic device is stationary, wherein the processor activates the third sensor and the location sensor when the processor determines that the first external electronic device is moving.

9 . A power-saving method for use in an electronic device, comprising:
connecting the electronic device with a first external electronic device and a second external electronic device, wherein a first sensor and a second sensor are deployed on the first external electronic device and the second electronic device, respectively; utilizing a third sensor deployed on the electronic device for gathering sensor data from the electronic device; gathering information from the first sensor and the second sensor, the first external electronic device, and the second external electronic device; and determining to turn off at least one of the first, second, and third sensors according to the information gathered

10 . The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the electronic device, the first external electronic device, and the second external electronic device are carried by a user.

11 . The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor are pedometer sensors.

12 . The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the information gathered comprises accuracy rating, power consumption, and longevity of the first sensor and the second sensor, and remaining battery levels of the first external electronic device and the second external electronic device.

13 . The method as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising:
when a balance configuration is used, activating one of the first, second, and third sensors having the best accuracy rating and a longer battery life according to the information gathered and the remaining battery levels of the electronic device, the first external electronic device, and the second external electronic device.

14 . The method as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising:
when a power-saving configuration is used, activating one of the first, second, and third sensors having the longest battery life according to the information gathered and the remaining battery levels of the electronic device, the first external electronic device, and the second external electronic device.

15 . The method as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising:
when a sensor-quality configuration is used, activating one or more of the first, second, and third sensors having the longest battery life according to the information gathered and the remaining battery levels of the electronic device, the first external electronic device, and the second external electronic device; and combining the sensor data from the activated sensors to obtain refined sensor data.

16 . The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the first external electronic device further comprises an activity recognition sensor for gathering activity sensor data of the first external electronic device, and the electronic device further comprises a location sensor for detecting location sensor data of the electronic device, and the method further comprises:
retrieving the activity sensor data from the first external electronic device and determining whether the first external electronic device is stationary according to the retrieved activity sensor data; turning off the third sensor and the location sensor when the processor determines that the first external electronic device is stationary; and activating the third sensor and the location sensor when the processor determines that the first external electronic device is moving.

17 . A power-saving method for use in an electronic device, comprising:
connecting the electronic device with a plurality of external electronic devices, wherein the electronic device and the external electronic devices possess a plurality of sensors, respectively; gathering information from the external electronic devices; and determining a configuration of the sensors according to the information gathered.

18 . The method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the plurality of sensors are pedometer sensors.

19 . The method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the information gathered comprises remaining batte

Assignees

• Mediatek Inc

Inventors

• Hsiao Chih-Hsiang
• Lin Chi-Hsuan
• Chen Po-Yu

Classifications

• H04W52/0251

  using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity · CPC title

• H04W52/0277

  according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected · CPC title

• G06F1/3215

  Monitoring of peripheral devices · CPC title

• G06F1/3212

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

• H04W52/028

  switching on or off only a part of the equipment circuit blocks · CPC title