Notification of a low-battery and maintaining communication in a wireless network

• US 6,697,617 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2002
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Liebenow, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZEWDU, MELESS NMN
• Application Number:
  US10/145,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20020128051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 455/425, 455/423, 455/67.11, 455/67.7, 455/127.1, 455/127.5, 455/226.1, 455/95, 455/571-574, 340/7-2-
• US Class Current: 455/425
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

A system and method for notifying a remote device of a low battery capacity condition in a wireless communications system is disclosed. A detector monitors the capacity of the battery in a wireless device receiving operational power from the battery for a low capacity condition. A control system coupled to the detector sends a low battery capacity status signal to the remote device upon detection a low battery capacity condition. While the battery is in a low capacity condition, communications between the wireless device and the remote device may be maintained until the low battery capacity condition is corrected.

Claims

1. A system for notifying a remote device of a low battery capacity condition in a wireless communications system, comprising:

a wireless device receiving operational power from a battery, said wireless device communicating with the remote device;

a detector coupled to the battery for detecting a low battery capacity condition of the battery, said detector generating a low battery capacity status signal upon detecting a low battery capacity condition of the battery; and

a control system coupled to said detector for receiving the low battery capacity status signal from said detector, said control system sending the low battery capacity status signal generated by said detector to the remote device, wherein communications between said wireless device and the remote device are maintained during the low battery capacity condition while the low battery capacity condition is corrected.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a base station for controlling communications between said wireless device and the remote device.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, said base station including a message including information about the low battery capacity condition of the battery,

said base station sending the message to the remote device during the low battery capacity condition of the battery.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, said wireless device being a cellular telephone.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, said wireless device being a personal communications system telephone.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1, said wireless device being a cordless telephone.

7. A system as claimed in claim 1, said wireless device being a terminal.

8. A system as claimed in claim 1, said wireless device being an information handling system.

9. A computer-based information handling system receiving operational power from a battery and communicating with a remote device, comprising:

a central processing system for interpreting and executing instructions on said computer-based information handling system;

a detector, coupled to the battery for detecting a low battery capacity condition of the battery, said detector providing a low battery capacity status signal to said central processing system upon detecting a low battery capacity condition; and

wherein said central processing system sends the low battery capacity status signal to the remote device upon receiving the low battery capacity status signal wherein communications with the remote device are maintained while the low battery capacity condition is corrected.

10. A computer-based information handling system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising an additional computer-based information handling system coupled between said computer-based information handling system and the remote device, said additional computer-based information handling system receiving the low battery capacity stats signal from said computer-based information handling system and sending the low battery capacity status signal to the remote device while maintaining communications with the remote device until the low battery capacity condition is corrected.

11. A system for notifying a remote device of a low battery capacity condition in a wireless communications system, comprising:

means for wirelessly communicating with the remote device, said wireless communicating means receiving operational power from a battery;

means coupled to the battery for detecting a low battery capacity condition of the battery, said detecting means generating a low battery capacity status signal upon detecting a low battery capacity condition of the battery; and

means coupled to said detecting for receiving the low battery capacity status signal from said detector, said receiving means sending the low battery capacity status signal generated by said detecting means to the remote device, wherein communications between said wireless communicating means and the remote device are maintained during the low battery capacity condition while the low battery capacity condition is corrected.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11, further comprising means for controlling communications between said wireless communicating and the remote device.

13. A system as claimed in claim 12, said controlling means including a message including information about the low battery capacity condition of the battery, said controlling means sending the message to the remote device during the low battery capacity condition of the battery.

14. A system as claimed in claim 11, said wireless communicating means being a cellular telephone.

15. A system as claimed in claim 11, said wireless communicating means being a personal communications system telephone.

16. A system as claimed in claim 11, said wireless communicating means being a cordless telephone.

17. A system as claimed in claim 11, said wireless communicating means being a terminal.

18. A system as claimed in claim 11, said wireless communicating means being an information handling system.

19. A computer-based information handling system receiving operational power from a battery and communicating with a remote device, comprising:

means for interpreting and executing instructions on said computer-based information handling system;

means, coupled to the battery for detecting a low battery capacity condition of the battery, said detecting means providing a low battery capacity status signal to said interpreting and executing means upon detecting a low battery capacity condition; and

wherein said interpreting and executing means sends the low battery capacity status signal to the remote device upon receiving the low battery capacity status signal, wherein communications with the remote device are maintained while the low battery capacity condition is corrected.

20. A computer-based information handling system as claimed in claim 19, further comprising an additional computer-based information handling system coupled between said computer-based information handling system and the remote device, said additional computer-based information handling system receiving the low battery capacity status signal from said computer-based information handling system and sending the low battery capacity status signal to the remote device while maintaining communications with the remote device until the low battery capacity condition is corrected.

21. A method for notifying a remote device of a low battery capacity condition in a wireless device communicating with the remote device, comprising:

monitoring the capacity of the battery whereby a low capacity condition may be detected;

upon detecting a low capacity condition of the battery, sending a low battery capacity stats signal to the remote device; and

while the battery is in a low battery capacity condition, maintaining communications between the wireless device and the remote device until the low battery capacity condition is corrected.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising the step of placing the wireless device into a standby mode while the battery is in a low battery capacity condition.

23. A method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising the step of correcting the low battery capacity stats during the standby state until a normal battery capacity status is attained.

24. A method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising the step of correcting the low battery capacity status during the standby state until a normal battery capacity status is attained, and, upon correcting the low battery capacity stats of the battery, recommunicating with the remote device.

25. A computer readable medium for causing an information handling system to execute steps for notifying a remote device of a low battery capacity condition in a wireless device communicating with the remote device, the steps comprising:

monitoring the capacity of the battery whereby a low capacity condition may be detected;

upon detecting a low capacity condition of the battery, sending a low battery capacity stats signal to the remote device; and

while the battery is in a low battery capacity condition, maintaining communications between the wireless device and the remote device until the low battery capacity condition is corrected.

26. A computer readable medium as claimed in claim 25, the steps further comprising the step of placing the wireless device into a standby mode while the battery is in a low battery capacity condition.

27. A computer readable medium as claimed in claim 25, the steps further comprising the step of correcting the low battery capacity status during the standby state until a normal battery capacity status is attained.

28. A computer readable medium as claimed in claim 25, the steps further comprising the step of correcting the low battery capacity status during the standby state until a normal battery capacity status is attained, and, upon correcting the low battery capacity status of the battery, recommunicating with the remote device.

29. A method for maintaining communication in a system having a remote device and a wireless device having a low battery capacity condition of a battery, the communication realized utilizing a base station, comprising:

communicating between the wireless device and the remote device utilizing the base station;

monitoring the capacity of the battery whereby a low capacity condition may be detected;

upon detecting a low capacity condition of the battery, sending a low battery capacity status signal to the remote device; and

while the battery is in a low battery capacity condition, maintaining communications between the wireless device and the base station until the low battery capacity condition is corrected.

30. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein communication between the base station and the remote device is maintained even though the wireless device is no longer communicating with the base station.

31. A method as claimed in claim 29, further comprising the step of otherwise sending a normal battery level status signal to the remote device.

32. A method as claimed in claim 29, further comprising the step of placing the wireless device into a standby mode while the battery is in a low battery capacity condition.

33. A method as claimed in claim 29, further comprising the step of correcting the low battery capacity status during the standby state until a normal battery capacity stabs is attained.

34. A method as claimed in claim 29, further comprising the step of correcting the low battery capacity status during the standby state until a normal battery capacity status is attained, and, upon correcting the low battery capacity status of the battery, recommunicating with the remote device.

35. A system suitable for maintaining communication between a remote device and a wireless device, the communication realized utilizing a base station, comprising:

a wireless device receiving operational power from a battery, said wireless device communicating with the remote device through use of the base station;

a detector coupled to the battery for monitoring the capacity of the battery whereby a low capacity condition may be detected; and

a control system coupled to said detector for receiving a low battery capacity status signal from said detector, said control system sending the low battery capacity status signal generated by said detector to the base station, wherein communications between said base station and the remote device are maintained during the low battery capacity condition while the low battery capacity condition is corrected even though the wireless device may no longer be communicating with the base station.

36. A system as claimed in claim 35, said wireless device being a cellular telephone.

37. A system as claimed in claim 35, said wireless device being a personal communications system telephone.

38. A system as claimed in claim 35, said wireless device being a cordless telephone.

39. A system as claimed in claim 35, said wireless device being a terminal.

40. A system as claimed in claim 35, said wireless device being an information handling system.

41. A system as claimed in claim 35, wherein the base station otherwise sends a normal battery level status signal to the remote device.

42. A system as claimed in claim 35, further comprising placing the base station into a standby mode while the battery is in a low battery capacity condition.

43. A system as claimed in claim 35, further comprising correcting the low battery capacity stats during the standby state until a normal battery capacity status is attained.

44. A system as claimed in claim 35, further comprising correcting the low battery capacity status during the standby state until a normal battery capacity status is attained, and, upon correcting the low battery capacity status of the battery, recommunicating with the remote device.