METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISCOVERY, VALIDATION AND DELIVERY OF POWER THROUGH A UNIVERSAL POWER CENTER

• US 20080126292A1
• Filed: 09/15/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: HAMILTON, Rick A., BOSS, Gregory J., BHOGAL, Kulvir S., POLOZOFF, Alexandre
• Granted Patent: US 7,930,043 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25359 Special power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00006 characterised by information or instructions transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated power network element or electrical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/12 characterised by data transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated electrical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/14 Marketing, i.e. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards

Abstract

A system and method of discovery, validation and delivery of power to an electronic device through a universal power center is provided. The method comprises providing a power tip for an electronic device with a unique identification and broadcasting the unique identification to a power center. The method further includes verifying the unique identification and connection location of the electronic device, determining power requirements for the connected electronic device based on the unique identification and connection location, and delivering power to the electronic device based on the determined power requirements.

Claims

1. A method of delivering a power supply to a portable electronic device, comprising verifying a power requirement for the portable electronic device in response to a broadcast, and supplying the verified power requirement to the portable electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the received broadcast includes at least one of (i) make and model of the portable electronic device;

(ii) voltage requirements;

(iii) amperage requirements; and

(iv) power center adapter identifier.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the verification is performed by accessing an internal or external database to determine power requirements for the portable electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising discovering a type of portable electronic device based on an identification of a power tip connected to the portable electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the verification is automatic.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing a network to obtain the verification of the power requirement.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the accessing a network is provided via a web server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the verification includes determining a connection location of the portable electronic device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the connection location is provided by one of a unique identifier of a power tip connected to the portable electronic device and an RF source.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing capabilities to manually enter power requirements for the portable electronic device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving a make and model of the portable electronic device by manual entry of a user.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein a service provider, on a subscription, advertising, and/or fee basis, provides the verification information.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating portable electronic device information on a database.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of creating, maintaining and supporting a computer infrastructure that performs the steps of claim 1.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a universal adapter configured for a plurality of portable electronic devices having different physical power connection characteristics.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast is received over a dedicated serial line.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a look-up table to determine power requirements of the portable electronic device.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising looking up at least one of a plurality of bulletins, factory recalls and manufacturer updates for fine tuning adjustments to powering the portable electronic device.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a look-up table to match a power tip to a portable electronic device.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a mechanism configured for a user to manually enter power specifications for any given portable electronic device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the mechanism connects to a network and/or a database.

22. A method of delivering power to an electronic device, comprising:

providing a power tip with a unique identification;

broadcasting the unique identification to a power center;

verifying the unique identification and connection location of the electronic device;

determining power requirements for the electronic device based on the unique identification and connection location; and

delivering power to the electronic device based on the determined power requirements.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising accessing a database, via a communication link, to determine the power requirements.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the broadcasting is provided by a wire or wireless connection.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the wireless connection is an RF source and the wire connection is through a power supply cord.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the unique identification identifies or pairs the power tip with the make and model of the electronic device.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the broadcasting is after connection to the electronic device.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein a service provider, on a subscription, advertising, and/or fee basis, provides the verification information.

29. The method of claim 22, further comprising at least one of creating, maintaining and supporting a computer infrastructure that performs the steps of claim 22.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein the broadcasting further includes at least one of (i) make and model of the electronic device;

(ii) voltage requirements;

(iii) amperage requirements; and

(iv) power center adapter identifier.

31. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing a universal adapter configured for a plurality of electronic devices having different physical power connection characteristics.

32. The method of claim 22, wherein the broadcasting is received over a dedicated serial line.

33. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing a look-up table in a database to determine the power requirements of the electronic device.

34. The method of claim 22, further comprising looking up at least one of a plurality of bulletins, factory recalls and manufacturer updates for fine tuning adjustments to powering the portable electronic device.

35. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing an interactive mechanism configured for a user to manually enter power specifications for given electronic device.

36. A system comprising:

a plurality of power cords, each having an adapter with a unique identifier and which is configured to connect to an electronic device; and

a control module configured to;

receive broadcast information from the connected electronic device;

access an internal or external database which stores power requirements for a plurality of electronic devices;

verify a connection location and power requirements of the electronic device; and

control a power supply to the connected electronic device based on the power requirements accessed from the internal or external database.

37. The system of claim 36, further comprising an RF source associated with each connection location and configured to identify a location of the connected electronic device.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the plurality of power cords are retractable wires each having a specific power tip for a particular electronic portable device.

39. The system of claim 36, further comprising a plurality of interactive mechanisms associated with the power center and configured to permit a user to enter device information.

40. The system of claim 36, wherein the internal or external database is provided by a service provider.

41. The system of claim 36, wherein the adapter includes a plurality of spring loaded rings or partial rings configured to allow connection to a plurality of different types of electronic devices having different physical connection characteristics.

42. A system comprising a server having a database containing data associated with one or more power requirements of a plurality of different types of electronic devices, and at least one of a hardware and software component for verifying a connection location and power requirement of any of the different types of electronic devices.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the at least one of a hardware and software component resides on a server provided by a service provider.

44. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer program product includes at least one component to verify a power requirement for a portable electronic device in response to a broadcast and supply the verified power requirement to the portable electronic device.

45. A method for providing a power supply to an electronic device, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure being operable to;

receive broadcasts of a unique identification of a power tip;

verify the unique identification and connection location of an electronic device;

determine power requirements for the electronic device based on the verified unique identification and connection location; and

deliver power to the electronic device based on the determined power requirements.