Method and apparatus for implementing programmable battery shut off

• US 6,753,625 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kelsey, Todd Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US10/109,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20030184162A1
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.7, 307/46, 307/140, 307/150, 320/132
• US Class Current: 307/150
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for implementing programmable battery shut in an electronic device system. A device battery consumption configuration file is stored. The device battery consumption configuration file includes at least one configuration threshold parameter. Electronic device system operation is monitored to identify the configuration threshold parameter being met. Responsive to identifying the configuration threshold parameter being met, the electronic device system is powered off. The device battery consumption configuration file includes the configuration threshold parameter that is user defined, such as, a user selected battery time left value or a user selected battery usage percent value, for implementing programmable battery shut. At least one battery specific hardware input button is provided for user operation to allow quick external battery management. Each input button is programmed via a battery management program for a specific external battery management function. During operation of the electronic device system, each time the user depresses the input button the threshold parameter is changed by a set value.

Claims

1. A method for implementing programmable battery shut off in an electronic device system;

said method comprising the steps of;

storing a device battery consumption configuration file;

said device battery consumption configuration file including at least one configuration threshold parameter;

monitoring electronic device system operation to identify said at least one configuration threshold parameter being met; and

responsive to identifying said at least one configuration threshold parameter being met, powering off the electronic device system.

2. A method for implementing programmable battery shut off in an electronic device system as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of storing said device battery consumption configuration file includes the step of storing a user selected battery usage percent value;

said user selected battery usage percent value defining said configuration threshold parameter.

3. A method for implementing programmable battery shut off in an electronic device system as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of storing said device battery consumption configuration file includes the step of storing a user entered battery time left value;

said user entered battery time left value defining said configuration threshold parameter.

4. A method for implementing programmable battery shut off in an electronic device system as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of storing said device battery consumption configuration file includes the step of storing a user selected alarm action;

and further includes the step of providing an alarm indicator responsive to identifying said at least one configuration threshold parameter being met, said alarm indicator including at least one of an e-mail notice, a pager notice, an audible notice, a visual notice and a vibration notice.

5. A method for implementing programmable battery shut off in an electronic device system as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of storing said device battery consumption configuration file includes the step of storing a user selected configuration for a battery specific hardware input button.

6. A method for implementing programmable battery shut off in an electronic device system as recited in claim 5 wherein the step of storing said user selected configuration for said battery specific hardware input button includes the step of storing a user selected on function or user selected off function for said battery specific hardware input button.

7. A method for implementing programmable battery shut off in an electronic device system as recited in claim 6 wherein the step of storing said user selected configuration for said battery specific hardware input button includes the step of storing a user selected time value or a battery percent usage defined for a button push of said battery specific hardware input button.

8. A method for implementing programmable battery shut off in an electronic device system as recited in claim 1 further includes the step of monitoring electronic device system operation to identify a button push of a battery specific hardware input button.

9. A method for implementing programmable battery shut off in an electronic device system as recited in claim 8 further includes the step of adjusting said stored device battery consumption configuration file responsive to identifying said button push.

10. A method for implementing programmable battery shut off in an electronic device system as recited in claim 9 wherein the step of adjusting said stored device battery consumption configuration file responsive to identifying said button push includes the step of changing said at least one configuration threshold parameter responsive to identifying said button push.

11. A method for implementing programmable battery shut off in an electronic device system as recited in claim 9 wherein the step of adjusting said stored device battery consumption configuration file responsive to identifying said button push includes the step of powering off the electronic device system for a defined time period responsive to identifying said button push.

12. A battery management program product for implementing programmable battery shut off in an electronic device system comprising:

a recording medium;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for storing a device battery consumption configuration file;

said device battery consumption configuration file including at least one configuration threshold parameter;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for monitoring electronic device system operation to identify said at least one configuration threshold parameter being met; and

means, recorded on the recording medium, responsive to identifying said at least one configuration threshold parameter being met, for powering off the electronic device system.

13. A battery management program product for implementing programmable battery shut off in an electronic device system as recited in claim 12 further includes means, recorded on the recording medium, for receiving user selections for storing said device battery consumption configuration file.

14. A battery management program product for implementing programmable battery shut off in an electronic device system as recited in claim 12 further includes means, recorded on the recording medium, for monitoring electronic device system operation to identify a button push of a battery specific hardware input button and for changing said stored device battery consumption configuration file responsive to identifying said button push.

15. A battery management program product for implementing programmable battery shut off in an electronic device system as recited in claim 12 further includes means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a button push of a battery specific hardware input button and for changing said at least one configuration threshold parameter responsive to identifying said button push.

16. A battery management program product for implementing programmable battery shut off in an electronic device system as recited in claim 12 further includes means, recorded on the recording medium, for providing an alarm indicator responsive to identifying said at least one configuration threshold parameter being met, said alarm indicator including at least one of an e-mail notice, a pager notice, an audible notice, a visual notice and a vibration notice.

17. An electronic device system for implementing programmable battery shut off comprising:

a battery management program product;

said battery management program product including a plurality of computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable medium, wherein said instructions, when executed by said electronic device system, cause the electronic device system to perform the steps of;

receiving user selections for storing a device battery consumption configuration file;

said device battery consumption configuration file including a user defined threshold parameter;

monitoring electronic device system operation to identify said user defined threshold parameter being met; and

responsive to identifying said user defined threshold parameter being met, powering off the electronic device system.

18. An electronic device system for implementing programmable battery shut off as recited in claim 17 wherein said instructions, when executed by said electronic device system, further cause the electronic device system to perform the steps of providing an alarm indicator responsive to identifying said at least one configuration threshold parameter being met, said alarm indicator including at least one of an e-mail notice, a pager notice, an audible notice, a visual notice and a vibration notice.

19. An electronic device system for implementing programmable battery shut off as recited in claim 17 wherein said instructions, when executed by said electronic device system, further cause the electronic device system to perform the steps of monitoring electronic device system operation to identify a button push of a battery specific hardware input button.

20. An electronic device system for implementing programmable battery shut off as recited in claim 19 wherein said instructions, when executed by said electronic device system, further cause the electronic device system to perform the steps of changing said stored device battery consumption configuration file responsive to identifying said button push.

21. An electronic device system for implementing programmable battery shut off as recited in claim 17 wherein the step of receiving user selections for storing said device battery consumption configuration file includes the step of storing a user selected configuration for a battery specific hardware input button.

22. An electronic device system for implementing programmable battery shut off as recited in claim 21 wherein the step of storing said user selected configuration for a battery specific hardware input button includes the step of storing a user selected time value or a battery percent usage defined for each button push of said battery specific hardware input button.