Mobile Device Power State
Techniques for mobile device power state are described. In one or more implementations, a mobile device includes a computing device that is flexibly coupled to an input device via a flexible hinge. Accordingly, the mobile device can operate in a variety of different power states based on a positional orientation of the computing device to an associated input device. In one or more implementations, an application that resides on a computing device can operate in different application states based on a positional orientation of the computing device to an associated input device. In one or more implementations, techniques discussed herein can differentiate between vibrations caused by touch input to a touch functionality, and other types of vibrations. Based on this differentiation, techniques can determine whether to transition between device power states.
1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
ascertaining an orientation of a computing device relative to an input device that is communicatively coupled to the computing device; and
determining via the computing device a power state individually for the computing device and the input device and based on the orientation, the power state being determined from a plurality of available power states including a viewing power state in which the input device remains coupled to the computing device and is positioned against a rear surface of the computing device, the computing device is powered on, and the input device is one of powered off or hibernated.
2 . A method as described in claim 1 , wherein the orientation comprises an angle at which the computing device is positioned relative to the input device.
3 . A method as described in claim 1 , wherein said ascertaining comprises:
ascertaining a gravitational orientation of the computing device;
ascertaining a gravitational orientation of the input device; and
determining the orientation of the computing device relative to the input device by comparing the gravitational orientation of the computing device with the gravitational orientation of the input device.
4 . A method as described in claim 3 , wherein said ascertaining the gravitational orientation of the computing device utilizes an accelerometer for the computing device, and wherein said ascertaining the gravitational orientation of the input device utilizes a different accelerometer for the input device.
5 . A method as described in claim 1 , wherein the orientation comprises an angle at which the computing device is rotated relative to the input device, and wherein said determining comprises correlating the angle to one of multiple angle ranges that each correspond to a respective power state for the computing device.
6 . A method as described in claim 1 , wherein the orientation comprises a closed orientation, and wherein the power state comprises a closed power state in which the computing device and the input device are at least one of powered off or hibernated.
7 . A method as described in claim 1 , wherein the orientation comprises a typing orientation, and wherein the power state comprises a typing power state in which the computing device and the input device are powered on such that input may be provided to the computing device via the input device.
8 . A method as described in claim 1 , wherein the viewing power state is applied to the computing device and the input device when the computing device and the input device are placed in a portrait orientation relative to an adjacent surface.
9 . A method as described in claim 1 , wherein the computing device further includes a camera that is powered on in the viewing power state such that photos can be captured from a perspective of the rear surface of the computing device and when the input device is positioned against the rear surface of the computing device.
10 . A method as described in claim 1 , further comprising determining an application state for an application that resides on the computing device based on the orientation, the application being associated with different application states for different orientations.
11 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
ascertaining an orientation of a computing device relative to an input device that is communicatively coupled to the computing device; and
determining via the computing device an application state based on the orientation by performing at least one of enabling or disabling a functionality of the application based on the orientation and while the application is running on the computing device.
12 . A method as described in claim 11 , wherein the orientation comprises an angle at which the computing device is positioned relative to the input device.
13 . A method as described in claim 11 , wherein the orientation of the computing device corresponds to a viewing orientation in which the computing device is powered on and the input device is powered off or hibernated, and wherein the application state includes disabling a functionality of the application for receiving input via the input device.
14 . A method as described in claim 11 , wherein the application state is determined from a group of applications states that can be applied to the application while the application is running on the computing device.
15 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
monitoring via one or more accelerometers for vibrations in a device that is in a low power state;
responsive to detecting a vibration via the one or more accelerometers, ascertaining via a computing device whether the vibration exceeds a vibration threshold;
in an event that the vibration exceeds the vibration threshold:
powering on a touch functionality associated with the device and that is different than the one or more accelerometers;
determining whether touch input is received via the touch functionality; and
in an event that touch input is received via the touch functionality, causing the device to transition to a different power state.
16 . A method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the device comprises a computing device, or an input device communicatively associated with the computing device.
17 . A method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the device comprises a computing device, and wherein the one or more accelerometers are positioned on at least one of the computing device or an input device communicatively coupled to the computing device.
18 . A method as recited in claim 15 , where the touch functionality comprises at least one of a track pad or a touch screen of the device.
19 . A method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the low power state comprises a state in which one or more functionalities of the device are powered off, and wherein the different power state comprises a state in which the one or more functionalities are powered on.
20 . A method as recited in claim 15 , further comprising, in an event that touch input is not received via the touch functionality:
powering off the touch functionality; and
continuing to monitor for vibrations in the device in the low power state.