Systems and methods for monitoring and characterizing information handling system use behavior

• US 9,300,015 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2010
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Chang, Chia-Fa, Chung, Hua, Wang, Ligong, Chueh, Yung Fa
• Primary Examiner(s): Rahman, Fahmida
• Application Number:
  US12/799,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20110276810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,156 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/310, 713320-324, 713/330, 713/340
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4271 Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4278 Systems for data transfer from batteries, e.g. transfer of battery parameters to a controller, data transferred between battery controller and main controller
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Desktop power use behavior may be detected while a portable information handling system or any other type of battery powered information handling, system is operating on external power such as an AC adapter. The desktop power use behavior may be detected by monitoring one or more power usage parameters to detect usage characteristics that indicate a battery powered information handling system is being operated in a manner that is similar to operation of a desktop information handling system. Upon detection of desktop behavior, one or more processing devices of the information handling system may respond by taking one or more desktop use response actions.

Claims

1. An information handling system, comprising:

one or more processing devices;

a battery system including one or more battery cells;

battery charger circuit coupled to receive current from an external source and to provide current for recharging the battery cells of the battery system; and

a system load coupled to selectably receive current from either one of an external power source or the battery system;

where the one or more processing devices are configured to;

monitor one or more power usage parameters of the information handling system,

detect usage characteristics from the monitored power usage parameters to determine whether or not the information handling system is being operated with a pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of the information handling system on external power from the external power source rather than only power from the battery system, and

take one or more desktop use response actions based on a determination that the detected usage characteristics indicate the information handling system is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of the information handling system on external power from the external power source rather than only power from the battery system;

where the one or more monitored power usage parameters comprise the battery system relative state of charge (RSOC); and

where the one or more processing devices are configured to take the one or more desktop use response actions only if it is determined that the monitored battery relative state of charge (RSOC) has remained above a threshold minimum RSOC value for a threshold amount of time or threshold fraction of cumulative time.

2. The system of claim 1,

where the pre-defined desktop power use behavior comprises operating the information handling system on external AC adapter power for a period of time without removing the AC power in a manner of operation of a desktop computer operating on an uninterruptable power supply (UPS).

3. The system of claim 1, where the one or more power usage parameters further comprise presence of external power supplied to powered information handling system rather than only power supplied from the battery system.

4. The system of claim 1, where the one or more monitored power usage parameters further comprise presence of external power supplied to powered information handling system rather than only power supplied from the battery system;

and where the one or more processing devices are configured to take the one or more desktop use response actions only if a combination of the following conditions is determined to exist;

a threshold amount of time or threshold fraction of cumulative time that the battery powered information handling system has been continuously operating on external power rather than only on battery power from the battery system has been determined to be exceeded, and the threshold amount of time or fraction of cumulative time that the battery relative state of charge (RSOC) has remained above the threshold minimum RSOC value has been determined to be exceeded.

5. The system of claim 1, where the one or more desktop use response actions comprise at least one of displaying a passive message to a user of the information handling system that alerts the user that desktop use behavior has been detected, automatically running a battery conditioning utility, or a combination thereof.

6. The system of claim 1, where the one or more processing devices comprise a battery management unit (BMU) communicatively coupled in signal communication with an embedded controller (EC);

where the BMU is configured to monitor one or more power usage parameters of the information handling system, detect usage characteristics from the monitored power usage parameters to determine whether or not the information handling system is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of the information handling system on external power from the external power source rather than only power from the battery system, and inform the EC by signal communication that desktop power use behavior has been detected; and

where the EC is configured to take the one or more desktop use response actions when informed by the BMU that desktop power use behavior has been detected.

7. The system of claim 1, where the battery system comprises a replaceable battery pack that is operably separable from the system load of the information handling system, the battery system being coupled in operational electrical contact by at least one terminal node to provide current to the system load across the terminal node.

8. The system of claim 7, where the battery system comprises a smart battery pack that includes at least one processing device.

9. The system of claim 1, where the information handling system is a notebook computer.

10. The system of claim 1, where the one or more processing devices are configured to take the one or more desktop use response actions only if external power is present to supply power to the information handling system.

11. The system of claim 1, where the one or more processing devices are configured to take the one or more desktop use response actions only if external power from AC mains and an AC adapter is present to supply power to the information handling system.

12. The system of claim 1, where the one or more monitored power usage parameters further comprise the monitored presence of external power supplied to powered information handling system rather than only power supplied from the battery system;

and where the usage characteristics that indicate the information handling system is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior comprise exceeding a threshold amount of time during which an AC adapter has been continuously coupled to power the information handling system, and during which the battery cells repeatedly self-discharge followed by recharge.

13. The system of claim 1, where the one or more desktop use response actions comprise initiating a battery system learning procedure to discharge the battery cells of the battery system to a pre-defined learning point and then recharging the battery cells of the battery system to calculate an updated full charge capacity (FCC) of the battery system.

14. The system of claim 1, where the one or more desktop use response actions comprise displaying a passive message to a user of the information handling system that provides the user with information on at least one step that may be taken by the user to protect and extend battery life;

and where the step provided by the information of the message comprises at least one of removing external AC power when the information handling system is not in use, turning the information handling system off during long periods of non-use, periodically discharging the battery system to perform a learning procedure, or a combination thereof.

15. The system of claim 1, where the pre-defined desktop power use behavior comprises operating the information handling system on external AC adapter power for a period of time during which the battery system remains substantially fully charged.

16. The system of claim 1, where the one or more processing devices are configured to take one or more desktop use response actions only if the detected usage characteristics are determined to indicate that the information handling system is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of the information handling system on external power from the external power source rather than only power from the battery system;

and not to take the one or more desktop use response action if the detected usage characteristics are determined not to indicate the information handling system is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of the information handling system on external power from the external power source rather than only power from the battery system.

17. A method for operating an information handling system, comprising:

providing an information handling system including one or more processing devices, a battery system including one or more battery cells, battery charger circuit coupled to receive current from an external source and to provide current for recharging the battery cells of the battery system, and a system load coupled to selectably receive current from either one of an external power source or the battery system;

monitoring one or more power usage parameters of the information handling system, the one or more monitored power usage parameters comprising the battery system relative state of charge (RSOC);

detecting usage characteristics from the monitored power usage parameters;

determining whether or not the information handling system is being operated with a pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of the information handling system on external power from the external power source rather than only power from the battery system based on the detected usage characteristics; and

taking one or more desktop use response actions based on a determination that the detected usage characteristics indicate the information handling system is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of the information handling system on external power from the external power source rather than only power from the battery system and only if it is determined that the monitored battery relative state of charge (RSOC) has remained above a threshold minimum RSOC value for a threshold amount of time or threshold fraction of cumulative time.

18. The method of claim 17, where the one or more power usage parameters further comprise presence of external power supplied to powered information handling system rather than only power supplied from the battery system.

19. The method of claim 17, where the one or more monitored power usage parameters further comprise presence of external power supplied to powered information handling system rather than only power supplied from the battery system;

and where the method further comprises taking the one or more desktop use response actions only if a combination of the following conditions is determined to exist;

a threshold amount of time or fraction of cumulative time that the battery powered information handling system has been continuously operating on external power rather than only power from the battery system is determined to have been exceeded, and the threshold amount of time or fraction of cumulative time that the battery relative state of charge (RSOC) has remained above the threshold minimum RSOC value has been determined to be exceeded.

20. The method of claim 17, where the one or more desktop use response actions comprise at least one of displaying a passive message to a user of the information handling system that alerts the user that desktop use behavior has been detected, automatically running a battery conditioning utility, or a combination thereof.

21. The method of claim 17, where the one or more processing devices comprise a battery management unit (BMU) communicatively coupled in signal communication with an embedded controller (EC);

and where the method further comprises;

using the BMU to monitor one or more power usage parameters of the information handling system, detect usage characteristics from the monitored power usage parameters to determine whether or not the information handling system is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of the information handling system on external power from the external power source rather than only power from the battery system, and inform the EC by signal communication that desktop power use behavior has been detected; and

using the EC to take the one or more desktop use response actions when informed by the BMU that desktop power use behavior has been detected.

22. The method of claim 17, where the battery system comprises a replaceable battery pack that is operably separable from the system load of the information handling system, the battery system being coupled in operational electrical contact by at least one terminal node to provide current to the system load across the terminal node.

23. The method of claim 22, where the battery system comprises a smart battery pack that includes at least one processing device.

24. The method of claim 17, where the information handling system is a notebook computer.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising taking the one or more desktop use response actions only if external power is present to supply power to the information handling system.

26. The method of claim 17, further comprising taking the one or more desktop use response actions only if external power from AC mains and an AC adapter is present to supply power to the information handling system.

27. The method of claim 17, where the one or more monitored power usage parameters comprise the monitored presence of external power supplied to powered information handling system rather than only power supplied from the battery system;

and where the usage characteristics that indicate the information handling system is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior comprise exceeding a threshold amount of time during which an AC adapter has been continuously coupled to power the information handling system, and during which the battery cells repeatedly self-discharge followed by recharge.

28. The method of claim 17, where the one or more desktop use response actions comprise initiating a battery system learning procedure to discharge the battery cells of the battery system to a pre-defined learning point and then recharging the battery cells of the battery system to calculate an updated full charge capacity (FCC) of the battery system.

29. The method of claim 17, where the one or more desktop use response actions comprise at least one of displaying a passive message to a user of the information handling system that alerts the user to remove external AC power when the information handling system is not in use, turn the information handling system off during long periods of non-use, periodically discharge the battery system to perform a learning procedure, or a combination thereof.

30. The method of claim 17, where the pre-defined desktop power use behavior comprises operating the information handling system on external AC adapter power for a period of time without removing the AC power in a manner of operation of a desktop computer operating on an uninterruptable power supply (UPS).

31. A battery system configured to be coupled in operational electrical contact by at least one terminal node to provide current to a system load of an information handling system that is separate from the battery system, the battery system comprising:

one or more battery cells; and

a first processing device configured to be communicatively coupled in signal communication by at least one terminal node with a second processing device of the information handling system that is separate from the battery system;

where the first processing device is configured to;

monitor one or more power usage parameters of the information handling system,

detect usage characteristics from the monitored power usage parameters to determine whether or not the information handling system is being operated with a pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of the information handling system on external power from the external power source rather than only power from the battery system, and

inform the second processing device by signal communication that desktop power use behavior has been detected based on a determination that the information handling system is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of the information handling system on external power from the external power source rather than only power from the battery system;

where the one or more monitored power usage parameters comprise the battery system relative state of charge (RSOC); and

where the one or more processing devices are configured to take the one or more desktop use response actions only if it is determined that the monitored battery relative state of charge (RSOC) has remained above a threshold minimum RSOC value for a threshold amount of time or threshold fraction of cumulative time.

32. The battery system of claim 31, where the one or more power usage parameters further comprise presence of external power supplied to powered information handling system.

33. The battery system of claim 31, where the battery system is a replaceable smart battery pack;

where the first processing device comprise a battery management unit (BMU); and

where the BMU is configured to monitor one or more power usage parameters of the information handling system, detect usage characteristics from the monitored power usage parameters to determine whether or not the information handling system is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of the information handling system on external power from the external power source rather than only power from the battery system, and inform the second processing device by signal communication that desktop power use behavior has been detected.

34. The battery system of claim 31, where the pre-defined desktop power use behavior comprises operating the information handling system on external AC adapter power for a period of time without removing the AC power in a manner of operation of a desktop computer operating on an uninterruptable power supply (UPS).

35. An information handling system, comprising:

one or more processing devices;

a battery system including one or more battery cells;

battery charger circuit coupled to receive current from an external source and to provide current for recharging the battery cells of the battery system; and

a system load coupled to selectably receive current from either one of an external power source or the battery system;

where the one or more processing devices are configured to;

monitor one or more power usage parameters of the information handling system,

detect usage characteristics from the monitored power usage parameters to determine whether or not the information handling system is being operated with a pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of the information handling system on external power from the external power source rather than only power from the battery system, and

take one or more desktop use response actions if the detected usage characteristics indicate the information handling system is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of the information handling system on external power from the external power source rather than only power from the battery system;

where the one or more monitored power usage parameters comprise the presence of external power supplied to powered information handling system rather than only power from the battery system;

where the usage characteristics that indicate the information handling system is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior comprise exceeding a threshold value for the amount of time or fraction of cumulative time that the battery powered information handling system has been continuously operating on external power rather than only on battery power from the battery system; and

where the threshold value of amount of time or fraction of cumulative time is determined by empirical measurement of the same battery system configuration to determine optimum or preferred external power operating time value.

36. A method for operating an information handling system, comprising:

providing an information handling system including one or more processing devices, a battery system including one or more battery cells, battery charger circuit coupled to receive current from an external source and to provide current for recharging the battery cells of the battery system, and a system load coupled to selectably receive current from either one of an external power source or the battery system;

monitoring one or more power usage parameters of the information handling system;

detecting usage characteristics from the monitored power usage parameters;

determining whether or not the information handling system is being operated with a pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of the information handling system on external power from the external power source rather than only power from the battery system based on the detected usage characteristics; and

taking one or more desktop use response actions if the detected usage characteristics indicate the information handling system is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of the information handling system on external power from the external power source rather than only power from the battery system;

where the one or more monitored power usage parameters comprise the presence of external power supplied to powered information handling system rather than only power from the battery system;

where the usage characteristics that indicate the information handling system is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior comprise exceeding a threshold value for the amount of time or fraction of cumulative time that the battery powered information handling system has been continuously operating on external power rather than only on battery power from the battery system; and

where the threshold value of amount of time or fraction of cumulative time is determined by empirical measurement of the same battery system configuration to determine optimum or preferred external power operating time value.

37. An information handling system, comprising:

one or more processing devices;

a battery system including one or more battery cells;

battery charger circuit coupled to receive current from an external source and to provide current for recharging the battery cells of the battery system; and

a system load coupled to selectably receive current from either one of an external power source or the battery system;

where the one or more processing devices are configured to;

monitor one or more power usage parameters of the information handling system,

detect usage characteristics from the monitored power usage parameters to determine whether or not the information handling system is being operated with a pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of the information handling system on external power from the external power source rather than only power from the battery system, and

take one or more desktop use response actions based on a determination that the detected usage characteristics indicate the information handling system is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of the information handling system on external power from the external power source rather than only power from the battery system;

where the pre-defined desktop power use behavior comprises operating the information handling system on external AC adapter power for a period of time without removing the AC power in a manner of operation of a desktop computer operating on an uninterruptable power supply (UPS); and

where the one or more monitored power usage parameters comprise the presence of external power supplied to powered information handling system rather than only power from the battery system;

where the usage characteristics that indicate the information handling system is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior comprise exceeding a threshold value for the amount of time or fraction of cumulative time that the battery powered information handling system has been continuously operating on external power rather than only on battery power from the battery system; and

where the threshold value of amount of time or fraction of cumulative time is determined by empirical measurement of the same battery system configuration to determine optimum or preferred external power operating time value.

38. An information handling system, comprising:

one or more processing devices;

a battery system including one or more battery cells;

battery charger circuit coupled to receive current from an external source and to provide current for recharging the battery cells of the battery system; and

a system load coupled to selectably receive current from either one of an external power source or the battery system;

where the one or more processing devices are configured to;

monitor one or more power usage parameters of the information handling system,

detect usage characteristics from the monitored power usage parameters to determine whether or not the information handling system is being operated with a pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of the information handling system on external power from the external power source rather than only power from the battery system, and

take one or more desktop use response actions based on a determination that the detected usage characteristics indicate the information handling system is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of the information handling system on external power from the external power source rather than only power from the battery system;

where the pre-defined desktop power use behavior comprises operating the information handling system on external AC adapter power for a defined period of time without removing the AC power in a manner of operation of a desktop computer operating on an uninterruptable power supply (UPS);

where the one or more processing devices are configured to take one or more desktop use response actions only if the detected usage characteristics are determined to indicate that the information handling system is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of the information handling system on external power from the external power source rather than only power from the battery system; and

not to take the one or more desktop use response action if the detected usage characteristics are determined not to indicate the information handling system is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of the information handling system on external power from the external power source rather than only power from the battery system;

where the one or more processing devices are configured to;

set a desktop use flag only if the detected usage characteristics are determined to indicate the information handling system is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of the information handling system on external power from the external power source rather than only power from the battery system; and

not to set the desktop use flag if the detected usage characteristics are determined not to indicate the information handling system is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of the information handling system on external power from the external power source rather than only power from the battery system,

clear the desktop use flag upon detection of the removal of either the external power or the battery cells of the battery system, and

then take the one or more desktop use response actions only upon detection of the presence of a previously set desktop use flag.

39. A method for operating an information handling system, comprising:

providing an information handling system including one or more processing devices, a battery system including one or more battery cells, battery charger circuit coupled to receive current from an external source and to provide current for recharging the battery cells of the battery system, and a system load coupled to selectably receive current from either one of an external power source or the battery system;

monitoring one or more power usage parameters of the information handling system;

detecting usage characteristics from the monitored power usage parameters;

determining whether or not the information handling system is being operated with a pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of the information handling system on external power from the external power source rather than only power from the battery system based on the detected usage characteristics; and

taking one or more desktop use response actions based on a determination that if the detected usage characteristics indicate the information handling system is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of the information handling system on external power from the external power source rather than only power from the battery system;

where the one or more monitored power usage parameters comprise the presence of external power supplied to powered information handling system rather than only power from the battery system;

where the usage characteristics that indicate the information handling system is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior comprise exceeding a threshold value for the amount of time or fraction of cumulative time that the battery powered information handling system has been continuously operating on external power rather than only on battery power from the battery system; and

where the threshold value of amount of time or fraction of cumulative time is determined by empirical measurement of the same battery system configuration to determine optimum or preferred external power operating time value.