Reactive replenishable device management

• US 20060089733A1
• Filed: 10/26/2004
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Webasto Charging Systems, Inc. (Webasto Beteiligungs Verwaltung Gbr)
• Original Assignee: Aerovironment
• Inventors: Ramer, Nathaniel Jordan, Dickinson, Blake, Horiuchi, Lisa Lel
• Granted Patent: US 7,444,192 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/83
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/10 Air crafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/32 Waterborne vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/42 Fork lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/44 Industrial trucks or floor conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/32 Auto pilot mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/60 : Electric or hybrid propulsion means for production processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/12 : Remote or cooperative charging
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

Reactive replenishable device management comprises receiving device measurement data from at least one device, updating one or more device usage profiles associated with the at least one device, and if an analysis of the one or more device usage profiles indicates usage of the at least one device is sub-optimal, performing one or more of: controlling at least one of an attribute or an operation of the at least one device, issuing one or more device management recommendations to a user of the at least one device, and issuing one or more user alerts to the user. The at least one device comprises at least one of one or more replenishable devices, one or more replenishers associated with the one or more replenishable devices, and one or more other devices associated with the one or more replenishable devices.

Claims

28. A computer-implemented method for reactive replenishable device management, comprising:

step for receiving device measurement data from at least one device, said at least one device comprising at least one of one or more replenishable devices, one or more replenishers associated with said one or more replenishable devices, and one or more other devices associated with said one or more replenishable devices;

step for updating one or more device usage profiles associated with said at least one device, said one or more device usage profiles comprising information regarding the use of said at least one device; and

step for if an analysis of said one or more device usage profiles indicates usage of said at least one device is sub-optimal, performing one or more of;

controlling at least one of an attribute or an operation of said at least one device if said controlling is enabled;

issuing to a user of said at least one device, one or more device management recommendations if said issuing of said recommendations is enabled; and

issuing to said user one or more user alerts if said issuing of said alerts is enabled.

1. A computer-implemented method for reactive replenishable device management, comprising:

receiving device measurement data from at least one device, said at least one device comprising at least one of one or more replenishable devices, one or more replenishers associated with said one or more replenishable devices, and one or more other devices associated with said one or more replenishable devices;

updating one or more device usage profiles associated with said at least one device, said one or more device usage profiles comprising information regarding the use of said at least one device; and

if an analysis of said one or more device usage profiles indicates usage of said at least one device is sub-optimal, performing one or more of;

controlling at least one of an attribute or an operation of said at least one device if said controlling is enabled;

issuing to a user of said at least one device, one or more device management recommendations if said issuing of said recommendations is enabled; and

issuing to said user one or more user alerts if said issuing of said alerts is enabled.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein

said one or more replenishable devices comprises a replaceable battery pack;

and

said one or more replenishers comprises a battery charger.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said one or more other devices comprises an electric vehicle powered by said replaceable battery pack.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said electric vehicle comprises a fork lift.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said electric vehicle comprises at least one of an electrically-powered automobile, truck, motorcycle, moped, scooter, airplane, locomotive, submersible vessel, boat, spacecraft, automated guided vehicle (AGV), and automated unguided vehicle (AUGV).

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling at least one attribute or operation of said at least one device upon receipt of said one or more management recommendations.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling at least one attribute or operation of said at least one device upon receipt of said one or more user alerts.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said device measurement data comprises one or more of:

identification data that describes one or more time-invariant attributes of said at least one device;

historical data that describes one or more time-variant attributes of said at least one device; and

real-time data that describes a single sample of one or more time-variant attributes of said at least one device.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said controlling further comprises issuing one or more command to perform one or more maintenance operations with respect to said at least one device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said controlling further comprises issuing one or more command to adjust one or more parameters of said at least one device.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said controlling further comprises storing one or more command to perform one or more maintenance operations with respect to said at least one device.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said controlling further comprises storing one or more command to adjust one or more parameters of said at least one device.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said controlling comprises adjusting one or more charge rates of said at least one device.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said controlling comprises adjusting a battery monitor identification (BMID) device to optimize charging rates of said at least one device.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said controlling comprises watering a battery.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said controlling comprises performing an unscheduled battery equalization operation.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said controlling comprises adjusting one or more performance levels of said at least one device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said one or more performance levels comprises at least one of a vehicle traction acceleration, a vehicle speed, a vehicle lift rate, and a vehicle lift lockout.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein said one or more management recommendations comprises one or more of an asset rotation recommendation, an asset addition recommendation, and an asset reduction recommendation.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering said management recommendation to said user via one or more of a phone call, a pager, an email message, a message on a display screen, and an alarm.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering said user alert to said user via one or more of a phone call, a pager, an email message, a message on a display screen, and an alarm.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein said issuing said one or more user alerts comprises issuing said one or more user alerts with respect to one or maintenance schedule milestones for said at least one device.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein said issuing said one or more user alerts comprises issuing said one or more user alerts with respect to one or fault codes that indicate a fault for said at least one device.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein said issuing said one or more user alerts comprises issuing said one or more user alerts to inform said user of non-compliant usage of said one or more other devices.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein said issuing said one or more user alerts comprises issuing said one or more user alerts to inform said user of the end of a warranty period.

26. The method of claim 1 wherein said issuing said one or more user alerts comprises issuing said one or more user alerts to inform said user of required maintenance that has not yet been performed.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein said issuing said one or more user alerts comprises issuing said one or more user alerts to inform said user of required unscheduled service of said at least one device.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein

said one or more replenishable devices comprises a replaceable battery pack;

and

said one or more replenishers comprises a battery charger.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said one or more other devices comprises an electric vehicle powered by said replaceable battery pack.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said electric vehicle comprises a fork lift.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein said electric vehicle comprises at least one of an electrically-powered automobile, truck, motorcycle, moped, scooter, airplane, locomotive, submersible vessel, boat, spacecraft, automated guided vehicle (AGV), and automated unguided vehicle (AUGV).

33. The method of claim 28, further comprising step for controlling at least one attribute or operation of said at least one device upon receipt of said one or more management recommendations.

34. The method of claim 28, further comprising step for controlling at least one attribute or operation of said at least one device upon receipt of said one or more user alerts.

35. The method of claim 28 wherein said device measurement data comprises one or more of:

identification data that describes one or more time-invariant attributes of said at least one device;

historical data that describes one or more time-variant attributes of said at least one device; and

real-time data that describes a single sample of one or more time-variant attributes of said at least one device.

36. The method of claim 28 wherein said step for controlling further comprises step for issuing one or more command to perform one or more maintenance operations with respect to said at least one device.

37. The method of claim 28 wherein said step for controlling further comprises step for issuing one or more command to adjust one or more parameters of said at least one device.

38. The method of claim 28 wherein said step for controlling further comprises step for storing one or more command to perform one or more maintenance operations with respect to said at least one device.

39. The method of claim 28 wherein said step for controlling further comprises step for storing one or more command to adjust one or more parameters of said at least one device.

40. The method of claim 28 wherein said step for controlling comprises step for adjusting one or more charge rates of said at least one device.

41. The method of claim 28 wherein said step for controlling comprises step for adjusting a battery monitor identification (BMID) device to optimize charging rates of said at least one device.

42. The method of claim 28 wherein said step for controlling comprises step for watering a battery.

43. The method of claim 28 wherein said step for controlling comprises step for performing an unscheduled battery equalization operation.

44. The method of claim 28 wherein said step for controlling comprises step for adjusting one or more performance levels of said at least one device.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein said one or more performance levels comprises at least one of a vehicle traction acceleration, a vehicle speed, a vehicle lift rate, and a vehicle lift lockout.

46. The method of claim 28 wherein said one or more management recommendations comprises one or more of an asset rotation recommendation, an asset addition recommendation, and an asset reduction recommendation.

47. The method of claim 28, further comprising step for delivering said management recommendation to said user via one or more of a phone call, a pager, an email message, a message on a display screen, and an alarm.

49. The method of claim 28 wherein said step for issuing said one or more user alerts comprises step for issuing said one or more user alerts with respect to one or maintenance schedule milestones for said at least one device.

50. The method of claim 28 wherein said step for issuing said one or more user alerts comprises step for issuing said one or more user alerts with respect to one or fault codes that indicate a fault for said at least one device.

51. The method of claim 28 wherein said step for issuing said one or more user alerts comprises step for issuing said one or more user alerts to inform said user of non-compliant usage of said one or more other devices.

52. The method of claim 28 wherein said step for issuing said one or more user alerts comprises step for issuing said one or more user alerts to inform said user of the end of a warranty period.

53. The method of claim 28 wherein said step for issuing said one or more user alerts comprises step for issuing said one or more user alerts to inform said user of required maintenance that has not yet been performed.

54. The method of claim 28 wherein said step for issuing said one or more user alerts comprises step for issuing said one or more user alerts to inform said user of required unscheduled service of said at least one device.

47-1. The method of claim 28, further comprising step for delivering said user alert to said user via one or more of a phone call, a pager, an email message, a message on a display screen, and an alarm.

55. An apparatus for reactive replenishable device management, comprising:

receiving device measurement data from at least one device, said at least one device comprising at least one of one or more replenishable devices, one or more replenishers associated with said one or more replenishable devices, and one or more other devices associated with said one or more replenishable devices;

updating one or more device usage profiles associated with said at least one device, said one or more device usage profiles comprising information regarding the use of said at least one device; and

if an analysis of said one or more device usage profiles indicates usage of said at least one device is sub-optimal, performing one or more of;

controlling at least one of an attribute or an operation of said at least one device if said controlling is enabled;

issuing to a user of said at least one device, one or more device management recommendations if said issuing of said recommendations is enabled; and

issuing to said user one or more user alerts if said issuing of said alerts is enabled.

56. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein

said one or more replenishable devices comprises a replaceable battery pack;

and

said one or more replenishers comprises a battery charger.

57. The apparatus of claim 56 wherein said one or more other devices comprises an electric vehicle powered by said replaceable battery pack.

58. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein said electric vehicle comprises a fork lift.

59. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein said electric vehicle comprises at least one of an electrically-powered automobile, truck, motorcycle, moped, scooter, airplane, locomotive, submersible vessel, boat, spacecraft, automated guided vehicle (AGV), and automated unguided vehicle (AUGV).

60. The apparatus of claim 55, further comprising controlling at least one attribute or operation of said at least one device upon receipt of said one or more management recommendations.

61. The apparatus of claim 55, further comprising controlling at least one attribute or operation of said at least one device upon receipt of said one or more user alerts.

62. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said device measurement data comprises one or more of:

identification data that describes one or more time-invariant attributes of said at least one device;

historical data that describes one or more time-variant attributes of said at least one device; and

real-time data that describes a single sample of one or more time-variant attributes of said at least one device.

63. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said controlling further comprises issuing one or more command to perform one or more maintenance operations with respect to said at least one device.

64. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said controlling further comprises issuing one or more command to adjust one or more parameters of said at least one device.

65. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said controlling further comprises storing one or more command to perform one or more maintenance operations with respect to said at least one device.

66. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said controlling further comprises storing one or more command to adjust one or more parameters of said at least one device.

67. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said controlling comprises adjusting one or more charge rates of said at least one device.

68. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said controlling comprises adjusting a battery monitor identification (BMID) device to optimize charging rates of said at least one device.

69. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said controlling comprises watering a battery.

70. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said controlling comprises performing an unscheduled battery equalization operation.

71. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said controlling comprises adjusting one or more performance levels of said at least one device.

72. The apparatus of claim 71 wherein said one or more performance levels comprises at least one of a vehicle traction acceleration, a vehicle speed, a vehicle lift rate, and a vehicle lift lockout.

73. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said one or more management recommendations comprises one or more of an asset rotation recommendation, an asset addition recommendation, and an asset reduction recommendation.

74. The apparatus of claim 55, further comprising delivering said management recommendation to said user via one or more of a phone call, a pager, an email message, a message on a display screen, and an alarm.

75. The apparatus of claim 55, further comprising delivering said user alert to said user via one or more of a phone call, a pager, an email message, a message on a display screen, and an alarm.

76. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said issuing said one or more user alerts comprises issuing said one or more user alerts with respect to one or maintenance schedule milestones for said at least one device.

77. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said issuing said one or more user alerts comprises issuing said one or more user alerts with respect to one or fault codes that indicate a fault for said at least one device.

78. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said issuing said one or more user alerts comprises issuing said one or more user alerts to inform said user of non-compliant usage of said one or more other devices.

79. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said issuing said one or more user alerts comprises issuing said one or more user alerts to inform said user of the end of a warranty period.

80. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said issuing said one or more user alerts comprises issuing said one or more user alerts to inform said user of required maintenance that has not yet been performed.

81. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said issuing said one or more user alerts comprises issuing said one or more user alerts to inform said user of required unscheduled service of said at least one device.

82. A program storage device readable by a machine, embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for reactive replenishable device management, the method comprising:

receiving device measurement data from at least one device, said at least one device comprising at least one of one or more replenishable devices, one or more replenishers associated with said one or more replenishable devices, and one or more other devices associated with said one or more replenishable devices;

updating one or more device usage profiles associated with said at least one device, said one or more device usage profiles comprising information regarding the use of said at least one device; and

if an analysis of said one or more device usage profiles indicates usage of said at least one device is sub-optimal, performing one or more of;

controlling at least one of an attribute or an operation of said at least one device if said controlling is enabled;

issuing to a user of said at least one device, one or more device management recommendations if said issuing of said recommendations is enabled; and

issuing to said user one or more user alerts if said issuing of said alerts is enabled.

83. The program storage device of claim 82 wherein

said one or more replenishable devices comprises a replaceable battery pack;

and

said one or more replenishers comprises a battery charger.

84. The program storage device of claim 83 wherein said one or more other devices comprises an electric vehicle powered by said replaceable battery pack.

85. The program storage device of claim 84 wherein said electric vehicle comprises a fork lift.

86. The program storage device of claim 84 wherein said electric vehicle comprises at least one of an electrically-powered automobile, truck, motorcycle, moped, scooter, airplane, locomotive, submersible vessel, boat, spacecraft, automated guided vehicle (AGV), and automated unguided vehicle (AUGV).

87. The program storage device of claim 82, said method further comprising controlling at least one attribute or operation of said at least one device upon receipt of said one or more management recommendations.

88. The program storage device of claim 82, said method further comprising controlling at least one attribute or operation of said at least one device upon receipt of said one or more user alerts.

89. The program storage device of claim 82 wherein said device measurement data comprises one or more of:

identification data that describes one or more time-invariant attributes of said at least one device;

historical data that describes one or more time-variant attributes of said at least one device; and

real-time data that describes a single sample of one or more time-variant attributes of said at least one device.

90. The program storage device of claim 82 wherein said controlling further comprises issuing one or more command to perform one or more maintenance operations with respect to said at least one device.

91. The program storage device of claim 82 wherein said controlling further comprises issuing one or more command to adjust one or more parameters of said at least one device.

92. The program storage device of claim 82 wherein said controlling further comprises storing one or more command to perform one or more maintenance operations with respect to said at least one device.

93. The program storage device of claim 82 wherein said controlling further comprises storing one or more command to adjust one or more parameters of said at least one device.

94. The program storage device of claim 82 wherein said controlling comprises adjusting one or more charge rates of said at least one device.

95. The program storage device of claim 82 wherein said controlling comprises adjusting a battery monitor identification (BMID) device to optimize charging rates of said at least one device.

96. The program storage device of claim 82 wherein said controlling comprises watering a battery.

97. The program storage device of claim 82 wherein said controlling comprises performing an unscheduled battery equalization operation.

98. The program storage device of claim 82 wherein said controlling comprises adjusting one or more performance levels of said at least one device.

99. The program storage device of claim 98 wherein said one or more performance levels comprises at least one of a vehicle traction acceleration, a vehicle speed, a vehicle lift rate, and a vehicle lift lockout.

100. The program storage device of claim 82 wherein said one or more management recommendations comprises one or more of an asset rotation recommendation, an asset addition recommendation, and an asset reduction recommendation.

101. The program storage device of claim 82, said method further comprising delivering said management recommendation to said user via one or more of a phone call, a pager, an email message, a message on a display screen, and an alarm.

102. The program storage device of claim 82, said method further comprising delivering said user alert to said user via one or more of a phone call, a pager, an email message, a message on a display screen, and an alarm.

103. The program storage device of claim 82 wherein said issuing said one or more user alerts comprises issuing said one or more user alerts with respect to one or maintenance schedule milestones for said at least one device.

104. The program storage device of claim 82 wherein said issuing said one or more user alerts comprises issuing said one or more user alerts with respect to one or fault codes that indicate a fault for said at least one device.

105. The program storage device of claim 82 wherein said issuing said one or more user alerts comprises issuing said one or more user alerts to inform said user of non-compliant usage of said one or more other devices.

106. The program storage device of claim 82 wherein said issuing said one or more user alerts comprises issuing said one or more user alerts to inform said user of the end of a warranty period.

107. The program storage device of claim 82 wherein said issuing said one or more user alerts comprises issuing said one or more user alerts to inform said user of required maintenance that has not yet been performed.

108. The program storage device of claim 82 wherein said issuing said one or more user alerts comprises issuing said one or more user alerts to inform said user of required unscheduled service of said at least one device.

109. An apparatus for reactive replenishable device management, comprising:

an aggregator adapted to receive device measurement data from at least one device, said at least one device comprising at least one of one or more replenishable devices, one or more replenishers associated with said one or more replenishable devices, and one or more other devices associated with said one or more replenishable devices;

an analyzer adapted to update one or more device usage profiles based at least in part on said device measurement data, said one or more device usage profiles associated with said at least one device, said one or more device usage profiles comprising information regarding the use of said at least one device; and

a determiner adapted to determine if an analysis of said one or more device usage profiles indicates usage of said at least one device is sub-optimal; and

an automatic controller operatively coupled to said determiner and adapted to control at least one of an attribute or an operation of said at least one device if said controlling is enabled.

110. The apparatus of claim 109 wherein

said one or more replenishable devices comprises a replaceable battery pack;

and

said one or more replenishers comprises a battery charger.

111. The apparatus of claim 110 wherein said one or more other devices comprises an electric vehicle powered by said replaceable battery pack.

112. The apparatus of claim 111 wherein said electric vehicle comprises a fork lift.

113. The apparatus of claim 111 wherein said electric vehicle comprises at least one of an electrically-powered automobile, truck, motorcycle, moped, scooter, airplane, locomotive, submersible vessel, boat, spacecraft, automated guided vehicle (AGV), and automated unguided vehicle (AUGV).

114. The apparatus of claim 109 wherein said device measurement data comprises one or more of:

identification data that describes one or more time-invariant attributes of said at least one device;

historical data that describes one or more time-variant attributes of said at least one device; and

real-time data that describes a single sample of one or more time-variant attributes of said at least one device.

115. The apparatus of claim 109 wherein said automatic controller is further adapted to issue one or more command to perform one or more maintenance operations with respect to said at least one device.

116. The apparatus of claim 109 wherein said automatic controller is further adapted to issue one or more command to adjust one or more parameters of said at least one device.

117. The apparatus of claim 109 wherein said automatic controller is further adapted to store one or more command to perform one or more maintenance operations with respect to said at least one device.

118. The apparatus of claim 109 wherein said automatic controller is further adapted to store one or more command to adjust one or more parameters of said at least one device.

119. The apparatus of claim 109 wherein said automatic controller is further adapted to adjust one or more charge rates of said at least one device.

120. The apparatus of claim 109 wherein said automatic controller is further adapted to adjust a battery monitor identification (BMID) device to optimize charging rates of said at least one device.

121. The apparatus of claim 109 wherein said automatic controller is further adapted to water a battery.

122. The apparatus of claim 109 wherein said automatic controller is further adapted to perform an unscheduled battery equalization operation.

123. The apparatus of claim 109 wherein said automatic controller is further adapted to adjust one or more performance levels of said at least one device.

124. The apparatus of claim 123 wherein said one or more performance levels comprises at least one of a vehicle traction acceleration, a vehicle speed, a vehicle lift rate, and a vehicle lift lockout.

125. The apparatus of claim 109, further comprising an adviser operatively coupled to said determiner and adapted to issue to a user of said at least one device, one or more device management recommendations if said issuing of said recommendations is enabled;

and

126. The apparatus of claim 125 wherein said one or more management recommendations comprises one or more of an asset rotation recommendation, an asset addition recommendation, and an asset reduction recommendation.

127. The apparatus of claim 125 wherein said adviser is further adapted to deliver said management recommendation to said user via one or more of a phone call, a pager, an email message, a message on a display screen, and an alarm.

128. The apparatus of claim 109, further comprising an alerter operatively coupled to said determiner and adapted to issue to said user one or more user alerts if said issuing of said alerts is enabled.

129. The apparatus of claim 128 wherein said alerter is further adapted to deliver said user alert to said user via one or more of a phone call, a pager, an email message, a message on a display screen, and an alarm.

130. The apparatus of claim 128 wherein said alerter is further adapted to issue said one or more user alerts with respect to one or maintenance schedule milestones for said at least one device.

131. The apparatus of claim 128 wherein said alerter is further adapted to issue said one or more user alerts with respect to one or fault codes that indicate a fault for said at least one device.

132. The apparatus of claim 128 wherein said alerter is further adapted to issue said one or more user alerts to inform said user of non-compliant usage of said one or more other devices.

133. The apparatus of claim 128 wherein said alerter is further adapted to issue said one or more user alerts to inform said user of the end of a warranty period.

134. The apparatus of claim 128 wherein said alerter is further adapted to issue said one or more user alerts to inform said user of required maintenance that has not yet been performed.

135. The apparatus of claim 128 wherein said alerter is further adapted to issue said one or more user alerts to inform said user of required unscheduled service of said at least one device.

136. A system for reactive replenishable device management, comprising:

a communication means;

at least one device comprising at least one of one or more replenishable devices, one or more replenishers associated with said one or more replenishable devices, and one or more other devices associated with said one or more replenishable devices; and

a remote device manager comprising;

an aggregator adapted to receive device measurement data from said at least one device via said communication means;

an analyzer adapted to update one or more device usage profiles based at least in part on said device measurement data, said one or more device usage profiles associated with said at least one device, said one or more device usage profiles comprising information regarding the use of said at least one device; and

a determiner adapted to determine if an analysis of said one or more device usage profiles indicates usage of said at least one device is sub-optimal; and

an automatic controller operatively coupled to said determiner and adapted to control at least one of an attribute or an operation of said at least one device if said controlling is enabled.

137. The system of claim 136 wherein

said one or more replenishable devices comprises a replaceable battery pack;

and

said one or more replenishers comprises a battery charger.

138. The system of claim 137 wherein said one or more other devices comprises an electric vehicle powered by said replaceable battery pack.

139. The system of claim 138 wherein said electric vehicle comprises a fork lift.

140. The system of claim 138 wherein said electric vehicle comprises at least one of an electrically-powered automobile, truck, motorcycle, moped, scooter, airplane, locomotive, submersible vessel, boat, spacecraft, automated guided vehicle (AGV), and automated unguided vehicle (AUGV).

141. The system of claim 136 wherein said device measurement data comprises one or more of:

identification data that describes one or more time-invariant attributes of said at least one device;

historical data that describes one or more time-variant attributes of said at least one device; and

real-time data that describes a single sample of one or more time-variant attributes of said at least one device.

142. The system of claim 136 wherein said automatic controller is further adapted to issue one or more command to perform one or more maintenance operations with respect to said at least one device.

143. The system of claim 136 wherein said automatic controller is further adapted to issue one or more command to adjust one or more parameters of said at least one device.

144. The system of claim 136 wherein said automatic controller is further adapted to store one or more command to perform one or more maintenance operations with respect to said at least one device.

145. The system of claim 136 wherein said automatic controller is further adapted to store one or more command to adjust one or more parameters of said at least one device.

146. The system of claim 136 wherein said automatic controller is further adapted to adjust one or more charge rates of said at least one device.

147. The system of claim 136 wherein said automatic controller is further adapted to adjust a battery monitor identification (BMID) device to optimize charging rates of said at least one device.

148. The system of claim 136 wherein said automatic controller is further adapted to water a battery.

149. The system of claim 136 wherein said automatic controller is further adapted to perform an unscheduled battery equalization operation.

150. The system of claim 136 wherein said automatic controller is further adapted to adjust one or more performance levels of said at least one device.

151. The system of claim 150 wherein said one or more performance levels comprises at least one of a vehicle traction acceleration, a vehicle speed, a vehicle lift rate, and a vehicle lift lockout.

152. The system of claim 136, said remote device manager further comprising an adviser operatively coupled to said determiner and adapted to issue to a user of said at least one device, one or more device management recommendations if said issuing of said recommendations is enabled;

and

153. The system of claim 152 wherein said one or more management recommendations comprises one or more of an asset rotation recommendation, an asset addition recommendation, and an asset reduction recommendation.

154. The system of claim 152 wherein said adviser is further adapted to deliver said management recommendation to said user via one or more of a phone call, a pager, an email message, a message on a display screen, and an alarm.

155. The system of claim 136, further comprising an alerter operatively coupled to said determiner and adapted to issue to said user one or more user alerts if said issuing of said alerts is enabled.

156. The system of claim 155 wherein said alerter is further adapted to deliver said user alert to said user via one or more of a phone call, a pager, an email message, a message on a display screen, and an alarm.

157. The system of claim 155 wherein said alerter is further adapted to issue said one or more user alerts with respect to one or maintenance schedule milestones for said at least one device.

158. The system of claim 155 wherein said alerter is further adapted to issue said one or more user alerts with respect to one or fault codes that indicate a fault for said at least one device.

159. The system of claim 155 wherein said alerter is further adapted to issue said one or more user alerts to inform said user of non-compliant usage of said one or more other devices.

160. The system of claim 155 wherein said alerter is further adapted to issue said one or more user alerts to inform said user of the end of a warranty period.

161. The system of claim 155 wherein said alerter is further adapted to issue said one or more user alerts to inform said user of required maintenance that has not yet been performed.

162. The system of claim 155 wherein said alerter is further adapted to issue said one or more user alerts to inform said user of required unscheduled service of said at least one device.

163. The system of claim 136 wherein said communication means comprises a network.

164. The system of claim 163 wherein said network comprises the Internet.