Method and apparatus for dynamic battery management control in a mobile communication device

• US 8,200,292 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2009
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Wu, Chee-Ming Jimmy, Winger, Lyall Kenneth, Book, Christopher Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan, Vibol
• Application Number:
  US12/393,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20100216521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 4553432-3436, 455572-574, 320/132, 320/130, 320/134, 320/106, 320/113, 320/127
• US Class Current: 455/572
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for downloading battery data to a mobile communication device. A system for downloading battery data to a mobile communication device may include a mobile communication device and a data server. The mobile communication device may be configured to monitor a battery operating condition and to receive a battery profile, the battery profile including battery data for use by the mobile communication device to calculate battery status information. The data server may be used for storing battery data, the data server being configured to receive the battery operating condition from the mobile communication device and, based on the battery operating condition, send the battery profile to the mobile communication device.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising:

a battery configured to power the mobile communication device;

one or more sensor devices configured to monitor an operating condition of the battery; and

an operating system configured to;

wirelessly transmit a battery operating condition to a data server,

wirelessly receive, from the data server, a battery profile corresponding to the current battery operating condition,

measure, at said operating condition, a value relating to the battery, and

calculate battery status information from the measured value using the battery profile;

wherein the battery operating condition is battery temperature, and the battery profile is a table of equivalent series resistance (ESR) values vs. temperature.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the data server stores a plurality of battery profiles in relation to a plurality of battery operating conditions.

3. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the battery status information is battery capacity.

4. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the battery status information is usable battery capacity.

5. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the battery status information is equivalent series resistance.

6. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device sends the battery operating condition to the data server after a user request.

7. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein if the data server does not contain battery data corresponding to the battery operating condition, the data server is configured to send an error message to the mobile communication device.

8. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the data server stores the battery operating condition received from the mobile communication device.

9. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device receives a portion of the battery profile.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device selects a portion of the battery profile to be sent from the data server.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device replaces an existing battery profile with the battery profile received from the data server.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein the mobile communication device replaces a portion of an existing battery profile with the portion of the battery profile received from the data server.

25. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein the operating system is configured to transmit the battery operating condition to the data server in response to a change in ambient temperature.

13. A data server for storing battery profiles, comprising:

a plurality of battery identifiers, each identifying a different battery type;

a plurality of battery operating conditions, the plurality of battery operating conditions including operating characteristics for each battery type; and

a plurality of battery profiles, each corresponding to one of the battery identifiers and one of the battery operating conditions, the plurality of battery profiles containing information used to calculate battery status information and replace an existing battery profile on a mobile communication device;

wherein the data server is configured to wirelessly receive a current operating condition and a current battery identifier from the mobile communication device and to wirelessly transmit a battery profile to the mobile communication device corresponding to the current operating condition and the current battery identifier;

wherein the battery operating condition is battery temperature, and the battery profile is a table of equivalent series resistance (ESR) values vs. temperature.

14. The data server of claim 13, wherein the data server stores a plurality of battery profiles in relation to a plurality of battery operating conditions.

15. The data server of claim 13, wherein the battery status information is battery capacity.

16. The data server of claim 13, wherein the battery status information is usable battery capacity.

17. The data server of claim 13, wherein the battery status information is equivalent series resistance.

18. The data server of claim 13, wherein the mobile communication device sends the current battery operating condition to the data server after a user request.

19. The data server of claim 13, wherein the mobile communication device sends the current battery operating condition to the data server after a predetermined event.

20. The data server of claim 13, wherein if the data server does not contain battery data corresponding to the current battery operating condition, the data server is configured to send an error message to the mobile communication device.

21. The data server of claim 13, wherein the data server stores the current battery operating condition received from the mobile communication device.

22. The data server of claim 13, wherein the mobile communication device receives a portion of the battery profile.

23. The data server of claim 13, wherein the mobile communication device selects a portion of the battery profile to be sent from the data server.

24. The data server of claim 13, wherein the mobile communication device replaces an existing battery profile with the battery profile received from the data server.

26. A mobile communication device comprising:

a battery configured to power the mobile communication device;

one or more sensor devices configured to monitor an operating condition of the battery; and

an operating system configured to;

wirelessly transmit a battery operating condition to a data server,

wirelessly receive, from the data server, a battery profile corresponding to the current battery operating condition,

measure, at said operating condition, a value relating to the battery, and

calculate battery status information from the measured value using the battery profile;

wherein the battery-related value is battery temperature, and the battery status information is an equivalent series resistance (ESR) value.

27. The mobile communication device of claim 26, wherein the mobile communication device sends the battery operating condition to the data server after a user request.

28. The mobile communication device of claim 26, wherein the mobile communication device selects a portion of the battery profile to be sent from the data server.