Method, system and apparatus for proximity-based recharge notification
First Claim
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1. A portable battery-operated electronic device, comprising:
- a proximity detector, said proximity detector enabling determination of a proximity criterion for said electronic device and at least one corresponding charging unit;
a controller coupled to said proximity detector, said controller initiating a user notification only when said controller determines that a remaining battery capacity of said electronic device satisfies a predetermined condition and that said proximity criterion is valid; and
said criterion is valid when said electronic device is within a prespecified range of said at least one corresponding charging unit.
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Abstract
An apparatus, system and method notifies a user of a low battery condition when the remaining battery capacity of a portable electronic device, such as a mobile station, pager, portable computer, video camera, or personal digital assistant, falls below a predetermined level and the portable electronic device is proximally located to a corresponding charging unit. The proximity of the portable electronic device to the charging unit may be detected by using geographic positioning, such as the GPS, the GLONASS or the GSM location-determining algorithms, or by monitoring a short range radio interface, such as Bluetooth or Home RF.
148 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A portable battery-operated electronic device, comprising:
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a proximity detector, said proximity detector enabling determination of a proximity criterion for said electronic device and at least one corresponding charging unit;
a controller coupled to said proximity detector, said controller initiating a user notification only when said controller determines that a remaining battery capacity of said electronic device satisfies a predetermined condition and that said proximity criterion is valid; and
said criterion is valid when said electronic device is within a prespecified range of said at least one corresponding charging unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for a rechargeable, battery-operated electronic device, comprising:
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a battery-operated electronic device;
at least one charging unit associated with said battery-operated electronic device;
a proximity detector, said proximity detector enabling determination of a proximity criterion for said battery-operated electronic device and said at least one charging unit; and
a controller coupled to said proximity detector, said controller initiating a user notification only when said controller determines that a remaining battery capacity of said battery-operated electronic device satisfies a predetermined condition, and that said proximity criterion is valid based, at least in part, on monitoring a short-range radio interface device. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for notifying a user of a low battery condition of a battery-operated electronic device, comprising the steps of:
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determining, in response to said low battery condition of said battery-operated electronic device, whether a proximity criterion for said battery-operated electronic device and at least one corresponding charging unit is valid; and
generating a user notification only when said proximity criterion is valid, said proximity criterion being valid when said electronic device is within a prespecified range of said at least one corresponding charging unit. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
determining a present geographic position of said battery-operated electronic device;
comparing said present geographic position of said battery-operated electronic device to a stored geographic location of said at least one corresponding charging unit; and
determining that said proximity criterion is valid if said present geographic position is within a predetermined distance from said stored geographic location.
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28. The method for notifying a user of a low battery condition of a battery-operated electronic device according to claim 27, wherein the step of determining said present geographic position is performed using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.
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29. The method for notifying a user of a low battery condition of a battery-operated electronic device according to claim 27, wherein the step of determining said present geographic position is performed in accordance with at least one of Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) specifications and Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) specifications.
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30. The method for notifying a user of a low battery condition of a battery-operated electronic device according to claim 23, wherein the step of determining comprises monitoring a short range radio interface associated with said battery-operated electronic device.
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31. The method for notifying a user of a low battery condition of a battery-operated electronic device according to claim 23, wherein the step of determining comprises the steps of:
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transmitting a signal;
detecting at least one identification received by a short range radio interface in response to said signal;
comparing said at least one identification to a stored list including at least one identity corresponding to said at least one corresponding charging unit; and
determining that said proximity criterion is valid if said at least one identification is within said stored list that includes said at least one identity.
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32. The method for notifying a user of a low battery condition of a battery-operated electronic device according to claim 31, wherein said signal comprises an acknowledgment signal transmitted by said battery-operated electronic device in response to a page signal transmitted by said at least one corresponding charging unit.
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33. The method for notifying a user of a low battery condition of a battery-operated electronic device according to claim 31, wherein said signal comprises an inquiry signal transmitted by said battery-operated electronic device to devices within transmission range.
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34. The method for notifying a user of a low battery condition of a battery-operated electronic device according to claim 31, wherein said short range radio interface operates in accordance with at least one of Bluetooth specifications and Home RF specifications.
Specification