Methods and apparatus for managing a plurality of charging devices via a network
First Claim
1. A method for managing a plurality of charging devices that are connected to a computer via a network, comprising:
- mounting a battery pack on one of the plurality of charging devices connected to the computer via the network, whereby the charging device having the mounted battery pack generates charging information based upon the mounted battery pack, transmitting the charging information from the charging device to the computer via the network, whereby the computer generated charging control instructions based upon the charging information. transmitting the charging control instructions from the computer to the at least one charging device via the network and charging the mounted battery pack based upon the received charging control instructions.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A plurality of charging devices 30 may be connected to a computer 10, 110 via a network 60. When computer 10 receives chewing information from a charging device 30 before performing a charging operation, computer 10 may compute the optimal charging period based upon the charging information. Parameters defining the optimal charging period may be transmitted to the respective charging devices 30. Each charging device 30 may perform the battery charging operation based upon the transmitted parameters. Thus, a network system can manage and control the charging operations for the plurality of charging devices in order to optimize charging period, optimize the number of charging devices 30 and battery packs 50 in use and maximize battery life.
42 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for managing a plurality of charging devices that are connected to a computer via a network, comprising:
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mounting a battery pack on one of the plurality of charging devices connected to the computer via the network, whereby the charging device having the mounted battery pack generates charging information based upon the mounted battery pack, transmitting the charging information from the charging device to the computer via the network, whereby the computer generated charging control instructions based upon the charging information. transmitting the charging control instructions from the computer to the at least one charging device via the network and charging the mounted battery pack based upon the received charging control instructions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for managing a plurality of charging devices that are connected to a computer via a network comprising:
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mounting a battery pack on one of the plurality of charging devices connected to the computer via the network, whereby the charging device having the mounted battery pack generates battery identification information based upon the mounted battery pack, transmitting the battery identification information from the charging device to the computer via the network, whereby the computer determines whether the mounted battery pack requires a refresh operation based upon the transmitted battery identification information, and transmitting via the network a refresh instruction to the charging device having the mounted battery pack, when the computer determines that the mounted battery pack requires a refresh operation.
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8. A method for managing a plurality of charging devices that are connected to a computer via a network, comprising:
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transmitting charging information from each charging device to the computer via the network whereby the computer determines the total number of charging device and battery packs currently in operation, calculating an optimal number of charging devices to be utilized based upon the charging information, and notifying an operator of the optimal number of charging devices.
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9. A method for managing a plurality of charging devices that are connected to a computer via a network, comprising;
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transmitting charging information from each charging device to the computer via the network, whereby the computer determines the total number of charging devices and battery packs currently in operation, calculating an optimal number of battery packs to be utilized based upon the charging information, and notifying an operator of the optimal number of battery packs.
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10. A charging device comprising:
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a battery pack mount having terminals for connecting to a battery pack, means for supplying charging current to the battery pack via the terminals, and a communication port arranged and constructed to communication information to a computer via a network. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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15. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of charging devices, wherein each charging device comprises a battery pack mount arranged and constructed to receive a battery pack, wherein each charging device is arranged and constructed to generate charging information based upon a mounted battery pack, and a computer communicating with the plurality of charging devices via a network, wherein the computer is arranged and constructed to receive the charging information from the charging device and generate charging control instructions based upon the charging information, the computer is further arranged and constructed to transmit the charging control instructions to the charging devices via the network, whereby the charging device will charge the mounted battery pack based upon the received charging control instructions.
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21. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of charging devices, wherein each charging device comprises a battery pack mount arranged and constructed to receive a battery pack, wherein each charging device is arranged and constructed to generate battery identification information based upon a mounted battery pack, and a computer communicating with the plurality of charging devices via a network, wherein the computer is arranged and constructed to receive the battery identification information from the charging device and determine whether a refresh operation is required based upon the battery identification information, the computer is further arranged and constructed to transmit a refresh instruction to the charging devices via the network, and means for informing an operator to remove the mounted battery pack from the charging device and perform the refresh operation on the removed battery pack upon receipt of the refreshing instruction.
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22. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of charging devices, wherein each charging device comprises a battery pack mount arranged and constructed to receive a battery pack, wherein each charging device is arranged and constructed to generate battery identification information based upon a mounted battery pack, and computer communicating with the plurality of charging devices via a network, wherein the computer is arranged and constructed to (a) determine the total number of charging devices and battery packs currently in operation, (b) calculate an optimal number of charging devices to be utilized based upon the charging information and (c) notify an operator of the optimal number of charging devices.
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23. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of charging devices, wherein each charging device comprises a battery pack mount arranged and constructed to receive a battery pack, wherein each charging device is arranged and constructed to generate battery identification information based upon a mounted battery pack, and a computer communicating with the plurality of charging devices via a network, wherein the computer is arranged and constructed to (a) determine the total number of charging devices and battery packs currently in operation, (b) calculate an optimal number of battery packs to be utilized based upon the charging information and (c) notify an operator of the optimal number of battery pack.
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Specification