Runtime selection of most energy-efficient approach for services requested by mobile applications

摘要

An energy conservation module may be included in a mobile communication device that receives requests for services from application programs running in the device. For each request, the energy conservation module may determine which of different, selectable ways of performing the request is likely to be the most energy efficient. The energy conservation module may then cause the request to be performed in this most energy-efficient way. This determination may be dynamic and based on current operating conditions. Middleware between the application programs and an operating system may be included that presents various APIs to the application programs to allow them to easily invoke this functionality. The different, selectable ways of performing the services may be of any type, including different, selectable computer network interfaces (e.g., Wi-Fi and cellular) and whether a complex computation should be performed within or outside of the mobile communication device.

主权项

1. An energy conservation module in a battery-powered mobile communication device for maximizing the energy efficiency of the mobile communication device while running one or more application programs that communicate data over a computer network that is outside of the mobile communication device via one of different, selectable computer network interfaces within the mobile communication device, each selectable computer network interface having a configuration that communicates data over the computer network over a wireless communication pathway that is different for each selectable computer network interface, the energy conservation module including computer hardware and software having a configuration that implements the following process:
receives requests from each of the application programs, each request calling for data communication over the computer network; and for each received request:
determines which of the selectable computer network interfaces that are operational at the time of receiving the request is likely to consume the least amount of energy handing the data communication that is called for by the request; andcauses the requested data communication to take place via the computer network interface that is determined likely to consume the least amount of energy handling the data communication.