Method of power management for a handheld mobile computing and communiation device

Abstract

A power management method for a handheld mobile computing and communication device for a normal and an emergency occasion is disclosed. The device, for example, is useful for a trapped person under a mound of debris created by a fallen building during an earthquake or a terrorist attack. The invention is based upon a conventional mobile communication device with a second communication unit and a sensory unit. The second communication unit is based upon a short-range and ad hoc communication network. The invention is characterized by that a power management unit is used to monitor the remaining power of a battery system for the mobile device. If the power is below a preset threshold, the main function of the mobile device as a mobile phone is switched off and the reserved power is used to supply power for the second communication unit, which consumes much less power, in particularly, in a mode as a receiver only. An authorized signal, delivered by a nearby mobile rescue station and received by the second communication unit, will trigger the power management unit to provide additional power to activate the sensory unit. The sensory unit such as an accelerometer and / or a gyroscope may detect a signal if the person touches and / or moves the device after receiving a triggering signal. Yet additional power is further supplied to send collected data through the second communication unit to the rescue station.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This is a division of application Ser. No. 12 / 344,519, filed 28 Dec. 2008.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field of Invention[0003]This invention relates to a mobile computing and communication device, specifically to method of power management for the device used for determining location and survivability of a captive person under a disaster situation.[0004]2. Description of Prior Art[0005]A person may encounter many different dangerous situations during his or her life. For example, a person may be trapped under a mound of debris created by a fallen building during an earthquake or a terrorist attack. A rescue team is sent to fallen building to search for survivors. It is important for the rescue team to identify the location and status of the trapped person to save the person's life effectively. Although mobile phones are becoming a popular handheld device, it may not be an effective communication device under a disaster situation. For example, the ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]A power management method for the managing the mobile device used in a disaster situation for a trapped person is disclosed in the present invention. A power management unit is used to measure the remaining power of a battery for the mobile phone. If the power is below a preset threshold value such as for example 10% of the maximum power, the mobile phone is switched off. The operation is almost transparent to a user of the mobile phone as long as the reserved power is a small portion of the battery power. The reserved power is used to supply the required power for an emergency operation unit comprising at least the second communication unit and a sensory unit for detecting the survivability of the trapped person. A ZigBee transceiver is taken as an exemplary illustration of the second communication unit. The ZigBee transceiver communicates with an external device through an ad hoc communication link or network. The reserved power is able to support the operation of the ZigBee device for a significantly longer period of time.

Problems solved by technology

The mobile phone may then deliver a notable event of vibration of the device or a ring tone to the trapped person.

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