Battery Usage Tracking User Interface for Mobile Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current portable electronic devices lack interfaces that effectively track battery usage by software applications, failing to provide users with detailed insights into battery consumption patterns and offer recommendations for optimizing battery life.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method on electronic devices to attribute and display battery usage to specific applications, providing a user interface that shows usage statistics and suggests settings adjustments for improved battery efficiency based on usage patterns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If basic battery monitoring interface is provided, then device simplicity is maintained, but detailed battery usage tracking by application is not available

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery usage informationVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery usage information is segmented by application, allowing users to view consumption details for each individual app. The interface divides overall battery usage into discrete segments attributable to specific applications, enabling granular tracking without overwhelming the user with undifferentiated data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The interface adds a new dimension of organization by categorizing battery usage along the application dimension rather than just showing aggregate time-based consumption. This dimensional shift transforms flat battery statistics into multi-dimensional data that can be analyzed by app, time period, and consumption level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Loss of information

If detailed battery usage tracking is implemented, then battery consumption insights are improved, but user cognitive burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery consumption insightsVSAvoiduser cognitive burden
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The interface applies local quality by providing detailed information only where needed - specifically for applications that consume significant battery power. Rather than presenting uniform detail for all apps, the system selectively emphasizes high-consumption applications, allowing users to focus their attention on the most relevant information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback by showing users the direct relationship between application usage and battery consumption. This feedback loop enables users to understand which apps impact their battery life and make informed decisions about usage patterns, effectively reducing cognitive burden through actionable insights.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If battery usage attribution to applications is added, then battery optimization capability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery optimization capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing battery usage statistics for each application during normal operation. This advance preparation allows the interface to quickly display attribution information without requiring complex real-time calculations when the user requests battery details, thereby managing system complexity through proactive data collection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11301017B2Battery usage tracking user interface
Publication Date: 2022.04.12 APPLE INC
  • US11301017B2 patent drawing
  • US11301017B2 patent drawing
  • US11301017B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An electronic device having a user interface for displaying battery usage of the device over a given time period. Suggestions to improve device battery life are displayed along with usage when battery savings suggestions criteria are met.