Charging of Battery-Operated Devices Over Wireless Connections

A method in a radio node to support wireless charging, characterized by:

• a radio node receiving a request from a requesting battery-operated radio equipment for wireless charging;
• authorizing the request;
• and
• in response to authorization of the request, the radio node arranging wireless charging for the requesting battery-operated radio equipment by one or more donor mobile radio nodes.

A method in a battery-operated radio equipment for receiving wireless charging, comprising:

• the battery-operated radio equipment transmitting a radio message requesting wireless charging of its battery;
• receiving a response to the transmitted message and providing authorization information associated with provision of the wireless charging;
• receiving a wireless charging signal from a donor mobile radio node;
• and
• using the received wireless charging signal to charge the battery.

A donor mobile radio node for providing wireless charging, comprising:

• radio circuitry configured to detect a charging request associated with a requesting battery-operated radio equipment;
• wireless charging circuitry configured to provide wireless charging to the requesting battery-operated radio equipment;
• and
• control circuitry configured to generate a message for transmission by the radio circuitry indicating availability of the donor mobile radio node to provide a battery charging service in response to the charging request.

A battery-operated radio equipment for requesting wireless charging, comprising:

• a battery;
• a radio transceiver;
• control circuitry;
• and
• wireless charging circuitry,
• wherein the radio transceiver is characterized by being configured to transmit a radio message requesting wireless charging of its battery,
• the control circuitry is characterized by being configured to receive the transmitted message and provide authorization information associated with provision of the wireless charging, and
• the wireless charging circuitry is characterized by being configured to used a wireless charging signal received from a donor mobile radio node to charge the battery.