# US 8,751,837 B2 · Low-power subsystem for portable computers

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- Number: US 8,751,837 B2
- Document ID: US8751837B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/507,293
- Filed: 2009-07-22
- Published: 2009-11-05
- Granted: 2014-06-10
- Earliest claimed: 2000-12-29
- Assignees: Intel Corporation
- Applicants: Pankaj Kedia; James Kardach
- Inventors: Pankaj Kedia; James Kardach
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8751837B2

## CPC

- G06F 1/3203: Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
- G06F 1/1615: {with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function (constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206)}
- G06F 1/165: {the additional display being small, e.g. for presenting status information}
- G06F 1/3293: by switching to a less power-consuming processor, e.g. sub-CPU
- G06Q 30/0601: Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
- Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
- Y02D 30/50: in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- 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

A low power subsystem for a portable computer is described. In one example, the portable computer includes a computer system and low power multimedia center. The computer system includes a central processing unit, a system memory, a mass storage device, and a user interface, the computer system having a low-power mode in which the CPU, system memory, and user interface are inactive. The low-power multimedia center includes a low power processor coupled to the mass storage device, a low power memory coupled to the low power processor, a miniature display to display multimedia from the mass storage device, and an external user interface coupled to the processor, independent of the computer system to control the displaying of multimedia.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A non-transitory storage media, comprising:
instructions for a personal computer operating system, the instructions, when executed by the personal computer, cause the personal computer to:
enable a processing unit of the personal computer to transition into a low power mode, the personal computer having a memory to be accessible to the processing unit; and
allow a low power subsystem, which includes a low power processor, an external interface and a low power memory to access data contained within the personal computer memory using the low power processor when the processing unit is in the low power mode.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory storage media of claim 1, in which the personal computer is to operate as a server to the low power subsystem, which is to operate as a client.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory storage media of claim 1, in which the processing unit can go into the low power mode when a user has left the personal computer idle for a time period previously specified by the user or by a different user.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory storage media of claim 1, in which the processing unit can go into the low power mode when a user has closed a hinged panel of the personal computer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory storage media of claim 1, in which the low power sub-system is detachable from the personal computer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory storage media of claim 1, in which data is accessed by the low power subsystem from a shared database.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The non-transitory storage media of claim 6, in which the shared database is implemented with memory that is within the low power sub-system.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The non-transitory storage media of claim 6, in which the operating system enables the shared database to be synchronized with the personal computer memory, thereby allowing a user to access data stored in the personal computer by way of the low power sub-system.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory storage media of claim 1, in which the low power sub-system is to exchange data with the personal computer through a wireless interface.

### Claim 10

A method for an operating system in a personal computer, the method comprising:
transitioning of a processing unit of the personal computer into a low power mode, the personal computer having a memory that is accessible to the processing unit; and
accessing by a low power subsystem, which includes a low power processor, an external interface and a low power memory to data contained within the personal computer memory using the low power processor when the processing unit is in the low power mode.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, in which the personal computer is to operate as a server to the low power subsystem, which is to operate as a client.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, in which the processing unit can go into the low power mode when a user has left the personal computer idle for a time period previously specified by the user or by a different user.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, in which the processing unit can go into the low power mode when a user has closed a hinged panel of the personal computer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, in which the low power sub-system is detachable from the personal computer.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, in which data is accessed by the low power sub-system from a shared database.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, in which the shared database is implemented with memory that is within the low power sub-system.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, in which the operating system enables the shared database to be synchronized with the personal computer memory, thereby allowing a user to access data stored in the personal computer by way of the low power sub-system.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, in which the low power sub-system is to exchange data with the personal computer through a wireless interface.

### Claim 19

An apparatus comprising:
a processing unit of a personal computer to transition into a low power mode, the personal computer having a memory to be accessible to the processing unit; and
a low power subsystem, which includes a low power processor, an external interface and a low power memory to access data contained within the personal computer memory using the low power processor when the processing unit is in the low power mode.

### Claim 20 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the personal computer is to operate as a client to the low power subsystem, which is to operate as a client.