I 1111111111111111 11111 lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111 11111 lll111111111111111
`
`US009122735B2
`
`02) United States Patent
`Locker et al.
`
`(IO) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 9,122,735 B2
`Sep.1,2015
`
`(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`MODIFYING A TRANSITION TO AN
`ALTERED POWER STATE OF AN
`ELECTRONIC DEVICE BASED ON
`ACCELEROMETER OUTPUT
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Howard Locker, Cary, NC (US); Mark
`Charles Davis, Durham, NC (US);
`Michael Thano Matthews, Cary, NC
`(US); Steven Richard Perrin, Raleigh,
`NC (US); Sean Michael Ulrich, Raligh,
`NC(US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD., Tech
`Park (SG)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 85 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 12n71,908
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Apr. 30, 2010
`
`(65)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`Nov. 3, 201 I
`US 2011/0267026 Al
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`Int.CI.
`H04M 1/00
`G06F 11130
`G06F 1132
`U.S. Cl.
`CPC .......... G06F 11/3058 (2013.01); G06F 1/3203
`(2013.01); G06F 1/3231 (2013.01); G06F
`1113013 (2013.01); YOW 6011289 (2013.01)
`Field of Classification Search
`USPC ............. 455/67.11, 574, 127.5, 343.1-343.6,
`455/566,418,456, 575, 557
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2007/0075965 Al*
`2008/0088602 Al *
`2008/0305746 Al''
`2009/0137286 Al
`2009/0163226 Al
`2009/0239591 Al''
`2009/026567 I Al *
`2010/0048256 Al*
`2010/0167792 Al*
`2010/0304757 Al*
`2010/0317332 Al*
`
`4/2007 Huppi et al. .................. 345/ 156
`4/2008 Hotelling ...................... 345/ 173
`12/2008 Griffin et al.
`.............. 455/67.11
`5/2009 Luke et al.
`6/2009 Karkaria et aJ.
`9/2009 Alameh et al. ................ 455/574
`10/2009 Sachs et al. .... ............... 715/863
`2/2010 Huppi et al. .................. 455/574
`7/2010 Chen et aJ. ................ 455/566
`12/2010 Yoshioka ................... 455/456.1
`12/2010 Bathicbe et aJ ........... 455/418
`
`FOREJGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`101527753
`CN
`10157857 1
`CN
`* cited by examiner
`
`9/2009
`11/2009
`
`Primary Examiner -
`Junpeng Chen
`(74) Attorney, Agenl, or Firm - Km1zler Law Group
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A method and apparatus are disclosed for modifying a tran(cid:173)
`sition to an altered power state of an electronic device based
`on accelerometer output. The apparatus includes an elec(cid:173)
`tronic device having a display and an accelerometer. The
`apparams also includes a detennination module, and a modi(cid:173)
`fication module. The determination module determines an
`in-use condition of the electronic device based on accelerom(cid:173)
`eter output for the electronic device. The modification mod(cid:173)
`ule modifies a transition to an altered power state of the
`electronic device in response to the determination module
`determining the in-use condition.
`
`15 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`700
`)t
`
`Start
`
`705
`
`Monitor Changes in
`Accelerometer Values
`
`715
`
`Determine In-use Condition
`
`720
`
`Modify Transition to Altered
`Power State
`
`End
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1020, 0001
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.1,2015
`
`Sheet 1 of 7
`
`US 9,122,735 B2
`
`100
`~
`
`Display Module
`125
`
`Memory
`110
`
`Processor
`105
`
`Graphic Module
`120
`
`BIOS Module
`130
`
`Network
`Module
`135
`
`USB Module
`140
`
`10 Module
`115
`
`Audio Module
`145
`
`PCle Module
`150
`
`Storage Module
`155
`
`FIG. 1
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1020, 0002
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.1,2015
`
`Sheet 2 of 7
`
`US 9,122,735 B2
`
`2 1 5~ - - - - - -~
`
`200
`
`205
`
`220
`~
`
`200
`
`Power State
`Transition Modifier
`230
`
`FIG. 2B
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1020, 0003
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.1,2015
`
`Sheet 3 of 7
`
`US 9,122,735 B2
`
`300
`
`305
`
`310
`
`25 . . , . , . - - " ' - - , - , , - - - - , - - - - - , - - - - - , - - - - - , - - . - . . . , . . . - - - - , - - - ,
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`.
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`·:-· .... .
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`315
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`. -.❖.•,•?.-. .... ,,:,,,❖.•.• ................. , ..... .
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`325
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`FIG. 3A
`
`350
`
`355
`
`360
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`
`'•: .... ·•.·· .. '• . •:-- ... . -:·• . . . ~ . t . .
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`.,
`
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`
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`•·::
`t ~
`
`♦15 .... ..,.....;... .......................... ........._..~ .................. ...:e--.. ........._.. .. ;..... ........ ....:... .. y.♦•♦.-. . . ........._..;.,....... ........ ~ . . ~ . . , . . . . . . . ........ .....;.. .............. +..,....... ........ ..;.... .............. +,..-.-.............................. .......
`em2
`$..,~ 00$ SW 512 514
`522 ~4 $2$
`SM
`:52€
`:51fi
`$1$
`51)4.
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`Tlme .. sec
`
`FIG. 3B
`
`365
`
`375
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1020, 0004
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.1,2015
`
`Sheet 4 of 7
`
`US 9,122,735 B2
`
`400
`
`Determination Module
`405
`
`Modification Module
`410
`
`FIG. 4
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1020, 0005
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.1,2015
`
`Sheet 5 of 7
`
`US 9,122,735 B2
`
`Determination Module
`405
`
`Filtering
`Module
`505
`
`Modification
`Module
`410
`
`Learning
`Module
`510
`
`FIG. 5
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1020, 0006
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.1,2015
`
`Sheet 6 of 7
`
`US 9,122,735 B2
`
`600
`\
`
`605
`
`610
`
`650
`\
`
`Start
`
`Determine In-use
`Condition
`
`Modify Transition to
`Altered Power State
`
`End
`
`FIG. 6A
`
`Start
`
`655
`
`Monitor User Interaction
`
`660
`
`Associate User Interaction with
`Accelerometer Output
`
`665
`
`Adapt Definition
`
`End
`
`FIG. 6B
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1020, 0007
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.1,2015
`
`Sheet 7 of 7
`
`US 9,122,735 B2
`
`700
`~
`
`Start
`
`705
`
`Monitor Changes in
`Accelerometer Values
`
`No
`
`715
`
`Determine In-use Condition
`
`720
`
`Modify Transition to Altered
`Power State
`
`End
`
`FIG. 7
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1020, 0008
`
`

`

`US 9,122,735 B2
`
`1
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`MODIFYING A TRANSITION TO AN
`ALTERED POWER STATE OF AN
`ELECTRONIC DEVICE BASED ON
`ACCELEROMETER OUTPUT
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`5
`
`1. Field
`The subject matter disclosed herein relates to transitioning
`to an altered power state of electronic devices and more
`particularly relates to modifying a transition to an altered
`power state of an electronic device based on accelerometer
`output.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`The capabilities of portable electronic devices continue to
`increase. A user may typically read books, documents, or
`articles and view videos on a portable electronic device such
`as an eBook reader, a mo bile phone, a tablet computer, and the
`like. While a user reads a page or views a video clip, the 20
`portable electronic device may not receive user input for an
`extended period of time. Often, the automatic timer to dim,
`turn off the display, or to enter a standby state elapses while
`the user is using the portable electronic device, producing an
`undesired result that interrupts the user's experience.
`
`25
`
`SUMMARY
`
`2
`of movement of the electronic device and the determination
`module may determine the in-use condition from the filtered
`accelerometer output.
`In one embodiment, the apparatus further includes a leam-
`ing module monitoring user interaction with the electronic
`device. The learning module may also associate the moni(cid:173)
`tored user interaction with a portion of the accelerometer
`output and adapt an in-use definition based on the association
`of the monitored user interaction with the portion of the
`10 accelerometer output.
`In one embodiment, the modification module extends time
`of one or more timers associated with the transition to the
`altered power state of the electronic device in response to the
`15 determination module determining the in-use condition. In
`certain embodiments, the altered power state of the electronic
`device includes one or more of a quiesced state, a low-power
`state, a high-power state, a state in which one or more opera(cid:173)
`tions of the electronic device are operating at a high capacity,
`and a state in which one or more operations of the electronic
`device are one or more of suspended and operating at a
`reduced capacity. In one embodiment, the electronic device
`includes one of a portable information handling device,
`mobile phone, and a peripheral device.
`A method is presented for modifying a transition to an
`altered power state of an electronic device based on acceler(cid:173)
`ometer output. In one embodiment, the method includes the
`steps to carry out the functions of the apparatus.
`A computer program product is also presented for modi-
`30 fying a transition to an altered power state of an electronic
`device based on accelerometer output, also with similar steps
`to carry out the functions of the apparatus.
`References throughout this specification to features,
`advantages, or similar language do not imply that all of the
`35 features and advantages may be realized in any single
`embodiment. Rather, language referring to the features and
`advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature,
`advantage, or characteristic is included in at least one
`embodiment. Thus, discussion of the features and advan-
`40 tages, and similar language, throughout this specification
`may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.
`Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and char(cid:173)
`acteristics of the embodiments may be combined in any suit(cid:173)
`able marmer. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that
`45 the embodiments may be practiced without one or more of the
`specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In
`other instances, additional features and advantages may be
`recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in
`all embodiments.
`These features and advantages of the embodiments will
`become more fully apparent from the following description
`and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the
`embodiments as set forth hereinafter.
`
`From the foregoing discussion, inventors herein have iden(cid:173)
`tified a need for a method and apparatus that modifies a
`transition to an altered power state of an electronic device.
`Beneficially, such a method and apparatus would modify the
`transition to the altered power state based on accelerometer
`output.
`The embodiments of the present disclosure have been
`developed in response to the present state of the art, and in
`particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that
`have not yet been fully solved by currently available elec(cid:173)
`tronic devices. Accordingly, the embodiments have been
`developed to provide a method and apparatus for modifying a
`transition to an altered power state of an electronic device that
`overcome many or all of the above-discussed shortcomings in
`the art.
`The apparatus for modifying a transition to an altered
`power state of an electronic device based on accelerometer
`output includes an electronic device having a display and an
`accelerometer. The apparatus also includes a determination
`module and a modification module. The determination mod-
`ule determines an in-use condition of the electronic device
`based on accelerometer output for the electronic device. The 50
`modification module modifies a transition to an altered power
`state of the electronic device in response to the determination
`module determining the in-use condition.
`In a further embodiment, the determination module moni(cid:173)
`tors changes in one or more accelerometer values of the 55
`accelerometer output over a period of time. The determina(cid:173)
`tion module determines the in-use condition based on the
`changes in the one or more accelerometer values over the
`period of time. In a further embodiment, the determination
`module determines the in-use condition in response to deter(cid:173)
`mining that the changes in the one or more accelerometer
`values correspond with an in-use definition that is indicative
`of a user using the electronic device.
`In one embodiment, the determination module further
`includes a filtering module filtering particular changes in the
`one or more accelerometer values out of the accelerometer
`output. The particular changes may be characteristic of a type
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`In order that the advantages of the embodiments will be
`readily understood, a more particular description of the
`embodiments briefly described above will be rendered by
`60 reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the
`appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings
`depict only some embodiments and are not therefore to be
`considered to be limiting of scope, the embodiments will be
`described and explained with additional specificity and detail
`65 through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:
`FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating one
`embodiment of a computing device;
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1020, 0009
`
`

`

`US 9,122,735 B2
`
`3
`FIG. 2A is a schematic block diagram illustrating one
`embodiment of an electronic device;
`FIG. 2B is a schematic block diagram illustrating one
`embodiment of a system for modifying a transition to an
`altered power state of an electronic device based on acceler-
`ometer output;
`FIG. 3A is one embodiment of sample accelerometer out(cid:173)
`put;
`FIG. 3B is another embodiment of sample accelerometer
`output;
`FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating one
`embodiment of an apparatus for modifying a transition to an
`altered power state of an electronic device based on acceler(cid:173)
`ometer output;
`FIG. 5 is a detailed schematic block diagram illustrating
`another embodiment of an apparatus for modifying a transi(cid:173)
`tion to an altered power state of an electronic device based on
`accelerometer output;
`FIG. 6A is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one
`embodiment of a method for modifying a transition to an
`altered power state of an electronic device based on acceler(cid:173)
`ometer output;
`FIG. 6B is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating
`another embodiment of a method for modifying a transition to
`an altered power state of an electronic device based on accel(cid:173)
`erometer output; and
`FIG. 7 is a detailed schematic flow chart diagram illustrat(cid:173)
`ing yet another embodiment of a method for modifying a
`transition to an altered power state of an electronic device
`based on accelerometer output.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`Many of the functional units described in this specification
`have been labeled as modules, in order to more particularly
`emphasize their implementation independence. Modules
`may include hardware circuits such as one or more processors
`with memory, Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) circuits,
`gate arrays, progranimable logic, and/or discrete compo(cid:173)
`nents. The hardware circuits may perform logic functions,
`execute computer readable programs stored on tangible stor(cid:173)
`age devices, and/or execute programmed functions. Modules
`may also include a computer readable storage medium com(cid:173)
`prising a computer readable program stored on a tangible
`storage device that performs a function when executed by a 45
`hardware circuits such as a processor, microcontroller, or the
`like.
`Reference throughout this specification to "one embodi(cid:173)
`ment," "an embodiment," or similar language means that a
`particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in
`connection with the embodiment is included in at least one
`embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one
`embodiment," "in an embodiment," and similar language
`throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all
`refer to the same embodiment, but mean "one or more but not
`all embodiments" unless expressly specified otherwise. The
`terms "including," "comprising," "having," and variations
`thereof mean "including but not limited to," unless expressly
`specified otherwise. An enumerated listing of items does not
`imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, 60
`unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms "a," "an," and
`"the" also refer to "one or more" unless expressly specified
`otherwise.
`Furthermore, the described features, structures, or charac(cid:173)
`teristics of the embodiments may be combined in any suitable
`manner. In the following description, numerous specific
`details are provided, such as examples of programming, soft-
`
`5
`
`4
`ware modules, user selections, network transactions, data(cid:173)
`base queries, database structures, hardware modules, hard(cid:173)
`ware circuits, hardware chips, etc., to provide a thorough
`understanding of embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art
`will recognize, however, that embodiments may be practiced
`without one or more of the specific details, or with other
`methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other
`instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are
`not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of
`10 an embodiment.
`FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating one
`embodiment of a computing device 100. The computing
`device 100 includes a processor 105, a memory 110, an IO
`module 115, a graphics module 120, a display module 125, a
`15 basic input/output system (BIOS) module 130, a network
`module 135, a universal serial bus (USB) module 140, an
`audio module 145, a peripheral component interconnect
`express (PCie) module 150, and a storage module 155. One of
`skill in the art will recognize that other configurations of a
`20 computing device 100 or multiple computer systems 100 may
`be employed with the embodiments described herein.
`The processor 105, memory 110, IO module 115, graphics
`module 120, display module 125, BIOS module 130, network
`module 135, USB module 140, audio module 145, PCie
`25 module 150, and storage module 155, referred to herein as
`components, may be fabricated of semiconductor gates on
`one or more semiconductor substrates. Each semiconductor
`substrate may be packaged in one or more semiconductor
`devices mounted on circuit cards. Connections between the
`30 components may be through semiconductor metal layers,
`substrate-to-substrate wiring, circuit card traces, and/or wires
`connecting the semiconductor devices.
`The memory 110 stores computer readable programs. The
`processor 105 executes the computer readable programs as is
`35 well known to those skilled in the art. The computer readable
`programs may be tangibly stored in the storage module 155.
`The storage module 155 may comprise at least one Solid State
`Device (SSD). In addition, the storage module 155 may
`include a hard disk drive, an optical storage device, a holo-
`40 graphic storage device, a micromechanical storage device, or
`the like.
`The processor 105 may include integrated cache to reduce
`the average time to access memory 115. The integrated cache
`may store copies of instructions and data from the most fre(cid:173)
`quently used memory 110 locations. The processor 105 may
`communicate with the memory 110 and the graphic module
`120.
`In addition, the processor 105 may communicate with the
`IO module 115. The IO module 125 may support and com-
`50 municate with the BIOS module 130, the network module
`135, the PCie module 150, and the storage module 155.
`The PCie module 150 may communicate with the IO mod(cid:173)
`ule 115 for transferring data or power to peripheral devices.
`The PCie module 150 may include a PCie bus for attaching
`55 the peripheral devices. The PCie bus can logically connect
`several peripheral devices over the same set of connections.
`The peripherals may be selected from a printer, a joystick, a
`scanner, or the like. The PCI module 150 may also comprise
`an expansion card as is well known to those skilled in the art.
`The BIOS module 130 may communicate instructions
`through the IO module 115 to boot the computing device 100,
`so that computer readable software instructions stored on the
`storage module 155 can load, execute, and assume control of
`the computing device 100. Alternatively, the BIOS module
`65 130 may comprise a coded program embedded on a chipset
`that recognizes and controls various devices that make up the
`computing device 100.
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1020, 0010
`
`

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`US 9,122,735 B2
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`5
`The network module 135 may communicate with the IO
`module 115 to allow the computing device 100 to communi(cid:173)
`cate with other devices over a network. The devices may
`include routers, bridges, computers, printers, and the like.
`The display module 125 may communicate with the 5
`graphic module 120 to display information as will be
`described hereafter. The display module 125 may be a cath(cid:173)
`ode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor, or
`the like.
`The USB module 140 may communicate with one or more
`USB compatible devices over a USB bus. The audio module
`145 may generate an audio output.
`In one embodiment, each module comprises a computer
`readable storage medium comprising a computer readable 15
`program stored on a tangible storage device.
`FIG. 2A is a schematic block diagram illustrating one
`embodiment of an electronic device 200. The electronic
`device 200 may comprise a portable computing device and/or
`an information handling device such as a touch device, a
`personal desktop assistant ("PDA"), a tablet computer, an
`eBook reader, a mobile phone, a Smartphone, and the like.
`The electronic device 200 may be one embodiment of the
`computing device 100 depicted in FIG. 1. The depicted elec(cid:173)
`tronic device 200 includes a display 205. Furthermore, the
`electronic device 200 may be configured to be held in a user's
`hand 210 during use. As a result, the electronic device 200
`may be subject to slight movements 215 while in the user's
`hand 210. For example, assuming the electronic device is an
`eBook reader 200, a user may read a page on an eBook reader
`200 while holding the eBook reader 200. Although the user
`attempts to hold the eBook reader 200 steady, the eBook
`reader 200 may be subject to slight movements 215 resulting
`from the natural motion of the user's hand 210.
`FIG. 2B is a schematic block diagram illustrating one
`embodiment of a system 220 for modifying a transition to an
`altered power state of an electronic device 200 based on
`accelerometer output. The system 220 includes the electronic
`device 200 with an accelerometer 225 and a power state
`transition modifier 230.
`The accelerometer 225 measures physical acceleration
`(magnitude and direction), position, and/or shock of the elec(cid:173)
`tronic device 200. The accelerometer 225 may output an
`acceleration signature including acceleration measurements,
`accelerometer values at a point in time and/or over a time
`period, changes in accelerometer values, and the like. In one
`embodiment, the accelerometer output includes graphical
`information, or may be converted into graphical information
`such as the graphical information depicted in FIGS. 3A and
`3B, which depict embodiments of example accelerometer
`output. FIGS. 3A and 3B show gravitational acceleration (g)
`over time (in seconds) for an x-axis 320,370, a y-axis 315,
`365, and a z-axis 325,375. One of ordinary skill in the art
`realizes that accelerometer output may exist in various forms.
`Referring back to FIG. 2B, a program or application on the
`electronic device 200 may access the accelerometer output
`through an application programming interface ("API") or
`other interface. In another embodiment, the accelerometer
`output is accessed directly in hardware. In one embodiment,
`an entity such as an operating system, an application, a pro(cid:173)
`gram, and/or a utility running on the electronic device 200,
`uses accelerometer output during operation. For example, a
`Smartphone operating system may use accelerometer output
`to detect when the user tilts or turns the Smartphone 200, and
`in response, the operating system may rotate the picture on
`the display 205 such that the picture appears oriented cor(cid:173)
`rectly to the user.
`
`6
`A user may read books, documents, or articles and view
`videos on certain electronic devices 200 such as eBook read(cid:173)
`ers, Smartphones, tablet computers, and the like. Therefore,
`an electronic device 200 may still be in use, even though it
`may not frequently receive user input. Furthermore, an elec(cid:173)
`tronic device 200 may be configured to dim or tum off its
`display 205 or to enter a standby state if the electronic device
`200 has not received user input for a certain period of time, the
`electronic device 200 assuming that it is not being used due to
`10 lack of user input. As a result, the electronic device 200 may
`dim/tum off its display, power off, or enter a standby state,
`producing an undesired result that interrupts the user's expe(cid:173)
`nence.
`The power state transition modifier 230 determines, using
`accelerometer output, that the user may still be using the
`electronic device 200 and modifies the timing of the transition
`of the electronic device 200 into an altered power state. An
`altered power state includes a state in which the electronic
`device 200 performs operations related to power savings and/
`20 or operates with certain operations suspended or at a reduced
`capacity. The altered power state may include but is not lim(cid:173)
`ited to a standby state, a quiesced state, a low-power state, a
`hibernate state, the electronic device 200 operating with a
`dimmed or inactive display, the electronic device 200 pow-
`25 ered off, and the electronic device 200 operating a screen(cid:173)
`saver. In one embodiment, an altered power state includes a
`high-power state and/or a state in which one or more opera(cid:173)
`tions of the electronic device are operating at a high capacity.
`A transition into an altered power stated is an action of the
`30 electronic device 200 entering into the altered power state
`and/or the signal, cue, or initiator causing the electronic
`device 200 to enter the altered power state. For example, a
`transition into an altered power state by an electronic device
`200 may include, but is not limited to the electronic device
`35 suspending certain operations, beginning operation at a
`reduced capacity, dimming or shutting down a display 205,
`powering off, initiating a screensaver, and entering a low
`power state such as a standby state, a quiesced state, hibernate
`state. In one embodiment, a transition to an altered power
`40 state includes the electronic device 200 transitioning to a
`higher power state with increased functionality and/or capac(cid:173)
`ity.
`Furthermore, a transition to an altered power state may be
`controlled and/or initiated by one or more altered power state
`45 timers of the electronic device 200. These altered power state
`timers may be part of the operating system of the electronic
`device 200, an application or utility running on the electronic
`device 200, and the like. An altered power state timer may
`track a length of time without a user input and if the length of
`50 time exceeds a predetermined threshold, the altered power
`state timer may signal the electronic device 200 to transition
`to an altered power state. For example, an operating system of
`an electronic device 200 may dim the display of the electronic
`device 200 in response to a signal from an altered power state
`55 timer detecting that a user has not entered input for a prede(cid:173)
`termined time period.
`Using the accelerometer output, the power state transition
`modifier 230 may determine that the electronic device 200 is
`in use even if it is not receiving and/or has not received user
`60 input for a predetermined time period. Specifically, when a
`user is holding an electronic device 200, the accelerometer
`output may indicate slight variations in accelerometer values
`due to small motions by the user's hands or body. Further(cid:173)
`more, this accelerometer output may be distinct from accel-
`65 erometer output associated with the electronic device 200
`lying on a desk, or inside a user's bag or pocket while the user
`is walking.
`
`Petitioner Samsung Ex-1020, 0011
`
`

`

`US 9,122,735 B2
`
`7
`FI GS. 3A and 3 B show accelerometeroutput for a first time
`period 300,350 in which an electronic device 200 is lying
`stationary on a desk. As depicted, the accelerometer output
`shows little to no variation in accelerometer values for the first
`time period 300,350.
`FIGS. 3A and 3B also show accelerometer output for a
`second time period 305,355 in which the electronic device
`200 is "in-use" by a user, meaning that the electronic device
`200 is held in the user's hand while the user reads a document
`or views video from the display 200 of the electronic device
`200. As depicted in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the accelerometer
`output shows slight variations in accelerometer values during
`the second time period 305,355. The accelerometer activity in
`the second time period 305,355 is greater than accelerometer
`activity in the first time period 300,350.
`FIGS. 3A and 3B also show accelerometer output for a
`third time period 310,360 in which the user holds the elec(cid:173)
`tronic device 200 while walking. As depicted in FIGS. 3A and
`3B, the accelerometer output shows significant variations in
`accelerometer values during the third time period 310,360.
`In addition, FIG. 3B shows that large accelerometer value
`changes may occur when transitioning between each state.
`FIG. 3B shows large accelerometer value spikes between the
`first time period 300,350 and the second time period 305,355,
`when the user picks up the electronic device 200 from the
`desk and begins holding the electronic device 200 for use.
`Referring now to FIG. 2B in addition to FIGS. 3A and 3B,
`the power state transition modifier 230 may determine an
`in-use condition based on accelerometer output. An in-use
`condition is a condition, state, and/or status of an electronic
`device 200 determined from accelerometer output indicative
`of a user using the electronic device 200. The in-use condition
`indicates that a user may be using the device and/or that a
`transition to an altered power state is not desirable at a par(cid:173)
`ticular moment in time. The power state transition modifier
`230 may determine the in-use condition from accelerometer
`output including an accelerometer signature indicative of the
`user using the electronic device 200, such as the accelerom(cid:173)
`eter values in the accelerometer output for the second time
`period 305,355 in FIGS. 3A and 3B.
`The power state transition modifier 230 may also modify
`behavior of the electronic device 200 to delay or deactivate
`the transition to an altered power state in response to deter(cid:173)
`mining an in-use