Methods and Apparatus for Mobile Device Power Management Using Accelerometer Data

1 . A computer-implemented method for power management in a portable device programmed to perform the method, the method comprising:

receiving sensor information from a sensor in the portable device;

associating the sensor information with one of a plurality of states of the portable device; and

reducing electrical power consumption in one or more parts in the portable device according to the associated state of the portable device.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor in the portable device comprises a motion sensor.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the sensor in the portable device comprises a MEMS (MicroElectroMechanical system) accelerometer integrated with CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) circuitry in a single integrated circuit (IC).

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising:

collecting, from the accelerometer in the portable device, electrical signals associated with a plurality of known motion states of the portable device;

analyzing the collected electrical signals; and

identifying attributes of the electrical signal with the known motion states of the portable device.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the plurality of known motion states of the portable device comprises:

the portable device being held in the hand of a user; and

the portable device being stowed in a pocket of a user.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the plurality of known motion states of the portable device comprises:

being in the possession of a user who is walking; and

being in the possession of a user who is running.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the plurality of known motion states of the portable device comprises the following states of a user

the user is stationary;

the user is not stationary; and

the user is in motion.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein reducing electrical power consumption in the portable device comprises turning off power in a proximity sensor in the portable device.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein reducing electrical power consumption in the portable device comprises turning off power for a backlight in the portable device.

10 . A portable device programmed to reduce power consumption, wherein the portable device comprises:

a sensor configured to sense an acceleration of the portable device;

a processor coupled to the sensor and disposed within the housing;

wherein the processor is configured to:

receive sensor information from a sensor in the portable device; and

reduce electrical power consumption in one or more parts in the portable device according to the received sensor information.

11 . The portable device of claim 10 wherein the sensor in the portable device comprises a MEMS (MicroElectroMechanical system) accelerometer integrated with CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) circuitry in a single integrated circuit (IC).

12 . The portable device of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

collect, from the accelerometer in the portable device, electrical signals associated with a plurality of known motion states of the portable device;

analyze the collected electrical signals; and

identify attributes of the electrical signal with the known motion states of the portable device.

13 . The portable device of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of known motion states of the portable device comprises:

the portable device being held in the hand of a user; and

the portable device being stowed in a pocket of a user.

14 . The portable device of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of known motion states of the portable device comprises the following states of a user:

the user is stationary;

the user is not stationary; and

the user is in motion.

15 . The portable device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to reduce electrical power consumption in the portable device by turning off power for a proximity sensor in the portable device.

16 . The portable device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to reduce electrical power consumption in the portable device by turning off power for a backlight in the portable device.

17 . A computer program product comprising computer-readable code resident on a non-transitory tangible media for programming a computing system in a portable device to reduce power consumption in the portable device, the computer program product comprises:

code that programs the computing system to receive sensor information from a sensor in the portable device;

code that programs the computing system to associate the sensor information with one of a plurality of states of the portable device; and

code that programs the computing system to reduce electrical power consumption in one or more parts in the portable device according to the associated state of the portable device.

18 . The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the sensor in the portable device comprises a MEMS (MicroElectroMechanical system) accelerometer integrated with CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) circuitry in a single integrated circuit (IC).

19 . The computer program product of claim 18 , wherein the computer program product further comprises:

code that programs the computing system to collect, from the accelerometer in the portable device, electrical signals associated with a plurality of known motion states of the portable device;

code that programs the computing system to analyze the collected electrical signals; and

code that programs the computing system to identify attributes of the electrical signal with the known motion states of the portable device.

20 . The computer program product of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of known motion states of the portable device comprises:

the portable device being held in the hand of a user; and

the portable device being stowed in a pocket of a user.