METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVELY PROVIDING AN AUDIBLE LOW POWER ALERT TO A USER OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE
First Claim
1. A method for selectively alerting a user of an electronic device as to a status of a direct current (DC) power source of the electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving an input from the user indicating a time period during which an audible low power alert is not to be emanated from the electronic device;
determining whether a low DC power condition exists for the DC power source; and
in the event that a low DC power condition exists during the time period, temporarily deactivating the audible low power alert.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic device (103, 200) employs a method and apparatus for selectively audibly alerting a user as to the status of the device'"'"'s DC power source (119). The device receives input from the user indicating a time period during which the audible low power alert is not to be emanated from the device. After receiving such input, the device determines whether a low power condition exists during the time period and deactivates the audible low power alert if such a condition is met. Alternatively or additionally, after receiving the time period input from the user, the device may determine the likelihood of a low power condition occurring during the time period and activate the audible alert prior to commencement of the time period if such a condition is likely to occur, thereby providing the user advance notice of the potential for such a condition.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for selectively alerting a user of an electronic device as to a status of a direct current (DC) power source of the electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving an input from the user indicating a time period during which an audible low power alert is not to be emanated from the electronic device;
determining whether a low DC power condition exists for the DC power source; and
in the event that a low DC power condition exists during the time period, temporarily deactivating the audible low power alert. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for selectively alerting a user of an electronic device as to a status of a DC power source of the electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving an input from the user indicating a time period during which an audible low power alert is not to be emanated from the electronic device;
determining whether a low DC power condition is likely to occur during the time period; and
in the event that a low DC power condition is likely to occur during the time period, emanating the audible low power alert from the electronic device prior to commencement of the time period. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. An electronic device comprising:
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a direct current (DC) power source;
a circuit for generating an alert signal;
a speaker, operably coupled to the circuit, for emanating an audible alert in response to the alert signal;
a user interface that receives an input from a user indicating a time period during which the audible alert is not to be emanated from the speaker;
a processor, operably coupled to the user interface, the circuit and the DC power source; and
a memory operably coupled to the processor, the memory including operating instructions that, when executed by the processor, control the processor to;
determine whether a low DC power condition exists during the time period based on an output power of the DC power source; and
disable the circuit from generating the alert signal in the event that the low DC power condition exists during the time period. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An electronic device comprising:
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a direct current (DC) power source;
a circuit for generating a low power alert signal;
a speaker, operably coupled to the circuit, for emanating an audible low power alert in response to the low power alert signal;
a user interface that receives an input from a user indicating a time period during which the audible low power alert is not to be emanated from the speaker;
a processor, operably coupled to the user interface, the circuit and the DC power source; and
a memory operably coupled to the processor, the memory including operating instructions that, when executed by the processor, control the processor to;
determine whether a low DC power condition is likely to occur during the time period; and
instruct the circuit to generate the low power alert signal prior to commencement of the time period in the event that a low DC power condition is likely to occur during the time period.
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20. An intelligent battery for use with an electronic device, the electronic device including a user interface and a speaker, the user interface receiving an input from a user indicating a time period during which an audible low battery alert is not to be emanated from the electronic device and the speaker emanating a low battery alert in response to a low battery alert signal, the intelligent battery comprising:
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a battery;
a circuit, operably coupleable to the speaker, for generating the low battery alert signal;
a processor, operably coupled to the circuit and the battery and operably coupleable to the user interface; and
a memory operably coupled to the processor, the memory including operating instructions that, when executed by the processor, control the processor to;
determine whether a low battery power condition exists during the time period based on an output power of the battery; and
disable the circuit from generating the low battery alert signal in the event that the low battery power condition exists during the time period.
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21. An intelligent battery for use with an electronic device, the electronic device including a user interface and a speaker, the user interface receiving an input from a user indicating a time period during which an audible low battery alert is not to be emanated from the electronic device and the speaker emanating a low battery alert in response to a low battery alert signal, the intelligent battery comprising:
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a battery;
a circuit, operably coupleable to the speaker, for generating the low battery alert signal;
a processor, operably coupled to the circuit and the battery and operably coupleable to the user interface; and
a memory operably coupled to the processor, the memory including operating instructions that, when executed by the processor, control the processor to;
determine whether a low battery power condition is likely to occur during the time period; and
instruct the circuit to generate the low battery alert signal prior to commencement of the time period in the event that a low battery power condition is likely to occur during the time period.
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22. A communication system comprising:
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a base transceiver site that includes;
a first receiver for receiving time information from a time source;
a transmitter for transmitting the time information over a wireless communication channel; and
a controller, operably coupled to the first receiver and the transmitter, for controlling receipt and transmission of the time information; and
a communication device that includes;
a direct current (DC) power source;
a circuit for generating a low power alert signal;
a speaker, operably coupled to the circuit, for emanating an audible low power alert in response to the low power alert signal;
a user interface that receives an input from a user indicating a time period during which the audible low power alert is not to be emanated from the speaker;
a second receiver for receiving the time information over the wireless communication channel;
a processor, operably coupled to the user interface, the circuit, the DC power source and the receiver; and
a memory operably coupled to the processor, the memory including operating instructions that, when executed by the processor, control the processor to;
determine whether a low DC power condition exists based on an output power of the DC power source;
determine a present time based on the time information;
determine whether the present time is during the time period; and
disable the circuit from generating the low power alert signal in the event that the present time is during the time period and a low DC power condition exists.
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Specification