Method and system for operating a portable electronic device in a power-limited manner

A power manager system included in a battery powered electronic device having a battery, comprising:

• a battery monitor coupled to the battery arranged to determine a charge status of the battery;
• and
• a processor coupled to the battery monitor arranged to:
• delay a power intensive operation performed by the battery powered electronic device when the battery monitor determines that the battery is substantially discharged,
• charge the battery while the power intensive operation is delayed, and
• cause the battery powered electronic device to perform the power intensive operation when the battery monitor determines that the battery is not substantially discharged.

A portable media player comprising:

• a battery;
• a processor;
• a media store for storing media items;
• a communication interface for interfacing with a host device having an external power limited source via a cable that provides media data and power to the portable media player when the cable is connected between the media player and the host device;
• and
• a power manager for managing power in the portable media player, said power manager comprising:
• a battery monitor coupled to the battery and the processor arranged to determine a charge status of the battery, wherein when the battery monitor signals the processor that the battery is substantially discharged, the processor:
• delays a power intensive operation,
• charges the battery via the communication interface while the power intensive operation is delayed, otherwise
• performs the power intensive operation.

A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing a computer program executable by a processor for performing power management in a portable electronic device coupled to an external power limited source, said computer program comprising:

• computer program code for examining a charge level of a battery;
• computer program code for determining whether the charge level of the battery is substantially discharged;
• computer program code for delaying performance of a power intensive operation if the charge level of the battery is determined to be substantially discharged;
• and
• computer program code for performing the delayed power intensive operation once the battery has adequate charge to assist the external power-limited source in powering the power intensive operation, wherein power consumption of the portable electronic device is managed such that reliable operation is achieved without exceeding limits on power being drawn from the external power-limited source.