Methods, Systems, and Products for Charging of Devices

• US 20140055087A1
• Filed: 08/23/2012
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: CAUSEY, MARK, LUU, ADRIANNE BINH, WILLIAMS, J. MICHAEL
• Granted Patent: US 9,385,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products charge a battery in a mobile device. A calendric pattern describes habitual usage of the mobile device. The battery may thus be charged based on the calendric pattern.

Claims

1. A method performed by a battery charger, the method comprising:

detecting a mobile device;

retrieving a calendric pattern that describes habitual usage of the mobile device responsive to detection of the mobile device;

determining a charging strategy for a battery in the mobile device based on the calendric pattern;

receiving electrical power; and

directing a charge of the battery with the electrical power according to the charging strategy.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising predicting future usage of the mobile device from the calendric pattern.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising inductively coupling the mobile device and the battery charger.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising inductively charging the battery.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a minimum level of charge of the battery that is sufficient for the habitual usage described by the calendric pattern.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a current level of charge of the battery; and

comparing the minimum level of charge to the current level of charge.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

determining a charge deficit exists between the minimum level of charge and the current level of charge; and

determining a charging requirement of the battery based on the charge deficit.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising determining a charge time to charge the battery from the current level of charge to the minimum level of charge.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising determining a start time for inductively charging the battery based on the charge time.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a battery charger having a primary coil;

a power supply supplying electrical power to the primary coil;

a wireless interface establishing wireless communication between the battery charger and a mobile device;

a processor receiving at least a portion of the electrical power provided by the power supply; and

a memory that stores code, which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising;

detect the a mobile device;

wirelessly receive a calendric pattern responsive to detection of the mobile device, the calendric pattern describing habitual usage of the mobile device;

determine a charging strategy for a battery in the mobile device based on the calendric pattern;

inductively couple the primary coil to a secondary coil of the mobile device; and

direct a charge of the battery according to the charging strategy using the electrical power supplied to the primary coil.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the code further causes the processor to perform an operation comprising determining a recurring time of daily use of the mobile device based on the calendric pattern.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the code further causes the processor to perform an operation comprising stopping inductively charging the battery before a current time matches the recurring time of daily use.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the code further causes the processor to perform an operation comprising fully charging the battery before a current time matches the recurring time of daily use.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the code further causes the processor to perform an operation comprising determining a minimum level of charge of the battery that is sufficient for the habitual usage described in the calendric pattern.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the code further causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a current level of charge of the battery; and

comparing the minimum level of charge to the current level of charge.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the code further causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

determining a charge deficit exists between the minimum level of charge and the current level of charge; and

determining a charging requirement of the battery based on the charge deficit.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the code further causes the processor to perform an operation comprising determining a charge time to charge the battery from the current level of charge to the minimum level of charge.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the code further causes the processor to perform an operation comprising determining a start time for inductively charging the battery based on the charge time.

19. A computer readable medium storing processor executable code for performing a method, the method comprising:

establishing wireless communication between a mobile device and a battery charger;

inductively coupling a primary coil in the battery charger to a secondary coil in the mobile device;

wirelessly receiving a calendric pattern describing habitual usage of the mobile device;

wirelessly receiving a calendar event in an electronic calendar associated with the mobile device;

determining a charging strategy for a battery in the mobile device based on the calendric pattern;

starting inductive charging of the battery according to the charging strategy using the electrical power supplied to the primary coil; and

stopping the inductive charging of the battery prior to a start time associated with the calendar event,

wherein the battery is charged for use of the mobile device during the calendar event.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the code further causes the processor to fully charge the battery before a current time matches the start time associated with the calendar event.