Mobile telecommunications device

• US 20080261662A1
• Filed: 04/18/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vodafone Group PLC
• Original Assignee: Vodafone Group PLC
• Inventors: Ashbrook, David, Holmes, Neil
• Granted Patent: US 8,126,517 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/572
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An arrangement and technique for providing an educated indication of battery consumption for any particular mobile terminal usage type. This allows the user to be provided with an accurate indication of the battery life remaining for the current usage type and also the battery life that is remaining for any other possible use of the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal preferably uses historical and/or statistical profiling for the different usage types to provide a meaningful indication of remaining battery life for at least one different usage type at any one time. In particular, the indication preferably includes a time representation that is specific to a usage type. The different usage types may include mobile television, game playing and voice calls.

Claims

1. A method of providing a usage-dependent indication of battery level on a mobile telecommunications device, the method including:

determining a battery level measurement;

determining at least one usage-type, relative to which the battery level is to be indicated;

determining a profile for each of the at least one usage-type;

applying each profile to the determined battery level measurement to obtain a battery level indication relative to each usage-type.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each profile includes historical and/or statistical profile information relevant to its specific usage-type.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein each profile includes power consumption information relevant to its specific usage type.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least battery level indication is provided as a visual representation on a screen of the mobile telecommunications device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one battery level indication includes a visual indication identifying each of the at least one usage-type and a time estimate for each of the at least one usage-type.

6. The method of claim 1 further including determining a current radio condition applicable to the terminal and determining a profile for each usage-type, which is dependent on the current radio condition.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the current radio condition relates to a location of the mobile terminal.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the current radio condition includes an indoor condition and an outdoor condition.

9. The method of claim 1 further including determining an age of the battery and determining a profile for each usage-type, which is dependent on the battery age.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one usage type includes at least one of the following:

voice calls;

mobile television viewing;

game playing; and

internet usage.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the determined battery level measurement is a battery voltage level measurement.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one usage type is functionality-dependent and/or location-dependent.

13. A mobile telecommunications device configured to perform a method according to claim 1.

14. A mobile telecommunications device, including:

battery means;

profile means configured to store profiles for a plurality of usage-types; and

calculation means configured to determine at least one usage dependent indication of the battery level relative to at least one of the profiles.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the profile means is configured to store historical and/or statistical profile information relating to the plurality of usage types.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 14 wherein the profile means is configured to store power consumption information relating to the plurality of usage types.

17. The mobile terminal according to claim 14 further including a display means configured to display a visual representation of the at least battery level indication.

18. The mobile terminal according to claim 14 wherein the display means is configured to display a visual indication identifying each of the at least one usage types and a time estimate for each of the at least one battery level indications.

19. The mobile terminal according to claim 14 further including processor means configured to determine a current radio condition applicable to the terminal and to provide the calculation means with a profile from the profile means for each usage type, which is dependent on the current radio condition.

20. The mobile terminal according to claim 14 further including processor means configured to determine a current battery age and to provide the calculation means with a profile from the profile means for each usage type, which is dependent on the current battery age.

21. The mobile telecommunications device according to claim 14 wherein the plurality of usage-types are configured to enable at least one of the following functions:

voice calls;

mobile television viewing;

game playing; and

internet usage.

22. The mobile terminal to claim 14, wherein the at least one usage type is functionality-dependent and/or location-dependent.

23. A mobile terminal substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

24. A method of providing a usage-dependent indication of battery level on a mobile telecommunications device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.