Patent ID: 8184969

Claim:
A method of power management in an electronic device having a supervisor circuit for disabling all or a portion of functions of said device if a first level of power to said device falls below a predefined threshold, said method comprising: receiving a request for a function and a related function to be performed by said electronic device; measuring a second level of power to said device; performing a pre-function test; said pre-function test based on said function and selected to consume fewer power resources than said function and also selected to not cause said second level of power to fall below said predefined threshold; measuring a third level of power to said device as a consequence of performing said pre-function test; and, when a difference between said second level of power and said third level of power meets a predefined criterion, preventing said device from performing said function, measuring a fourth level of power to said device and after measuring said fourth level of power, determining whether other adjustments can be made to allow said device to perform said related function; when said determination is affirmative, making at least one of said other adjustments and permitting said device to perform said related function.