Method and apparatus for authenticating a charging unit by a portable battery-operated electronic device

• US 6,429,622 B1
• Filed: 11/14/2000
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Svensson, Lars
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US09/711,998
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/110, 320/114, 320/115, 320/135, 320/DIG.12
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4221 with battery type recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A portable battery-operated electronic device authenticates/identifies a charging unit in order to prevent an incompatible and/or poorly designed or constructed charging unit from possibly damaging the portable battery-operated electronic device. The authentication/identification is effectuated over a wireless interface (e.g., using Bluetooth transceivers) when a portable battery-operated electronic device detects connection to a charging unit. The portable battery-operated electronic device requests data related to source and/or compatibility of the charging unit. If data is received and it indicates a proper source and/or compatibility, the portable battery-operated electronic device permits the charging. Otherwise, the portable battery-operated electronic device executes an action, such as preventing charging and/or memorializing information about the risky charging.

Claims

1. A method for authenticating a charging unit by a portable battery-operated electronic device, comprising the steps of:

detecting that said portable battery-operated electronic device has been connected to said charging unit;

broadcasting, by said portable battery-operated electronic device, an inquiry via a wireless link;

if no response to said inquiry is received by said portable battery-operated electronic device, executing at least one predetermined action by said portable battery-operated electronic device;

if a response to said inquiry is received by said portable battery-operated electronic device,

determining whether a received value is in accordance with a stored value;

if not, executing said at least one predetermined action by said portable battery-operated electronic device.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

if said received value is determined to be in accordance with said stored value, permitting charging by said charging unit of a battery of said portable battery-operated electronic device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of broadcasting, by said portable battery-operated electronic device, an inquiry via a wireless link comprises the step of broadcasting using a short-range wireless transceiver.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said short-range wireless transceiver comprises a transceiver operating in accordance with Bluetooth technology.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said stored value comprises information relating to a source of said portable battery-operated electronic device.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said information relating to a source comprises a manufacturer of said portable battery-operated electronic device.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said stored value comprises an indication relating to at least one compatible charging unit or compatible portable battery-operated electronic device.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

transmitting, by said charging unit, said response to said inquiry, said response including said received value.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said inquiry and said response are encrypted.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of executing at least one predetermined action by said portable battery-operated electronic device comprises at least one of the following steps:

preventing charging of a battery of said portable battery-operated electronic device;

recording at least one of a time and a location of the connection to said charging unit in a memory of said portable battery-operated electronic device; and

causing said portable battery-operated electronic device to emit at least one loud noise.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of executing at least one predetermined action by said portable battery-operated electronic device comprises the step of transmitting a message from said portable battery-operated electronic device to said charging unit, said message ordering said charging unit to vary a voltage supplied therefrom.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of

if said charging unit varies said voltage supplied therefrom, permitting charging of a battery of said portable battery-operated electronic device;

and

if said charging unit does not vary said voltage supplied therefrom, preventing charging of said battery of said portable battery-operated electronic device or recording at least one of a time and a location of the connection to said charging unit in a memory of said portable battery-operated electronic device.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein said portable battery-operated electronic device is comprised of a wireless mobile terminal.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

transmitting, by said charging unit, said response to said inquiry, said response including a Bluetooth identification.

15. An electronic device capable of authenticating a charging unit, comprising:

a processor;

a memory, said memory including at least one stored charging-unit-related value;

at least one battery;

a short range transceiver; and

a logic module, said logic module interrelated with said processor and adapted to;

detect connection to said charging unit;

transmit a wireless inquiry in response to the detected connection using said short range transceiver;

receive a wireless response to said wireless inquiry via said short range transceiver, said response including a received charging-unit-related value; and

determine whether said received charging-unit-related value is in accordance with said at least one stored charging-unit-related value.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein said short range transceiver is comprised of a transceiver that is operating in accordance with Bluetooth technological standards.

17. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the electronic device is comprised of a mobile terminal.

18. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein said at least one stored charging-unit-related value comprises a source identifier.

19. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein said at least one stored charging-unit-related value comprises compatibility information.

20. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein said logic module is further adapted to:

if said received charging-unit-related value is determined to be in accordance with said at least one stored charging-unit-related value, then permit charging of said at least one battery; and

if said received charging-unit-related value is not determined to be in accordance with said at least one stored charging-unit-related value, then execute at least one predetermined action.

21. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein the adaptation to execute at least one predetermined action of said logic module further comprises at least one of the following adaptations to:

prevent charging of said at least one battery;

record at least one of a time and a location of the detected connection in said memory; and

cause a speaker of the electronic device to emit at least one loud sound.

22. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein said logic module is further adapted to:

if said received charging-unit-related value is determined to be in accordance with said at least one stored charging-unit-related value, then transmit an order to vary a voltage supplied to the electronic device;

if said voltage supplied to the electronic device is varied, permit charging of said at least one battery; and

if said voltage supplied to the electronic device is not varied, execute at least one predetermined action.

23. A charging unit capable of being authenticated, comprising:

a processor;

a memory, said memory including at least one value;

a short range transceiver; and

a logic module, said logic module interrelated with said processor and adapted to;

receive a wireless inquiry via said short range transceiver;

transmit said at least one value using said short range transceiver in response to said wireless inquiry;

receive, via said short range transceiver, an order to vary the voltage supplied from the charging unit; and

vary the voltage supplied from the charging unit.

24. The charging unit of claim 23, wherein said at least one value comprises a source identifier.

25. The charging unit of claim 23, wherein said at least one value comprises compatibility information.

26. The charging unit of claim 23, wherein said logic module is further adapted to:

cause a switch to cut off the voltage supplied from the charging unit.

27. A method for authenticating a charging unit by a battery-powered electronic device, comprising the steps of:

detecting, by said battery-powered electronic device, connection to a charging unit;

transmitting, by said battery-powered electronic device, a request for source information;

preventing charging of a battery of said battery-powered electronic device if no source information is received from the connected charging unit.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

receiving said source information;

comparing said source information to stored source information;

preventing charging of said battery of said battery-powered electronic device if said source information and said stored source information are not in accordance with one other.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

receiving said source information;

comparing said source information to stored source information;

permitting charging of said battery of said battery-powered electronic device if said source information and said stored source information are in accordance with one another.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein said source information comprises a manufacturer of a charging unit.