Power consumption control apparatus in personal digital assistant (PDA) phone

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

0001The present invention relates to a personal digital assistant (PDA) phone, and more particularly, to a power consumption control apparatus in a PDA phone.

2. Description of the Background Art

0002In general, a personal digital assistant (PDA) is a kind of hand-held (pocket-size) microcomputer. The PDA is typically used for arrangement schedule, memo writing and personal information management. In addition to the arrangement schedule, the PDA can be also used for the field of the mobile Internet or the like. In other words, the PDA can be considered as equipment in which various control functions and an Internet access function of a notebook computer are put together with a small size of electronic organizer.

0003Recently, as interest in PDAs increases, the number of users has grown larger. A PDA phone which has the cellular phone function in addition to various functions of the PDA has come into the market. Since the PDA phone converges the functions of the PDA and the phone function, it is necessary that operation methods for the PDA phone should be arranged according to various states.

0004As functions of user equipment driven by portable batteries such as smart phones and PDA phones become complicated and varied, and the performance of user equipment is enhanced, power consumption per unit of time is considerably increased. Accordingly, in order to reduce the power consumption of the user equipment, controlling the power for software and hardware becomes more important to design the user equipment. Hardware components such as a CPU, a memory device, an LCD and the like which constitute the user equipment cause this multifunction, high-performance user equipment to consume much power.

0005<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US5790875A"><text>US 5,790,875</text></patcit> describes a method related to minimizing power consumption in a computing device, which executes the requested tasks in a high power mode, in which it has normal processing power and, correspondingly, normal power consumption, and which, after it has executed the requested tasks, is switched to a low power mode, in which it has limited processing power and, correspondingly, a considerably lower power consumption. In the method of the invention, the power consumption of a computing device is decreased by lengthening the time during which the device remains in the low power mode in such a way that the device is not switched to a high power mode immediately when the user starts the input, but the switching is delayed. The switching to the low power mode can be done on the basis of a sign included in the input, after a certain time (set or programmable) has passed since the input began, when a specified time has passed since the input stopped, or when a certain amount of information has been received after the input began. The means for the user input may preferably comprise a touch screen and a pen means.

0006<patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="EP0567957A"><text>EP0567957</text></patcit> discloses an information processing system for processing an application program that provides a power control unit being operated at a run mode at which the system is powered and a standby mode at which part of the system is powered. The system has functions of inputting any key on a keyboard into an application program, transferring the run mode to the standby mode by pressing a predetermined key on the keyboard, transferring the standby mode to the run mode by pressing any key on the keyboard, detecting no key input takes place for a certain interval of time; and transferring to the standby mode if the detecting means does not detect occurrence of key input for a constant time at the run mode. The system also has a function of detecting one key is continuously pressed for a predetermined interval of time and transferring to a standby mode upon detection of one key continuous input.

0007Particularly, a PDA phone in accordance with the conventional art comprises a sleep mode, an idle mode, a called mode, an in-call mode and a calling mode. A mode of the PDA phone in accordance with the conventional art can be transited only from the sleep mode to the idle mode. The mode of the PDA phone in accordance with the conventional art can be transited only from the idle mode to the sleep mode.

0008Hereinafter, a state transition of the conventional PDA phone will be described in detail with reference to <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref>.

0009<figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> is a state transition diagram of a PDA phone in accordance with the conventional art.

0010As shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref>, when a user wakes up the PDA phone, a sleep mode 11 is transited to an idle mode 12 (S11). In a state of the idle mode 12, the idle mode 12 is transited to the sleep mode 11 automatically after a certain amount of time or by user's input signal (S12).

0011When a call signal is received in the state of the idle mode 12, the idle mode 12 is transited to a called mode (S13). If the call signal is not accepted in a state of the called mode 13, that is, if the user does not answer the phone, the called mode 13 is transited to the idle mode. 12 (S14).

0012If the received call signal is accepted in the state of the called mode 13, that is, if the user answers the phone, the called mode 13 is transited to the in-call mode 14 (S15).

0013In addition, if the user presses a telephone number signal in order to make a phone call with the other party in the state of the idle mode 12, that is, sends a call signal, the idle mode 12 is transited to a calling mode 15 (S16). If the user cancels the sent call signal in a state of the calling mode 15, that is, if the user stops making a phone call, the calling mode 15 is transited to the idle mode 12 again (S17).

0014If the other party accepts the call signal in the state of the calling mode 15, that is, if the other party answers the phone, the calling mode 15 is transited to the in-call mode 14 (S18).

0015If the call signal is terminated in a state of the in-call mode 14, that is, If the user terminates the call, the in-call mode 14 is transited to the idle mode 12 (S19).

0016Here, the sleep mode 11 cannot be implemented by the user. In the sleep mode 11, a screen of the PDA phone is turned off, touch input and keypad input cannot be made and a state only for answering the phone is maintained. Accordingly, the PDA phone operates in the sleep mode 11 at the minimum power.

0017The idle mode 12 is a state that the power which is applied to a CPU, a cache and a buffer is cut off. In addition, the idle mode 12 is a mode that when an interrupt occurs, the sleep mode, the called mode, the in-call mode and the calling mode return. Here, in the idle mode 12, user's operation is all allowed, the screen of the PDA phone is turned on, and touch input and keypad input can be made. That is, the idle mode is a state only for the PDA purpose. Since the PDA phone operates in the idle mode 12 with a certain amount of power internally consumed, the PDA phone consumes more power in the idle mode than in the sleep mode 11

0018The called mode 13 is a state that the call signal sent by the other party is received and a telephone bell rings before the phone call is connected. Therefore, the PDA phone consumes more power in the called mode 13 than in sleep mode 11.

0019The in-call mode 14 is a state that voice communication with the other party is performed. Accordingly, the PDA phone consumes more power in the in-call mode 14 than in the sleep mode 11.

0020The calling mode 15 is a state that the user sends a call signal before the phone call is connected. Accordingly, the PDA phone consumes more power in the calling mode 15 than in the sleep mode 11.

0021However, since the PDA phone in accordance with the conventional art maintains the called mode, the in-call mode and the calling mode even in unnecessary steps, there is a problem that the PDA phone consumes much power. In addition, the conventional PDA phone is unable to cope with the circumstances which may occur in every state.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0022Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a power consumption control apparatus and a method thereof in a PDA phone in accordance with the present invention which can reduce power consumption of the PDA phone by transiting the PDA phone from a called mode, an in-called mode and a calling mode to a sleep mode, and cope with the circumstances which may occur in every state of the PDA phone.

0023To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a power consumption control method in a PDA phone which comprises: transiting the PDA phone from an idle mode to a sleep mode automatically after a certain amount of time or by user's input signal; transiting the PDA phone from a called mode to the sleep mode automatically after a certain amount of time or by user's input signal; transiting the PDA phone from a calling mode to the sleep mode automatically after a certain amount of time or by user's input signal; and transiting the PDA phone from an in-call mode to the sleep mode automatically after a certain amount of time or by user's input signal.

0024The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0025The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

0026In the drawings: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> is a state transition diagram of a PDA phone in accordance with the conventional art;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref> is a state transition diagram of a PDA phone in accordance with the present invention; and</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref> is a table showing how much power the PDA phone consumes in each mode in accordance with the present invention.</li></ul>

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

0027Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

0028Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of a power consumption control apparatus and a method thereof in a PDA phone in accordance with the present invention which can reduce power consumption of the PDA phone by transiting the PDA phone from a called mode, an in-call mode and a calling mode to a sleep mode, and cope with the circumstances which may occur in every state of the PDA phone.

0029<figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref> is a state transition diagram of a PDA phone in accordance with the present invention.

0030<figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref> is a table showing how much power the PDA phone consumes in each mode in accordance with the present invention.

0031As shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref>, the power consumption control apparatus in a PDA phone in accordance with the present invention can perform the steps of transiting the PDA phone from an idle mode to a sleep mode automatically after a certain amount of time or by user's input signal; transiting the PDA phone from a called mode to the sleep mode automatically after a certain amount of time or by user's input signal; transiting the PDA phone from a calling mode to the sleep mode automatically after a certain amount of time or by user's input signal; and transiting the PDA phone from an in-call mode to the sleep mode automatically after a certain amount of time or by user's input signal.

0032Hereinafter, a power consumption control method in a PDA phone in accordance with the present invention will be described in detail.

0033First, when the power is inputted to a PDA phone, a mode of the PDA phone becomes a sleep mode 21. Here, as shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref>, the PDA phone in the sleep mode has 21.2mW power consumption.

0034In a state of the sleep mode 21, if the user wakes up the PDA phone, the sleep mode 21 is transited to the idle mode 22 (S21). Here, the wake-up occurs by user's operation. For example, said user's operation can be done by pressing a specific button for a certain amount of time or more or by turning a switch on. Here, as shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref>, the PDA phone in the idle mode has 296-525.2mW power consumption.

0035In a state of the idle mode 22, the idle mode 22 is transited to the sleep mode 21 when the user supplies an input signal, or the idle mode 22 is automatically transited to the sleep mode 21 after a certain amount of time passes (S22).

0036In the state of the idle mode 22, the PDA phone receives a call signal, the idle mode 22 is transited to the called mode 23 (S23). The PDA phone consumes more power in the called mode 23 than in the sleep mode 21.

0037In the state of the sleep mode 21, when the PDA phone receives a call signal, the sleep mode 21 is transited to the called mode 23 (S24).

0038In a state of the called mode 23, if the call signal is no longer received because the user does not accept the received call signal, the called mode 23 is transited to the idle mode 22 (S25).

0039In the state of the called mode 23, the called mode 23 is transited to the sleep mode 21 when the user supplies an input signal, or the called mode 23 is automatically transited to the sleep mode 21 after a certain amount of time passes (S26). That is, while a bell is ringing as the PDA phone receives a call signal, the called mode 23 is transited to the sleep mode 21 if the bell rings for more than a time previously set by the user. Accordingly, since the PDA phone consumes more power in the called mode 23 than in the sleep mode 21, the power consumption of the PDA phone is reduced by transiting the PDA phone from the called mode 23 to the sleep mode 21. For example, as shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref>, the PDA phone in the called mode 23 has 296 to 525.2mW power consumption, and PDA phone in the sleep mode 21 transited from the called mode has 21.2mW power consumption.

0040In the state of the sleep mode 21 transited from the called mode 23, when the PDA phone receives the other party's call signal again, the sleep mode 21 is transited to the called mode 23 (S27). As a result, since the call signal is received according to a certain period, the mode of the PDA phone is alternately transited to the called mode 23 and the sleep mode 21 after the time previously set by the user. However, that the screen of the PDA phone is turned on and off is invisible to the naked eye because the certain period is very short. Thus, the screen of the PDA phone seems to be continuously turned on.

0041In the state of the called mode 23 or in the state of the sleep mode 21 transited from the called mode 23, if the user accepts the received call signal, the call mode 23 or the sleep mode 21 transited from the called mode 23 is transited to the in-call mode 24 (S28 and S29).

0042In the state of the idle mode 22, when the PDA phone sends a call signal, the idle mode 22 is transited to the calling mode 25 (S30). That is, if the user makes a phone call with the other party, the mode of the PDA phone becomes the calling mode 25. The PDA phone consumes much power in the calling mode 25 than in the sleep mode 21.

0043In a state of the calling mode 25, when the PDA phone cancels sending of the call signal, that is, when the user stops making a phone call, the calling mode 25 is transited to the idle mode 22 (S31).

0044In the state of the calling mode 25, the calling mode 25 is transited to the sleep mode 21 when the user supplies an input signal, or the calling mode 25 is automatically transited to the sleep mode 21 after a certain amount of time passes (S32). Accordingly, since the PDA phone consumes more power in the calling mode 25 than in the sleep mode 21 transited from the calling mode, the power consumption of the PDA phone is reduced by transiting the PDA phone from the calling mode 25 to the sleep mode 21. Here, as shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref>, the PDA phone in the calling mode 25 has 296 to 525.2 mW power consumption, and the PDA phone in the sleep mode 21 transited from the calling mode 25 has 21.2 mW power consumption.

0045In the state of the sleep mode 21 transited from the calling mode 25, when the user forcibly wakes up the PDA phone, the sleep mode 21 transited from the calling mode 25 is transited to the calling mode 25 (S33).

0046In the state of the calling mode 25 or in the state of the sleep mode 21 transited from the calling mode 25, if the user accepts the sent call signal, the calling mode 25 or the sleep mode 21 transited from the calling mode 25 is transited to the in-call mode 24 (S34 and S35).

0047In a state of the in-call mode 24, the in-call mode 24 is transited to the sleep mode 21 when the user supplies an input signal, or the in-call mode 24 is automatically transited to the sleep mode 21 after a certain amount of time passes (S36). That is, if the user presses a button for transiting the mode of the PDA phone to the sleep mode 21 or if talk time with other party exceeds a certain amount of time, the mode of the PDA phone becomes the sleep mode 21. Accordingly, since the PDA phone consumes more power in the in-call mode 24 than in the sleep mode 21 transited from the in-call mode, the power consumption of the PDA phone is reduced by transiting the PDA phone from the in-call mode 24 to the sleep mode 21. Here, as shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref>, the PDA phone in the in-call mode 24 has 1389 to 2049.8 mW power consumption, and the PDA phone in the sleep mode 21 transited from the in-call mode 24 has 1334.7 to 1926.0 mW power consumption.

0048In the sleep mode 21 transited from the in-call mode 24, if the user wakes up the PDA phone, the sleep mode 21 transited from the in-call mode 24 is transited to the in-call mode 24 (S37).

0049In the state of the in-call mode 24 or in the state of the sleep mode 21 transited from in-call mode 24, when the phone call is terminated, the in-call mode 24 or the sleep mode 21 transited from the in-call mode 24 is transited to the idle mode 22 (S38 and S39).

0050As so far described in detail, a power consumption control apparatus and a method thereof in a PDA phone in accordance with the present invention can reduce the power consumption of the PDA phone by transiting the PDA phone from a called mode, an in-called mode and a calling mode to a sleep mode, and cope with the circumstances which may occur in every state of the PDA phone.

0051As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.