Patent Application
20100083255
Most mobile computing devices use a cellular radio for communication. After the radio powers on to send data, the radio takes several seconds to power off (e.g., about 3 seconds on 2.5G networks and about 20 seconds on 3G networks). This radio “tail” absorbs power and diminishes battery life on the mobile computing device. Further, there are other power inefficiencies in repeatedly spinning up the radio and shutting down the radio.
Connected applications with real-time data push or updates are being widely adopted by mobile users. The applications include instant messaging, electronic mail, personal information management, presence information, and other web applications. The servers push the data in an uncoordinated manner such that battery life on the mobile computing device degrades, negatively affecting the user experience. For example, existing proxy servers immediately send any messages received from service partners or providers to the mobile devices. The radio on the mobile computing device is powered on more often, or remains powered on longer, thus draining the battery faster.
Embodiments of the invention batch messages intended for a user to preserve battery life of a computing device associated with the user. A proxy server receives the messages from a service provider. A state of the user is determined. If the user is in the idle state and none of the messages are activating messages, the messages are stored for future delivery when the state changes or when a defined time period elapses. If any of the messages are activating messages, the messages are transmitted to the user.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to the figures, embodiments of the invention implement server-side batching of notifications or messages (e.g., low priority) to a computing device (e.g., a mobile computing device 102) of a user upon detection of a user idle state. The idle state represents a period of inactivity by the user. For the duration of inactivity, the user receives notifications, presence updates, or other messages in batches sent at defined intervals. The active state represents a period of direct user activity (e.g., the user interacting with the computing device). For the duration of activity, the notifications are sent from the server to the user immediately upon receipt of the notifications by the server. Activating messages such as high priority notifications or explicit user actions take the user out of the idle state into the active state. Further, in an instant messaging embodiment, online and offline transitions are treated as non-batchable to ensure that the mobile computing device 102 has a more accurate, updated view of the status of online friends or buddies.
Referring again to
While aspects of the invention are described with reference to the computing device of the user being the mobile computing device 102, embodiments of the invention are operable with any device associated with the user. For example, aspects of the invention are operable with devices such as laptop computers, gaming consoles, hand-held or vehicle-mounted navigation devices, portable music players, and other devices.
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The memory area 110 also stores one or more computer-executable components such as a state component 210, an interface component 212, a batch component 214, a timeout component 216, a priority component 218, and a transmission component 220. The state component 210 maintains the state of the user on the computing device. The interface component 212 executes on the proxy server 104 to receive one or more of the messages intended for the user from at least one of the service providers 106. The batch component 214 stores the messages received by the interface component 212. The timeout component 216 maintains a batch timer. The batch timer represents a duration of time elapsed since a previous communication with the computing device. In some embodiments, the duration is thirty minutes. The priority component 218 compares the messages received by the interface component 212 to a list of activating messages to determine whether the received messages correspond to one of the activating messages. The transmission component 220 sends the messages stored by the batch component 214 based on the state of the user maintained by the state component 210, the batch timer maintained by the timeout component 216, and the comparison performed by the priority component 218.
In some embodiments, the transmission component 220 sends the messages when a value associated with the batch timer exceeds a defined value. The timeout component 216 resets the batch timer after the transmission component 220 sends the messages. The transmission component 220 sends the messages when at least one of the received messages matches a message from the list of activating messages.
The interface component 212 may also receive a message form the user, where the message corresponds to one of the activating messages. In response, the state component 210 adjusts the state of the user to the active state. The transmission component 220 then sends any batched messages to the user responsive to the adjustment to the active state. Further, any subsequently received messages are sent immediately to the user while the user is in the active state. The message corresponding to one of the activating messages includes, for example, a notification of a change in the state of the user, or any of the exemplary activating messages described in Appendix A.
In some embodiments, the proxy server 104 batches presence notifications based on user state during an instant messaging session on the mobile computing device 102. In such embodiments, the memory area 110 further stores a presence state of a user. The presence state corresponds to an idle state or an active state.
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If none of the messages corresponds to any of the activating messages at 304, the received messages are cached at 310. In some embodiments, the received messages supersede or update one or more of the messages already cached for delivery by the proxy server 104. For example, the received messages include presence notifications that update presence information sent previously to the proxy server 104 (e.g., outdated presence notifications).
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When the batch timer expires, a defined duration of time elapses, or other threshold has been exceeded, the batched messages are sent to the mobile computing device 102. The batch timer measures a duration of time that has elapsed since the last transmission of messages to the mobile computing device 102. The duration of time is compared to a predefined time threshold to determine whether to send the batched messages.
Sending the batched messages to the mobile computing device 102 results in a radio wakeup on the mobile computing device 102 if the radio is not powered on. In some embodiments, the state of the user remains in the idle state after delivery of the batched messages. In other embodiments, the state of the user changes to the active state, indicating that the radio is available for a period of time. The active state is maintained for a period of time, and then changed back to the idle state if there has been no activity by the user.
In some embodiments, the operations illustrated in
In an instant messaging embodiment, the proxy server 104 receives presence notifications from the service provider 106. The proxy server 104 determines the presence state of the user (e.g., active, idle, away from desk, etc.). The proxy server 104 stores the received presence notifications in the memory area 110 based on the accessed presence state to prevent transmission of the presence notifications to the user when the presence state corresponds to the idle state.
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By way of example and not limitation, computer readable media comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media store information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Communication media typically embody computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and include any information delivery media. Combinations of any of the above are also included within the scope of computer readable media.
Although described in connection with an exemplary computing system environment, embodiments of the invention are operational with numerous other general purpose or special purpose computing system environments or configurations. Examples of well known computing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with aspects of the invention include, but are not limited to, mobile computing devices, personal computers, server computers, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, gaming consoles, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, mobile telephones, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, distributed computing environments that include any of the above systems or devices, and the like.
Embodiments of the invention may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, executed by one or more computers or other devices. The computer-executable instructions may be organized into one or more computer-executable components or modules. Generally, program modules include, but are not limited to, routines, programs, objects, components, and data structures that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Aspects of the invention may be implemented with any number and organization of such components or modules. For example, aspects of the invention are not limited to the specific computer-executable instructions or the specific components or modules illustrated in the figures and described herein. Other embodiments of the invention may include different computer-executable instructions or components having more or less functionality than illustrated and described herein.
The embodiments illustrated and described herein as well as embodiments not specifically described herein but within the scope of aspects of the invention constitute exemplary means for batching the presence notifications while the user is idle to preserve battery life on the mobile computing device 102, and exemplary means for maintaining the presence state of the user based on the inactivity timer.
The order of execution or performance of the operations in embodiments of the invention illustrated and described herein is not essential, unless otherwise specified. That is, the operations may be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified, and embodiments of the invention may include additional or fewer operations than those disclosed herein. For example, it is contemplated that executing or performing a particular operation before, contemporaneously with, or after another operation is within the scope of aspects of the invention.
When introducing elements of aspects of the invention or the embodiments thereof, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
Having described aspects of the invention in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims. As various changes could be made in the above constructions, products, and methods without departing from the scope of aspects of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
A list of exemplary activating messages is shown below.
