WO2013079726A1

WO2013079726A1 - Smartphone including a power management component for long term use

Info

Publication number: WO2013079726A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/074283
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hui Liao
Original assignee: Gemalto S.A.
Priority date: 2011-12-02
Filing date: 2012-12-03
Publication date: 2013-06-06
Also published as: WO2013078686A1

Abstract

A smartphone comprises a host processor allowing a first configuration including shutting down all functions other than providing the functions of ensuring the reception and the transmission of phone calls and the functions ensuring the transmission and reception of text message. The smartphone comprises a battery to supply power to the host processor and a power management component operative on the host processor by preselecting the first configuration when the remaining battery level falls below a first predefined threshold.

Description

SMARTPHONE INCLUDING A POWER MANAGEMENT COMPONENT

FOR LONG TERM USE Technical field

This invention involves the mobile communication field, especially the power management of smartphone and mobile phone. The field also involves the power management component which enables different configurations of a smartphone.

Background technology

Apparatuses, systems and methods for reducing power consumption during standby operation of a mobile device are disclosed (TW 201038099).

Some mobiles allow commands generated by pressing a power button of the mobile communicate device. The communication-processing unit is able to pass to a dormancy command by switching off the battery power unit and shutting down some interface, for instance the USB interface using a power button. Thereby, both the mobile communicate device and the USB interface would enter the state of dormancy. The mobile communicate device will save more energy.

Other power management solutions are disclosed, some of them are originally implemented by hardware and operation system and others are managed by application software (TW 201015287).

One power management solution is disclosed in the US201 1 /0268000 application in which different QoS (quality of service) wireless connections types can be managed depending of the remaining battery level.

A problem with such solutions is that the power management component manages several configurations which require different manipulations of an operator. Choosing a configuration depends of different criteria and applications which requires different operations such as entering in the setup mode and/or need to carry out various manipulations.

A major drawback of current solutions results from the increased number of applications of a smartphone that implies an increase of the complexity of a power management policy.

Currently, when it remains a low battery level in a Smartphone, an operator cannot easily access an economic mode in order to save battery as long as he can and keep some application alive.

Summary

One object of the invention is to overcome at least some of the inconveniences of the state of the art. Some embodiments of the invention permit to improve the battery power management.

The invention involves a smartphone comprising a host processor, wherein the host processor allows a first configuration including shutting down all functions other than providing the functions of ensuring the reception and the transmission of phone calls and the functions ensuring the transmission and reception of text message. The smartphone of the invention comprises a battery to supply power especially to the host processor and a power management component operative on the host processor by preselecting the first configuration when the remaining battery level falls below a first predefined threshold.

Depending of the embodiments, the first configuration is automatically engaged by the smartphone when the first configuration is preselected or a manual confirmation by an operator allows entering in the first configuration when the first configuration is preselected. Brief description of the drawings

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereafter with reference being made to the drawings in which:

^■ figure 1 : illustrates a smartphone in accordance with one or more embodiments ; ^■ figure 2 : illustrates a logic flow in accordance with one or more embodiments.

Detailed description

FIG. 1 illustrates a smartphone 1 in accordance with one or more embodiments. Examples of smartphones include for example, Blackberry or l-phone smartphones.

The smartphone 1 may provide voice communications functionality in accordance with different types of cellular radiotelephone systems. Examples of cellular radiotelephone systems may include Global System for Mobile Communications systems (GSM), third generation (3G) systems, Universal Mobile Telephone System (UMTS) systems, and so forth.

In addition to voice communications functionality, the smartphone 1 may be arranged to provide data communications functionality in accordance with different types of cellular radiotelephone systems. The smartphone 1 may be arranged to provide voice and/or data communications functionality in accordance with different types of wireless network systems.

As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the smartphone 1 may comprise an architecture including a host processor 2 and a radio component noted RADIO.

In various implementations, the host processor 2 and the radio component RADIO may be arranged to communicate with each other using interfaces such as one or more universal serial bus (USB) interfaces or others available interfaces.

The host processor 2 may be responsible for executing various software programs such as system programs and applications programs to provide computing and processing operations for the smartphone 1 . The radio component RADIO may be responsible for performing various voice and data communications operations for the smartphone 1 such as transmitting and receiving voice and data information over one or more wireless communications channels. Although some embodiments may be described as comprising any suitable processor architecture and/or any suitable number of processors consistent with the described embodiments. The host processor 2 may be implemented as a host central processing unit (CPU) using any suitable processor or logic device, such as a as a general purpose processor.

As shown, the host processor 2 may be coupled through others components as a memory M, a radio component RADIO, a power supply unit PSU, a power management component PMC, a keypad K and/or a display unit D and all required interfaces I/O to connect it to others components.

The smart phone may comprise a display D coupled to the host processor 2. The display D may comprise any suitable visual interface for displaying content to a user of the smartphone 1 .

The host processor 2 may be coupled to various audio/video (A/V) devices that support A/V capability of the smartphone.

The host processor 2 may be coupled to a power supply unit PSU and a power management component PMC arranged to supply and manage power for each component of the smartphone 1 . In various embodiments, the power supply PSU may be implemented by a rechargeable battery, such as a removable and rechargeable lithium ion battery to provide direct current (DC) power, and/or an alternating current (AC) adapter to draw power from a standard AC main power supply.

The smartphone 1 may comprise a subscriber identity module, noted SIM, coupled to the radio component RADIO. The SIM may comprise, for example, a removable or non-removable smart card arranged to encrypt voice and data transmissions and to store user-specific data for allowing a voice or data communications network to identify and authenticate the user. The SIM also may store data such as personal settings specific to the user.

As mentioned above, the host processor 2 may be arranged to provide processing or computing resources to the smartphone 1 . Different applications can be run simultaneously as a GPS application, video games and multimedia applications. For example, the host processor 2 may be responsible for executing various software programs such as system programs and application programs to provide computing and processing operations for the smartphone. The power consumption of a Smartphone is mostly due to many applications and SIM card applications. They provide complicated functions, run background and consume most of the power. As shown in FIG. 1 , the smartphone 1 may comprise or implement several applications included in the processor 2. A set of several applications 4 can be implemented in the smartphone as for example MAIL APP for mail embedded applications or GEO APP for geolocation embedded application and others embedded applications. The set of applications 4 may comprise, for example, a telephone application such as a cellular telephone application, a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) application, a Push-to-Talk (PTT) application, and so forth. The set of applications 4 may further comprise a voicemail application, an instant messaging application, an e-mail application, a browser application. Applications generally may allow a user to accomplish one or more specific tasks. Examples of other applications may include, without limitation, one or more messaging applications (e.g., telephone, voicemail, facsimile, e-mail, IM, SMS, MMS, video conferencing), personal information management (PIM) applications (e.g., contacts, calendar, scheduling, tasks), word processing applications, spread sheet applications, database applications, media applications (e.g., video player, audio player, multimedia player, digital camera, video camera, media management), gaming applications.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the smartphone 1 may comprise or implement a power management component PMC. Power management component PMC may be in communication with host processor 2 and/or the power supply unit PSU. Power management component PMC may monitor the battery power level of power supply PSU. In accordance with the battery power level, power management component PMC may select a first set of applications by switching off or disabling a second set of applications.

In one embodiment, power management component PMC may detect when the battery power level falls below a first threshold, and then may disable a set of applications. In some cases, power management component PMC may terminate a set of applications until the battery is recharged. Power management component PMC may use power management settings, which may be stored in a memory. Power management settings may store information that associates a battery power level with actions taken to preserve or extend battery life. In some embodiments, different battery power level thresholds may trigger different actions.

In one preferred embodiment, power management component PMC enables only phone communications and text message. In that embodiment, the host processor 2 allows a first configuration including shutting down all functions other than providing the functions of ensuring the reception and the transmission of phone calls and the functions ensuring the transmission and reception of text message. When the power battery falls below a first predefined threshold, the host processor 2 is able to preselect the first configuration.

The first mode can be automatically engaged by the smartphone when the preselected first mode is done.

As an alternative, the first mode can allow a manual confirmation of an operator to enter the smartphone in the first configuration. In that last embodiment, the first configuration is manually engaged by an operator by a specific action on the smartphone when the first configuration is preselected.

For example, when the first configuration is preselected, the smartphone can display on the screen a window showing information on the remaining battery level. A tactile action may be engaged on the screen by an operator in order to confirm the entry in first configuration. In that way, the specific action is a tactile action of an operator on the screen.

As an alternative mode, the specific action may be engaged by an action on the power button.

This solution takes advantage when an operator needs to keep critical applications alive as phone calls and text messages in specific environmental conditions while keeping the battery operative as long as possible. Different scenarios can be cited as travelling without access to a standard AC main power supply or a long trekking adventure or a long term segregation.

In one embodiment, the value of first predefined threshold can be changed by an operator in a configuration setup menu.

The power management component operative on the host processor 2 is able, in one embodiment, to shut down the first configuration when the power battery exceeds over a second predefined threshold. In another embodiment, the power management component operative on the host processor 2 is able to preselect a second configuration when the power battery falls below a third predefined threshold, the second configuration including shutting down all functions other than providing the functions ensuring the transmission and reception of text message.

Alternatively, the power management component PMC operative on the host processor 2 is able to preselect a third configuration when the power battery falls below a fourth predefined threshold, the third configuration including shutting down all functions providing the functions of ensuring the reception and the transmission of phone calls.

Figure 2 represents a flow chart including two different configurations CONF1 and CONF2.

CONF 1 is a configuration in which all functions other than providing the functions of ensuring the reception and the transmission of phone calls and the functions ensuring the transmission and reception of text message are switching off.

CONF2 is a configuration in which all functions other than providing the functions of ensuring the transmission and reception of text message are switching off.

CONF1 is associated to a first specific level of battery and CONF2 is associated with a second specific level of battery. The embodiment of figure 2 allows an operator to take benefit of the vital uses of his smartphone in critical environment. One advantage of the invention is that an operator doesn't need to be careful with the level remaining of battery. The smartphone, in one embodiment, is able to change configuration automatically by checking the level of battery.

After the Smartphone detects the power is below a pre-defined value, the Smartphone enters easy mode. The easy mode is defined by a killing process sequence, especially complicated applications. The smartphone provide basic functions as phone call and SMS. The smartphone can also, in one embodiment, asked the SIM card to enter easy mode, which only provides basic functions of SIM card.

In a preferred embodiment, the smartphone automatically chooses to enter the easy mode. In some embodiments, the user can declined or refused the easy mode by a confirmation command as a "accept / reject" button displayed on the Smartphone user interface.

In some embodiments, the easy mode can be launched manually by user.

The invention helps people to prolong the mobile phone's standby time in an emergency case.

Claims

A smartphone (1 ) comprising a host processor (2), characterized in that the host processor (2) allowing a first configuration including shutting down all functions other than providing the functions of ensuring the reception and the transmission of phone calls and the functions ensuring the transmission and reception of text message, the smartphone comprising a battery (PSU) to supply power to the host processor (2) and a power management component (PMC) operative on the host processor (2) by preselecting the first configuration when the remaining battery level falls below a first predefined threshold.

A smartphone according to claim 1 , wherein the first configuration is automatically engaged by the smartphone (1 ) when the first configuration is preselected.

A smartphone according to claim 1 , wherein the first configuration is manually engaged by an operator by a specific action on the smartphone (1 ) when the first configuration is preselected.

A smartphone according to claim 1 to 3, wherein the value of first predefined threshold can be changed by an operator in a configuration setup menu.

A smartphone according to claim 1 to 4, wherein the power management component (PMC) operative on the host processor is able to shut down the first configuration when the remaining battery level exceeds over a second predefined threshold.

A smartphone according to claim 1 to 5, wherein the power management component (PMC) operative on the host processor preselects a second configuration when the remaining battery level falls below a third predefined threshold, the second configuration including shutting down all functions other than providing the functions ensuring the transmission and reception of text message.

7. A smartphone according to claim 1 to 5, wherein the power management component (PMC) operative on the host processor preselects a third configuration when the remaining battery level falls below a fourth predefined threshold, the third configuration including shutting down all functions providing the functions of ensuring the reception and the transmission of phone calls.