User-Controlled Application-Based Power Management

Abstract

A user-controlled application-based power management function is provided for a battery-operated device. In general, for each of a number of applications of the battery-operated device, a power management function enables a user of the battery-operated device to provide a desired amount of usage of the application for each of one or more tasks. For each task, an estimated amount of battery life to provide the desired amount of usage of the application for the task and whether the estimated amount of battery life is available is determined. If the estimated amount of battery life is not available, a maximum amount of usage of the application is determined for the tasks that is allowable for a currently remaining, non-allocated amount of battery life and the usage for at least one of the one or more tasks for the application is reduced with the user notified of the maximum amount of usage

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a battery-operated device enabling prioritization of battery usage for a plurality of tasks formed by one or more tasks for each application of a plurality of applications of the battery-operated device, the method comprising:
 for each task of the one or more tasks for each application of the plurality of applications of the battery-operated device:
 receiving, from a user of the battery-operated device, user input defining a desired amount of usage of the application for the task; 
 receiving a priority for the task; 
 determining an estimated amount of battery life of a battery of the battery-operated device to provide the desired amount of usage of the application for the task; 
 determining whether the estimated amount of battery life is available; 
 if the estimated amount of battery life is not available, determining a maximum amount of usage of the application for the one or more tasks that is allowable for a currently remaining, non-allocated amount of battery life of the battery of the battery-operated device; 
 reducing the usage for at least one of one or more tasks of the application; 
 notifying the user of the maximum amount of usage and 
   wherein at least one of the preceding actions is performed on at least one electronic hardware component including at least one processor and memory containing software executable by the at least one processor whereby the at least one electronic hardware component is configured to perform the at least one of the preceding actions   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 if the estimated amount of battery life is available, allocating an amount of battery life of the battery to the application for the task corresponding to the estimated amount of battery life; 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 monitoring usage of battery life of the battery of the battery-operated device; and 
 taking an action based on monitoring the usage of the battery life. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, for each application of the plurality of applications:
 monitoring usage of the application; and 
 notifying the user when the user has consumed the desired amount of usage of the application for the task. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, for each application of the plurality of applications:
 monitoring usage of the application; and 
 notifying the user when the user has consumed the desired amount of usage of the application for the task and there is no remaining non-allocated battery life. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, for each application of the plurality of applications:
 monitoring usage of the application; and 
 notifying the user when the user has consumed a threshold amount of the desired amount of usage of the application for the task. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, for each application of the plurality of applications:
 monitoring usage of the application and a corresponding usage of battery life of the battery of the battery-operated device; and 
 notifying the user when the usage of the application is infringing on an amount of battery life allocated to a task for another application of the plurality of applications. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, for each application of the plurality of applications:
 monitoring usage of the application and a corresponding usage of battery life of the battery of the battery-operated device; and 
 notifying the user when the usage of the application is about to infringe on an amount of battery life allocated to a task for another application of the plurality of applications. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the battery-operated device comprises a second application for which an amount of battery life has not been allocated, and the method further comprises:
 monitoring usage of the second application and a corresponding usage of battery life of the battery of the battery-operated device; and 
 notifying the user when the usage of the second application is infringing on an amount of battery life allocated to a task for one of the plurality of applications. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the battery-operated device comprises a second application for which an amount of battery life has not been allocated, and the method further comprises:
 monitoring usage of the second application and a corresponding usage of battery life of the battery of the battery-operated device; and 
 notifying the user when the usage of the second application is about to infringe on an amount of battery life allocated to a task for one of the plurality of applications. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, for each application of the plurality of applications:
 monitoring usage of the application and a corresponding usage of battery life of the battery of the battery-operated device; and 
 notifying the user when the usage of the application is infringing on an amount of battery life allocated to a higher priority task. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, for each application of the plurality of applications:
 monitoring usage of the application and a corresponding usage of battery life of the battery of the battery-operated device; and 
 notifying the user when the usage of the application is about to infringe on an amount of battery life allocated to a higher priority task. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, for each application of the plurality of applications:
 monitoring usage of the application; and 
 automatically terminating the usage of the application when the user has consumed one of a group consisting of: the desired amount of usage of the application for one of the one or more tasks and a total desired amount of usage of the application for the one or more tasks. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, for each application of the plurality of applications:
 monitoring usage of the application; and 
 automatically terminating the usage of the application when the user has consumed one of a group consisting of: the desired amount of usage of the application for one of the one or more tasks and a total desired amount of usage of the application for the one or more tasks, and there is no remaining non-allocated battery life. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, for each application of the plurality of applications:
 monitoring usage of the application and a corresponding usage of battery life of the battery of the battery-operated device; and 
 automatically terminating the usage of the application when the usage of the application is infringing on an amount of battery life allocated to a task for another application of the plurality of applications. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, for each application of the plurality of applications:
 monitoring usage of the application and a corresponding usage of battery life of the battery of the battery-operated device; and 
 automatically terminating the usage of the application when the usage of the application is about to infringe on an amount of battery life allocated to a task for another application of the plurality of applications. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, for each application of the plurality of applications:
 monitoring usage of the application and a corresponding usage of battery life of the battery of the battery-operated device; and 
 automatically terminating the usage of the application when the usage of the application is infringing on an amount of battery life allocated to a higher priority task for another application of the plurality of applications. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, for each application of the plurality of applications:
 monitoring usage of the application and a corresponding usage of battery life of the battery of the battery-operated device; and 
 automatically terminating the usage of the application when the usage of the application is about to infringe on an amount of battery life allocated to a higher priority task for another application of the plurality of applications. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, for each application of the plurality of applications:
 monitoring usage of the application and battery life consumed during the usage of the application; 
 updating the estimated amount of battery life that is sufficient to provide the desired amount of usage of the application for each of the one or more tasks for the application based on monitoring the usage of the application and the battery life consumed during the usage of the application; and 
 updating the amount of battery life allocated for each of the one or more tasks for the application to reflect the updating of the estimated amount of battery life. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, for each application of the plurality of applications:
 monitoring usage of the application and battery life consumed during the usage of the application; 
 updating the estimated amount of battery life that is sufficient to provide the desired amount of usage of the application for each of the one or more tasks based on monitoring the usage of the application and the battery life consumed during the usage of the application to provide an updated estimated amount of battery life; and 
 optimizing the usage of the application if the updated estimated amount of battery life for at least one of the one or more tasks is greater than the amount of battery life allocated for the at least one of the one or more tasks for the application, such that battery life consumed for the desired amount of usage for the at least one of the one or more tasks for the application remains within the amount of battery life allocated for the at least one of the one or more tasks for the application. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the application is a phone application, and the usage parameter is a desired amount of talk time. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the application is a media player application, and the desired usage is a desired amount of playback time. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the application is a media player application, and the desired usage is a desired number of media items to play. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the application is a camera application, and the desired usage is a desired number of pictures. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the application is a camera application, and the desired usage is a desired number of pictures at a defined quality level. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the application is a web application, and the desired usage is a desired amount of connectivity. 
     
     
         27 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing software for instructing a control system of a battery-operated device to enable prioritization of battery usage for a plurality of tasks formed by one or more tasks for each application of a plurality of applications of the battery-operated device, the software for instructing the control system to:
 for each task of one or more tasks for each application of a plurality of applications of the battery-operated device:
 receive, from a user of the battery-operated device, user input defining a desired amount of usage of the application for the task; 
 determine a priority for the task; 
 determine an estimated amount of battery life of a battery of the battery-operated device to provide the desired amount of usage of the application for the task; 
 determine whether the estimated amount of battery life is available; 
 if the estimated amount of battery life is not available, determine a maximum amount of usage of the application for the one or more tasks that is allowable for a currently remaining, non-allocated amount of battery life of the battery of the battery-operated device; 
 reduce the usage for at least one of the one or more tasks for the application; and 
 notify the user of the maximum amount of usage. 
   
     
     
         28 . A battery-operated device enabling prioritization of battery usage for a plurality of tasks formed by one or more tasks for each application of a plurality of applications of the battery-operated device, the battery-operated device comprising:
 a battery sensor adapted to determine a battery life of a battery of the battery-operated device; and   a control system associated with the battery sensor and adapted to:
 for each task of one or more tasks for each application of a plurality of applications of the battery-operated device:
 receive, from a user of the battery-operated device, user input defining a desired amount of usage of the application for the task; 
 determine a priority for the task; 
 determine an estimated amount of battery life of the battery of the battery-operated device to provide the desired amount of usage of the application for the task; 
 determine whether the estimated amount of battery life is available; 
 if the estimated amount of battery life is not available, determine a maximum amount of usage of the application for the one or more tasks that is allowable for a currently remaining, non-allocated amount of battery life of the battery of the battery-operated device; 
 reduce the usage parameter for at least one of the one or more tasks for the application; and 
 notify the user of the maximum amount of usage.