Methods and systems for efficient battery charging and usage
First Claim
1. A method of charging a battery associated with a portable device, the method comprising the following operations performed by one or more processors:
- storing power rate data reflecting a value at which power is purchasable at a particular time from a power source;
storing an association between a set of power rates and a respective charging threshold;
determining whether a charge level associated with the battery is below a predetermined battery-power threshold by comparing the charge level to the charging threshold corresponding to the stored power rate data;
enabling the power source to provide power to the battery for charging when the power source is available to the battery for charging and the charge level associated with the battery is below the predetermined battery-power threshold and the value of the power rate data is not above a predetermined amount; and
enabling the device to draw power from the battery for operation, when the charge level associated with the battery is above the predetermined battery-power threshold.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Battery charging methods and systems for devices that have rechargeable batteries provide an efficient way to know when to charge a device'"'"'s battery, and when to switch between the device'"'"'s battery and an external power source as the device'"'"'s power source. The methods and systems access thresholds for a plurality of power rates, obtain information about when different power rates are in effect and, after determining a current power rate based on the information, compare the threshold of the current power rate to the device'"'"'s battery'"'"'s charge level. Based on such a comparison, the methods and systems can determine whether the battery should be charged, and the methods and system can determine whether the device'"'"'s battery or an external power source should be used as the device'"'"'s power source.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of charging a battery associated with a portable device, the method comprising the following operations performed by one or more processors:
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storing power rate data reflecting a value at which power is purchasable at a particular time from a power source; storing an association between a set of power rates and a respective charging threshold; determining whether a charge level associated with the battery is below a predetermined battery-power threshold by comparing the charge level to the charging threshold corresponding to the stored power rate data; enabling the power source to provide power to the battery for charging when the power source is available to the battery for charging and the charge level associated with the battery is below the predetermined battery-power threshold and the value of the power rate data is not above a predetermined amount; and enabling the device to draw power from the battery for operation, when the charge level associated with the battery is above the predetermined battery-power threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for charging a battery associated with a portable device, the system comprising:
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one or more processors; one or more memories; instructions stored in at least one of the memories, which, when executed by at least one of the processors, causes the system to; store power rate data reflecting a value at which power is purchasable at a particular time from a power source; store an association between a set of power rates and a respective charging threshold; determine whether a charge level associated with the battery is below a predetermined battery-power threshold by comparing the charge level to the charging threshold corresponding to the stored power rate data; enable the power source to provide power to the battery for charging when the power source is available to the battery for charging and the charge level associated with the battery is below the predetermined battery-power threshold and the value of the power rate data is not above a predetermined amount; and enable the device to draw power from the battery for operation, when the charge level associated with the battery is above the predetermined battery-power threshold. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of powering a portable device, wherein the device is configured to draw power for operation from either one of a battery or a different power source, the method comprising the following operations performed by one or more processors:
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accessing power rate data reflecting a value at which power is purchasable at a particular time; storing an association between a set of power rates and a respective charging threshold; determining whether a charge level associated with the battery is below a predetermined battery-power threshold by comparing the charge level to the charging threshold corresponding to the stored power rate data; enabling the device to draw power from the battery for operation when the charge level associated with the battery is above the predetermined battery-power threshold and the value of the power rate data at a time that the power source is available to the battery for charging is above a predetermined amount; and enabling the power source to provide power to the battery for charging, when the charge level associated with the battery is below the predetermined battery-power threshold and the power source is available to the battery. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system of powering a portable device, the system comprising:
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one or more processors; one or more memories; instructions stored in at least one of the memories, which, when executed by at least one of the processors, causes the system to; access power rate data reflecting a value at which power is purchasable at a particular time from a power source; store an association between a set of and a respective charging threshold; determine whether a charge level associated with the battery is below a predetermined battery-power threshold by comparing the charging level to the charging threshold corresponding to the stored power rate data; enable the device to draw power from the battery for operation when the charge level associated with the battery is above the predetermined battery-power threshold and the value of the power rate data at a time that the power source is available to the battery for charging is above a predetermined amount; and enable the power source to provide power to the battery for Charging, when the charge level associated with the battery is below the predetermined battery-power threshold. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification