Charging of battery-operated devices over wireless connections

• US 9,332,134 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2011
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Wnstedt, Stefan, Christoffersson, Jan, Landstrm, Sara, Wang, Min
• Primary Examiner(s): Rampuria, Sharad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bassinan, Obidon
• Application Number:
  US14/240,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20140194092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,713 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/109, 320/114
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/006 dispensed for the electrical charging of other devices than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/61 based on the service used
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

The technology described herein provides wireless charging for battery-operated electronic devices (14) including both mobile and fixed battery-operated devices. A wireless charging system, based on any suitable wireless charging technology(ies), allows easy access/discovery, registration, authorization, monitoring, and/or compensation for charging services. The technology uses donor mobile radio nodes (12) that register as potential charging stations for requesting radio nodes (14). The donor and requesting nodes negotiate the charging event, and in a preferred example embodiment, payment by the requester for the charging service to donor is arranged.

Claims

1. A method in a base station to support wireless charging, characterized by:

the base station receiving a request from a requesting battery-operated radio equipment for wireless charging;

receiving, at the base station, messages from multiple donor mobile radio nodes indicating each multiple donor mobile radio nodes possesses an ability to provide wireless charging for the battery-operated radio equipment;

registering, at the base station, the multiple donor mobile radio nodes, wherein registration authorizes the base station to trigger a wireless charging operation whereby any of the multiple donor mobile radio nodes wirelessly charges a proximate end user radio equipment as directed by the base station, wherein the requesting-battery operated radio equipment and the multiple donor mobile radio nodes each comprises a transceiver for communicating with the base station and each comprises wireless charging circuitry;

responsive to the registering, selecting, at the base station, one or more of multiple donor mobile radio nodes to provide the requested wireless charging to the requesting battery-operated radio equipment;

authorizing, at the base station, the request to wirelessly charge the battery-operated radio equipment using power from a registered one of the multiple donor mobile radio nodes;

in response to authorization of the request, the base station arranging wireless charging for the requesting battery-operated radio equipment by the one or more multiple donor mobile radio nodes, which occurs using the wireless charging circuitry of the battery-operated radio equipment and the one of the multiple donor mobile radio nodes; and

after providing the wireless charging to the requesting battery-operated radio equipment, the one of the multiple donor mobile radio nodes conveying a message to the base station indicating a remaining amount of power available for future charging requests.

2. The wireless charging method in claim 1, wherein the authorizing includes reserving payment from or on behalf of the requesting battery-operated radio equipment for the wireless charging.

3. The wireless charging method of claim 1, further comprising after the wireless charging is provided by the one or more donor mobile radio nodes, initiating payment to or for the benefit of the one or more donor mobile radio nodes for the provided wireless charging.

4. A method in a donor node to provide wireless charging, comprising:

the donor node conveying a message to a base station indicating an ability and an availability to provide a wireless battery charging service to a requesting battery-operated radio equipment, wherein the donor node and the requesting-battery operated radio equipment each comprises a transceiver for communicating with the base station and each comprises wireless charging circuitry, wherein responsive to the message, the donor node is registered at the base station, wherein registration authorizes the base station to trigger a wireless charging operation whereby the donor node wirelessly charges a proximate end user radio equipment as directed by the base station;

detecting a charging request associated with a requesting battery-operated radio equipment;

in response to the charging request, the donor node providing wireless charging to the requesting battery-operated radio equipment using the wireless charging circuitry, the wireless charging arranged by the base station; and

after providing the wireless charging to the requesting battery-operated radio equipment, the donor node conveying a message to the base station indicating a remaining amount of power available for future charging requests.

5. The wireless charging method in claim 4, further comprising:

sending a registration message to a radio network to indicate availability to provide the battery charging service.

6. The wireless charging method in claim 5, wherein the registration message includes a charging amount or volume that the donor node can supply for the battery charging service.

7. The wireless charging method in claim 4, wherein the wireless charging is performed using one or more of the following:

induction charging, resonance charging, or radio technology.

8. The wireless charging method in claim 4, further comprising the donor node detecting the charging request from a base station.

9. The wireless charging method in claim 4, further comprising the donor node detecting the charging request directly from the requesting battery-operated radio equipment.

10. The wireless charging method in claim 4, further comprising the donor node reserving payment from or on behalf of the requesting battery-operated radio equipment for the wireless charging.

11. A method in a battery-operated radio equipment for receiving wireless charging, comprising:

the battery-operated radio equipment, comprising a transceiver for communicating with a base station and wireless charging circuitry, transmitting a radio message to a base station requesting wireless charging of its battery, wherein the base station registers multiple donor mobile radio nodes, each of the multiple donor mobile radio nodes comprising a transceiver for communicating with a base station and wireless charging circuitry, wherein registration authorizes the base station to trigger a wireless charging operation whereby any of the multiple donor mobile radio nodes wirelessly charges a proximate the battery-operated radio equipment as directed by the base station;

receiving a response to the transmitted radio message from the base station and providing authorization information associated with provision of the wireless charging by one of the registered multiple donor mobile radio nodes proximate to the battery-operated radio equipment,

wherein the authorization requires accessing a subscriber database to determine whether or not the battery-operated radio equipment is able to receive the wireless charging from a base station selected one of the registered multiple donor mobile radio nodes;

responsive to authorization from the base station provided in the response, receiving, at the battery-operated radio equipment, a wireless charging signal from the base station selected one of the multiple donor mobile radio nodes; and

using the received wireless charging signal to charge the battery of the battery-operated radio equipment, wherein after the wireless charging of the battery-operated radio equipment occurs, the base station receives an update indicating a remaining amount of power available from the base station selected one of the multiple donor mobile radio nodes for future charging requests.

12. The wireless charging method in claim 11, wherein the authorization includes providing for payment for the requested wireless charging on behalf of the donor mobile radio.

13. The wireless charging method in claim 11, wherein the battery-operated radio equipment broadcasts the radio message requesting wireless charging of its battery for receipt by one or more donor mobile radio nodes.

14. A base station for facilitating wireless charging battery-operated radio equipment, comprising:

radio circuitry configured to receive a request from a requesting battery-operated radio equipment for wireless charging and configured to receive, at the base station, messages from multiple donor mobile radio nodes indicating each of the multiple donor mobile radio nodes possesses an ability to provide wireless charging for the battery-operated radio equipment;

circuitry configured to register, at the base station, the multiple donor mobile radio nodes, wherein registration authorizes the base station to trigger a wireless charging operation whereby any of the multiple donor mobile radio nodes wirelessly charges a proximate end user radio equipment as directed by the base station, wherein the requesting-battery operated radio equipment and the multiple donor mobile radio nodes each comprises a transceiver for communicating with the base station and each comprises wireless charging circuitry, and

control circuitry coupled to the radio circuitry, configured to;

select, at the base station, one or more of the multiple donor mobile radio nodes to provide the requested wireless charging to the requesting battery-operated radio equipment, authorize the request, and in response to authorization of the request, arrange wireless charging for the requesting battery-operated radio equipment by the one or more multiple donor mobile radio nodes, wherein the radio circuitry after the one or more multiple donor mobile radio nodes provides the wireless charging to the requesting battery-operated radio equipment, receives a message from the one or more multiple donor mobile radio nodes indicating a remaining amount of power available for future charging requests.

15. The base station in claim 14, wherein the authorization includes reserving payment from or on behalf of the requesting battery-operated radio equipment for the wireless charging.

16. The base station in claim 14, wherein the control circuitry is configured to initiate payment to or for the benefit of the one or more donor mobile radio nodes for the provided wireless charging after the wireless charging is provided by the one or more donor mobile radio nodes.

17. The base station in claim 14, wherein the control circuitry is configured to:

receive requests from the multiple donor mobile radio nodes indicating an ability to provide wireless charging for battery-operated radio equipment, and

register the multiple donor mobile radio nodes.

18. A donor mobile radio node for providing wireless charging, comprising:

radio circuitry configured to detect a charging request from a base station associated with a requesting battery-operated radio equipment, said radio circuitry being configured to send a message indicating the donor mobile radio nodes possesses an ability to provide wireless charging for the battery-operated radio equipment, whereby the base station registers the donor mobile radio node along with a plurality of other potential donor mobile radio nodes, wherein registration authorizes the base station to trigger a wireless charging operation whereby any of the donor mobile radio nodes including said donor mobile radio node wirelessly charges a proximate end user radio equipment as directed by the base station;

wireless charging circuitry configured to provide wireless charging to the requesting battery-operated radio equipment, the wireless charging arranged by the base station to support wireless charging of the battery-operated radio equipment; and

control circuitry configured to generate a message for transmission by the radio circuitry indicating availability of the donor mobile radio node to provide a battery charging service in response to the charging request by the base station, wherein said control circuitry is further configured to after providing the wireless charging to the requesting battery-operated radio equipment, conveying a message to the base station indicating a remaining amount of power available from the donor mobile radio node for future charging requests.

19. The donor mobile radio node in claim 18, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate a registration message for transmission by the radio circuitry to a radio network node indicating availability to provide the battery charging service.

20. The donor mobile radio node in claim 18, wherein the wireless charging circuitry includes one or more of inductive charging circuitry, resonance charging circuitry, or radio charging circuitry.

21. The donor mobile radio node in claim 18, wherein the radio circuitry is configured to detect the charging request from a base station or directly from the requesting battery-operated radio equipment.

22. A battery-operated radio equipment for requesting wireless charging, comprising:

a battery;

a radio transceiver;

control circuitry; and

wireless charging circuitry,

wherein the radio transceiver is characterized by being configured to transmit a radio message to a base station requesting wireless charging of its battery, wherein the base station registers multiple donor mobile radio nodes, each of the multiple donor mobile radio nodes comprising a transceiver for communicating with a base station and wireless charging circuitry, wherein registration authorizes the base station to trigger a wireless charging operation whereby any of the multiple donor mobile radio nodes wirelessly charges the battery-operated radio equipment as directed by the base station,

the control circuitry is characterized by being configured to receive a response to the transmitted radio message from the base station providing authorization information associated with provision of the wireless charging by one of the registered multiple donor mobile radio nodes proximate to the battery-operated radio equipment, wherein the authorization requires accessing a subscriber database to determine whether or not the battery-operated radio equipment can receive the wireless charging from a base station selected one of the registered multiple donor mobile radios, and

the wireless charging circuitry is characterized by being configured to, responsive to authorization from the base station provided in the response, use a wireless charging signal received from the base station selected one of the multiple donor mobile radio nodes to charge the battery of the battery-operated radio equipment, wherein after the wireless charging of the battery-operated radio equipment occurs, the base station receives an update indicating a remaining amount of power available from the base station selected one of the multiple donor mobile radio nodes for future charging requests.

23. The battery-operated radio equipment in claim 22, wherein the control circuitry is configured to send a message that provides for payment for the requested wireless charging on behalf of the donor mobile radio node.

24. The battery-operated radio equipment in claim 22, wherein the radio transceiver is configured to broadcast the radio message requesting wireless charging of its battery for direct receipt by one or more donor mobile radio nodes.