Method and apparatus for selectively providing an audible low power alert to a user of an electronic device

• US 6,717,520 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2002
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dorenbosch, Jheroen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAI, ANNE VIET NGA
• Application Number:
  US10/247,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20040066300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 340/636.1, 340/309.16, 340/309.3, 340/309--30, 340/7.37, 340/7.38, 340/7.58, 340/7.62, 368/10, 368/13, 368/14, 368/244-249, 368/261, 368/263
• US Class Current: 340/636.1
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 10/04 with means for indicating the condition of the power supply in general G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 13/02 at preselected times, e.g. alarm clocks
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An electronic device (103, 200) employs a method and apparatus for selectively audibly alerting a user as to the status of the device'"'"'s DC power source (119). The device receives input from the user indicating a time period during which the audible low power alert is not to be emanated from the device. After receiving such input, the device determines whether a low power condition exists during the time period and deactivates the audible low power alert if such a condition is met. Alternatively or additionally, after receiving the time period input from the user, the device may determine the likelihood of a low power condition occurring during the time period and activate the audible alert prior to commencement of the time period if such a condition is likely to occur, thereby providing the user advance notice of the potential for such a condition.

Claims

1. A method for selectively alerting a user of an electronic device as to a status of a direct current (DC) power source of the electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an input from the user indicating a time period during which an audible low power alert is not to be emanated from the electronic device;

determining whether a low DC power condition is likely to occur during the time period;

in the event that a low DC power condition is likely to occur during the time period, emanating the audible low power alert from the electronic device prior to commencement of the time period;

determining whether a low DC power condition exists for the DC power source; and

in the event that a low DC power condition exists during the time period, temporarily deactivating the audible low power alert.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

in the event that a low DC power condition exists at a time outside the time period, emanating the audible low power alert from the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a wireless communication device, the method further comprising the step of:

receiving another input from the user indicating a time period during which an audible communication receipt alert is not to be emanated from the wireless communication device, wherein the time period during which an audible communication receipt alert is not to be emanated is different than the time period during which an audible low power alert is not to be emanated.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a wireless communication device, the method further comprising the steps of:

receiving time information over a wireless communication channel; and

determining a present time based on the time information, the present time being used to determine whether the low DC power condition exists during the time period.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the electronic device is used by the user during the time period; and

in the event that the electronic device is used during the time period, reactivating the audible low power alert.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the time period comprises a period of time during a day.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the time period comprises a period of time associated with an event.

8. A method for selectively alerting a user of an electronic device as to a status of a DC power source of the electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an input from the user indicating a time period during which an audible low power alert is not to be emanated from the electronic device;

determining whether a low DC power condition is likely to occur during the time period; and

in the event that a low DC power condition is likely to occur during the time period, emanating the audible low power alert from the electronic device prior to commencement of the time period.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

in the event that a low DC power condition is not likely to occur during the time period, temporarily deactivating the audible low power alert.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a direct current (DC) power source;

a circuit for generating an alert signal;

a speaker, operably coupled to the circuit, for emanating an audible alert in response to the alert signal;

a user interface that receives an input from a user indicating a time period during which the audible alert is not to be emanated from the speaker;

a processor, operably coupled to the user interface, the circuit and the DC power source; and

a memory operably coupled to the processor, the memory including operating instructions that, when executed by the processor, control the processor to;

determine whether a low DC power condition is likely to occur during the time period;

instruct the circuit to generate the alert signal prior to commencement of the time period in the event that a low DC power condition is likely to occur during the time period;

determine whether a low DC power condition exists during the time period based on an output power of the DC power source; and

disable the circuit from generating the alert signal in the event that the low DC power condition exists during the time period.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the memory includes additional operating instructions that, when executed by the processor, control the processor to enable the circuit to generate the alert signal in the event that the low DC power condition exists outside the time period.

12. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the electronic device is a wireless communication device, wherein the user interface receives another input from the user indicating a time period during which an audible communication receipt alert is not to be emanated from the wireless communication device, and wherein the time period during which an audible communication receipt alert is not to be emanated is different than the time period during which an audible low power alert is not to be emanated.

13. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the electronic device is a wireless communication device and wherein the wireless communication device further comprises:

a receiver, operably coupled to the processor, for receiving time information over a wireless communication channel,

wherein the memory includes additional operating instructions that, when executed by the processor, control the processor to determine a present time based on the time information received by the receiver, the present time being used to determine whether the low DC power condition exists during the time period.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the receiver is at least partially integrated into an integrated circuit that contains the processor.

15. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the circuit is at least partially integrated into an integrated circuit that contains the processor.

16. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the DC power source comprises a battery and wherein at least the battery, the circuit, and the processor form part of an intelligent battery device.

17. An electronic device comprising:

a direct current (DC) power source;

a circuit for generating a low power alert signal;

a speaker, operably coupled to the circuit, for emanating an audible low power alert in response to the low power alert signal;

a user interface that receives an input from a user indicating a time period during which the audible low power alert is not to be emanated from the speaker;

a processor, operably coupled to the user interface, the circuit and the DC power source; and

a memory operably coupled to the processor, the memory including operating instructions that, when executed by the processor, control the processor to;

determine whether a low DC power condition is likely to occur during the time period; and

instruct the circuit to generate the low power alert signal prior to commencement of the time period in the event that a low DC power condition is likely to occur during the time period.

18. An intelligent battery for use with an electronic device, the electronic device including a user interface and a speaker, the user interface receiving an input from a user indicating a time period during which an audible low battery alert is not to be emanated from the electronic device and the speaker emanating a low battery alert in response to a low battery alert signal, the intelligent battery comprising:

a battery;

a circuit, operably coupleable to the speaker, for generating the low battery alert signal;

a processor, operably coupled to the circuit and the battery and operably coupleable to the user interface; and

a memory operably coupled to the processor, the memory including operating instructions that, when executed by the processor, control the processor to;

determine whether a low battery power condition is likely to occur during the time period;

instruct the circuit to generate the low battery alert signal prior to commencement of the time period in the event that a low battery power condition is likely to occur during the time period;

determine whether a low battery power condition exists during the time period based on an output power of the battery; and

disable the circuit from generating the low battery alert signal in the event that the low battery power condition exists during the time period.

19. An intelligent battery for use with an electronic device, the electronic device including a user interface and a speaker, the user interface receiving an input from a user indicating a time period during which an audible low battery alert is not to be emanated from the electronic device and the speaker emanating a low battery alert in response to a low battery alert signal, the intelligent battery comprising:

a battery;

a circuit, operably coupleable to the speaker, for generating the low battery alert signal;

a processor, operably coupled to the circuit and the battery and operably coupleable to the user interface; and

a memory operably coupled to the processor, the memory including operating instructions that, when executed by the processor, control the processor to;

determine whether a low battery power condition is likely to occur during the time period; and

instruct the circuit to generate the low battery alert signal prior to commencement of the time period in the event that a low battery power condition is likely to occur during the time period.

20. A communication system comprising:

a base transceiver site that includes;

a first receiver for receiving time information from a time source;

a transmitter for transmitting the time information over a wireless communication channel; and

a controller, operably coupled to the first receiver and the transmitter, for controlling receipt and transmission of the time information; and

a communication device that includes;

a direct current (DC) power source;

a circuit for generating a low power alert signal;

a speaker, operably coupled to the circuit, for emanating an audible low power alert in response to the low power alert signal;

a user interface that receives an input from a user indicating a time period during which the audible low power alert is not to be emanated from the speaker;

a second receiver for receiving the time information over the wireless communication channel;

a processor, operably coupled to the user interface, the circuit, the DC power source and the receiver; and

a memory operably coupled to the processor, the memory including operating instructions that, when executed by the processor, control the processor to;

determine whether a low DC power condition exists based on an output power of the DC power source;

determine a present time based on the time information;

determine whether a low battery power condition is likely to occur during the time period;

instruct the circuit to generate the low battery alert signal prior to commencement of the time period in the event that a low battery power condition is likely to occur during the time period;

determine whether the present time is during the time period; and

disable the circuit from generating the low power alert signal in the event that the present time is during the time period and a low DC power condition exists.