METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING POWER MANAGEMENT FOR A WEARABLE SMART DEVICE

• US 20160064955A1
• Filed: 08/29/2014
• Published: 03/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: ZUERNER, Helmut
• Granted Patent: US 10,326,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/321 using wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/006 dispensed for the electrical charging of other devices than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/12 in which metering is on a time basis
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge

Abstract

An approach for managing the use and distribution of power for wearable smart device is described. A wearable platform receives a notification signal for specifying sensor information associated with a sensor of a wearable smart device of a user. The wearable platform also determines a power requirement of the sensor based on the sensor information, contextual information associated with a mobile device of the user, or a combination thereof based on receipt of the signal. Still further, the wearable platform generates a request to regulate a consumption of power by the sensor or other sensors of the wearable smart device, to access a power controller for charging the sensor, or a combination thereof based on the determination, status information associated with the power controller, or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a notification signal for specifying sensor information associated with a sensor of a wearable smart device;

determining a power requirement of the sensor based on the sensor information, contextual information associated a user of the wearable smart device, or a combination thereof; and

generating a request to regulate a consumption of power by the sensor or another sensor of the wearable smart device, to access a power controller for charging the sensor, or a combination thereof based on the power requirement, status information associated with the power controller, or a combination thereof.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the request to the sensor or other sensors, the power controller, or a combination thereof,

wherein the request specifies (a) activating or deactivating the sensor or the another sensor, (b) balancing an available power of the wearable smart device between the sensor and the another sensor, (c) balancing an available power of the power controller, a power source, or a combination thereof between the sensor and the another sensor, or (d) a combination thereof.

3. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an amount of power discharge associated with the sensor, a power capacity associated with the sensor, an expected charge duration, or a combination thereof based on the sensor information,

wherein the power requirement is based on the amount of power discharge; and

wherein the request to access the power controller specifies the power requirement.

4. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a trust level of the power controller based on historic use information associated with the user, identifier information associated with the power controller, the status information, or a combination thereof,

wherein the trust level specifies familiarity information of the user with the power controller, a likelihood of availability of the power controller, or a combination thereof.

5. A method of claim 4, wherein the status information is based on at least one of (a) the trust level, and (b) availability information, charge capability information, service provider information, payment information, or a combination thereof associated with the power controller.

6. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a message for specifying a location of the power controller, other power controllers, or a combination thereof within a proximity of a location of the user device based on a matching of the status information, the context information, or a combination thereof; and

initiating a presenting of (a) the message to the user device, (b) directions for locating the power controller, the other power controllers, or a combination thereof, or (c) a combination thereof.

7. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a digital signature, label information, or a combination thereof from the sensor based on a random pulse signal, the label information, or a combination thereof;

transmitting the digital signature, the label information, or a combination thereof to the power controller; and

initiating a payment for use of the power controller based on a prepayment arrangement, a digital currency amount, or a combination thereof,

wherein the request to access the power controller is granted based on acknowledgement of (a) receipt of the digital signature, the label information, or a combination thereof by the power controller, (b) the payment by the user, or (c) a combination thereof.

8. A method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving charge capability information associated with the power controller based on the acknowledgement,

wherein the charging capabilities information includes (a) a code for depicting a location of charge contact points of the wearable smart device, (b) an image for depicting a map of the charge contact points, or (c) a combination thereof.

9. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a message for specifying a charge status, an operational status, a usage status, or a combination thereof of the sensor or the other sensors based on a granting of the request for access to the power controller and a connecting of the wearable smart device to the power controller;

generating a report based on analysis of the charge status the operational status, the usage status, or a combination thereof as collected over a period of time; and

initiating (a) a presenting of the message, an visual alert, an audio alert, or a combination thereof, (b) a presenting of the report, or (c) a combination thereof to the user device,

wherein the visual alert, the audio alert, or a combination thereof indicate a status of the connection between the wearable smart device and the power controller.

10. An apparatus comprising a processor configured to:

receive a notification signal for specifying sensor information associated with a sensor of a wearable smart device;

determine a power requirement of the sensor based on the sensor information, contextual information associated with a user of the wearable smart device, or a combination thereof; and

generate a request to regulate a consumption of power by the sensor or another sensor of the wearable smart device, to access a power controller for charging the sensor, or a combination thereof based on the power requirement, status information associated with the power controller, or a combination thereof.

11. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

transmit the request to the sensor or other sensors, the power controller, or a combination thereof,

wherein the request specifies (a) activating or deactivating the sensor or the another sensor, (b) balancing an available power of the wearable smart device between the sensor and the another sensor, (c) balancing an available power of the power controller, a power source, or a combination thereof between the sensor and the another sensor, or (d) a combination thereof.

12. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine an amount of power discharge associated with the sensor, a power capacity associated with the sensor, an expected charge duration, or a combination thereof based on the sensor information,

wherein the power requirement is based on the amount of power discharge; and

wherein the request to access the power controller specifies the power requirement.

13. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a trust level of the power controller based on historic use information associated with the user, identifier information associated with the power controller, the status information, or a combination thereof,

wherein the trust level specifies familiarity information of the user with the power controller, a likelihood of availability of the power controller, or a combination thereof.

14. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the status information is based on at least one of (a) the trust level, and (b) availability information, charge capability information, service provider information, payment information, or a combination thereof associated with the power controller.

15. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

generate a message for specifying a location of the power controller, other power controllers, or a combination thereof within a proximity of a location of the user device based on a matching of the status information, the context information, or a combination thereof; and

initiate a presenting of (a) the message to the user device, (b) directions for locating the power controller, the other power controllers, or a combination thereof, or (c) a combination thereof.

16. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a digital signature, label information, or a combination thereof from the sensor based on a random pulse signal, the label information, or a combination thereof;

transmit the digital signature, the label information, or a combination thereof to the power controller; and

initiate a payment for use of the power controller based on a prepayment arrangement, a digital currency amount, or a combination thereof,

wherein the request to access the power controller is granted based on acknowledgement of (a) receipt of the digital signature, the label information, or a combination thereof by the power controller, (b) the payment by the user, or (c) a combination thereof.

17. An apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive charge capability information associated with the power controller based on the acknowledgement,

wherein the charging capabilities information includes (a) a code for depicting a location of charge contact points of the wearable smart device, (b) an image for depicting a map of the charge contact points, or (c) a combination thereof.

18. A system comprising:

a wearable smart device configured to be associated with a sensor, another sensor, or a combination thereof;

a power controller configured to charge the sensor; and

a platform configured to receive a notification signal for specifying sensor information associated with the sensor;

to determine a power requirement of the sensor based on the sensor information, contextual information associated with a user of the wearable smart device, or a combination thereof; and

to generate a request to regulate a consumption of power by the sensor or the another sensor, to access the power controller for charging the sensor, or a combination thereof based on the power requirement, status information associated with the power controller, or a combination thereof.

19. An apparatus of claim 18, wherein the platform is further configured to:

transmit the request to the sensor or other sensors, the power controller, or a combination thereof,

wherein the request specifies (a) activating or deactivating the sensor or the another sensor, (b) balancing an available power of the wearable smart device between the sensor and the another sensor, (c) balancing an available power of the power controller, a power source, or a combination thereof between the sensor and the another sensor, or (d) a combination thereof.

20. An apparatus of claim 18, wherein the platform is further configured to:

determine an amount of power discharge associated with the sensor, a power capacity associated with the sensor, an expected charge duration, or a combination thereof based on the sensor information,

wherein the power requirement is based on the amount of power discharge; and

wherein the request to access the power controller specifies the power requirement.