Smart powering and pairing system and related method

A power conversion unit (PCU) for use in a smart powering and pairing system, the PCU comprising:

• a communication module;
• a power management module (PMM);
• a pairing module configured to pair a first electronic device to a second electronic device;
• the communication module and the PMM being configured to communicate with and power a plurality of electronic devices having different power requirements;
• the communication module and the pairing module being configured to:
• communicate with the first electronic device and the PMM,
• the PMM configured to receive pairing information from the first electronic device in response to a communication link being initially established between the first electronic device and the PMM, the pairing information including identity information that distinguishes the first electronic device from other electronic devices, the PMM configured to provide power to the first electronic device according to a first power management parameter provided by the first electronic device;
• and
• communicate with a second electronic device and receive an identity description of the second electronic device and in response pair the second electronic device directly to the first electronic device utilizing the pairing information received from the first electronic device, the PMM configured to provide power to the second electronic device according to a second power management parameter provided by the second electronic device;
• wherein the PCU is external to the first electronic device and the second electronic device.

A method for use by a power conversion unit (PCU) for pairing a first electronic device with a second electronic device and a third electronic device that has different power requirements than the second electronic device, the PCU having circuitry configured to perform the method comprising:

• detecting a power connection between the first electronic device and the PCU;
• establishing a first communication link between the first electronic device and the PCU;
• receiving pairing information from the first electronic device by the PCU, the pairing information being transferred from the first electronic device to the PCU in response to the first communication link being initially established between the first electronic device and the PCU, the pairing information including identity information that distinguishes the first electronic device from other electronic devices;
• establishing a second communication link between the second electronic device and the PCU and providing a first power management parameter to the PCU that includes a power requirement for the second electronic device;
• establishing a third communication link between the third electronic device and the PCU, and providing a second power management parameter to the PCU that includes a different power requirement for the third electronic device, and
• receiving an identity description of the second electronic device and in response using the pairing information from the first electronic device to pair the second electronic device directly to the first electronic device,
• wherein the PCU is external to the first electronic device and the second electronic device.