Method, system, software, and signal for estimating battery life in a remote control device
AssigneeSpotware Technologies, Inc.
InventorKim C. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention describes a method, signal, and software for use in a system including a host device and at least one remote battery powered device. The status of the battery in the remote device is estimated from the number and duration of messages received by the host. The battery's status is then communicated to the user via the host device. The entire method can be implemented without consuming any battery power except the power normally used to transmit messages.
Claims28
A method, in a system including a host device and at least one remote battery powered device, said host device and at least one remote battery powered device being operably connected via a wireless connection, comprising the steps of:
- maintaining information relating to battery life;
- metering periods of remote device use;
- and
- estimating remaining battery life from the periods of use and the information relating to battery life.
A system comprising:
- a remote battery powered device;
- and
- a host device;
- said host device being operably connected to said remote battery powered device via a wireless connection, said host device including:
- a least one processor;
- memory operably associated with said processor;
- and
- a program of instructions configured to be executed by said processor and stored in said memory, said program of instructions including limitations configured to maintain information relating to battery life, meter periods of remote device use and estimate remaining battery life from said periods of use and said information relating to battery life.
A computer readable medium tangibly embodying a series of instructions for use in a system including a host device and at least one remote battery powered device, said host device being operably connected to at least one remote battery powered device via a wireless connection, implementing the following method:
- maintaining information relating to battery life;
- metering periods of remote device use;
- and
- estimating remaining battery life from said periods of use and said information relating to battery life.
A signal embodied in a propagation medium, for use in a system including a host device and at least one remote battery powered device, said host device being operably connected to at least one remote battery powered device via a wireless connection, comprising:
- at least one instruction configured to maintain information relating to battery life;
- at least one instruction configured to meter periods of remote device use;
- and at least one instruction configured to estimate remaining battery life from said periods of use and said information relating to battery life.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.