JP3450263B2 - Power supply control method for reducing power consumption, information processing apparatus, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power supply control method, an information processing apparatus, and a recording medium for reducing power consumption, and particularly, power consumption is reduced by referring to statistical information and setting conditions. Regarding technology to reduce.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of reducing the power consumption of an information processing apparatus, it has been known that when an input operation is not performed for a certain period of time, the power consumption is reduced by shifting from an operating state to a standby state. ing. In such a state, the standby function is limited to the extent that the state can be restored when the operation is resumed (for example, the screen display is stopped, the rotation of peripheral devices such as magnetic disks is stopped), and the standby The power consumption inside is reduced.

Since the power of the information processing device consumes power even in the standby state, it is desirable to turn off (also referred to as off) the power when not in use. However, it is known that when the power is turned on (also referred to as on), it consumes significantly more power than during normal use, and therefore it is known that frequent power on / off rather increases power consumption. Therefore, the power consumption cannot be reduced unless the information processing device is turned off depending on the situation, but a technique for solving this has not been disclosed.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional technique, the power consumption is reduced by setting the standby state without turning off the power source. Therefore, the power saving effect is not sufficient as compared with the state in which the power source is turned off. There was a problem of not having. Further, there is a problem that the power consumption is rather increased when the power is turned on and off frequently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems by performing control to judge the situation and hold power off, and to more effectively reduce power consumption and a power control method. An object is to provide an apparatus and a recording medium.

[0006]

[0007]

A first power supply control method of the present invention is a procedure of recording an operation record of power-on / off of an information processing apparatus in history information, and generating statistical information based on the history information. a step of a procedure to suspend only the power-off of the hold time determined in advance when the pending to determine whether to hold the power down by referring to the statistical information in the power-off operation is, And a step of extending the holding time when the information processing apparatus is used during the holding.

[0008]

A second power control method according to the present invention is a procedure for recording an operation record of power-on / off of an information processing apparatus in history information, a procedure for generating statistical information based on the history information, and a power-off. If it is within the core time that is a predetermined time zone when the operation is performed, it is determined whether to suspend the power-off by referring to the statistical information, and when the suspension is performed, only the predetermined suspension time is set. having a step of holding the disconnection of the power supply, and a procedure for extending the hold time when the information processing apparatus is used in the hold.

In the first information processing apparatus of the present invention, a means for recording the operation record of power-on / off in history information, a means for generating statistical information based on the history information, and a power-off operation are performed. At this time, referring to the statistical information, it is determined whether or not to suspend the power-off, and when the power-off is suspended, a means for suspending the power-off for a predetermined suspension time and an information processing device are used during the suspension. And a means for extending the holding time.

[0011]

In the second information processing apparatus of the present invention, a means for recording a power-on / off operation record in history information, a means for generating statistical information based on the history information, and a power-off operation are performed. At this time, if it is within the core time, which is a predetermined time zone, it is determined whether or not to suspend the power-off by referring to the statistical information, and when the power-off is suspended, the power-off is performed for a predetermined suspending time. It has a means to hold and a means to extend the holding time when the information processing apparatus is used during the holding.

[0013]

[0014] record medium of the present invention includes the steps of recording the operation record of the power on-off of the information processing apparatus in the history information, the step of generating statistics based on the history information, the power-off operation If it is within the core time which is a predetermined time zone, it is determined whether to suspend the power off with reference to the statistical information. A program for causing a computer to execute a procedure for suspending the disconnection and a procedure for extending the suspension time when the information processing apparatus is used during the suspension is recorded.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of this invention. The information processing device 10 receives a power switch 13 for turning the power on (on) and off (off), and receives a direct current power (AC) from the outside to supply a direct current power (DC) to each circuit of the information processing device 10. ), A power supply control circuit 14 that controls the power supply circuit 15, a CPU 12 that executes a program, and a storage unit 11.

The storage unit 11 is realized by an auxiliary storage device such as a magnetic disk, and stores a statistical information file 22 and a power control program 21. The recording medium 19 is connected to the information processing apparatus 10 so that the power supply control program 21 recorded in the recording medium 19 can be loaded into the storage unit 11.

The statistical information file 22 is a time zone for distinguishing how to handle power control, history information 23 that stores an operation history relating to power on / off, statistical information 24 generated based on the history information 23. It includes core time information 25 indicating core time and is controlled by the power supply control program 21.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the statistical information file 22. History information 2 is shown in FIG. 3 for easy understanding.
3 records the history of the last two days (April 1 and April 2). The power supply control program 21 compares the operation times of two days recorded in the history information 23, calculates the average value of the same operation data within a close time (neighboring time), and outputs the average value to the statistical information 24. The statistical information 24 is created by registering.

In FIG. 2, when the neighborhood time is within 30 minutes,
If the data of the same operation from the data of both days of the history information 23 is within the vicinity time, the statistical information 2 is obtained from these average values.
4 is created, but if it is not within 30 minutes like the last power-off data on both days, the statistical information is not created. Therefore, if the usage is not regular, it is difficult to obtain effective statistical information. The above is an example of a method of creating statistical information, and other methods may be used, and more statistical data may be obtained as the number of target days for collecting statistics increases, so the number may be increased.

The core time information 25 is information set in advance and defines a time zone in which the device is likely to be used, such as a normal working time zone, in power control. Therefore, it may be set according to the work system of the user. In the example of FIG. 3, the core time information 25 is a time zone designated by a pair of start time and end time, a day of the week to which the time zone is applied, and a month and day when work is closed due to holidays or special holidays. Will be registered including the exclusion date. In the example of FIG. 2, it is set every Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 17:00, and one hour during the lunch break is excluded from the core time.

The power control program 21 is started when the power on / off operation is executed, and a procedure for recording the power on / off operation in the history information 23 and statistical information based on the history information 23. And the procedure for recording the statistical information 24 and the statistical information 24 and the core time information 25 to determine whether or not to hold the power off. If it is determined to hold the power, wait for a preset holding time. The procedure of controlling the power supply control circuit 14 to execute the power-off and the procedure of extending the holding time by counting the waiting time again from the time when the user uses the information processing apparatus 10 during the holding. Contains.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, the operation of the power supply control program 21 will be described with reference to FIG. The power supply control program 21 is activated when the power is turned on and off, so each case will be described.

When the user turns on the power with the power switch 13, this is transmitted to the power control circuit 14. At this point, power is being supplied to the power control circuit,
Power is not supplied to the CPU 12. Therefore, the power supply control circuit 14 instructs the power supply circuit 15 to turn on the power supply. Upon receiving the power-on instruction, the power supply circuit 15 starts supplying DC into the information processing device 10. This allows the CPU
12, the initialization operation is started and the start-up is started.

The power control program 21 is started at the time of start-up, and the time at that time is registered in the history information 23 of the statistical information file 22 as the power-off operation time (S).
32). The power supply control circuit 1 is used to obtain the time accuracy.
The ON operation time (T1) may be stored in step 4, and this time (T1) may be extracted and registered in the history information 23.

When the registration in the history information 23 is completed, the history information 23 is examined and the time T registered from the data of the previous day is checked.
Search for data of ON operation within a time close to (near) 1. The near time may be, for example, within a range of a time limit (holding time) for holding the power off, which will be described later. If the data of the ON operation is near the time T1 in the previous day's data, the average value is calculated and registered in the statistical information 24.
When there is data in the vicinity of the time T1 in the statistical information 24, the statistical information 24 is updated by deleting it (S
33). The above is the operation when the power is turned on.

When the user turns off the power with the power switch 13, this is transmitted to the power control circuit 14. The power supply control circuit 14 notifies the CPU 12 that the power-off operation has been performed. Upon receiving the notification, the CPU 12 activates the power supply control program 21. The power control program 21 is
The process proceeds from S31 to S34, and the power-off operation time (T2) is registered in the history information 23 of the statistical information file 22 (S3).
4). Next, it is checked whether it is within the core time (S35).

If it is outside the core time, the process proceeds to S43 without referring to the statistical information 24, and the registered time T2 is compared with the history information 23 in the same manner as when the power is turned on to generate statistical information. In addition to registering in 24, the statistical information 24 is updated by deleting the statistical information 24 if there is data in the vicinity of the time T2. Then S4
4, the system blockage process (shutdown) is executed, and finally the power supply control circuit 14 is instructed to execute power off. Upon receiving the power-off execution instruction, the power supply control circuit 14 sends a power-off instruction to the power supply circuit 15, and the power supply circuit 1
5 stops the supply of power (DC).

If it is within the core time, the process proceeds to S36, the statistic information 24 is taken out, and whether or not the ON operation time registered in the statistic information 24 corresponds to the near time after the time T2. Find out. (S36). Here, the proximity time is to be set beforehand according to the usage pattern as described above, and it is desirable to set it in a range that does not exceed the power-off hold time described below. If the corresponding data is in the statistical information 24, it is highly likely that the device will be used after a short time, so it is determined that the power off is on hold. If the corresponding data is not in the statistical information 24, the device is used after a short time. Since the probability of doing so is low, it is determined to execute without turning off the power supply (S37).

When it is determined in S37 that the execution is off, S4
3, the operation proceeds to S44, and operates as described above. S
When it is determined in 37 that the off-hold is established, the process proceeds to S38, and the waiting time is counted. After that, it is checked whether or not the waiting time exceeds the predetermined holding time (S39), and if it exceeds, the process proceeds to S43 and S44 and operates as described above.

If not exceeded, it is checked whether or not the user has used the information processing apparatus 10, that is, whether or not an input operation has been executed (S40). Continue counting and return to S39 (S
41). If there is an input operation, the waiting time is reset, the waiting time is counted again from the beginning, and the process returns to S39.

As described above, when the power-off operation is performed, it is first checked whether it is within the core time, and only when it is within the core time, the statistical information 24 is referred to determine whether to suspend or execute the power-off. To do. Further, the input operation is monitored during the hold, and when any input operation is executed, the waiting time is reset and the hold is extended.

Next, the on / off operation and the on / off of the device are performed.
The correspondence of the off operation will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
The following description will be made based on the contents of the statistical information file 22 of FIG. The execution date will be Wednesday, April 3, when core time is applied. Further, the proximity time for determining whether to turn off the power based on the statistical information 24 and the holding time for holding the power off are both 30 minutes. The statistical information 24 is
I came to work around 9 o'clock, turned on the power, and from 10:00 to 11:00, 12
It is assumed that there are many usage patterns in which the power is turned off during the hours of 13:00 to 16:00, 16:00 to 17:00, and 18:00 to 19:00. Here, it is assumed that the power of the information processing apparatus 10 is finely turned off after the work is finished.

FIG. 4 is a time chart showing an example for explaining how to use the statistical information 24 within the core time. The operation time in the upper part of FIG. 3 indicates the operation content and the time when the on / off operation is performed. Information processing device 1 in the middle row
The time transition of the ON state and the OFF state of the power source of 0 is shown. The lower part shows the data of the statistical information 24.

When the user turns on the power at 9:05 (9:05), the power is turned on, the power control program 21 is activated, and the statistical information file 22 is updated. Next, when the off operation is performed at 9:30, the power supply control program 21 is started, and in this case, the statistical information 24
Referring to, since there is no power-on data within the time period close to 9:30, it is determined that the probability of power-on is small immediately, and the power is turned off without being held.

Next, the power is turned on at 10:05 and 10:
Turn off the power to 55. At the time of this power off operation, the power control program 21 refers to the statistical information 24,
Since there is data of 11:00 on in the near time,
It is determined that the power is turned on immediately, and the power off is suspended. Since it is assumed in FIG. 4 that the input operation is not performed within the holding time, the waiting time is exceeded and the power is turned off at 11:25 after 30 minutes.

FIG. 5 shows the operation when the input operation is performed within the holding time in the case of FIG. The same process is performed until the power is turned on at 10:05, and the operation after the turning off at 10:55 will be described. Although the OFF operation at 10:55 is suspended as in FIG. 4, the user uses the information processing apparatus 10 from 11:05 to 11:35 in FIG. When the information processing device 10 is used during the hold, the waiting time is reset in S42 of FIG. 3 and the waiting time is counted from the initial value. Therefore, if the information processing apparatus 10 is used without being opened for 30 minutes or more, the information processing apparatus 10 can be continuously used without being turned off. In FIG. 4, since it is no longer used after 11:35, the waiting time is exceeded at 12:05 after 30 minutes and the power is turned off.

In this way, when the power is turned off, the statistical information 24 is referred to, the probability that the power will be turned on immediately after is predicted, whether or not to suspend the power is determined, and the power is immediately turned off. Control whether to hold. 1 in FIG.
If the power is turned off unconditionally by the power-off operation at 0:55, the power needs to be turned on in order to use the information processing apparatus 10 at 11:05, which is necessary in the example of FIG. In addition, since it is possible to avoid a large power consumption due to turning on the power, the power consumption can be reduced.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, the statistical information 2 is set within the core time.
4 has been described, the operation based on the core time will be described with reference to FIG. The view of FIG. 6 is the same as that of FIG. If the off operation is performed at 16:55 within the core time, there is data of 17:10 on in the statistical information 24, so the power off is suspended. However, if the off operation is performed at 17:05 after the core time has passed, the data of 17:10 on of the statistical information 24 is ignored because it is outside the core time, and the power is turned off without holding the power off. Similarly, in the OFF operation at 18:55, the data of the statistical information 24 of 19:00 ON is ignored and the power is turned off without holding.

As described above, outside the core time, the information processing apparatus 10 is rarely used once and then used again, and it may be possible to return home after the use, so that the information processing apparatus 10 is not put on hold. The core time should be decided in consideration of these.

As described above, the core time and the statistical information 24
Can be used to perform more preferable power supply control and reduce power consumption. In addition, when you try to go home immediately after use outside core time, the power does not turn off immediately and you do not have to bother. In such a case,
It is possible to prepare a means or method for turning off the power unconditionally, but in this case, it is unavoidable to switch operation while conscious of the operation.

In the above, the history of power-on / off operations is recorded, and the tendency of usage is stored as statistical data from the history.
Although the power supply is controlled with reference to this, statistical data may not be effectively used when there is no particular tendency to use and random use is performed. In such a case, creating the statistical information 24 does not lead to effective use. Therefore, the method of controlling by referring only to the core time without referring to the statistical information in advance is more effective because it saves the trouble of recording and creating the statistical information and can effectively use the space of the storage unit. Is.

This method will be described as a second embodiment. Since the configuration of the information processing device is the same as that of FIG.
Will be diverted and explained. However, statistical information file 2
The history information 23 and the statistical information 24 in 2 are not necessary, and the power supply control program 21 operates like the flowchart of FIG. 7 unlike FIG. In FIG. 7, S32 in FIG.
The steps S33, S36, S37 and S43 are deleted because they are unnecessary, but the remaining steps operate in the same manner as in FIG. Since FIG. 3 has already been described, the operation of FIG. 7 will be briefly described below. Nothing is done in case of power-on operation, so the power control program 2
There is no need to activate 1.

In the case of the power-off operation, it is judged whether or not it is within the core time (S52).
In step 58, the shutdown process is activated, and the power control circuit 14 is instructed to turn off the power at the end of the shutdown process. If it is within the core time, start counting the waiting time (S
53), it is determined whether the preset hold time is exceeded (S54). If it exceeds, the process proceeds to S58, and if not, it is determined whether or not the device has been used (S5
6) If yes, the waiting time is reset and the waiting time is counted again (S57).

Next, an example of the operation is shown in the time chart of FIG. The setting of the core time is as shown in the core time information 25 of FIG. 2, and the neighborhood time and the holding time are 30 minutes. In order to make it easier to understand the difference from the first embodiment, FIG.
Shows a state when the same operation as that of FIG. 6 is performed.

When the OFF operation is performed at 14:05, referring to the statistical information 24 in FIG. 6, since there is no data in the vicinity, the power is turned off at 14:05 without holding the power, but FIG. Then, since it is within the core time, it enters the hold state. As shown in FIG. 8, if no input operation is performed for 30 minutes thereafter, the power is turned off at 14:35 after 30 minutes. If used within 30 minutes, the holding time will be extended.

Regarding the OFF operation at 16:55, although the state is on hold as a result of referring to the statistical information 24 in FIG. 6, the state is unconditionally entered in FIG. As a result, both are put on hold, and the core time is released at 17:00.
In the same manner as above, the power is turned off without suspending the off operation after 17:05.

As described above, the second embodiment is particularly effective when there is no characteristic or tendency in how to use the information processing apparatus 10 and effective statistical information cannot be obtained. Since the power-off operation is temporarily suspended for the power-off operation within the core time, the information processing device 10 is not available until 14:35 in FIG.
When it is attempted to use, the information processing apparatus can be used without having to turn on the power source, so that it is possible to avoid large power consumption due to the power source being turned on and reduce the power consumption.

The recording medium 19 is read by the device which is connected to the information processing device 10 and reads the recording medium 19, and the recorded program is transferred to the storage unit 11. The recording medium 19 is the power supply control program 2 of the first embodiment.
1, a procedure of recording the power on / off operation in the history information 23, a procedure of generating statistical information based on the history information 23 and recording it in the statistical information 24, the statistical information 24 and the core time information 25. If it is decided to hold the power off, the procedure for controlling the power control circuit 14 to turn off the power after waiting for a preset hold time, and When the user uses the information processing apparatus 10, the procedure for re-counting the waiting time from that point and extending the holding time is recorded, or
A procedure included in the power supply control program 21 of the second embodiment for suspending the power-off when the power-off operation is performed within the core time, and a suspension when the information processing device 10 is used during the suspension. The procedure to extend the time is recorded.

[0049]

As described above, since the number of power-on operations can be reduced by using the statistical information 24 created based on the preset core time and the data of the usage status, the power-on operation can be greatly reduced. There is an effect that the power consumption can be reduced and the total power consumption can be reduced.

Further, when the effective statistical information 24 cannot be obtained from the usage status, the number of power-on operations can be reduced by referring to only the core time, so that the total power consumption is similarly reduced. There is an effect that can be done.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of contents of a statistical information file 22 of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of a power supply control program 21 according to the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a time chart showing an example of an on / off operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and particularly illustrates a power off hold operation.

FIG. 5 is a time chart showing an example of an on / off operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and particularly for explaining an operation of extending a power off hold time.

FIG. 6 is a time chart showing an example of the on / off operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention, particularly for explaining the operation according to the core time.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of a power supply control program 21 according to the second embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 8 is a time chart showing an example of an on / off operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Information processing equipment 11 Memory 12 CPU 13 Power switch 14 Power supply control circuit 15 power supply circuit 19 recording media 21 Power supply control program 22 Statistical information file 23 History information 24 Statistics 25 core time information

Continuation of front page (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 1/26-1/32

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. An operation record of power-on / off of an information processing device is recorded in history information, statistical information is generated based on the history information, and the statistical information is referred to when a power-off operation is performed. When the power-off is judged to be suspended, the power-off is suspended for a predetermined suspending time when suspending, and the suspending time is extended when the information processing device is used during the suspending. Characteristic power supply control method. 2. An operation record of power-on / off of the information processing device is recorded in history information, statistical information is generated based on the history information, and the power-off operation is performed in a predetermined time zone. If it is within a certain core time, referring to the statistical information, it is determined whether or not the power-off is to be held, and when the power-off is held, the power-off is held for a predetermined holding time, and information processing is performed during the holding. A power control method comprising extending the holding time when a device is used. 3. A unit for recording a power-on / off operation record in history information, a unit for generating statistical information based on the history information, and a unit for referring to the statistical information when a power-off operation is performed. Means to hold power off for a predetermined hold time when holding, and extend the hold time when the information processing device is used during the hold. Information processing apparatus including means for performing. 4. A unit for recording a power-on / off operation record in history information, a unit for generating statistical information based on the history information, and a predetermined time zone when the power-off operation is performed. If it is within a certain core time, it refers to the statistical information to judge whether to suspend the power-off, and when the power-off is suspended, a means for suspending the power-off for a predetermined suspending time, and An information processing apparatus, comprising: means for extending the holding time when the information processing apparatus is used. 5. A procedure of recording an operation record of power-on / off of an information processing device in history information, a procedure of generating statistical information based on the history information, and a procedure of power-off operation.
If it is within the core time, which is a predetermined time zone, it is determined whether to suspend the power-off by referring to the statistical information. When suspending, the power-off is suspended for a predetermined suspension time. And a recording medium that records a program for causing a computer to execute the procedure for performing the procedure and the procedure for extending the suspension time when the information processing apparatus is used during the suspension.