Power management apparatus and method for managing power application to individual circuit cards

A computer program product comprising:

• a computer usable medium having computable readable code embodied therein including an executable program code for performing:
• detection of a disconnection of a communication channel from a PCCard, the PCCard having a memory;
• termination of power supplied to the PCCard in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel;
• operation of the PCCard in a power management mode responsive to power events;
• recordation of a power state in the PCCard memory in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel;
• and
• posting of an event to the computer system indicating the power state.

A computer system comprising:

• a processor;
• a storage coupled to the processor, the storage including a program storage;
• a PCCard detachably connected to the processor, the PCCard including a memory and a communication interface for interfacing to a communication channel;
• and
• a sensor for detecting connection and disconnection of a cable linking the communication interface to the communication channel;
• an executable program code stored in the program storage, the executable program code including:
• a routine for detecting a disconnection of the communication channel from the PCCard;
• and
• a routine for terminating power supplied to the PCCard in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel;
• and
• a routine for operating the PCCard in a power management mode responsive to power events;
• a routine for recording a power state in the PCCard memory in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel;
• and
• a routine for posting an event to the computer system indicating the power state.

A computer program product comprising:

• a computer usable medium having computable readable code embodied therein including an executable program code for performing:
• a routine for detecting a disconnection of a communication channel from a PCCard, the PCCard having a memory;
• a routine for terminating power supplied to the PCCard in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel;
• a routine for operating the PCCard in a power management mode responsive to power events;
• a routine for recording a power state in the PCCard memory in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel;
• and
• a routine for posting an event to the computer system indicating the power state.

A PCCard comprising:

• a memory;
• a communication interface for interfacing to a communication channel;
• a sensor for detecting connection and disconnection of a cable linking the communication interface to the communication channel;
• a means for operating the PCCard in a power management mode responsive to power events;
• a means for recording a power state in the PCCard memory in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel;
• and
• a means for posting an event to the computer system indicating the power state.