Wireless power system with selectable control channel protocols

A wireless power receive unit comprises:

• a wireless power receive circuit, when operable, converts a wireless power magnetic field from a wireless power transmit unit into a voltage;
• a receive unit transceiver;
• and
• a receive unit processing module operable to:
• attempt to identify a first control channel protocol for communication on a control channel between the wireless power transmit unit and the wireless power receive unit;
• determine whether the receive unit transceiver is capable of communication using the first control channel protocol;
• when the receive unit transceiver is capable of communication using the first control channel protocol, coordinate configuration of the receive unit transceiver to transceive a communication regarding the wireless power magnetic field via the control channel using the first control channel protocol;
• and
• when the receive unit transceiver is not capable of communication using the first control channel protocol, attempting to use a second control channel protocol for communication on the control channel between the wireless power transmit unit and the wireless power receive unit.

A wireless power transmit unit comprises:

• a wireless power transmit circuit, when operable, generates a wireless power magnetic field;
• a transmit unit transceiver operable to transceive a communication regarding the wireless power magnetic field via a control channel in accordance with a plurality of control channel protocols;
• and
• a transmit unit processing module operable to:
• generate an indication of a first one of the plurality of control channel protocols, wherein the transmit unit transceiver transmits the indication of the first one of the plurality of control channel protocols;
• and
• when requested by a wireless power receive unit, transceiving negotiation information with the wireless power receive unit to mutually select a second one of the plurality of control channel protocols for the communication regarding the wireless power magnetic field via the control channel between the wireless power receive unit and the wireless power transmit unit.

A wireless power receive unit comprises:

• a wireless power receive circuit, when operable, converts a wireless power magnetic field from a wireless power transmit unit into a voltage;
• a receive unit transceiver;
• and
• a receive unit processing module operable to:
• attempt to identify a control channel protocol for communication on a control channel between the wireless power transmit unit and the wireless power receive unit;
• determine whether the receive unit transceiver is capable of communication using the control channel protocol;
• when the receive unit transceiver is not capable of communication using the control channel protocol, determine whether the receive unit transceiver is lacking hardware or lacking software to support the control channel protocol;
• and
• when the receive unit transceiver is lacking software, generate a network message to download the software to support the control channel protocol.

A wireless power receive unit comprises:

• a wireless power receive circuit, when operable, converts a wireless power magnetic field from a wireless power transmit unit into a voltage;
• a receive unit transceiver;
• and
• a receive unit processing module operable to:
• attempt to identify a first control channel protocol for communication on a control channel between the wireless power transmit unit and the wireless power receive unit;
• when the receive unit transceiver is capable of identifying the first control channel protocol, coordinate configuration of the receive unit transceiver to transceive a communication regarding the wireless power magnetic field via the control channel using the first control channel protocol;
• and
• when the receive unit transceiver is not capable of identifying the first control channel protocol, attempting to use a second control channel protocol for communication on the control channel between the wireless power transmit unit and the wireless power receive unit.