Authorized based receipt of wireless power

• US 9,680,313 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2010
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Lundby, Stein Arne, Li, Peng, El-Maleh, Khaled Helmi, Grilli, Francesco, Martin, Roger Wayne, Maldonado, David, Selby, MaryBeth, Karmi, Yair, Minhas, Sandip S.
• Primary Examiner(s): PALAVECINO, KATHLEEN GAGE
• Application Number:
  US12/856,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20110119144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,496 Days
• Field of Search: 705 261- 272
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to methods and devices for fee-based wireless power. A method may include subscribing to a wireless power plan and receiving wireless power at one or more electronic devices according to a wireless power subscription.

Claims

1. A method of transferring power wirelessly, the method comprising:

authorizing, via a wireless power transmitter, one or more electronic devices to receive power, the authorization at least partially based on a subscription level of one of one or more wireless power plans, each wireless power plan associated with at least one of the electronic devices, wherein the one or more wireless power plans comprise;

a first subscription level having a first priority level and a first energy limit associated with a first subscription price; and

a second subscription level having a second priority level and a second energy limit associated with a second subscription price, the first priority level and the first energy limit being higher than the second priority level and the second energy limit; and

transferring power wirelessly, via the wireless power transmitter, to each authorized electronic device at least partially based on the associated wireless power plan, wherein transferring power wirelessly comprises prioritizing the transfer of the power to the one or more electronic devices based on the subscription level of the one or more wireless power plans associated with each authorized electronic device of the one or more electronic devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a wireless power plan of the one or more wireless power plans authorizes electronic devices to receive power based on at least one of a location of an electronic device of the one or more electronic devices, a total amount of power transferred according to the wireless power plan, an amount of power for the electronic device, and a time of authorization of the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring power wirelessly to the authorized electronic devices comprises transferring a first power to a first electronic device based on the first subscription level wireless power plan and a second power to a second electronic device associated with the second subscription level wireless power plan.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring power wirelessly to the authorized electronic devices comprises transferring power wireles sly to an electronic device of the one or more electronic devices after a user of the electronic device has purchased at least one of a service and a product.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising providing the user with an access key to enable the electronic device to receive wireless power after the user has purchased at least one of a service and a product, wherein the authorization for an electronic device is further based on the access key.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first subscription price is higher than the second subscription price.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first subscription level further comprises receiving wireless power over a first geographical area, wherein the second subscription level further comprises receiving wireless power over a second geographical area, wherein the first geographical area is greater than the second geographical area.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first energy limit comprises a first amount total of energy received per a time period, wherein the second energy limit comprises a second amount total of energy received per the time period, wherein the first amount is greater than the second amount.

9. A method of transferring power wirelessly, the method comprising:

enabling, via a wireless power transmitter, one or more electronic devices to access power, the enabling at least partially based on a subscription level of one of one or more wireless power plans associated with each of the one or more electronic devices, wherein the one or more wireless power plans comprise;

a first subscription level having a first priority level and a first energy limit associated with a first subscription price; and

a second subscription level having a second priority level and a second energy limit associated with a second subscription price, the first priority level and the first energy limit being higher than the second priority level and the second energy limit; and

transferring power wirelessly, via the wireless power transmitter, to each enabled electronic device at least partially based on the associated wireless power plan, wherein transferring power wirelessly comprises prioritizing the transfer of the power to the one or more electronic devices based on the subscription level of the one or more wireless power plans associated with each authorized electronic device of the one or more electronic devices.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting, via the wireless power transmitter, one or more advertisements to an enabled electronic device based on the wireless power plan associated with the enabled electronic device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein transmitting one or more advertisements comprises transmitting a number of advertisements to the enabled electronic device, the number of advertisements transmitted being based on the associated wireless power plan.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising performing one or more data mining operations on the enabled electronic device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein a number of the data mining operations performed on the enabled electronic device is based on the associated wireless power plan.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising transferring a first power to a first electronic device associated with the first subscription level wireless power plan prior to transferring a second power to a second electronic device associated with the second subscription level wireless power plan.

15. A method of transferring power wirelessly, the method comprising:

offering, via a wireless power transmitter, one or more wireless power plans to an electronic device, one of the one or more wireless power plans at least partially based on a subscription level, wherein one or more wireless power plans comprise;

a first subscription level having a first priority level and a first energy limit associated with a first subscription price; and

a second subscription level having a second priority level and a second energy limit associated with a second subscription price, the first priority level and the first energy limit being higher than the second priority level and second energy limit;

receiving, via the wireless power transmitter from the electronic device, a value identifying one of the wireless power plans; and

transferring power wirelessly, from the wireless power transmitter to the electronic device at least partially based on the identified wireless power plan, wherein transferring power wirelessly comprises prioritizing the transfer of the power to the electronic device based on the subscription level of the one or more wireless power plans associated with each authorized electronic device of one or more electronic devices.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein transferring comprises transferring a first power to a first electronic device based on the first subscription level wireless power pan prior to transferring a second power to a second electronic device based on the second subscription level wireless power plan, wherein the first subscription price is greater than the second subscription price.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a subscriber associated with the electronic device with an access key to enable the one or more electronic devices to receive wireless power.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the power transferred to the electronic device is further based on the access key and an amount of power transferred to the one or more electronic devices.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the wireless power plan comprises a pre-authorization to receive the power, and wherein transferring the power to comprises automatically transferring the power to the one or more electronic devices associated with the wireless power plan.

20. A device for wirelessly receiving power via a wireless power field, comprising:

means for receiving one or more offers, each offer at least partially associated with a subscription level of a wireless power plan, wherein the wireless power plan comprises;

a first subscription level having a first priority level and a first energy limit associated with a first subscription price; and

a second subscription level having a second priority level and a second enemy limit associated with a second subscription price, the first priority level and the first energy limit being higher than the second priority level and the second energy limit;

means for subscribing to one of the received offers for the wireless power plan; and

means for receiving power wirelessly at one or more electronic devices at least partially based on the wireless power plan associated with the subscribed offer, wherein means for receiving power wirelessly comprises means for receiving power wirelessly according to a priority based on the subscription level of the wireless power plan.

21. The device of claim 20, further comprising means for receiving and displaying one or more advertisements based on the subscribed offer.

22. The device of claim 20, further comprising means for enabling one or more data mining operations to be performed thereon based on the subscribed offer.

23. A method of transferring power wirelessly, the method comprising:

receiving, via a wireless power transmitter, one or more offers, each offer at least partially associated with a subscription level of a wireless power plan, wherein the wireless power plan comprises;

a first subscription level having a first priority level and a first energy limit associated with a first subscription price; and

a second subscription level having a second priority level and a second energy limit associated with a second subscription price, the first priority level and the first energy limit being hither than the second priority level and the second energy limit;

subscribing to one of the received offers for the wireless power plan; and

receiving, from the wireless power transmitter, power wirelessly at one or more electronic devices based on the wireless power plan associated with the subscribed offer, wherein receiving power wirelessly comprises receiving power wirelessly according to a priority based on the subscription level of the wireless power plan.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising receiving one or more advertisements at the one or more electronic devices based on the subscribed offer.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein a number of advertisements received is based on the wireless power plan associated with the subscribed offer.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising being subject to one or more data mining operations on the one or more electronic devices based on the subscribed offer.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein a number of data mining operations subjected to is based on the wireless power plan associated with the subscribed offer.

28. A method of transferring power wirelessly, the method comprising:

receiving, via a wireless power transmitter, authorization to receive power wirelessly at one or more electronic devices at least partially based on a subscription level of one of one or more wireless power plans associated with each electronic device, wherein the one or more wireless power plans comprise;

a first subscription level having a first priority level and a first energy limit associated with a first subscription price; and

a second subscription level having a second priority level and a second energy limit associated with a second subscription price, the first priority level and the first energy limit being higher than the second priority level and second energy limit; and

receiving, via the wireless power transmitter, the power wirelessly at the one or more electronic devices based on the one or more wireless power plans, wherein receiving the power wirelessly comprises receiving the power wirelessly according to a priority based on the subscription level of the one or more wireless power plans.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the authorization is based on the purchase of at least one of a service and a product.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the authorization is based on an occurrence of one or more events.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising conveying an access key to the wireless power transmitter prior to receiving the power at the one or more electronic devices.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein conveying an access key comprises conveying the access key to a router associated with the wireless power transmitter.

33. The method of claim 28, further comprising transmitting a payment to receive the power at the one or more electronic devices, the payment based on the wireless power plan, wherein transmitting a payment comprises at least one of a reoccurring transmission of the payment, transmitting a payment for the power prior to receiving authorization, transmitting the payment based for each charge received, and transmitting the payment based on an amount of power received.

34. An electronic device for wirelessly receiving power via a wireless power field, comprising:

at least one receive antenna configured for receiving power wirelessly;

a transmitter operationally coupled to the at least one receive antenna and configured to transmit information associated with a wireless power plan for the electronic device to a wireless power transmitter, wherein the electronic device is configured to receive power wirelessly from the wireless power transmitter at least partially based on a subscription level of the wireless power plan, wherein the wireless power plan comprises;

a first subscription level having a first priority level and a first energy limit associated with a first subscription price; and

a second subscription level having a second priority level and a second energy limit associated with a second subscription price, the first priority level and the first energy limit being higher than the second priority level and second energy limit,

wherein the electronic device is further configured to receive power wirelessly according to a priority based on the subscription level of the wireless power plan.

35. The electronic device of claim 34, wherein the electronic device is configured for receiving an access key to enable the electronic device to receive wireless power.

36. The electronic device of claim 34, wherein the electronic device is configured to receive the power from the wireless power transmitter a based on an occurrence of one or more events, in anticipation of one or more events, or when a charging level of the electronic device drops below a threshold value.

37. The electronic device of claim 34, wherein the electronic device is configured to request the power from the wireless power transmitter based on anticipated power requirements.

38. The electronic device of claim 34, wherein the electronic device is configured to display a list of available wireless chargers.