DYNAMIC BATTERY CAPACITY ALLOCATION FOR DATA RETENTION AMONG MOBILE COMPUTERS AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20120324252A1
• Filed: 08/23/2012
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Sarker, Ataul
• Granted Patent: US 8,805,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3225 of memory devices

Abstract

Systems devices and/or methods that facilitate dynamic battery capacity allocation are presented. Extended use times or smaller form factors can be achieved for devices employing dynamic battery capacity allocation. By determining factors that can include the type of memory, the usage of the memory, and/or the user'"'"'s preference to continue to use a device rather than retain data in a volatile memory for a period of time before supplying alternative power, the device can be available for use for longer periods of time on a battery or a smaller battery can be used to achieve similar use time.

Claims

1. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. A system that facilitates dynamic allocation of battery capacity comprising:

a memory mode sensing component that can at least determine if one or more memories are volatile, nonvolatile, or some combination thereof;

an allocation component that can allocate a portion of a finite power supply based at least in part on the determination of the memory mode sensing component; and

a user interaction component facilitating interacting with a user, wherein the allocation component can allocate a portion of a finite power supply based at least in part on user interactions.

2. The system of claim 4 wherein the memory mode sensing component can further at least determine if the one or more memories are active, inactive, or some combination thereof.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the user interaction component facilitates interacting with the user by way of a user device user interface, a system user interface, or the like.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the user device user interface, the system user interface, or the like, is a graphical user interface or command line interface.

7. The system of claim 4 further comprising a device power condition component facilitating interaction with a user device or system, wherein the allocation component can allocate a portion of a finite power supply based at least in part on user device or system interactions.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the device power condition component facilitates interaction with a user device or system by way of an application program interface, or the like.

12. The system of claim 4, wherein the system comprises at least one of a computer, a laptop computer, network equipment, a media player, a media recorder, a television, a smart card, a phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, an electronic organizer, a personal digital assistant, a portable email reader, a digital camera, an electronic game, an electronic device associated with digital rights management, a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) card, a trusted platform module (TPM), a Hardware Security Module (HSM), set-top boxes, a digital video recorder, a gaming console, a navigation system, a secure memory device with computational capabilities, a device with at least one tamper-resistant chip, an electronic device associated with industrial control systems, or an embedded computer in a machine, or a combination thereof, wherein the machine comprises one of an airplane, a copier, a motor vehicle, or a microwave oven.

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

13. A method that facilitates dynamic allocation of battery capacity comprising:

determining the state of one or more memories;

allocating a portion of a finite power supply based at least in part on the determination of the state of the one or more memories; and

allocating a portion of a finite power supply based at least in part on user interactions.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the determination of the state of the one or more memories can include determining if the memories are at least one of volatile memories, nonvolatile memories, active memories, inactive memories, or combinations thereof

15. The method of claim 13, wherein:

determining the state of one or more memories further comprises determining the memory types, determining the memory usages, determining the remaining power supply capacity available to the one or more memories, and determining a device power condition based at least in part on the memory types, usages, and available power capacity; and

allocating a portion of a finite power supply based at least in part on the determination of the state of the one or more memories further comprises adjusting a user device'"'"'s power consumption based at least in part on the determination of the device power condition.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the allocated portion of the finite power supply is at or near 0% when the memory types are only nonvolatile or when the memory usages employ only persistent memory during use.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the allocated portion of the finite power supply is based at least in part on communicating information related to the finite power supply allocation when the memory usages include active usages.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the allocated portion of the finite power supply is based at least in part on a predetermined amount of power supply capacity or a remaining amount of power supply capacity when the memory usages include inactive usages.

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)