# US 2014/0157016 A1 · Power Saving in Computing Devices

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- Number: US 2014/0157016 A1
- Document ID: US20140157016A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/691,094
- Filed: 2012-11-30
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30
- Assignees: General Instrument Corporation
- Applicants: General Instrument Corporation
- Inventors: Selvamani Rajagopal
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140157016A1

## CPC

- G06F 1/3234: Power saving characterised by the action undertaken
- G06F 1/3278: {Power saving in modem or I/O interface}
- G06F 1/3203: Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
- Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE

## Abstract

Power saving in computing devices is provided. A first computing device communicates with a second computing device using a first set of tones. A low power event is detected by the first computing device. In response to the detected low power event, a request to communicate using a second set of tones is sent to the second computing device by the first computing device. The second set of tones has fewer tones than the first set of tones, and may be a subset of the first set of tones.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
communicating by a first computing device using a first set of tones with a second computing device;
detecting a low power event by the first computing device; and
in response to the detected low power event, sending a request to communicate using a second set of tones to the second computing device by the first computing device, wherein the second set of tones has fewer tones than the first set of tones.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving a trigger by the first computing device from the second computing device in response to the request, wherein the trigger identifies the second set of tones; and
communicating by the first computing device with the second computing device using the second set of tones.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the low power event is the first computing device switching to battery power.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the low power event comprises the first computing device detecting no data activity or a scheduled event.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein communicating using the second set of tones uses less power than communicating using the first set of tones.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first computing device comprises a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem or a DSL router.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second computing device comprises a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM).

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises a save-our-showtime (SOS) request.

### Claim 9

A method comprising:
communicating with a first computing device using a first set of tones by a second computing device;
receiving, at the second computing device from the first computing device, an indication of a low power event;
in response to the indication of a low power event, sending an instruction to the first computing device to communicate using a second set of tones by the second computing device; and
communicating with the first computing device using the second set of tones by the second computing device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the first computing device comprises a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem or a DSL router, and wherein the second computing device comprises a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM).

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the second set of tones is a subset of the first set of tones.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the low power event is the first computing device switching to battery power.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the low power event comprises the first computing device detecting no data activity or a scheduled event.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein communicating using the second set of tones uses less power than communicating using the first set of tones.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the received indication of a low power event comprises a save-our-showtime (SOS) request.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the instruction to the first computing device to communicate using the second set of tones comprises a trigger.

### Claim 17 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the instruction to the first computing device to communicate using the second set of tones comprises a reference to a table stored at the first computing device.

### Claim 18

A system comprising:
a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem that communicates using a first set of tones with a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM);
a power manager that detects a low power event; and
a save-our-showtime (SOS) engine that, in response to the detected low power event, sends a request to communicate using a second set of tones to the DSLAM, wherein communicating using the second set of tones uses less power than communicating using the first set of tones.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the power manger detecting the low power event comprises the power manager detecting no data activity in the DSL modem.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the system further includes a battery, and the power manger detecting the low power event comprises the power manager detecting that the DSL modem is receiving power from the battery.