Communications device with low energy notification

• US 7,395,097 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2004
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Perdomo, Jorge L., Mock, Von A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Lee
• Application Number:
  US11/003,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20060121951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/11.1, 455/574
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2749 Automatic dialling or redialling systems, e.g. on off-hook or redial on busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72513 On hold, intercom or transfer communication modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/14 between corresponding nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless communications device (200) that has a battery power source (330) and that has a power source monitor (332) that produces a low energy notification upon determination of a low energy condition within the battery. The wireless communications device further has a notification list specifying at least one other communications device to receive the low energy notification message. The wireless communications device (200) also has a notification transmitter (316, 314, 304) for transmitting the low energy notification message to communications devices held by other users (504, 506, 508, 512) that are in the list. The low energy notification message has at least one destination address to which the low energy notification message is to be sent. The wireless communications device (200) further serves as a proxy or surrogate relay for other wireless communications devices (200) to provide a robust communications system.

Claims

1. A wireless communications device comprising;

a power source that provides power to a device;

a power source monitor for producing a low energy notification upon determination of a low energy condition of the power source of the device;

a notification list comprising at least one other communications device to receive a low energy notification message; and

a notification transmitter for transmitting the low energy notification message to communications devices on the notification list, the low energy notification message comprising at least one destination address for the low energy notification message, wherein the notification transmitter further;

transmits the low energy notification message to a first remote communications device that is within communications range;

detects, during the low energy condition, a second communications device that comes within communications range during the low energy condition; and

transmits the low energy notification message to the second communications device.

2. The wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein the at least one destination address is user specified.

3. The wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein the power source monitor triggers a low power operating mode in response to the determination of a low energy condition.

4. The wireless communications device of claim 1, further comprising a primary transmitter that transmits over a primary communications network, wherein the notification transmitter communicates the low power notification message over a secondary communications network.

5. The wireless communications device of claim 1, further comprising a notification relay processor that receives low energy notification messages from other wireless communications devices and relays the external low energy notification messages to destination addresses contained in the low energy notification messages.

6. A wireless communications device comprising;

a power source that provides power to a device;

a power source monitor for producing a low energy notification upon determination of a low energy condition of the power source of the device;

a notification list comprising at least one other communications device to receive a low energy notification message;

a notification transmitter for transmitting the low energy notification message to communications devices on the notification list, the low energy notification message comprising at least one destination address for the low energy notification message; and

a location detector that determines a geographic location during the low energy condition, and wherein the low energy notification message contains the geographic location.

7. A method for communicating a low energy notification message from a device, the method comprising the steps of:

maintaining a notification list comprising at least one communications device to receive the low energy notification message;

determining a low energy condition of a power source of the device;

when a low energy condition is determined, transmitting the low energy notification message to the communications devices on the list, the low energy notification messages comprising at least one destination address for the low energy notification message;

receiving a second low energy notification message from another wireless communications device, the second low energy notification message comprising a second destination address; and

relaying the second low energy notification message to the second destination address; and

continuing the relaying while no longer in communications with the other wireless communications device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of accepting the destination address from a user.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of entering a low power operating mode when a low energy condition is determined.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the transmitting step comprises communicating the low energy notification message over a secondary communications network, and transmitting the low energy notification message over a primary communications network.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising receiving, in response to the transmission of the low energy notification message, an acknowledgement message from the at least one communications device to receive the message.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

transmitting the low energy notification message to a services server; and

receiving, from the services server, a location of a replacement battery.

13. The method of claim 7 further comprising initiating communications device discovery processing in response to the low energy condition.