Background/smart mining. If a users' computer is plugged into a power

source, and CPU has been idle for some time, then begin mining to some
threshold (don't destroy the users' CPU).

This patch only supports windows and linux (I've only tested on Win64 and
Ubuntu).

The variables currently default to pretty conservative values (i.e. 20%
CPU mining threshold).

8 files changed, 459 insertions, 18 deletions

diff --git a/src/cryptonote_basic/miner.cpp b/src/cryptonote_basic/miner.cpp
index 88c631f80..2b70df643 100644
--- a/src/cryptonote_basic/miner.cpp
+++ b/src/cryptonote_basic/miner.cpp
@@ -60,6 +60,10 @@ namespace cryptonote
     const command_line::arg_descriptor<std::string> arg_extra_messages =  {"extra-messages-file", "Specify file for extra messages to include into coinbase transactions", "", true};
     const command_line::arg_descriptor<std::string> arg_start_mining =    {"start-mining", "Specify wallet address to mining for", "", true};
     const command_line::arg_descriptor<uint32_t>      arg_mining_threads =  {"mining-threads", "Specify mining threads count", 0, true};
+    const command_line::arg_descriptor<bool>        arg_bg_mining_enable =  {"bg-mining-enable", "enable/disable background mining", true, true};
+    const command_line::arg_descriptor<uint64_t>    arg_bg_mining_min_idle_interval_seconds =  {"bg-mining-min-idle-interval", "Specify min lookback interval in seconds for determining idle state", miner::BACKGROUND_MINING_DEFAULT_MIN_IDLE_INTERVAL_IN_SECONDS, true};
+    const command_line::arg_descriptor<uint8_t>     arg_bg_mining_idle_threshold_percentage =  {"bg-mining-idle-threshold", "Specify minimum avg idle percentage over lookback interval", miner::BACKGROUND_MINING_DEFAULT_IDLE_THRESHOLD_PERCENTAGE, true};
+    const command_line::arg_descriptor<uint8_t>     arg_bg_mining_miner_target_percentage =  {"bg-mining-miner-target", "Specificy maximum percentage cpu use by miner(s)", miner::BACKGROUND_MINING_DEFAULT_MINING_TARGET_PERCENTAGE, true};
   }
 
 
@@ -77,7 +81,12 @@ namespace cryptonote
     m_hashes(0),
     m_do_print_hashrate(false),
     m_do_mining(false),
-    m_current_hash_rate(0)
+    m_current_hash_rate(0),
+    m_is_background_mining_enabled(false),
+    m_min_idle_seconds(BACKGROUND_MINING_DEFAULT_MIN_IDLE_INTERVAL_IN_SECONDS),
+    m_idle_threshold(BACKGROUND_MINING_DEFAULT_IDLE_THRESHOLD_PERCENTAGE),
+    m_mining_target(BACKGROUND_MINING_DEFAULT_MINING_TARGET_PERCENTAGE),
+    m_miner_extra_sleep(BACKGROUND_MINING_DEFAULT_MINER_EXTRA_SLEEP_MILLIS)
   {
 
   }
@@ -137,7 +146,7 @@ namespace cryptonote
       merge_hr();
       return true;
     });
-
+    
     return true;
   }
   //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -171,6 +180,10 @@ namespace cryptonote
     command_line::add_arg(desc, arg_extra_messages);
     command_line::add_arg(desc, arg_start_mining);
     command_line::add_arg(desc, arg_mining_threads);
+    command_line::add_arg(desc, arg_bg_mining_enable);
+    command_line::add_arg(desc, arg_bg_mining_min_idle_interval_seconds);
+    command_line::add_arg(desc, arg_bg_mining_idle_threshold_percentage);
+    command_line::add_arg(desc, arg_bg_mining_miner_target_percentage);
   }
   //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   bool miner::init(const boost::program_options::variables_map& vm, bool testnet)
@@ -213,6 +226,17 @@ namespace cryptonote
       }
     }
 
+    // Background mining parameters
+    // Let init set all parameters even if background mining is not enabled, they can start later with params set
+    if(command_line::has_arg(vm, arg_bg_mining_enable))
+      set_is_background_mining_enabled( command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_bg_mining_enable) );
+    if(command_line::has_arg(vm, arg_bg_mining_min_idle_interval_seconds))
+      set_min_idle_seconds( command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_bg_mining_min_idle_interval_seconds) );
+    if(command_line::has_arg(vm, arg_bg_mining_idle_threshold_percentage))
+      set_idle_threshold( command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_bg_mining_idle_threshold_percentage) );
+    if(command_line::has_arg(vm, arg_bg_mining_miner_target_percentage))
+      set_mining_target( command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_bg_mining_miner_target_percentage) );
+
     return true;
   }
   //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -230,7 +254,7 @@ namespace cryptonote
     return m_threads_total;
   }
   //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-  bool miner::start(const account_public_address& adr, size_t threads_count, const boost::thread::attributes& attrs)
+  bool miner::start(const account_public_address& adr, size_t threads_count, const boost::thread::attributes& attrs, bool do_background)
   {
     m_mine_address = adr;
     m_threads_total = static_cast<uint32_t>(threads_count);
@@ -260,6 +284,14 @@ namespace cryptonote
     }
 
     LOG_PRINT_L0("Mining has started with " << threads_count << " threads, good luck!" );
+
+    set_is_background_mining_enabled(do_background);
+    if( get_is_background_mining_enabled() )
+    {
+      m_background_mining_thread = boost::thread(attrs, boost::bind(&miner::background_worker_thread, this));
+      LOG_PRINT_L0("Background mining controller thread started" );
+    }
+
     return true;
   }
   //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -291,10 +323,19 @@ namespace cryptonote
     send_stop_signal();
     CRITICAL_REGION_LOCAL(m_threads_lock);
 
+    // In case background mining was active and the miner threads are waiting
+    // on the background miner to signal start. 
+    m_is_background_mining_started_cond.notify_all();
+
     for(boost::thread& th: m_threads)
       th.join();
 
-    MINFO("Mining has been stopped, " << m_threads.size() << " finished" );
+    // The background mining thread could be sleeping for a long time, so we
+    // interrupt it just in case
+    m_background_mining_thread.interrupt();
+    m_background_mining_thread.join();
+
+    LOG_PRINT_L0("Mining has been stopped, " << m_threads.size() << " finished" );
     m_threads.clear();
     return true;
   }
@@ -321,7 +362,7 @@ namespace cryptonote
       boost::thread::attributes attrs;
       attrs.set_stack_size(THREAD_STACK_SIZE);
 
-      start(m_mine_address, m_threads_total, attrs);
+      start(m_mine_address, m_threads_total, attrs, get_is_background_mining_enabled());
     }
   }
   //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -364,6 +405,19 @@ namespace cryptonote
         misc_utils::sleep_no_w(100);
         continue;
       }
+      else if( m_is_background_mining_enabled )
+      {
+        misc_utils::sleep_no_w(m_miner_extra_sleep);
+        while( !m_is_background_mining_started )
+        {
+          MGINFO("background mining is enabled, but not started, waiting until start triggers");
+          boost::unique_lock<boost::mutex> started_lock( m_is_background_mining_started_mutex );        
+          m_is_background_mining_started_cond.wait( started_lock );
+          if( m_stop ) break;
+        }
+        
+        if( m_stop ) continue;         
+      }
 
       if(local_template_ver != m_template_no)
       {
@@ -410,5 +464,339 @@ namespace cryptonote
     return true;
   }
   //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-}
+  bool miner::get_is_background_mining_enabled() const
+  {
+    return m_is_background_mining_enabled;
+  }
+  //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  /**
+  * This has differing behaviour depending on if mining has been started/etc.
+  * Note: add documentation
+  */
+  bool miner::set_is_background_mining_enabled(bool is_background_mining_enabled)
+  {
+    m_is_background_mining_enabled = is_background_mining_enabled;
+    // Extra logic will be required if we make this function public in the future
+    // and allow toggling smart mining without start/stop
+    //m_is_background_mining_enabled_cond.notify_one();
+    return true;
+  }
+  //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  uint64_t miner::get_min_idle_seconds() const
+  {
+    return m_min_idle_seconds;
+  }
+  //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  bool miner::set_min_idle_seconds(uint64_t min_idle_seconds)
+  {
+    if(min_idle_seconds > BACKGROUND_MINING_MAX_MIN_IDLE_INTERVAL_IN_SECONDS) return false;
+    if(min_idle_seconds < BACKGROUND_MINING_MIN_MIN_IDLE_INTERVAL_IN_SECONDS) return false;
+    m_min_idle_seconds = min_idle_seconds;
+    return true;
+  }
+  //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  uint8_t miner::get_idle_threshold() const
+  {
+    return m_idle_threshold;
+  }
+  //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  bool miner::set_idle_threshold(uint8_t idle_threshold)
+  {
+    if(idle_threshold > BACKGROUND_MINING_MAX_IDLE_THRESHOLD_PERCENTAGE) return false;
+    if(idle_threshold < BACKGROUND_MINING_MIN_IDLE_THRESHOLD_PERCENTAGE) return false;
+    m_idle_threshold = idle_threshold;
+    return true;
+  }
+  //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  uint8_t miner::get_mining_target() const
+  {
+    return m_mining_target;
+  }
+  //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  bool miner::set_mining_target(uint8_t mining_target)
+  {
+    if(mining_target > BACKGROUND_MINING_MAX_MINING_TARGET_PERCENTAGE) return false;
+    if(mining_target < BACKGROUND_MINING_MIN_MINING_TARGET_PERCENTAGE) return false;
+    m_mining_target = mining_target;
+    return true;
+  }
+  //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  bool miner::background_worker_thread()
+  {
+    uint64_t prev_total_time, current_total_time;
+    uint64_t prev_idle_time, current_idle_time;
+    uint64_t previous_process_time = 0, current_process_time = 0;
+
+    if(!get_system_times(prev_total_time, prev_idle_time))
+    {
+      LOG_ERROR(__func__ << " : get_system_times call failed, background mining will NOT work!");
+      return false;
+    }
+    
+    while(!m_stop)
+    {
+        
+      try
+      {
+        // Commenting out the below since we're going with privatizing the bg mining enabled
+        // function, but I'll leave the code/comments here for anyone that wants to modify the
+        // patch in the future
+        // -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+        // All of this might be overkill if we just enforced some simple requirements
+        // about changing this variable before/after the miner starts, but I envision
+        // in the future a checkbox that you can tick on/off for background mining after
+        // you've clicked "start mining". There's still an issue here where if background
+        // mining is disabled when start is called, this thread is never created, and so
+        // enabling after does nothing, something I have to fix in the future. However,
+        // this should take care of the case where mining is started with bg-enabled, 
+        // and then the user decides to un-check background mining, and just do
+        // regular full-speed mining. I might just be over-doing it and thinking up 
+        // non-existant use-cases, so if the concensus is to simplify, we can remove all this fluff.
+        /*
+        while( !m_is_background_mining_enabled )
+        {
+          MGINFO(__func__ << " : background mining is disabled, waiting until enabled!");
+          boost::unique_lock<boost::mutex> enabled_lock( m_is_background_mining_enabled_mutex );        
+          m_is_background_mining_enabled_cond.wait( enabled_lock );
+        } 
+        */       
+        
+        // If we're already mining, then sleep for the miner monitor interval.
+        // If we're NOT mining, then sleep for the idle monitor interval
+        boost::this_thread::sleep_for( 
+          m_is_background_mining_started ? 
+            boost::chrono::seconds( BACKGROUND_MINING_MINER_MONITOR_INVERVAL_IN_SECONDS ) :
+            boost::chrono::seconds( get_min_idle_seconds() ) );
+      }
+      catch(boost::thread_interrupted)
+      {
+        MGINFO(__func__ << " : background miner thread interrupted ");
+        continue; // if interrupted because stop called, loop should end ..
+      }
+      
+      if( m_is_background_mining_started )
+      {
+        // figure out if we need to stop, and monitor mining usage
+
+        // previous is uninitialized
+        if(previous_process_time == 0)
+        {
+          // get some starting data ..
+          if(!get_system_times(prev_total_time, prev_idle_time))
+            LOG_ERROR(__func__ << " : get_system_times call failed");
 
+          if(!get_process_time(previous_process_time))
+            LOG_ERROR(__func__ << " : get_process_time call failed!");
+
+          continue;
+        }
+        
+        // If we get here, then previous values are initialized.
+        // Let's get some current data for comparison.
+
+        if(!get_system_times(current_total_time, current_idle_time))
+        {
+          LOG_ERROR(__func__ << " : get_system_times call failed");
+          continue;
+        }
+
+        if(!get_process_time(current_process_time))
+        {
+          LOG_ERROR(__func__ << " : get_process_time call failed!");
+          continue;
+        }
+
+        uint64_t total_diff = (current_total_time - prev_total_time);
+        uint64_t idle_diff = (current_idle_time - prev_idle_time);
+        uint64_t process_diff = (current_process_time - previous_process_time);
+        uint8_t idle_percentage = get_percent_of_total(idle_diff, total_diff);
+        uint8_t process_percentage = get_percent_of_total(process_diff, total_diff);
+        bool on_ac_power = ac_line_status();
+        MGINFO(__func__ << " : idle percentage is " << unsigned(idle_percentage) << "\%, miner percentage is " << unsigned(process_percentage) << "\%, ac power : " << on_ac_power);
+        if( idle_percentage + process_percentage < get_idle_threshold() || !ac_line_status() )
+        {
+          MGINFO(__func__ << " : cpu is " << unsigned(idle_percentage) << "% idle, idle threshold is " << unsigned(get_idle_threshold()) << "\%, ac power : " << on_ac_power << ", background mining stopping, thanks for your contribution!");
+          m_is_background_mining_started = false;
+
+          // reset process times
+          previous_process_time = 0;
+          current_process_time = 0;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+          previous_process_time = current_process_time;
+
+          // adjust the miner extra sleep variable
+          int64_t miner_extra_sleep_change = (-1 * (get_mining_target() - process_percentage) );
+          int64_t new_miner_extra_sleep = m_miner_extra_sleep + miner_extra_sleep_change;
+          // if you start the miner with few threads on a multicore system, this could
+          // fall below zero because all the time functions aggregate across all processors.
+          // I'm just hard limiting to 5 millis min sleep here, other options?
+          m_miner_extra_sleep = std::max( new_miner_extra_sleep , (int64_t)5 );
+          MGINFO(__func__ << " : m_miner_extra_sleep " << m_miner_extra_sleep);
+        }
+        
+        prev_total_time = current_total_time;
+        prev_idle_time = current_idle_time;
+      }
+      else
+      {
+        // figure out if we need to start
+
+        if(!get_system_times(current_total_time, current_idle_time))
+        {
+          LOG_ERROR(__func__ << " : get_system_times call failed");
+          continue;
+        }
+
+        uint64_t total_diff = (current_total_time - prev_total_time);
+        uint64_t idle_diff = (current_idle_time - prev_idle_time);
+        uint8_t idle_percentage = get_percent_of_total(idle_diff, total_diff);
+        bool on_ac_power = ac_line_status();
+        MGINFO(__func__ << " : idle percentage is " << unsigned(idle_percentage));
+        if( idle_percentage >= get_idle_threshold() && on_ac_power )
+        {
+          MGINFO(__func__ << " : cpu is " << unsigned(idle_percentage) << "% idle, idle threshold is " << unsigned(get_idle_threshold()) << "\%, ac power : " << on_ac_power << ", background mining started, good luck!");
+          m_is_background_mining_started = true;
+          m_is_background_mining_started_cond.notify_all();          
+        }
+
+        prev_total_time = current_total_time;
+        prev_idle_time = current_idle_time;
+      }
+    }
+
+    return true;
+  }
+  //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  bool miner::get_system_times(uint64_t& total_time, uint64_t& idle_time)
+  {
+    #ifdef _WIN32
+
+    	FILETIME idleTime;
+    	FILETIME kernelTime;
+    	FILETIME userTime;
+    	if ( GetSystemTimes( &idleTime, &kernelTime, &userTime ) != -1 )
+    	{
+        total_time =
+          ( (((uint64_t)(kernelTime.dwHighDateTime)) << 32) | ((uint64_t)kernelTime.dwLowDateTime) )
+          + ( (((uint64_t)(userTime.dwHighDateTime)) << 32) | ((uint64_t)userTime.dwLowDateTime) );
+
+        idle_time = ( (((uint64_t)(idleTime.dwHighDateTime)) << 32) | ((uint64_t)idleTime.dwLowDateTime) );
+
+        return true;
+    	}
+
+    #elif defined(__linux__)
+
+      const std::string STR_CPU("cpu");
+      const std::size_t STR_CPU_LEN = STR_CPU.size();
+      const std::string STAT_FILE_PATH = "/proc/stat";
+
+      if( !epee::file_io_utils::is_file_exist(STAT_FILE_PATH) )
+      {
+        LOG_ERROR(__func__ << " : '" << STAT_FILE_PATH << "' file does not exist");
+        return false;
+      }
+
+      std::ifstream stat_file_stream(STAT_FILE_PATH);
+      if( stat_file_stream.fail() )
+      {
+        LOG_ERROR(__func__ << " : failed to open '" << STAT_FILE_PATH << "'");
+        return false;
+      }
+
+      std::string line;
+      std::getline(stat_file_stream, line);
+      std::istringstream stat_file_iss(line);
+      stat_file_iss.ignore(65536, ' '); // skip cpu label ...
+      uint64_t utime, ntime, stime, itime;
+      if( !(stat_file_iss >> utime && stat_file_iss >> ntime && stat_file_iss >> stime && stat_file_iss >> itime) )
+      {
+        LOG_ERROR(__func__ << " : failed to read '" << STAT_FILE_PATH << "'");
+        return false;
+      }
+
+      idle_time = itime;
+      total_time = utime + ntime + stime + itime;
+
+      return true;
+
+    #endif
+
+    return false; // unsupported systemm..
+  }
+  //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  bool miner::get_process_time(uint64_t& total_time)
+  {
+    #ifdef _WIN32
+
+      FILETIME createTime;
+      FILETIME exitTime;
+      FILETIME kernelTime;
+      FILETIME userTime;
+      if ( GetProcessTimes( GetCurrentProcess(), &createTime, &exitTime, &kernelTime, &userTime ) != -1 )
+      {
+        total_time =
+          ( (((uint64_t)(kernelTime.dwHighDateTime)) << 32) | ((uint64_t)kernelTime.dwLowDateTime) )
+          + ( (((uint64_t)(userTime.dwHighDateTime)) << 32) | ((uint64_t)userTime.dwLowDateTime) );
+
+        return true;
+      }
+
+    #elif defined(__linux__) && defined(_SC_CLK_TCK)
+
+      struct tms tms;
+      if ( times(&tms) != (clock_t)-1 )
+      {
+    		total_time = tms.tms_utime + tms.tms_stime;
+        return true;
+      }
+
+    #endif
+
+    return false; // unsupported system..
+  }
+  //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
+  uint8_t miner::get_percent_of_total(uint64_t other, uint64_t total)
+  {
+    return (uint8_t)( ceil( (other * 1.f / total * 1.f) * 100) );    
+  }
+  //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------    
+  bool miner::ac_line_status()
+  {
+    #ifdef _WIN32
+
+      SYSTEM_POWER_STATUS power_status;
+    	if ( GetSystemPowerStatus( &power_status ) != 0 )
+    	{
+        return power_status.ACLineStatus == 1;
+    	}
+
+    #elif defined(__linux__)
+
+      // i've only tested on UBUNTU, these paths might be different on other systems
+      // need to figure out a way to make this more flexible
+      const std::string POWER_SUPPLY_STATUS_PATH = "/sys/class/power_supply/ACAD/online";
+
+      if( !epee::file_io_utils::is_file_exist(POWER_SUPPLY_STATUS_PATH) )
+      {
+        LOG_ERROR(__func__ << " : '" << POWER_SUPPLY_STATUS_PATH << "' file does not exist, can't determine if on AC power");
+        return false;
+      }
+
+      std::ifstream power_stream(POWER_SUPPLY_STATUS_PATH);
+      if( power_stream.fail() )
+      {
+        LOG_ERROR(__func__ << " : failed to open '" << POWER_SUPPLY_STATUS_PATH << "'");
+        return false;
+      }
+
+      return power_stream.get() == '1';
+
+    #endif
+    
+    LOG_ERROR(__func__ << " : couldn't query power status");
+    return false; // shouldn't get here unless no support for querying battery status
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/cryptonote_basic/miner.h b/src/cryptonote_basic/miner.h
index f24f6e960..ea669f7ea 100644
--- a/src/cryptonote_basic/miner.h
+++ b/src/cryptonote_basic/miner.h
@@ -35,7 +35,14 @@
 #include "cryptonote_basic.h"
 #include "difficulty.h"
 #include "math_helper.h"
-
+#ifdef _WIN32
+#include <windows.h>
+#elif __linux__
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include <sys/resource.h>
+#include <sys/times.h>
+#include <time.h>
+#endif
 
 namespace cryptonote
 {
@@ -60,7 +67,7 @@ namespace cryptonote
     static void init_options(boost::program_options::options_description& desc);
     bool set_block_template(const block& bl, const difficulty_type& diffic, uint64_t height);
     bool on_block_chain_update();
-    bool start(const account_public_address& adr, size_t threads_count, const boost::thread::attributes& attrs);
+    bool start(const account_public_address& adr, size_t threads_count, const boost::thread::attributes& attrs, bool do_background = false);
     uint64_t get_speed() const;
     uint32_t get_threads_count() const;
     void send_stop_signal();
@@ -74,6 +81,26 @@ namespace cryptonote
     void pause();
     void resume();
     void do_print_hashrate(bool do_hr);
+    bool get_is_background_mining_enabled() const;
+    uint64_t get_min_idle_seconds() const;
+    bool set_min_idle_seconds(uint64_t min_idle_seconds);
+    uint8_t get_idle_threshold() const;
+    bool set_idle_threshold(uint8_t idle_threshold);
+    uint8_t get_mining_target() const;
+    bool set_mining_target(uint8_t mining_target);
+
+    static constexpr uint8_t  BACKGROUND_MINING_DEFAULT_IDLE_THRESHOLD_PERCENTAGE       = 90;
+    static constexpr uint8_t  BACKGROUND_MINING_MIN_IDLE_THRESHOLD_PERCENTAGE           = 50;
+    static constexpr uint8_t  BACKGROUND_MINING_MAX_IDLE_THRESHOLD_PERCENTAGE           = 99;
+    static constexpr uint16_t BACKGROUND_MINING_DEFAULT_MIN_IDLE_INTERVAL_IN_SECONDS    = 10;
+    static constexpr uint16_t BACKGROUND_MINING_MIN_MIN_IDLE_INTERVAL_IN_SECONDS        = 10;
+    static constexpr uint16_t BACKGROUND_MINING_MAX_MIN_IDLE_INTERVAL_IN_SECONDS        = 3600;
+    static constexpr uint8_t  BACKGROUND_MINING_DEFAULT_MINING_TARGET_PERCENTAGE        = 20;
+    static constexpr uint8_t  BACKGROUND_MINING_MIN_MINING_TARGET_PERCENTAGE            = 5;
+    static constexpr uint8_t  BACKGROUND_MINING_MAX_MINING_TARGET_PERCENTAGE            = 50;
+    static constexpr uint8_t  BACKGROUND_MINING_MINER_MONITOR_INVERVAL_IN_SECONDS       = 10;
+    static constexpr uint64_t BACKGROUND_MINING_DEFAULT_MINER_EXTRA_SLEEP_MILLIS        = 400; // ramp up 
+    static constexpr uint64_t BACKGROUND_MINING_MIN_MINER_EXTRA_SLEEP_MILLIS            = 5;
 
   private:
     bool worker_thread();
@@ -119,8 +146,24 @@ namespace cryptonote
     bool m_do_print_hashrate;
     bool m_do_mining;
 
+    // background mining stuffs ..
+
+    bool set_is_background_mining_enabled(bool is_background_mining_enabled);
+    bool background_worker_thread();
+    std::atomic<bool> m_is_background_mining_enabled;
+    boost::mutex m_is_background_mining_enabled_mutex;
+    boost::condition_variable m_is_background_mining_enabled_cond;
+    std::atomic<bool> m_is_background_mining_started;
+    boost::mutex m_is_background_mining_started_mutex;
+    boost::condition_variable m_is_background_mining_started_cond;    
+    boost::thread m_background_mining_thread;
+    uint64_t m_min_idle_seconds;
+    uint8_t m_idle_threshold;
+    uint8_t m_mining_target;
+    std::atomic<uint64_t> m_miner_extra_sleep;
+    static bool get_system_times(uint64_t& total_time, uint64_t& idle_time);
+    static bool get_process_time(uint64_t& total_time);
+    static uint8_t get_percent_of_total(uint64_t some_time, uint64_t total_time);
+    static bool ac_line_status(); // true = plugged in, else nope
   };
 }
-
-
-
diff --git a/src/daemon/command_parser_executor.cpp b/src/daemon/command_parser_executor.cpp
index fd73654ac..8ed529737 100644
--- a/src/daemon/command_parser_executor.cpp
+++ b/src/daemon/command_parser_executor.cpp
@@ -271,17 +271,24 @@ bool t_command_parser_executor::start_mining(const std::vector<std::string>& arg
   if(testnet)
     std::cout << "Mining to a testnet address, make sure this is intentional!" << std::endl;
   uint64_t threads_count = 1;
-  if(args.size() > 2)
+  bool do_background_mining = false;  
+  if(args.size() > 3)
   {
     return false;
   }
-  else if(args.size() == 2)
+  
+  if(args.size() == 3)
+  {
+    do_background_mining = args[2] == "true";
+  }
+  
+  if(args.size() >= 2)
   {
     bool ok = epee::string_tools::get_xtype_from_string(threads_count, args[1]);
     threads_count = (ok && 0 < threads_count) ? threads_count : 1;
   }
 
-  m_executor.start_mining(adr, threads_count, testnet);
+  m_executor.start_mining(adr, threads_count, testnet, do_background_mining);
 
   return true;
 }
diff --git a/src/daemon/command_server.cpp b/src/daemon/command_server.cpp
index 34868b576..4133b90d9 100644
--- a/src/daemon/command_server.cpp
+++ b/src/daemon/command_server.cpp
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ t_command_server::t_command_server(
   m_command_lookup.set_handler(
       "start_mining"
     , std::bind(&t_command_parser_executor::start_mining, &m_parser, p::_1)
-    , "Start mining for specified address, start_mining <addr> [<threads>], default 1 thread"
+    , "Start mining for specified address, start_mining <addr> [<threads>] [do_background_mining], default 1 thread, no background mining"
     );
   m_command_lookup.set_handler(
       "stop_mining"
diff --git a/src/daemon/rpc_command_executor.cpp b/src/daemon/rpc_command_executor.cpp
index 469f83014..ae5c2d31d 100644
--- a/src/daemon/rpc_command_executor.cpp
+++ b/src/daemon/rpc_command_executor.cpp
@@ -929,11 +929,12 @@ bool t_rpc_command_executor::print_transaction_pool_stats() {
   return true;
 }
 
-bool t_rpc_command_executor::start_mining(cryptonote::account_public_address address, uint64_t num_threads, bool testnet) {
+bool t_rpc_command_executor::start_mining(cryptonote::account_public_address address, uint64_t num_threads, bool testnet, bool do_background_mining = false) {
   cryptonote::COMMAND_RPC_START_MINING::request req;
   cryptonote::COMMAND_RPC_START_MINING::response res;
   req.miner_address = cryptonote::get_account_address_as_str(testnet, address);
   req.threads_count = num_threads;
+  req.do_background_mining = do_background_mining;
 
   std::string fail_message = "Mining did not start";
 
diff --git a/src/daemon/rpc_command_executor.h b/src/daemon/rpc_command_executor.h
index 4691844fa..5b7b76448 100644
--- a/src/daemon/rpc_command_executor.h
+++ b/src/daemon/rpc_command_executor.h
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ public:
 
   bool print_transaction_pool_stats();
 
-  bool start_mining(cryptonote::account_public_address address, uint64_t num_threads, bool testnet);
+  bool start_mining(cryptonote::account_public_address address, uint64_t num_threads, bool testnet, bool do_background_mining);
 
   bool stop_mining();
 
diff --git a/src/rpc/core_rpc_server.cpp b/src/rpc/core_rpc_server.cpp
index 5442b6ac4..608f1e531 100644
--- a/src/rpc/core_rpc_server.cpp
+++ b/src/rpc/core_rpc_server.cpp
@@ -635,7 +635,7 @@ namespace cryptonote
     boost::thread::attributes attrs;
     attrs.set_stack_size(THREAD_STACK_SIZE);
 
-    if(!m_core.get_miner().start(adr, static_cast<size_t>(req.threads_count), attrs))
+    if(!m_core.get_miner().start(adr, static_cast<size_t>(req.threads_count), attrs, req.do_background_mining))
     {
       res.status = "Failed, mining not started";
       LOG_PRINT_L0(res.status);
diff --git a/src/rpc/core_rpc_server_commands_defs.h b/src/rpc/core_rpc_server_commands_defs.h
index 83ef2ebd4..a26350ba9 100644
--- a/src/rpc/core_rpc_server_commands_defs.h
+++ b/src/rpc/core_rpc_server_commands_defs.h
@@ -500,10 +500,12 @@ namespace cryptonote
     {
       std::string miner_address;
       uint64_t    threads_count;
+      bool        do_background_mining;
 
       BEGIN_KV_SERIALIZE_MAP()
         KV_SERIALIZE(miner_address)
         KV_SERIALIZE(threads_count)
+        KV_SERIALIZE(do_background_mining)        
       END_KV_SERIALIZE_MAP()
     };