IP Library Granted Patent US 12,632,268
Granted Patent B2
US 12,632,268 · App. 18/417,112 · Granted May 19, 2026

Embedded controller to exit an unresponsive standby state

Inventors: Qinghong He (Austin, TX); Adolfo Montero (Pflugerville, TX); Suraj M. Varma (Portland, OR)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G06F9/4418G06F1/3234
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,632,268
App. No.
18/417,112
Granted
May 19, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An information handling system includes a memory and an embedded controller. The memory store multiple threshold values associated with a current state of the information handling system. The embedded controller determines whether the information handling system has initiated a modern standby (MODS) power state entry. In response to the initiation of the MODS power state entry, the embedded controller determines whether a MODS timeout has expired prior to the completion of the MODS power state entry. In response to the MODS timeout having expired, the embedded controller determines whether one of the threshold values has been exceeded. In response to one of the threshold values having been exceeded, the embedded controller forces the information handling system to exit the initiated MODS power state entry and enter the information handling system in a hibernate power state.

Claims (38)

1 . An information handling system comprising:

a memory to store a plurality of threshold values associated with a current state of the information handling system; and

an embedded controller to communicate with the memory, the embedded controller to:

determine whether the information handling system has initiated a modern standby (MODS) power state entry;

in response to the initiation of the MODS power state entry, determine whether a MODS timeout has expired prior to a completion of the MODS power state entry;

in response to the MODS timeout having expired, determine whether one of the threshold values has been exceeded;

in response to one of the threshold values having been exceeded, provide a system control interrupt to an operating system of the information handling system, wherein the system control interrupt emulates a lid open event; and

in response to the system control interrupt that emulates the lid open event, force the information handling system to exit the initiated MODS power state entry, transition back to a full power state, and then enter the information handling system in a hibernate power state.

2 . The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the memory further to store a value table, wherein the value table includes a plurality of fields and each different field is associated with a different one of the threshold values.

3 . The information handling system of claim 2 , wherein the embedded controller further to set a true value in one of the fields of the value table based on a corresponding threshold value being exceeded.

4 . The information handling system of claim 3 , wherein the determination of whether one of the threshold values has been exceeded includes the embedded controller to determine whether one of the fields in the value table being set to a true value.

5 . The information handling system of claim 3 , wherein in response to none of the fields in the value table being set to the true value, the embedded controller to reset the MODS timeout.

6 . The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of threshold values includes a battery charge threshold value, a temperature threshold value, an ambient light threshold value, and a distance threshold value.

7 . The information handling system of claim 6 , wherein the embedded controller further to utilize the ambient light threshold value and the distance threshold value to determine whether the information handling system is in a bag.

8 . A method comprising:

storing, in a memory of an information handling system, a plurality of threshold values associated with a current state of the information handling system;

determining, by an embedded controller of the information handling system, whether the information handling system has initiated a modern standby (MODS) power state entry;

in response to the initiation of the MODS power state entry, determining whether a MODS timeout has expired prior to a completion of the MODS power state entry;

in response to the MODS timeout having expired, determining whether one of the threshold values has been exceeded;

in response to one of the threshold values having been exceeded, providing a system control interrupt to an operating system of the information handling system, wherein the system control interrupt emulates a lid open event; and

in response to the system control interrupt that emulates the lid open event, forcing, by the embedded controller, the information handling system to exit the initiated MODS power state entry, transition back to a full power state, and then enter the information handling system in a hibernate power state.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising: storing a value table in the memory, wherein the value table includes a plurality of fields and each different field is associated with a different one of the threshold values.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising: setting a true value in one of the fields of the value table based on a corresponding threshold value being exceeded.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the determining of whether one of the threshold values has been exceeded, the method further comprises: determining whether one of the fields in the value table being set to a true value.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein in response to none of the fields in the value table being set to the true value, the method further comprises: resetting the MODS timeout.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of threshold values includes a battery charge threshold value, a temperature threshold value, an ambient light threshold value, and a distance threshold value.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising: utilizing the ambient light threshold value and the distance threshold value to determine whether the information handling system is in a bag.

15 . An information handling system comprising:

a memory to store a plurality of threshold values associated with a current state of the information handling system and store a value table, wherein the value table includes a plurality of fields and each different field is associated with a different one of the threshold values;

a lid sensor to provide a modern standby (MODS) power state entry request in response to a lid of the information handling system being closed; and

an embedded controller to:

receive the MODS power state entry request from the lid sensor;

in response to an initiation of a MODS power state entry within the information handling system, determine whether a MODS timeout has expired prior to a completion of the MODS power state entry;

when the MODS timeout has expired, then determine whether one of the threshold values has been exceeded; and

when one of the threshold values has been exceeded, then provide a system control interrupt to an operating system of the information handling system, wherein the system control interrupt emulates a lid open event; and

in response to the system control interrupt that emulates the lid open event, force the information handling system to exit the initiated MODS power state entry, transition back to a full power state, and then enter the information handling system in a hibernate power state.

16 . The information handling system of claim 15 , wherein the embedded controller further to set a true value in one of the fields of the value table based on a corresponding threshold value being exceeded.

17 . The information handling system of claim 16 , wherein the determination of whether one of the threshold values has been exceeded includes the embedded controller to determine whether one of the fields in the value table being set to a true value.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2024
From: HE, QINGHONG; MONTERO, ADOLFO; VARMA, SURAJ M.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 066178/0787 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250238241A1 · Jul 24, 2025
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