Patent ID: 8682402

Claim:
A method, comprising: receiving a command at an application-timeout-table from an application-control that directs the application-timeout-table to select an application timeout value and a table entry associated with an application activated on the mobile communication device, the application timeout value being set according to one of a value pre-set at a factory and a user-customized value; starting a counter to measure an amount of time of use of the application; and transmitting the application timeout value, the counter, and the table entry to a compare-operation; measuring a first value of a first timer, the first value of the first timer being equal to an elapsed time since an activation of the application; comparing, by the compare-operation, the application timeout value with the first value of the first timer; initiating a dimmer to dim a backlight of the mobile communication device upon the first value of the first timer reaching the application timeout value provided by the application-timeout-table; measuring a second value of a second timer, the second value of the second timer being equal to an elapsed time since dimming the backlight; comparing, by the compare-operation, the table entry with the second value of the second timer; initiating an exit-application-operation upon the second value reaching a table entry value of the table entry; setting, by the exit-application-operation, the mobile communication device into a no-application mode; stopping the first timer and the second timer; and writing a new application timeout value into the application-timeout-table, the new application timeout value being equal to the counter less the application timeout value.