SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CROSS-PLATFORM APPLICATION LEVEL POWER MANAGEMENT

A framework for the development of applications which manage the power resources and power states of power-manageable computer systems and attached devices. In one embodiment, the power management framework comprises a plurality of Java.TM. programming interfaces (APIs) which are part of the Java.TM. Platform. Therefore, the same framework is configured to enable the same power-aware Java.TM. applications to execute on many different computing platforms, operating systems, and computer hardware. The programming interfaces comprise a system-level programming interface, a notification programming interface, an exception programming interface, and a device-level programming interface. The system-level programming interface permits Java.TM. applications to obtain a current system power state and, with the proper privilege, to influence the current system power state. The notification programming interface permits Java.TM. applications to be notified regarding transitions from one system power state to another system power state. The exception programming interface permits Java.TM. applications to be notified regarding errors in power management. The device-level programming interface permits Java.TM. applications to obtain a current device power state and, with the proper privilege, to influence the current device power state. The power management framework defines a plurality of standardized system power states, standardized device power states, and power state transitions.