Power management in a portable media delivery system

• US 20070204174A1
• Filed: 02/27/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Krueger, Scott, Dorogusker, Jesse, Terlizzi, Jeffrey, Novotney, Donald
• Granted Patent: US 7,770,036 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence

Abstract

A consumer electronic product that includes a media player arranged to process a selected one of a plurality of digital media files stored therein and a media delivery accessory unit detachedly connected to the media player arranged to broadcast the processed digital media file. When the consumer electronic product is in a DC mode, the consumer electronic product controls a transfer of an amount of charge between the media delivery accessory and the media player. In one embodiment, the amount of charge is sufficient to for the consumer electronic product to operate for a predetermined amount of time. In another embodiment, the amount of charge is sufficient for to maximize an amount of time that the media player and media delivery accessory can operate.

Claims

1. A method for managing power in an electronic device powered by only a plurality of internal power supplies in a DC mode, comprising:

when the electronic device is in the DC mode,

controlling a transfer of an amount of charge between at least two of the plurality of internal power supplies by the electronic device.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the amount of charge transferred is sufficient for the electronic device to operate uninterrupted for a predetermined period of time.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes a number of electronic components each of which are powered in the DC mode by a corresponding one of the plurality of internal power supplies.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the amount of charge transferred between the at least two internal power supplies maximizes an amount of time that the corresponding electronic components can each operate from their respective internal power supplies.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the plurality of electronic components includes a media player arranged to store a plurality of digital media files connected to a media delivery accessory having at least one speaker.

19. A consumer electronic product as recited in claim 1, wherein the media delivery accessory internal power supply provides power supply parameters to the processor indicative of a media delivery accessory internal power supply charge status.

20. A consumer electronic product as recited in claim 19 wherein if the charge status indicates that the media player internal power supply has available for transfer at least the amount of charge required to maximize the amount of time that the media player and the media delivery accessory can each operate from their respective internal power supplies, then the required amount of charge is transferred from the media delivery accessory internal power supply to the media player charge internal power supply, otherwise an indication that the consumer electronic product should operate in an AC mode is provided.

21. A consumer electronic product as recited in claim 19 wherein if the charge status indicates that the media player internal power supply has available for transfer at least the amount of charge required for the consumer electronic product to operate uninterrupted for at least a predetermined amount of time, then the required amount of charge is transferred from the media delivery accessory internal power supply to the media player charge internal power supply, otherwise an indication that the consumer electronic product should operate in an AC mode is provided.

6. A method for managing power in a consumer electronic product that includes a portable media player arranged to store a plurality of digital media files connected to a media delivery accessory having at least one speaker, comprising:

when the consumer electronic product is in a DC mode,

controlling a transfer of an amount of charge between internal power supplies in the media delivery accessory and the media player by the consumer electronic product.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the amount of charge transferred is sufficient for the consumer electronic product to operate uninterrupted for a predetermined period of time.

8. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the amount of charge transferred maximizes an amount of time that the media player and the media delivery accessory can each operate from their respective internal power supplies.

9. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising;

providing power supply parameters to the processor by the media delivery accessory internal power supply indicative of a media delivery accessory internal power supply charge status;

if the charge status indicates that the media player internal power supply has available for transfer at least the amount of charge for the consumer electronic product to operate uninterrupted for a predetermined period of time, then

transferring the required amount of charge from the media delivery accessory internal power supply to the media player charge internal power supply, otherwise

providing an indication that the consumer electronic product should operate in an AC mode.

10. A method as recited in claim 8, further comprising;

providing power supply parameters to the processor by the media delivery accessory internal power supply indicative of a media delivery accessory internal power supply charge status;

if the charge status indicates that the media player internal power supply has available for transfer at least the amount of charge required to maximize the amount of time that the media player and the media delivery accessory can each operate from their respective internal power supplies, then

transferring the required amount of charge from the media delivery accessory internal power supply to the media player charge internal power supply, otherwise

providing an indication that the consumer electronic product should operate in an AC mode.

11. A method as recited in claim 6, further comprising, wherein when the consumer electronic product is controlling the transfer of the charge,

generating an audio signal from a selected one of the plurality of digital media files by the portable media player;

and

broadcasting the audio signal by the at least one speaker.

12. A consumer electronic product, comprising:

a media player arranged to process a selected one of a plurality of digital media files stored therein; and

a media delivery accessory unit connected to the media player arranged to broadcast an audio signal generated from the processed digital media file, wherein when the consumer electronic product is operating in a DC mode, the consumer electronic product controls a charge transfer between internal power supplies in the media delivery accessory and the media player.

13. A consumer product as recited in claim 12, wherein the amount of charge transferred between the internal power supplies is such that the consumer electronic product can operate uninterrupted for at least a predetermined amount of time.

14. A consumer product as recited in claim 12, wherein the amount of charge transferred between the internal power supplies maximizes an amount of time that the media player and the media delivery accessory can each operate from their respective internal power supplies.

15. A consumer electronic product as recited in claim 12, wherein the media player comprises:

a memory unit arranged to store the plurality of digital media files and a set of media player operational parameters indicative of a current operating state of the media player; and

a media player connector coupled to the memory unit and the media player internal power supply.

16. A consumer electronic product as recited in claim 12, wherein the media delivery accessory comprises:

a processor unit arranged to execute instructions and provide control signals;

an external power interface connected to the media delivery internal power supply for receiving a power cable suitable for transferring external power from an external power supply to the media delivery internal power supply; and

a media delivery accessory connector coupled to the processor and the media delivery accessory internal power supply that when connected with the media player connector provides a data/power path between the media delivery accessory and the media player.

17. A consumer electronic product as recited in claim 16, comprising:

a power cable connection sensor coupled to the processor for sensing when the power cable has been disconnected from the external power supply that responds by providing a disconnect signal to the processor.

18. A consumer electronic product as recited in claim 17, wherein when the power cable connection sensor senses that the power cable is connected to the external power supply and receiving external power, then the power cable connection sensor sends a connect signal to the processor that responds by directing the media delivery internal power supply to receive the external power.

22. Computer program product executable by a processor for managing power in a consumer electronic product that includes a portable media player arranged to store a plurality of digital media files connected to a media delivery accessory having at least one speaker, comprising:

computer code for controlling a transfer of an amount of charge between internal power supplies in the media delivery accessory and the media player by the consumer electronic product when the consumer electronic product is in a DC mode; and

computer readable medium for storing the computer code.

23. Computer program product as recited in claim 22, wherein the amount of charge transferred is sufficient for the consumer electronic product to operate uninterrupted for a predetermined period of time.

24. Computer program product as recited in claim 22, wherein the amount of charge transferred maximizes an amount of time that the media player and the media delivery accessory can each operate from their respective internal power supplies.

25. Computer program product as recited in claim 23, further comprising;

computer code for providing power supply parameters to the processor by the media delivery accessory internal power supply indicative of a media delivery accessory internal power supply charge status;

computer code for transferring the required amount of charge from the media delivery accessory internal power supply to the media player charge internal power supply if the charge status indicates that the media player internal power supply has available for transfer at least the amount of charge for the consumer electronic product to operate uninterrupted for a predetermined period of time; and

computer code for providing an indication that the consumer electronic product should operate in an AC mode if the charge status indicates that the media player internal power supply does not available for transfer at least the amount of charge for the consumer electronic product to operate uninterrupted for a predetermined period of time.

26. Computer program product as recited in claim 24, further comprising;

computer code for providing power supply parameters to the processor by the media delivery accessory internal power supply indicative of a media delivery accessory internal power supply charge status;

computer code for transferring the required amount of charge from the media delivery accessory internal power supply to the media player charge internal power supply if the charge status indicates that the media player internal power supply has available for transfer at least the amount of charge required to maximize the amount of time that the media player and the media delivery accessory can each operate from their respective internal power supplies; and

computer code for providing an indication that the consumer electronic product should operate in an AC mode if the charge status indicates that the media player internal power supply does not have available for transfer at least the amount of charge required to maximize the amount of time that the media player and the media delivery accessory can each operate from their respective internal power supplies

27. Computer program product as recited in claim 22, further comprising, wherein when the consumer electronic product is controlling the transfer of the charge,

computer code for generating an audio signal from a selected one of the plurality of digital media files by the portable media player;

and

computer code for broadcasting the audio signal by the at least one speaker.