Emergency Mobile Device Power Source

• US 20110154087A1
• Filed: 02/28/2011
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Craine, Ari
• Granted Patent: US 8,316,251 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/340
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/32 Means for saving power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3212 Monitoring battery levels, e.g. power saving mode being initiated when battery voltage goes below a certain level
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/02 Power saving arrangements in wired systems H04L12/12; signaling of mobile application services, e.g. low battery notifications H04W4/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0296 switching to a backup power supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In various aspects, a portable electronic device includes electrical components supported by a housing, the electrical components including a user interface coupled to a processor and a storage medium including an emergency power storage module coupled to the processor. The portable apparatus further includes one or more power storage devices configured to provide electrical energy to the electrical components, at least one power storage device operably controlled by the emergency power storage module to provide emergency electrical energy to the electronic components for an emergency communication.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a primary power source;

a secondary power source;

a processor in communication with the primary power source and the secondary power source; and

a computer-readable storage medium addressable by the processor,

wherein the computer-readable storage medium contains instructions for providing power from the primary power source and from the secondary power source.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the power storage device further includes voltage monitoring circuitry.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein when the primary power source drops below a threshold level operation of the portable electronic device is restricted to an emergency operation.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 3, wherein the emergency operation is an emergency telephone call.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the secondary power source is a partition of the primary power source.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable storage medium further comprises an emergency power storage module.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 6, wherein the emergency power storage module monitors a capacity of the primary power source.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 7, further comprising a radio, wherein the emergency power storage module monitors a radio frequency in a standby mode.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 6, wherein the emergency power storage module determines whether a communication from an external transmitter is accepted.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a user interface.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the user interface displays a message indicating an activation of an emergency power mode.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 1, further comprising electronic circuitry including a first connection terminal for a first set of elements and a second connection terminal for a second set of elements, wherein the electrical circuitry allocates electrical energy to the first set of elements and the second set of elements.

13. A method of managing communications, the method comprising:

determining that a primary power source of a portable electronic device is substantially exhausted;

receiving a communication request from an external transmitter;

determining that the communication request is for an emergency communication;

using a secondary power source of the portable electronic device to power the portable electronic device to communicate with the external transmitter.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the external transmitter is a wireless communication network.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising creating an emergency contact.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing the portable electronic device with emergency contacts from which the emergency communication may be received.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising creating criteria for the emergency communication.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the criteria comprise a time period.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the criteria comprise a location.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the criteria comprise a device type.