Techniques for adjusting computing device sleep states

Abstract

This application relates to techniques that adjust the sleep states of a computing device based on proximity detection and predicted user activity. Proximity detection procedures can be used to determine a proximity between the computing device and a remote computing device coupled to the user. Based on these proximity detection procedures, the computing device can either correspondingly increase or decrease the amount power supplied to the various components during either a low-power sleep state or a high-power sleep state. Additionally, historical user activity data gathered on the computing device can be used to predict when the user will likely use the computing device. Based on the gathered historical user activity, deep sleep signals and light sleep signals can be issued at a time when the computing device is placed within a sleep state which can cause it to immediately enter either a low-power sleep state or a high-power sleep state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for adjusting sleep states based on historical user activity, the method comprising, at a computing device:
 gathering the historical user activity on the computing device when the computing device is in an awake state;   scheduling, based on the historical user activity, a deep sleep signal and a light sleep signal to occur when the computing device is within a sleep state, wherein the deep sleep signal causes the computing device to enter into a low-power sleep state, and the light sleep signal causes the computing device to enter into a high-power sleep state; and   issuing the deep sleep signal and the light sleep signal in accordance with the scheduling while the computing device is within the sleep state.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the low-power sleep state is a lowest possible sleep state relative to a powered-off state for the computing device, and the high-power sleep state is a highest power sleep state relative to the awake state for the computing device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein gathering the historical user activity comprises learning user usage patterns performed on the computing device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the deep sleep signal is scheduled in accordance with the user usage patterns indicating that the computing device will not be utilized for a threshold period of user inactivity. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the light sleep signal is scheduled in accordance with the user usage patterns indicating that the computing device will be utilized for a threshold period of user activity. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the light sleep signal is scheduled in advance of the threshold period of user activity commencing. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein causing the computing device to enter into the low-power sleep state comprises at least one of:
 deactivating an increased number of components within the computing device, and   decreasing an amount of power supplied to one more of the components included in the computing device.   
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions that, when executed by a processor included in a computing device, cause the computing device to adjust sleep states based on historical user activity, by carrying out steps that include:
 gathering the historical user activity on the computing device when the computing device is in an awake state;   scheduling, based on the historical user activity, a deep sleep signal and a light sleep signal to occur when the computing device is within a sleep state, wherein the deep sleep signal causes the computing device to enter into a low-power sleep state, and the light sleep signal causes the computing device to enter into a high-power sleep state; and   issuing the deep sleep signal and the light sleep signal in accordance with the scheduling while the computing device is within the sleep state.   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the low-power sleep state is a lowest possible sleep state relative to a powered-off state for the computing device, and the high-power sleep state is a highest power sleep state relative to the awake state for the computing device. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein gathering the historical user activity comprises learning user usage patterns performed on the computing device. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the deep sleep signal is scheduled in accordance with the user usage patterns indicating that the computing device will not be utilized for a threshold period of user inactivity. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the light sleep signal is scheduled in accordance with the user usage patterns indicating that the computing device will be utilized for a threshold period of user activity. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein the light sleep signal is scheduled in advance of the threshold period of user activity commencing. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein causing the computing device to enter into the low-power sleep state comprises at least one of:
 deactivating an increased number of components within the computing device, and   decreasing an amount of power supplied to one more of the components included in the computing device.   
     
     
         15 . A computing device configured to adjust sleep states based on historical user activity, the computing device comprising a processor configured to cause the computing device to carry out steps that include:
 gathering the historical user activity on the computing device when the computing device is in an awake state;   scheduling, based on the historical user activity, a deep sleep signal and a light sleep signal to occur when the computing device is within a sleep state, wherein the deep sleep signal causes the computing device to enter into a low-power sleep state, and the light sleep signal causes the computing device to enter into a high-power sleep state; and   issuing the deep sleep signal and the light sleep signal in accordance with the scheduling while the computing device is within the sleep state.   
     
     
         16 . The computing device of  claim 15 , wherein the low-power sleep state is a lowest possible sleep state relative to a powered-off state for the computing device, and the high-power sleep state is a highest power sleep state relative to the awake state for the computing device. 
     
     
         17 . The computing device of  claim 15 , wherein gathering the historical user activity comprises learning user usage patterns performed on the computing device. 
     
     
         18 . The computing device of  claim 17 , wherein the deep sleep signal is scheduled in accordance with the user usage patterns indicating that the computing device will not be utilized for a threshold period of user inactivity. 
     
     
         19 . The computing device of  claim 17 , wherein the light sleep signal is scheduled in accordance with the user usage patterns indicating that the computing device will be utilized for a threshold period of user activity. 
     
     
         20 . The computing device of  claim 19 , wherein the light sleep signal is scheduled in advance of the threshold period of user activity commencing.