Methods and apparatus for monitoring a power source
First Claim
1. In a controller associated with a power source module having a battery and a communications interface electrically coupled to the controller, the power source module disposed within a battery-powered sign, a method for notifying an external monitoring device of a power condition of the battery, the method comprising:
- detecting that a power level of the battery has reached a threshold condition, the threshold condition indicating a decrease in power of the battery relative to an initial power level;
activating the communications interface to establish a communications channel with the external monitoring device in response to detecting that the power level of the battery has reached the threshold condition;
transmitting a notification, related to the threshold condition of the battery, to the external monitoring device through the communications channel, the notification indicating that the power source module disposed within the battery-powered sign requires replacement; and
deactivating the communications interface to discontinue the established communications channel based on a reception condition related to the external monitoring device;
wherein the power source module comprises the battery, the controller, and the communications interface as part of a replaceable unit;
detecting comprises detecting that the power level of the battery has reached the threshold condition, the threshold condition indicating a decrease in power of the battery relative to an initial power level, the threshold condition being configured as the power level of the battery that permits continued operation of the battery powered device for a time period sufficient to allow replacement of the battery;
activating the communications interface comprises activating the communications interface to establish a communications channel with the external monitoring through the Internet, activating further comprisinginitiating a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol request to obtain an Internet Protocol address, andopening a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol connection with the external monitoring device;
transmitting the notification, related to the threshold condition of the battery, to the external monitoring device through the communications channel comprises;
generating the notification, the notification indicating that the power source module disposed within the battery-powered sign requires replacement,including a Media Access Control (MAC) address and a Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) with the notification to identify a location of the power source module on the Internet; and
transmitting the notification to the external monitoring device using the Hyper Text Transfer Protocol; and
deactivating the communications interface to discontinue the established communications channel comprises;
terminating operation of the communications interface to discontinue the established communications channel to reduce consumption of power from the battery by the communications interface.
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Abstract
A power source is configured to notify an external monitoring device of a condition such as a low power condition of the power source. The power source has an associated controller that monitors the condition of the power source. The power source receives a first threshold condition for a power source, establishes a communications channel with an external monitoring device, transmits a notification related to the first threshold condition of the power source to the external monitoring device through the communications channel and discontinues the established communications channel based on a reception condition of the external monitoring device. The controller terminates notification after reception of an acknowledgment sent by the external monitoring device or after an elapsed time. The communications channel can be a wireless communications channels or can be a network such as the Internet.
31 Citations
24 Claims
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1. In a controller associated with a power source module having a battery and a communications interface electrically coupled to the controller, the power source module disposed within a battery-powered sign, a method for notifying an external monitoring device of a power condition of the battery, the method comprising:
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detecting that a power level of the battery has reached a threshold condition, the threshold condition indicating a decrease in power of the battery relative to an initial power level; activating the communications interface to establish a communications channel with the external monitoring device in response to detecting that the power level of the battery has reached the threshold condition; transmitting a notification, related to the threshold condition of the battery, to the external monitoring device through the communications channel, the notification indicating that the power source module disposed within the battery-powered sign requires replacement; and deactivating the communications interface to discontinue the established communications channel based on a reception condition related to the external monitoring device; wherein the power source module comprises the battery, the controller, and the communications interface as part of a replaceable unit; detecting comprises detecting that the power level of the battery has reached the threshold condition, the threshold condition indicating a decrease in power of the battery relative to an initial power level, the threshold condition being configured as the power level of the battery that permits continued operation of the battery powered device for a time period sufficient to allow replacement of the battery; activating the communications interface comprises activating the communications interface to establish a communications channel with the external monitoring through the Internet, activating further comprising initiating a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol request to obtain an Internet Protocol address, and opening a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol connection with the external monitoring device; transmitting the notification, related to the threshold condition of the battery, to the external monitoring device through the communications channel comprises; generating the notification, the notification indicating that the power source module disposed within the battery-powered sign requires replacement, including a Media Access Control (MAC) address and a Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) with the notification to identify a location of the power source module on the Internet; and transmitting the notification to the external monitoring device using the Hyper Text Transfer Protocol; and deactivating the communications interface to discontinue the established communications channel comprises; terminating operation of the communications interface to discontinue the established communications channel to reduce consumption of power from the battery by the communications interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 20, 22)
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10. A power source module of a battery-powered sign, the power source module, comprising:
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a battery configured to provide power to the battery-powered sign; a controller electrically coupled to the battery and to a communications interface, the controller configured to; detect that a power level of the battery has reached a threshold condition, the threshold condition indicating a decrease in power of the battery relative to an initial power level; activate the communications interface to establish a communications channel with an external monitoring device in response to detecting that the power level of the battery has reached the threshold condition; transmit a notification, related to the threshold condition of the battery, to the external monitoring device through the communications channel, the notification indicating that the power source module disposed within the battery-powered sign requires replacement; and deactivate the communications interface to discontinue the established communications channel based on a reception condition related to the external monitoring device; wherein the battery, the controller, and the communications interface are part of a replaceable unit and wherein the controller is configured to; when detecting, detect that the power level of the battery has reached the threshold condition, the threshold condition indicating a decrease in power of the battery relative to an initial power level, the threshold condition being configured as the power level of the battery that permits continued operation of the battery powered device for a time period sufficient to allow replacement of the battery; when activating the communications interface, activate the communications interface to establish a communications channel with the external monitoring through the Internet and; initiate a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol request to obtain an Internet Protocol address, and open a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol connection with the external monitoring device; when transmitting the notification, related to the threshold condition of the battery, to the external monitoring device through the communications channel; generate the notification, the notification indicating that the power source module disposed within the battery-powered sign requires replacement, include a Media Access Control (MAC) address and a Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) with the notification to identify a location of the power source module on the Internet; and transmit the notification to the external monitoring device using the Hyper Text Transfer Protocol; and when deactivating the communications interface to discontinue the established communications channel; terminate operation of the communications interface to discontinue the established communications channel to reduce consumption of power from the battery by the communications interface. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 23)
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19. A system for monitoring a condition of a battery-powered sign comprising:
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a power source module having a controller, a communications interface coupled to the controller, and a battery coupled to the controller; and an external monitoring device coupled to the power source module, via the communications interface, through a network wherein the controller of the power source module is configured to; detect that a power level of the battery has reached a threshold condition, the threshold condition indicating a decrease in power of the battery relative to an initial power level; activate the communications interface to establish a communications channel with an external monitoring device in response to detecting that the power level of the battery has reached the threshold condition; transmit a notification, related to the threshold condition of the battery, to the external monitoring device through the communications channel, the notification indicating that the power source module disposed within the battery-powered sign requires replacement; and deactivate the communications interface to discontinue the established communications channel based on a reception condition related to the external monitoring device; wherein the controller of the power source module is configured to; when detecting, detect that the power level of the battery has reached the threshold condition, the threshold condition indicating a decrease in power of the battery relative to an initial power level, the threshold condition being configured as the power level of the battery that permits continued operation of the battery powered device for a time period sufficient to allow replacement of the battery; when activating the communications interface, activate the communications interface to establish a communications channel with the external monitoring through the Internet and; initiate a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol request to obtain an Internet Protocol address, and open a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol connection with the external monitoring device; when transmitting the notification, related to the threshold condition of the battery, to the external monitoring device through the communications channel; generate the notification, the notification indicating that the power source module disposed within the battery-powered sign requires replacement, include a Media Access Control (MAC) address and a Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) with the notification to identify a location of the power source module on the Internet; and transmit the notification to the external monitoring device using the Hyper Text Transfer Protocol; and when deactivating the communications interface to discontinue the established communications channel; terminate operation of the communications interface to discontinue the established communications channel to reduce consumption of power from the battery by the communications interface. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification