Virtual batteries for wireless communication device
AssigneeSharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
InventorBenjamin K. Gibbs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides virtual batteries for a wireless communication device. Generally speaking, a virtual battery is a logical construct on a wireless communication device that powers a defined set of wireless communication device applications and has a defined power budget from one or more physical batteries on the device. Through judicious assignment of wireless communication device applications and power budgets to virtual batteries, a user of a wireless communication device can efficiently allocate power among competing wireless communication device applications.
Claims21
A wireless communication device, comprising:
- a user interface adapted to accept one or more inputs from a user;
- and
- a processor communicatively coupled with the user interface and adapted to configure first and second virtual batteries on the device using the inputs, execute a plurality of applications and monitor for virtual battery events,
- wherein the first and second virtual batteries are each allocated a power budget that represents a dedicated share of physical battery capacity, and
- wherein the power budget of the first virtual battery is allocable to all of the applications and the power budget of the second virtual battery is allocable to only a subset of the applications;
- wherein the processor causes to be displayed and continually updated on the user interface a simultaneous indication of remaining power in the first and second virtual batteries.
A method for allocating power on a wireless communication device, comprising:
- accepting one or more user inputs on the device;
- configuring first and second virtual batteries on the device using the inputs;
- executing a plurality of applications on the device;
- and
- monitoring for virtual battery events on the device,
- wherein the first and second virtual batteries are each allocated a power budget that represents a dedicated share of physical battery capacity, and
- wherein the power budget of the first virtual battery is allocable to all of the applications and the power budget of the second virtual battery is allocable to only a subset of the applications;
- displaying and continually updating on the device a simultaneous indication of remaining power in the first and second virtual batteries.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.