Power management improvements

Abstract

A data processing system refreshes a display at a first frequency when operating in a first power mode. The data processing system refreshes the display at a second frequency when operating in a second mode. The first frequency is higher than the second frequency, and the second power mode is configured to consume less power than the first power mode.

1 . A machine implemented method for processing data, the method comprising:
 coalescing updates to a display during a first time interval if a first power mode is selected;   coalescing updates to the display during a second time interval if a second power mode is selected, wherein the first time interval is shorter than the second time interval and wherein the second power mode is configured to consume less power than the first power mode;   computing a refresh of the display specified by the coalesced updates; and   performing the refresh on the display.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 switching between the first power mode and the second power mode, wherein the switching occurs automatically in response to a change in power source. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein computing the refresh comprises:
 compositing pixels corresponding to the coalesced updates; 
 color correcting textures of the pixels. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the coalescing further comprises:
 determining an update is duplicative with respect to other coalesced updates; and 
 ignoring the duplicative update. 
 
     
     
         5 . A machine implemented method for processing data, the method comprising:
 refreshing a display at a first frequency when operating in a first power mode; and   refreshing a display at a second frequency when operating in a second mode, wherein the first frequency is higher than the second frequency and wherein the second power mode is configured to consume less power than the first power mode and wherein the selection of the first power mode or the second power made automatically selects the refresh rate.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising:
 switching between the first power mode and the second power mode, wherein the switching occurs automatically when a change in power mode occurs. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the first power mode corresponds to A/C power and wherein the second power mode corresponds to battery power. 
     
     
         8 . A machine-readable storage medium storing instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause the data processing system to perform a method of processing data, the method comprising:
 coalescing updates to a display during a first time interval if a first power mode is selected;   coalescing updates to the display during a second time interval if a second power mode is selected, wherein the first time interval is shorter than the second time interval and wherein the second power mode is configured to consume less power than the first power mode;   computing a refresh of the display specified by the coalesced updates; and   performing the refresh on the display.   
     
     
         9 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , the method further comprising:
 switching between the first power mode and the second power mode, wherein the switching occurs automatically in response to a change in power source.   
     
     
         10 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 8  wherein computing the refresh comprises:
 compositing pixels corresponding to the coalesced updates; 
 color correcting textures of the pixels. 
 
     
     
         11 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 8  wherein the coalescing further comprises:
 determining an update is duplicative with respect to other coalesced updates; and 
 ignoring the duplicative update. 
 
     
     
         12 . A machine-readable storage medium storing instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause the data processing system to perform a method of processing data, the method comprising:
 refreshing a display at a first frequency when operating in a first power mode; and   refreshing a display at a second frequency when operating in a second mode, wherein the first frequency is higher than the second frequency and wherein the second power mode is configured to consume less power than the first power mode and wherein the selection of the first power mode or the second power made automatically selects the refresh rate.   
     
     
         13 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , the method further comprising:
 switching between the first power mode and the second power mode, wherein the switching occurs automatically when a change in power mode occurs.   
     
     
         14 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 12  wherein the first power mode corresponds to A/C power and wherein the second power mode corresponds to battery power. 
     
     
         15 . A data processing system comprising:
 means for coalescing updates to a display during a first time interval if a first power mode is selected;   means for coalescing updates to the display during a second time interval if a second power mode is selected, wherein the first time interval is shorter than the second time interval and wherein the second power mode is configured to consume less power than the first power mode;   means for computing a refresh of the display specified by the coalesced updates; and   means for performing the refresh on the display.   
     
     
         16 . The data processing system of  claim 15  further comprising:
 means for switching between the first power mode and the second power mode, wherein the switching occurs automatically in response to a change in power source. 
 
     
     
         17 . The data processing system of  claim 15  wherein the means for computing the refresh comprises:
 means for compositing pixels corresponding to the coalesced updates; 
 means for color correcting textures of the pixels. 
 
     
     
         18 . The data processing system of  claim 15  wherein the coalescing further comprises:
 means for determining an update is duplicative with respect to other coalesced updates; and 
 means for ignoring the duplicative update. 
 
     
     
         19 . A data processing system comprising:
 means for refreshing a display at a first frequency when operating in a first power mode; and   means for refreshing a display at a second frequency when operating in a second mode, wherein the first frequency is higher than the second frequency and wherein the second power mode is configured to consume less power than the first power mode and wherein the selection of the first power mode or the second power made automatically selects the refresh rate.   
     
     
         20 . The data processing system of  claim 19  further comprising:
 means for switching between the first power mode and the second power mode, wherein the switching occurs automatically when a change in power mode occurs. 
 
     
     
         21 . The data processing system of  claim 19  wherein the first power mode corresponds to A/C power and wherein the second power mode corresponds to battery power.