JP2015222928A - Portable terminal, power consumption monitoring method, and power consumption monitoring program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To monitor a power consumption state in a power-saving mode at an appropriate time.SOLUTION: A portable terminal 1 includes a battery 13 and a processor 11. The battery 13 supplies power. The processor 11 monitors the power consumption state in the normal mode on the basis of an output of the battery 13; and determines whether or not to monitor the power consumption state in a power-saving mode, on the basis of the power consumption state in the normal mode.

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable terminal, a power consumption monitoring method, and a power consumption monitoring program.

  Recently, smartphones are attracting attention as portable terminals. After the shipment of the smartphone, the user can install a large number of applications (hereinafter may be abbreviated as “apps”) on the smartphone. Some apps installed by the user continue to operate in the background even when the smartphone is in a power saving mode such as sleep mode. On the other hand, the user of the smartphone often does not recognize which of the apps installed on the smartphone operates in the background.

  When the portable terminal is in a power saving mode such as a sleep mode, the portable terminal is in a mode other than the power saving mode, for example, by turning off the display of the portable terminal (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “normal mode”). The power consumption is suppressed compared to the case of

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-308206 JP 2005-184374 A

  Here, if there is an application that continues to operate in the background even in the power saving mode without user recognition, more power is consumed than the user predicted due to the operation of the application, and the user The battery will be depleted at a faster pace than expected.

  Therefore, there is an application that monitors the actual power consumption in the power saving mode and compares the actual power consumption with the normal power consumption in the power saving mode, and continues to operate in the background without user recognition. It may be possible to determine whether or not to do so.

  However, if the power consumption is constantly monitored in the power saving mode, power is consumed in the monitoring itself, and the power consumption increases even in the power saving mode. If the power consumption increases even in the power saving mode, the user's satisfaction decreases.

  The disclosed technology has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to monitor the power consumption state in the power saving mode at an appropriate time.

  In the disclosed aspect, the mobile terminal includes a battery that supplies power and a processor. The processor monitors the first power consumption status in the normal mode based on the output of the battery, and based on the first power consumption status, the power saving is smaller in power consumption per unit time than the normal mode. It is determined whether or not the second power consumption state is monitored in the mode.

  According to the aspect of the disclosure, it is possible to monitor the power consumption state in the power saving mode at an appropriate time.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the mobile terminal according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining processing of the mobile terminal according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the mobile terminal according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reference value table according to the first embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a mobile terminal, a power consumption monitoring method, and a power consumption monitoring program disclosed in the present application will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the portable terminal, the power consumption monitoring method, and the power consumption monitoring program disclosed in the present application are not limited by this embodiment.

[Example 1]
<Configuration example of mobile terminal>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the mobile terminal according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, the mobile terminal 1 includes a processor 11, a memory 12, a battery 13, and an ADC (Analog to Digital Converter) 14. The mobile terminal 1 includes a touch panel 15 and a GPS (Global Positioning System) module 16.

  The mobile terminal 1 is, for example, a smartphone or a tablet terminal.

  The processor 11 performs various processes of the mobile terminal 1. In particular, the processor 1 controls the mobile terminal 1 according to the power consumption status of the mobile terminal 1. Details of processing performed by the processor 11 will be described later. Examples of the processor 11 include a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

  The memory 12 stores various programs that cause the processor 11 to perform various processes. The memory 12 stores various applications. Hereinafter, an application installed on the mobile terminal 1 by the user after the mobile terminal 1 is shipped may be referred to as a “user application”. Examples of the memory 12 include a RAM (Random Access Memory) such as SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, and the like.

  The battery 13 is a power source for the mobile terminal 1 and stores power for operating the mobile terminal 1. The battery 13 supplies power to each component included in the mobile terminal 1, such as the processor 11, the memory 12, the ADC 14, the touch panel 15, and the GPS module 16.

  The output current of the battery 13 is input to the ADC 14, and the ADC 14 detects an analog output current value. The ADC 14 converts the detected analog output current value into a digital output current value and outputs the digital output current value to the processor 11. Further, the ADC 14 detects the output voltage value of the battery 13, converts the detected analog output voltage value into a digital output voltage value, and outputs the digital output voltage value to the processor 11.

  The touch panel 15 includes a liquid crystal panel that displays various types of information under the control of the processor 11, and a touch sensor that detects a touch position on the touch panel 15 and outputs the detected touch position to the processor 11. The liquid crystal panel and the touch sensor are stacked. The touch panel 15 is attached to the surface of the mobile terminal 1.

  The GPS module 16 measures the current position of the mobile terminal 1 and outputs information indicating the current position of the mobile terminal 1 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “current position information”) to the processor 11.

<Processing operation of mobile terminal>
FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining processing of the mobile terminal according to the first embodiment. The flowchart shown in FIG. 2 is started when the mobile terminal 1 is activated.

  In the portable terminal 1, the processor 11 sets the voltage threshold stored in the memory 12 to “threshold X” (step S201), and sets the flag stored in the memory 12 to “0” (step S202). . For example, the threshold value X is preferably set to 0.78 times the output voltage value when the battery 13 is fully charged. For example, when the output voltage value of the battery 13 at full charge is 4.2 [V], 3.3 [V], which is approximately 0.78 times 4.2 [V], is the remaining amount of the battery 13. This corresponds to the output voltage value when becomes 5%.

  Next, the processor 11 acquires the usage status of the mobile terminal 1 (step S203). The usage mode of the mobile terminal is divided as shown in FIG. 3, for example, and the processor 11 acquires the current usage status of the mobile terminal 1 according to this division. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the mobile terminal according to the first embodiment. That is, the processor 11 determines which usage mode the mobile terminal 1 is currently in among the usage modes illustrated in FIG. 3. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the mobile terminal 1 is currently playing music and is standing by for a call in a stationary state.

  Next, the processor 11 monitors the current power consumption state of the mobile terminal 1 by measuring the current consumption rate based on the output current value input from the ADC 14, that is, the output current value of the battery 13 ( Step S204). Since the power consumption increases as the output current from the battery 13 increases, for example, the processor 11 monitors the power consumption status by measuring the output current value [mA / s] per second, that is, the current consumption rate. . Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, it is assumed that 9.61 [mA / s] is measured by the processor 11. The measurement of the power consumption rate is performed when the mobile terminal 10 is in the normal mode. That is, the processor 11 monitors the power consumption status in the normal mode based on the output of the battery 13.

  Next, the processor 11 determines whether or not to monitor the power consumption status in the power saving mode based on the current consumption rate measured in step S204, that is, the power consumption status in the normal mode (step S205). The power saving mode is a mode in which the current consumption rate is smaller than that in the normal mode, that is, a mode in which the power consumption per unit time is smaller than in the normal mode.

  The determination in step S205 is performed as follows, for example. That is, for example, a reference value table as shown in FIG. 4 is stored in the memory 12 in advance. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reference value table according to the first embodiment. In this reference value table, a reference value of the current consumption rate for each usage mode of the mobile terminal 1 is set in advance. The processor 11 acquires the reference value according to the usage status acquired in step 203 from the reference value table, and obtains the total reference value as the reference value α. In the example shown in FIG. 3, since the mobile terminal 1 is currently playing music and is standing by in a stationary state, the processor 11 uses these reference modes from the reference value table shown in FIG. 4.68 [mA / s] and 1.13 [mA / s], which are reference values corresponding to the above, are acquired. Then, the processor 11 sets 4.68 + 1.13 = 5.81 [mA / s] as the reference value α. Next, the processor 11 obtains a ratio of the current consumption rate with respect to the reference value α, and determines whether or not the ratio is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold A (step S205).

  When the obtained ratio is equal to or greater than the threshold value A (step S205: Yes), the processor 11 determines to monitor the power consumption state in the power saving mode, and the process proceeds to step S206. On the other hand, when the obtained ratio is less than the threshold value A (step S205: No), the processor 11 determines not to monitor the power consumption state in the power saving mode, and the process proceeds to step S213.

  The threshold A is stored in the memory 12 in advance, and is set to “1.5”, for example. When the current consumption rate measured in step S204 is 9.61 [mA / s] while the reference value α is 5.81 [mA / s], the ratio of the current consumption rate to the reference value α. Is equal to or greater than 1.5, which is the threshold value A, the process proceeds to step S206. In other words, when the current consumption rate is 1.5 times or more the reference value α, the process proceeds to step S206. That is, the processor 11 determines the power consumption state in the power saving mode when the actual power consumption in the normal mode is larger than the reference power consumption in the normal mode by a predetermined ratio or more. It is determined that monitoring will be performed.

  Next, in step S206, the processor 11 determines whether or not the mobile terminal 1 is in the power saving mode (step S206). When the portable terminal 1 is not in the power saving mode (step S206: No), the process proceeds to step S213.

  On the other hand, when the mobile terminal 1 is in the power saving mode (step S206: Yes), the processor 11 monitors the current power consumption status of the mobile terminal 1 by measuring the current current consumption rate (step S206). S207). That is, the processor 11 monitors the power consumption state in the power saving mode in step S207.

  Next, the processor 11 determines whether or not the mobile terminal 1 is moving (step S208). For example, the processor 11 determines whether or not the mobile terminal 1 is moving based on the current position information input from the GPS module 16 every moment. For example, the processor 11 determines that the mobile terminal 1 is moving when the movement amount of the mobile terminal 1 per unit time is equal to or greater than the threshold value, and the movement amount of the mobile terminal 1 per unit time is less than the threshold value. In addition, it is determined that the mobile terminal 1 is not moving, that is, is stationary. The movement amount threshold value is stored in the memory 12 in advance.

  When the mobile terminal 1 is moving (step S208: Yes), the processor 11 obtains the ratio of the current consumption rate with respect to the reference value β and determines whether the ratio is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold B. (Step S209). On the other hand, when the portable terminal 1 is not moving (that is, is stationary) (step S208: No), the processor 11 calculates a ratio of the current consumption rate to the reference value γ, and the ratio is a predetermined value. It is determined whether or not it is equal to or greater than the threshold value B (step S210). The threshold value B is stored in the memory 12 in advance, and a current consumption rate is set when there is no active user application in the power saving mode. That is, the processor 11 determines whether or not the actual power consumption in the power saving mode is greater than a predetermined ratio compared to the reference power consumption.

  Here, the reference value β is a value larger than the reference value γ. Since the location registration process may be frequently performed in the mobile terminal 1 during movement, the power consumed by the telephone standby is often larger during movement than during stationary. Therefore, by setting the reference value β to a value larger than the reference value γ, the ratio to be compared with the threshold value B can be set to the same level when moving and at rest. That is, by making the reference value β larger than the reference value γ, it is possible to perform threshold determination in consideration of whether or not the mobile terminal 1 is moving.

  When the ratio of the current consumption rate to the reference value β or the reference value γ is equal to or greater than the threshold value B (step S209: Yes or step S210: Yes), the processor 11 changes the voltage threshold value from the threshold value X to the threshold value Y. (Step S211). Further, the processor 11 changes the flag from “0” to “1” (step S212). That is, when the power consumption status is monitored in the power saving mode, the flag is changed from “0” to “1”. Here, the threshold value Y is larger than the threshold value X. For example, the threshold value Y is preferably set to a value that is 1.07 times the threshold value X. For example, when the threshold value X is set to 3.3 [V] as described above, 3.5 [V], which is approximately 1.07 times 3.3 [V], indicates that the remaining amount of the battery 13 is 40. It corresponds to the output voltage when it becomes%.

  On the other hand, when the ratio of the current consumption rate to the reference value β or the reference value γ is less than the threshold value B (step S209: No or step S210: No), the process proceeds to step S213.

  Next, the processor 11 determines whether or not the output voltage value input from the ADC 14, that is, the output voltage value of the battery 13 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “battery voltage value”) is less than the voltage threshold ( Step S213). When the battery voltage value is equal to or higher than the voltage threshold (step S213: No), the process returns to step S203.

  On the other hand, when the battery voltage value is less than the voltage threshold value (step S213: Yes), the processor 11 forcibly shuts down the mobile terminal 1 (step S214). By this shutdown, the user application that continues to operate in the background in the power saving mode is also forcibly terminated.

  Here, when the determination result in step S209 or step S210 is “Yes”, that is, when the actual power consumption in the power saving mode satisfies the predetermined condition, the voltage threshold value is changed from the threshold value X to the threshold value Y. The On the other hand, when the determination result in step S209 or step S210 is “No”, that is, when the actual power consumption in the power saving mode does not satisfy the predetermined condition, the voltage threshold value is maintained as the threshold value X. . The threshold Y is a value larger than the threshold X. Therefore, when the power consumption in the power saving mode satisfies the predetermined condition, the mobile terminal 1 is shut down earlier than when the power consumption is not satisfied. Further, when the voltage threshold value is the threshold value Y, the remaining amount of the battery 13 at the time when the mobile terminal 1 is started after the shutdown is larger than when the voltage threshold value is the threshold value X.

  Next, the processor 11 determines whether or not the flag is “1” (step S215). When the flag is “1”, the processor 11 activates again the portable terminal 1 shut down in step S214 (step S216). When the mobile terminal 1 is restarted, the user application is not started. After the mobile terminal 1 is activated, the process returns to step S201. Here, when the voltage threshold value is changed from the threshold value X to the threshold value Y (step S211), the flag is set to “1” (step S212). Therefore, when the flag is “1”, the power consumption in the power saving mode satisfies the predetermined condition (step S209: Yes or step S210: Yes), and the mobile terminal 1 is earlier than when the condition is not satisfied. Indicates that it has shut down.

  On the other hand, when the flag is not “1”, that is, when the portable terminal 1 is shut down based on the threshold value X, the processing is ended as it is.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the mobile terminal 1 includes the battery 13 and the processor 11. The battery 13 supplies power. The processor 11 monitors the power consumption status in the normal mode based on the output of the battery 13. Further, the processor 11 determines whether to monitor the power consumption status in the power saving mode based on the power consumption status in the normal mode.

  Since the user operates various applications in the normal mode, power consumption in the normal mode is large in the first place. For this reason, even if the power consumption status is constantly monitored in the normal mode and the power consumption increases, the user understands that the power consumption by the monitoring is due to the application that the user is operating, The possibility that the user's satisfaction level decreases is small. On the other hand, by constantly monitoring the power consumption state in the power saving mode, if the power consumption increases despite the power saving mode, the user's satisfaction is lowered.

  Therefore, as described above, when the power consumption status in the normal mode satisfies the predetermined condition by determining whether to monitor the power consumption status in the power saving mode based on the power consumption status in the normal mode. Only the power consumption status can be monitored in the power saving mode. That is, the actual power consumption state in the power saving mode can be monitored only when it is suspected that there is a user application that continues to operate in the background even in the power saving mode. The case where it is suspected that there is a user application that continues to operate in the background even in the power saving mode is, for example, a case where the condition of step S205 is satisfied.

  Therefore, by determining whether or not to monitor the power consumption status in the power saving mode based on the power consumption status in the normal mode, the power consumption status in the power saving mode can be monitored at an appropriate time. Further, by monitoring the power consumption state in the power saving mode, it is possible to reliably determine whether there is a user application that continues to operate in the background even in the power saving mode.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, the processor 11 has a higher power consumption when the power consumption satisfies the predetermined condition during monitoring of the power consumption status in the power saving mode than when the power consumption does not satisfy the predetermined condition. The mobile terminal 1 is shut down early.

  Thus, when it is determined that there is a user application that continues to operate in the background even in the power saving mode, the mobile terminal 1 can be shut down earlier than when it is determined that it does not exist. Therefore, the user application that continues to operate in the background even in the power saving mode can be forcibly terminated at an early stage to suppress a decrease in the remaining battery level.

  According to the first embodiment, when the mobile terminal 1 is shut down early, the processor 11 starts the mobile terminal 1 after the shutdown.

  By carrying out like this, since the portable terminal 1 can be restarted automatically, a user can start use of the portable terminal 1 in the state which the user application has not started.

[Other embodiments]
[1] The processor 11 may display a message prompting the user to shut down the touch panel 15 instead of forcibly shutting down the mobile terminal 1.

  [2] Before forcibly shutting down the mobile terminal 1, the processor 11 may display a confirmation message on the touch panel 15 to confirm with the user whether or not the mobile terminal 1 may be shut down. Then, the processor 11 may shut down the portable terminal 1 when the user performs an operation for permitting shutdown on the touch panel 12 in response to the confirmation message.

  [3] The processor 11 does not have to forcibly shut down the portable terminal 1 when the battery 13 is being charged or when the portable terminal 1 is located in a place where the battery 13 can be charged. The processor 11 stores in the memory 12 whether or not the mobile terminal 1 is located at a place where the battery 13 can be charged, for example, the position where the battery 13 was previously charged, and the current position is stored in the memory 12. Judgment is made based on whether or not it is within a predetermined range from the determined position.

  [4] Each process in the above description on the mobile terminal 1 may be realized by causing the processor 11 to execute a program corresponding to each process. For example, a program corresponding to each process in the above description in the portable terminal 1 may be stored in the memory 12, and a program corresponding to each process may be read from the memory 12 by the processor 11 and executed.

1 Mobile terminal 11 Processor 12 Memory 13 Battery 14 ADC
15 Touch panel 16 GPS module

Claims (5)

A battery to supply power;
The first power consumption status is monitored in the first mode based on the output of the battery, and the second power consumption per unit time is smaller than that in the first mode based on the first power consumption status. A processor for determining whether to monitor the second power consumption status in the mode of
A mobile terminal comprising: The processor shuts down the portable terminal earlier than when the power consumption does not satisfy the predetermined condition when the power consumption satisfies the predetermined condition during the monitoring of the second power consumption state To
The mobile terminal according to claim 1. When the processor shuts down the mobile terminal at an early stage, the processor starts the mobile terminal after the shutdown,
The mobile terminal according to claim 2. A power consumption monitoring method in a portable terminal having a battery for supplying power,
Monitoring a first power consumption status in a first mode based on the output of the battery;
Based on the first power consumption status, it is determined whether to monitor the second power consumption status in the second mode in which the power consumption per unit time is smaller than that in the first mode.
Power consumption monitoring method. A power consumption monitoring program used for a portable terminal comprising a battery for supplying power and a processor,
Monitoring a first power consumption status in a first mode based on the output of the battery;
Based on the first power consumption status, it is determined whether to monitor the second power consumption status in the second mode in which the power consumption per unit time is smaller than that in the first mode.
A power consumption monitoring program for causing the processor to execute processing.

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