Hotspot Power Regulation

• US 20070254727A1
• Filed: 02/12/2007
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CradlePoint Incorporated (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: CradlePoint Incorporated (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Johnson, Dave, Sewall, Pat
• Application Number:
  US11/673,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20070254727A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1066 Session management
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An embodiment is directed to a power regulation method implemented by a personal hotspot. The personal hotspot is configured to utilize a data exchanger to provide internet access to one or more client devices. The method includes monitoring a power state of one or both of the data exchanger and the personal hotspot. It is determined if the monitored power state meets a predetermined threshold value. If the determination indicates that the predetermined threshold value is met, a power regulation action associated with the threshold value is initiated.

Claims

1. A power regulation method implemented by a personal hotspot, the personal hotspot being configured to utilize a data exchanger to provide internet access to one or more client devices, the method comprising:

monitoring a power state of one or both of the data exchanger and the personal hotspot

determining if the monitored power state meets a predetermined threshold value;

if the determination indicates that the predetermined threshold value is met, initiating a power regulation action associated with the threshold value.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring an activity level of one or both of the data exchanger and the personal hotspot, and wherein determining comprises determining if one or both of the monitored power state and the monitored activity level meet predetermined threshold values.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining comprises determining if the monitored power state meets one or more of a first set of the predetermined threshold values and determining if the monitored activity level meet meets one or more of a second set of the predetermined threshold values.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the personal hotspot is configured to supply power to the data exchanger;

monitoring the power state comprises identifying that the personal hotspot is operating on battery power at a particular battery level;

the predetermined threshold value is a predetermined battery level; and

the power regulation action is adjusting an operation state of the personal hotspot to reduce the power supplied to the data exchanger.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the personal hotspot is configured to supply power to the data exchanger;

monitoring the power state comprises identifying that the personal hotspot is operating on household current;

the predetermined threshold value is an indicator that the personal hotspot is operating on household current; and

the power regulation action is adjusting an operation state of the personal hotspot to increase the power supplied to the data exchanger.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating a power regulation action comprises causing a user interface to be communicated to one of the client devices, the user interface providing one or more of informational content and power regulation action content.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the power regulation action content includes user accessible controls for selecting from among a plurality of power regulation actions and initiating a power regulation action comprises initiating a particular one of the plurality power regulation actions having been selected through the user interface.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating a power regulation action comprises altering an operational state of one or both of the personal hotspot and the data exchanger to such that the power consumed by one or both of the personal hotspot and the data exchanger is reduced.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating a power regulation action comprises altering an operational state of one or both of the personal hotspot and the data exchanger to such that the power consumed by one or both of the personal hotspot and the data exchanger is increased.

10. A computer readable medium having instructions configured for execution by a personal hotspot, the personal hotspot being configured to utilize a data exchanger to provide internet access to one or more client devices, the medium having instructions for:

monitoring a power state of one or both of the data exchanger and the personal hotspot

determining if the monitored power state meets a predetermined threshold value;

if the determination indicates that the predetermined threshold value is met, initiating a power regulation action associated with the threshold value.

11. The medium of claim 10, having further instructions for monitoring an activity level of one or both of the data exchanger and the personal hotspot, and wherein the instructions for determining include instructions for determining if one or both of the monitored power state and the monitored activity level meet predetermined threshold values.

12. The medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions for determining include instructions for determining if the monitored power state meets one or more of a first set of the predetermined threshold values and determining if the monitored activity level meet meets one or more of a second set of the predetermined threshold values.

13. The medium of claim 10, wherein:

the personal hotspot is configured to supply power to the data exchanger;

the instructions for monitoring the power state include instructions for identifying that the personal hotspot is operating on battery power at a particular battery level;

the predetermined threshold value is a predetermined battery level; and

the power regulation action is adjusting an operation state of the personal hotspot to reduce the power supplied to the data exchanger.

14. The medium of claim 10, wherein:

the personal hotspot is configured to supply power to the data exchanger;

the instructions for monitoring the power state include instructions for identifying that the personal hotspot is operating on household current;

the predetermined threshold value is an indicator that the personal hotspot is operating on household current; and

the power regulation action is adjusting an operation state of the personal hotspot to increase the power supplied to the data exchanger.

15. The medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions for initiating a power regulation action include instructions for causing a user interface to be communicated to one of the client devices, the user interface providing one or more of informational content and power regulation action content.

16. The medium of claim 15, wherein the power regulation action content includes user accessible controls for selecting from among a plurality of power regulation actions and the instructions for initiating a power regulation action include instructions for initiating a particular one of the plurality power regulation actions having been selected through the user interface.

17. The medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions for initiating a power regulation action include instructions for altering an operational state of one or both of the personal hotspot and the data exchanger to such that the power consumed by one or both of the personal hotspot and the data exchanger is reduced.

18. The medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions for initiating a power regulation action include instructions for altering an operational state of one or both of the personal hotspot and the data exchanger to such that the power consumed by one or both of the personal hotspot and the data exchanger is increased.

19. A personal hotspot configured to utilize a data exchanger to provide internet access to one or more client devices, the personal hotspot comprising:

a power monitor operable to monitor a power state of one or both of the data exchanger and the personal hotspot; and

a regulator operable to determine if the monitored power state meets a predetermined threshold value and to initiate a power regulation action associated with the threshold value if the determination indicates that the predetermined threshold value is met.

20. The personal hotspot of claim 19, further comprising an activity monitor operable to monitor an activity level of one or both of the data exchanger and the personal hotspot, and wherein the regulator is operable to determine if one or both of the monitored power state and the monitored activity level meet predetermined threshold values.

21. The personal hotspot of claim 20, wherein the regulator is operable to determine by determining if the monitored power state meets one or more of a first set of the predetermined threshold values and determining if the monitored activity level meet meets one or more of a second set of the predetermined threshold values.

22. The personal hotspot of claim 19, wherein:

the personal hotspot is configured to supply power to the data exchanger;

the power monitor is operable to identify that the personal hotspot is operating on battery power at a particular battery level;

the predetermined threshold value is a predetermined battery level; and

the power regulation action is adjusting an operation state of the personal hotspot to reduce the power supplied to the data exchanger.

23. The personal hotspot of claim 19, wherein:

the personal hotspot is configured to supply power to the data exchanger;

the power monitor is operable to identify that the personal hotspot is operating on household current;

the predetermined threshold value is an indicator that the personal hotspot is operating on household current; and

the power regulation action is adjusting an operation state of the personal hotspot to increase the power supplied to the data exchanger.

24. The personal hotspot of claim 19, wherein the regulator is operable to initiate a power regulation by causing a user interface to be communicated to one of the client devices, the user interface providing one or more of informational content and power regulation action content.

25. The personal hotspot of claim 24, wherein the power regulation action content includes user accessible controls for selecting from among a plurality of power regulation actions and wherein the regulator is operable to initiate a particular one of the plurality power regulation actions having been selected through the user interface.

26. The personal hotspot of claim 19, wherein the regulator is operable to initiate a power regulation action by altering an operational state of one or both of the personal hotspot and the data exchanger to such that the power consumed by one or both of the personal hotspot and the data exchanger is reduced.

27. The personal hotspot of claim 19, wherein the regulator is operable to initiate a power regulation action by altering an operational state of one or both of the personal hotspot and the data exchanger to such that the power consumed by one or both of the personal hotspot and the data exchanger is increased.