Patent ID: 7203854

Claim:
Computer-readable storage medium having thereon computer-executable instructions for maintaining functional availability in a power-constrained personal computer over extended periods of time comprising: configuring a first timer to generate an up alarm signal; reconfiguring the power-constrained personal computer from a first of a set of relatively high functionality and high power configurations to one of a set of relatively low functionality and low power configurations; and in response to the up alarm signal, reconfiguring the power-constrained personal computer from said one of the set of relatively low functionality and low power configurations to a second of the set of relatively high functionality and high power configurations; wherein: each power-constrained personal computer configuration is associated with at least one software power set; each software power set references at least one software component of the power-constrained personal computer; the power-constrained personal computer includes a plurality of storage types for software components; at least one of the plurality of storage types is capable of being powered down while other storage types remain powered; and reconfiguring the power-constrained personal computer from said one of the set of relatively low functionality and low power configurations to the second of the set of relatively high functionality and high power configurations comprises loading, from a newly powered storage type, at least said at least one software component referenced by said at least one software power set associated with the second of the set of relatively high functionality and high power configurations.