Method and Apparatus for Dynamic Battery Management Control in a Mobile Communication Device

• US 20100216521A1
• Filed: 02/26/2009
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Wu, Chee-Ming Jimmy, Book, Christopher Simon, Winger, Lyall Kenneth
• Granted Patent: US 8,200,292 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/572
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for downloading battery data to a mobile communication device. A system for downloading battery data to a mobile communication device may include a mobile communication device and a data server. The mobile communication device may be configured to monitor a battery operating condition and to receive a battery profile, the battery profile including battery data for use by the mobile communication device to calculate battery status information. The data server may be used for storing battery data, the data server being configured to receive the battery operating condition from the mobile communication device and, based on the battery operating condition, send the battery profile to the mobile communication device.

Claims

1. A system for downloading battery data to a mobile communication device, comprising:

a mobile communication device configured to monitor a battery operating condition and to receive a battery profile, the battery profile including battery data for use by the mobile communication device to calculate battery status information; and

a data server for storing battery data, the data server being configured to receive the battery operating condition from the mobile communication device and, based on the battery operating condition, send the battery profile to the mobile communication device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the data server stores a plurality of battery profiles in relation to a plurality of battery operating conditions.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the data server comprises a battery model, the battery model configured to generate a battery profile.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the battery model is configured to generate a portion of the battery profile.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the battery status information is full-charge battery capacity.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the battery status information is usable battery capacity.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the battery status information is equivalent series resistance.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device sends the battery operating condition to the data server after a user request.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device sends the battery operating condition to the data server after a predetermined event.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein if the data server does not contain battery data corresponding to the battery operating condition, the data server is configured to send an error message to the mobile communication device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the data server stores the battery operating condition received from the mobile communication device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device receives a battery profile.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the mobile communication device receives a portion of the battery profile.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the mobile communication device selects a portion of the battery profile to be sent from the data server.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the mobile communication devices replaces an existing battery profile with the battery profile received from the data server.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the mobile communication devices replaces a portion of an existing battery profile with the portion of the battery profile received from the data server.

17. A mobile communication device comprising:

a battery configured to power the mobile communication device;

one or more sensor devices configured to monitor an operating condition of the battery; and

an operating system configured to receive a battery operating condition and create an existing battery profile, the existing battery profile being used to calculate battery status information, the operating system being further configured to send a battery operating condition to a data server and to receive a current battery profile corresponding to the current battery profile in the data server for the battery operating condition;

wherein the current battery profile can be used to replace the existing battery profile.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the data server stores a plurality of battery profiles in relation to a plurality of battery operating conditions.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the data server comprises a battery model, the battery model configured to generate a battery profile.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the battery model is configured to generate a portion of the battery profile.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the battery status information is battery capacity.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the battery status information is usable battery capacity.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the battery status information is equivalent series resistance.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the mobile communication device sends the battery operating condition to the data server after a user request.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the mobile communication device sends the battery operating condition to the data server after a predetermined event.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein if the data server does not contain battery data corresponding to the battery operating condition, the data server is configured to send an error message to the mobile communication device.

27. The system of claim 17, wherein the data server stores the battery operating condition received from the mobile communication device.

28. The system of claim 17, wherein the mobile communication device receives a battery profile.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the mobile communication device receives a portion of the battery profile.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the mobile communication device selects a portion of the battery profile to be sent from the data server.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the mobile communication devices replaces an existing battery profile with the battery profile received from the data server.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the mobile communication devices replaces a portion of an existing battery profile with the portion of the battery profile received from the data server.

33. A data server for storing battery profiles, comprising:

a plurality of battery identifiers, the plurality of battery identifiers corresponding to a battery type;

a plurality of battery operating conditions, the plurality of battery operating conditions including operating characteristics for each battery type; and

a plurality of battery profiles corresponding to a battery identifier and a plurality of battery operating conditions, the plurality of battery profiles containing information used to calculate battery status information and replace an existing battery profile on a mobile communication device;

wherein the data server is configured to receive a current operating condition from the mobile communication device and send a battery profile to the mobile communication device corresponding to the current operating condition.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the data server stores a plurality of battery profiles in relation to a plurality of battery operating conditions.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the data server comprises a battery model, the battery model configured to generate a battery profile.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the battery model is configured to generate a portion of the battery profile.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the battery status information is battery capacity.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein the battery status information is usable battery capacity.

39. The system of claim 33, wherein the battery status information is equivalent series resistance.

40. The system of claim 33, wherein the mobile communication device sends the current battery operating condition to the data server after a user request.

41. The system of claim 33, wherein the mobile communication device sends the current battery operating condition to the data server after a predetermined event.

42. The system of claim 33, wherein if the data server does not contain battery data corresponding to the current battery operating condition, the data server is configured to send an error message to the mobile communication device.

43. The system of claim 33, wherein the data server stores the current battery operating condition received from the mobile communication device.

44. The system of claim 33, wherein the mobile communication device receives a battery profile.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the mobile communication device receives a portion of the battery profile.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the mobile communication device selects a portion of the battery profile to be sent from the data server.

47. The system of claim 44, wherein the mobile communication devices replaces an existing battery profile with the battery profile received from the data server.

48. The system of claim 45, wherein the mobile communication devices replaces a portion of an existing battery profile with the portion of the battery profile received from the data server.

49. A method for wirelessly downloading battery data on a mobile communication device, comprising:

sending an operating condition to a data server, the data server comprising battery data, the battery data comprising a plurality of battery profiles corresponding to a plurality of battery operating conditions;

retrieving, from the data server, a battery profile corresponding to the operating condition;

receiving, at the mobile communication device, the battery profile; and

calculating battery status information on the mobile communication device using the battery profile.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising storing a plurality of battery profiles in relation to a plurality of battery operating conditions on the data server.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the data server comprises a battery model, the battery model configured to generate a battery profile.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the battery model is configured to generate a portion of the battery profile.

53. The method of claim 49, wherein the battery status information is battery capacity.

54. The method of claim 49, wherein the battery status information is usable battery capacity.

55. The method of claim 49, wherein the battery status information is equivalent series resistance.

56. The method of claim 49, further comprising sending the battery operating condition to the data server after a user request.

57. The method of claim 49, further comprising sending the battery operating condition to the data server after a predetermined event.

58. The method of claim 49, wherein if the data server does not contain battery data corresponding to the battery operating condition, the data server is configured to send an error message to the mobile communication device.

59. The method of claim 49, wherein the data server stores the battery operating condition received from the mobile communication device.

60. The method of claim 49, further comprising receiving a battery profile at the mobile communication device.

61. The method of claim 60, further comprising receiving a portion of the battery profile at the mobile communication device.

62. The method of claim 61, further comprising selecting a portion of the battery profile to be sent from the data server.

63. The method of claim 60, further comprising replacing an existing battery profile with the battery profile received from the data server.

64. The system of claim 61, further comprising replacing a portion of an existing battery profile with the portion of the battery profile received from the data server.