APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING INTELLIGENT BATTERY MANAGEMENT

• US 20110207509A1
• Filed: 02/24/2010
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Crawford, Jordan
• Granted Patent: US 8,452,353 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0245 according to signal strength
• 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

Various embodiments for providing enhanced battery conservation in mobile devices are described. In one or more embodiments, a mobile computing device may include a processor and a battery to supply power to the processor. The device may store user pattern data and/or user preference data. The device may further include a power management module coupled to the processor. The power management module may monitor a location of the device, wireless signal strength, and date/time. The power management module may also monitor and analyze user operation of the device to identify scenarios in which wireless communications can be suspended. The power management module may suspend wireless communication according to these monitored conditions, and analyzed user operations, to reduce battery consumption. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A wireless computing apparatus to send and receive wireless communications, comprising:

a processor;

a battery to supply power to the processor;

a memory coupled to the processor to store at least one of;

user pattern data or user preference data; and

a power management module coupled to the processor to monitor a location of the apparatus and to suspend wireless communication according to the location and at least one of;

the user pattern data or user preference data, to reduce battery consumption.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a calendar application operative on the processor, and comprising a calendar event; and

the power management module further to monitor a date and time of the apparatus, and to suspend wireless communication according to the date or time and a calendar event to reduce battery consumption.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a map application operative on the processor and comprising data on location types at map locations; and

wherein monitoring a location of the apparatus comprises monitoring a location type, the power management module further to suspend wireless communication according to the location type and at least one of;

the user pattern data or user preference data to reduce battery consumption.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power management module is further to monitor a signal strength of a wireless communication, and to suspend or resume wireless communication according to signal strength.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the power management module is further to create a signal strength map comprising wireless signal strength at locations where the apparatus has been, and to alert the user when the apparatus is approaching a known low-signal location.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power management module is further to monitor and analyze patterns of user operation of the apparatus and to store the analysis as user pattern data.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the power management module is to monitor of at least one of:

a battery charging method, or a battery charging duration; and

to monitor at least one of;

frequency, time of day, or duration of use of an application operating on the apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein, when the user pattern data indicates that a first battery charging method is used that is slower than a second battery charging method, and that a battery charging duration is shorter than is needed to completely charge the battery, the power management module is to do at least one of:

suggest the second battery charging method to the user;

or

turn off the device while charging to enable faster charging.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the power management module may monitor and analyze patterns of user operation during a learning period.

10. A method operating on a wireless computing device, the method comprising:

monitoring and analyzing patterns of user operation of the device;

storing the analysis as user pattern data; and

suspending wireless communication according to the user pattern data to reduce battery consumption on the device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein monitoring comprises monitoring at least one of:

a battery charging method;

a battery charging duration;

a frequency of use of an application operating on the device;

a time of day of use of an application operating on the device;

a duration of use of an application operating on the device;

or

a location of use of an application operating on the device; and

wherein analyzing patterns comprises identifying at least one of;

a day, a time, or a location when an application is used.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein an application comprises at least one of:

a calendar application, an email application, an instant messaging application, a browser application, a telephone application, or a map application.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

monitoring a location of the device;

determining a location type of the location; and

suspending wireless communication according to the location type and the user pattern data to reduce battery consumption on the device.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

measuring a wireless signal strength at the device;

generating and storing a signal strength map comprising signal strength measurements at locations;

alerting a user when the device is approaching a low-signal strength area; and

suspending wireless communications while the device is in a low-signal strength area.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

monitoring a short-range wireless signal connection to a second device and a location of the wireless computing device;

storing the location of the wireless computing device when the short-range wireless signal connection to the second device is lost;

disabling the short-range wireless signal; and

enabling the short-range wireless signal when the wireless computing device approaches the stored location.

16. A machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions that when executed enable a wireless computing device to:

monitor a date and time of the device, and to suspend wireless communication according to the date or time to reduce battery consumption.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that when executed enable the wireless computing device to:

monitor a location of the device;

determine a location type of the location; and

suspend wireless communication according to the location type to reduce battery consumption on the device.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that when executed enable the wireless computing device to:

measure a wireless signal strength at the device;

generate and store a signal strength map comprising signal strength measurements at locations;

alert a user when the device is approaching a low-signal strength area; and

suspend wireless communications while the device is in a low-signal strength area.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that when executed enable the wireless computing device to:

monitor and analyze patterns of user operation of the device;

store the analysis as user pattern data; and

suspending wireless communication according to the user pattern data to reduce battery consumption on the device.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 19, wherein, when the user pattern data indicates that a first battery charging method is used that is slower than a second battery charging method, and that a battery charging duration is shorter than is needed to completely charge a battery on the device, the machine-readable medium further comprises instructions that when executed enable the wireless computing device to at least one of:

suggest the second battery charging method to the user;

or

turn off the device while charging to enable faster charging.