SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20130030892A1
• Filed: 07/25/2011
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ConvenientPower HK Limited
• Original Assignee: ConvenientPower HK Limited
• Inventors: Liu, Xun, Girma, Emmanuel
• Granted Patent: US 8,823,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

The present invention provides a mobile device including: a power receiver for wirelessly coupling with a power transmitter to receive power wirelessly from the power transmitter; and a function that automatically initiates upon the power receiver wirelessly coupling with the power transmitter. Also provided is a transmitter apparatus including a power transmitter for wirelessly coupling with a power receiver in a mobile device to provide power wirelessly to the power receiver, wherein, upon the power receiver wirelessly coupling with the power transmitter, data is transferred between the power transmitter and the power receiver and a function of the mobile device automatically initiates. The mobile device and transmitter apparatus together form a system for operating the mobile device. Methods and computer-readable media storing executable application programs associated with the system are also provided.

Claims

1. A mobile device including:

a power receiver for wirelessly coupling with a power transmitter to receive power wirelessly from the power transmitter; and

a function that automatically initiates upon the power receiver wirelessly coupling with the power transmitter.

2. A mobile device according to claim 1 including an initiator feature that automatically initiates the function upon the power receiver wirelessly coupling with the power transmitter.

3. A mobile device according to claim 2 wherein the initiator feature is integral with the mobile device.

4. A mobile device according claim 2 wherein the initiator feature includes an initiator application.

5. A mobile device according to claim 4 wherein the initiator application automatically initiates upon the power receiver wirelessly coupling with the power transmitter.

6. A mobile device according to claim 4 wherein the initiator application runs in the background on the mobile device.

7. A mobile device according to claim 4 wherein the initiator application is manually downloadable onto the mobile device.

8. A mobile device according to claim 4 wherein the initiator application is pre-loaded onto the mobile device.

9. A mobile device according to claim 4 wherein the initiator feature automatically downloads the initiator application onto the mobile device upon the power receiver wirelessly coupling with the power transmitter.

10. A mobile device according to claim 4 wherein at least part of the function forms part of the initiator application.

11. A mobile device according to claim 1 wherein the function only runs whilst the power receiver is coupled with the power transmitter.

12. A mobile device according to claim 1 wherein at least part of the function takes the form of a target application.

13. A mobile device according to claim 12 wherein the target application is manually downloadable onto the mobile device.

14. A mobile device according to claim 12 wherein the target application is pre-loaded onto the mobile device.

15. A mobile device according to claim 12 wherein the function automatically downloads the target application onto the mobile device.

16. A mobile device according to claim 1 wherein the function is dependent upon the location of the mobile device or the power transmitter.

17. A mobile device according to claim 1 wherein the function is dependent upon the orientation of the mobile device.

18. A mobile device according to claim 1 wherein the function includes data transfer between the mobile device and another device.

19. A mobile device according to claim 1 wherein the power transmitter is part of a transmitter apparatus having a second power transmitter that can couple with a second power receiver in a second mobile device, and the function includes data transfer between the mobile device and the second mobile device.

20. A mobile device according to claim 19 wherein the second power receiver couples with the second power transmitter using a wired connection.

21. A mobile device according to claim 19 wherein the mobile device is a mobile phone and the second mobile device is a portable computer.

22. A mobile device according to claim 1 wherein the function includes requesting payment details from a user of the mobile device before receiving power wirelessly from the power transmitter.

23. A mobile device according to claim 1 wherein the function includes triggering an alarm if the mobile device is decoupled from the power transmitter before a user inputs a predetermined password.

24. A mobile device according to claim 1 wherein the function includes providing promotional information of a target business to a user of the mobile device.

25. A mobile device according to claim 24 wherein the promotional information includes an offer from the target business redeemable by the user.

26. A mobile device according to claim 25 wherein the power transmitter is associated with a source business and a reward is provided to the source business when the offer is redeemed.

27. A mobile device according to claim 24 including a positioning module to determine the location of the mobile device, the function providing promotional information of a product provided by the target business, wherein the product can be delivered within a predetermined proximity to the location of the mobile device.

28. A mobile device according to claim 1 wherein the function includes providing a sample or a preview of a product.

29. A mobile device according to claim 28 wherein the sample or the preview is only provided whilst the power receiver is coupled with the power transmitter.

30. A mobile device according to claim 28 wherein the function includes requesting payment and providing the product after accepting payment for the product.

31. A mobile device according to claim 30 wherein the function requests payment after the power receiver decouples from the power transmitter.

32. A mobile device according to claim 28 wherein the product is a book, movie, video game, or a service accessible by the mobile device.

33. A mobile device according to claim 1 including one or more of the functions, wherein one of the functions is pre-set on the mobile device, or is set via a computer coupled with the mobile device, or is set via the mobile device, to automatically initiate upon the power receiver wirelessly coupling with the power transmitter.

34. A mobile device according to claim 1 including one or more of the functions, wherein the power transmitter has a mode, and one of the functions corresponds to the mode and automatically initiates upon the power receiver wirelessly coupling with the power transmitter.

35. A mobile device according to claim 34 wherein the mode, and thereby the corresponding function, corresponds to a location of the power transmitter.

36. A mobile device according to claim 34 wherein the function that corresponds to the mode is pre-set on the mobile device, or is set via a computer coupled with the mobile device, or is set via the mobile device.

37. A mobile device according to claim 34 wherein the power transmitter has a plurality of the modes, each corresponding to any one of the functions, with one of the modes being selectable such that the function corresponding to the selected mode automatically initiates upon the power receiver wirelessly coupling with the power transmitter.

38. A mobile device according to claim 37 wherein the selected mode is selectable via the mobile device whilst the power receiver is coupled with the power transmitter.

39. A mobile device according to claim 37 wherein the power transmitter has one or more switches corresponding to the modes and the selected mode is selectable by operating the one or more switches.

40. A mobile device according to claim 37 wherein the selected mode is selectable via a computer coupled with the power transmitter.

41. A mobile device according to claim 1 wherein the power receiver receives power wirelessly from the power transmitter thereby to define a power transfer channel, and wherein data is transferable through the power transfer channel.

42. A mobile device according to claim 41 wherein the power receiver receives power wirelessly from the power transmitter in the form of a power signal in the power transfer channel, and wherein data is encoded onto the power signal.

43. A mobile device according to claim 42 wherein data is encoded into the power signal by modulating the power signal.

44. A mobile device according to claim 41 wherein the power transmitter has one or more of a mode, an ID, and location information and the data includes one or more of the mode, the ID, and the location information.

45. A mobile device according to claim 1 wherein the power receiver couples with the power transmitter using magnetic induction.

46. A mobile device according to claim 45 wherein the power receiver includes a planar receiver winding for coupling by magnetic induction with the power transmitter.

47. A mobile device according to claim 45 wherein the power transmitter includes one or more planar transmitter windings each for coupling by magnetic induction with the power receiver.

48. A mobile device according to claim 45 wherein the one or more transmitter windings are located in a surface of the power transmitter to define a charging surface, and wherein the mobile device can be placed onto the charging surface.

70. A system including:

a mobile device in accordance with claim 1; and

a transmitter apparatus in accordance with claim 49.

49. A transmitter apparatus including a power transmitter for wirelessly coupling with a power receiver in a mobile device to provide power wirelessly to the power receiver, wherein, upon the power receiver wirelessly coupling with the power transmitter, data is transferred between the power transmitter and the power receiver and a function of the mobile device automatically initiates.

50. A transmitter apparatus according to claim 49 wherein the power transmitter has a mode, the mobile device including one or more of the functions, and wherein one of the functions corresponds to the mode and automatically initiates upon the power receiver wirelessly coupling with the power transmitter.

51. A transmitter apparatus according to claim 50 wherein the mode, and thereby the corresponding function, corresponds to a location of the power transmitter.

52. A transmitter apparatus according to claim 50 wherein the function that corresponds to the mode is pre-set on the mobile device, or is set via a computer coupled with the mobile device, or is set via the mobile device.

53. A transmitter apparatus according to claim 50 wherein the power transmitter has a plurality of the modes, each corresponding to any one of the functions, with one of the modes being selectable such that the function corresponding to the selected mode automatically initiates upon the power receiver wirelessly coupling with the power transmitter.

54. A transmitter apparatus according to claim 53 wherein the selected mode is selectable via the mobile device whilst the power receiver is coupled with the power transmitter.

55. A transmitter apparatus according to claim 53 wherein the power transmitter has one or more switches corresponding to the modes and the selected mode is selectable by operating the one or more switches.

56. A transmitter apparatus according to claim 53 wherein the selected mode is selectable via a computer coupled with the power transmitter.

57. A transmitter apparatus according to claim 49 wherein the power receiver receives power wirelessly from the power transmitter thereby to define a power transfer channel, and wherein data is transferable through the power transfer channel.

58. A transmitter apparatus according to claim 57 wherein the power receiver receives power wirelessly from the power transmitter in the form of a power signal in the power transfer channel, and wherein data is encoded onto the power signal.

59. A transmitter apparatus according to claim 58 wherein data is encoded into the power signal by modulating the power signal.

60. A transmitter apparatus according to claim 57 wherein the power transmitter has one or more of a mode, an ID, and location information and the data includes one or more of the mode, the ID, and the location information.

61. A transmitter apparatus according to claim 49 wherein the power receiver couples with the power transmitter using magnetic induction.

62. A transmitter apparatus according claim 61 wherein the power transmitter includes one or more planar transmitter windings each for coupling by magnetic induction with the power receiver.

63. A transmitter apparatus according to claim 61 wherein the power receiver includes a planar receiver winding for coupling by magnetic induction with the power transmitter.

64. A transmitter apparatus according to claim 61 wherein the one or more transmitter windings are located in a surface of the transmitter apparatus to define a charging surface for receiving the mobile device.

65. A transmitter apparatus according to claim 49 including a second power transmitter that can couple with a second power receiver in a second mobile device, and the function includes data transfer between the mobile device and the second mobile device.

66. A transmitter apparatus according to claim 65 wherein the second power receiver couples with the second power transmitter using a wired connection.

67. A transmitter apparatus according to claim 65 wherein the mobile device is a mobile phone and the second mobile device is a portable computer.

68. A transmitter apparatus according to claim 65 wherein the power transmitter transmits power wirelessly to the power receiver thereby to define a first power transfer channel, and the second power transmitter transmits power wirelessly to the second power receiver thereby to define a second power transfer channel, wherein the data transfer between the mobile device and the second mobile device includes transferring data between the mobile device and the power transmitter through the first power transfer channel, transferring data between the second mobile device and the second power transmitter through the second power transfer channel, and transferring data between the first and second power transmitters.

69. A transmitter apparatus according to claim 49 including a plurality of the power transmitters such that the transmitter apparatus can provide power wirelessly to a plurality of the mobile devices simultaneously.

71. A computer-readable medium with an executable application program stored thereon, the executable application program downloadable to a mobile device having a power receiver for wirelessly coupling with a power transmitter to receive power wirelessly from the power transmitter, such that the executable application program automatically initiates a function of the mobile device upon the power receiver wirelessly coupling with the power transmitter.

72. A computer-readable medium with an executable application program stored thereon, the executable application program downloadable to a mobile device having a power receiver for wirelessly coupling with a power transmitter to receive power wirelessly from the power transmitter, such that the executable application program forms at least part of a function that is automatically initiated upon the power receiver wirelessly coupling with the power transmitter.

73. A method of manufacturing or supplying a mobile device having a power receiver for wirelessly coupling with a power transmitter to receive power wirelessly from the power transmitter, the method including adding into the mobile device a function that automatically initiates upon the power receiver wirelessly coupling with the power transmitter.

74. A method of manufacturing or supplying a transmitter apparatus having a power transmitter for wirelessly coupling with a power receiver in a mobile device to provide power wirelessly to the power receiver, the method including configuring the transmitter apparatus such that upon the power receiver wirelessly coupling with the power transmitter, data is transferred between the power transmitter and the power receiver and a function of the mobile device automatically initiates.