Method and apparatus for preventing overheating of a computer

Abstract

A computer implemented method and apparatus for preventing overheating of a computer comprising sensing a disengagement action for the computer, detecting a power setting associated with the disengagement action, and performing, when the power setting is detected to be set to a preset mode, at least one of alerting the user regarding the power setting and forcing the computer into a low power state.

1 . A computer implemented method for preventing overheating of a notebook computer comprising:
 detecting one or more power settings associated with the notebook computer;   sensing a disengagement action for the notebook computer and an associated power setting from the one or more power settings for the disengagement action; and   alerting a user of the notebook computer that the associated power setting may degrade one or more components of the notebook computer if the associated power setting is not modified to a low power setting.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sensing, as the disengagement action, one of user logoff from the notebook computer, partial lid closure of the notebook computer, and depressing of a button on the notebook computer indicating disengagement;   alerting the user when the associated power setting is a sleep setting or a “do nothing” setting.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising alerting the user by at least one of an audio sound, an operating system prompt, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting a message to an operating system executing on the notebook computer, the message comprising instructions requesting the operating system to enter into a low power setting distinct from the associated power setting; and   enabling the low power setting for the notebook computer.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the low power setting comprises one of a “shut down” state and a “hibernate” state. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more component comprise at least one of a hard disk, a processor and a video card. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein all of the components of the computer are put into a low power state. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 adjusting the associated setting by a user; and   storing the adjusted associated setting in memory of the notebook computer.   
     
     
         9 . A computer readable medium for storing software that, when executed by a computer, causes a notebook computing device to:
 detect one or more power settings associated with the notebook computer;   sense a disengagement action for the notebook computer and an associated power setting from the one or more power settings for the disengagement action; and   alert a user of the notebook computer that the associated power setting may degrade one or more components of the notebook computer if the associated power setting is not modified to a low power setting.   
     
     
         10 . The computer readable medium of  claim 9 , the software further comprising:
 sensing, as the disengagement action, one of user logoff from the notebook computer, partial lid closure of the notebook computer, and depressing of a button on the notebook computer indicating disengagement;   alerting the user when the associated power setting is a sleep setting or a “do nothing” setting.   
     
     
         11 . The computer readable medium of  claim 9 , the software further comprising alerting the user by at least one of an audio sound, an operating system prompt, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The computer readable medium of  claim 9 , the software further comprising:
 transmitting a message to an operating system executing on the notebook computer, the message comprising instructions requesting the operating system to enter into a low power setting distinct from the associated power setting; and   enabling the low power setting for the notebook computer.   
     
     
         13 . The computer readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the low power setting comprises one of a “shut down” state and a “hibernate” state. 
     
     
         14 . The computer readable medium of  claim 9  wherein the one or more component comprise at least one of a hard disk, a processor and a video card. 
     
     
         15 . The computer readable medium of  claim 14  wherein all of the components of the computer are put into a low power state. 
     
     
         16 . The computer readable medium of  claim 9 , the software further comprising:
 adjusting the associated setting by a user; and   storing the adjusted associated setting in memory of the notebook computer.