Dell USA L P

N Albert Sato

Gregory N Stewart

Warren W Startup

David Cureton Baker

Christie J Waldron

A computer system with self-describing feature table accessible by device drivers. Thus a simple process can access these feature tables to fully customize the device drivers at installation, or at boot: or the device driver can branch on the data in the feature table. Thus, a new degree of flexibility is achieved without degrading performance.

Computer system having system feature extension software containing a

A portable electronic system which includes a smart power-management controller. The power-management controller is programmable to vary its operational parameters (such as the time without input which will send the system into a standby mode). The power-management controller also has the capability to self-program at least some of these parameters: thus, for example, if a user repeatedly demands a system power-up soon after the system had been placed into standby mode, the inactivity period required for entering standby mode will be increased.

Portable computer system with adaptive power control parameters

A system for automatically adapting the power conservation functions of a personal computer (PC) to the work patterns of any user. A power control system of the PC monitors activity of I/O devices and if upon the elapse of a first time interval a particular I/O device or combination of devices has not been accessed, one or more I/O devices are powered-down. Following power-down, the first time interval is incrementally increased if I/O activity immediately occurs thereafter, prior to elapse of a second time interval. This process may repeat itself several times until the first time interval reaches a maximum value. Alternatively, if, following power-down, I/O activity does not occur until after elapse of a third time interval, the first time interval is incrementally decreased until the first time interval reaches a minimum value. The system thereby automatically adapts to maximize power conservation during periods of low activity while preventing user disruption during periods of increased activity.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

N Albert Sato