Portable Device Power Management with Proximity Charging Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power management systems for portable electronic devices only notify users of low power levels when the device is about to shut down, failing to alert users of nearby charging opportunities until it is too late.
Innovation Solution
A power management system that monitors the device's power level and detects nearby charging devices using short-range communication technologies, allowing for early notification of charging opportunities when the power level reaches a non-critical threshold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional power management systems only notify users at critical power levels, then the device complexity is reduced, but the loss of time for users to charge the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of charging devices using short-range communication technologies before the power level reaches critical thresholds. Notifications are triggered at non-critical power levels (e.g., 20%, 40%, 60%) to give users advance notice and time to charge their devices, rather than waiting until critical levels.
2Productivity
If the system uses short-range communication to detect nearby charging devices, then the productivity of power management is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses short-range communication technologies (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC) as intermediary mechanisms to detect and communicate with nearby charging devices. These intermediaries enable the device to identify available charging infrastructure without requiring complex direct detection hardware, thus improving productivity while managing complexity through established communication protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
Power management notifications are provided to a user of a portable electronic device by monitoring a current power level of a power supply in a portable electronic device. A determination is made, with the portable electronic device, whether the current power level is one of less than and equal to a given threshold. One or more wireless detection operations are performed to determine whether a power supply charging device is in proximity to the portable electronic device. The power supply charging device is unattached to the portable electronic device. A notification is presented at the portable electronic device, in response to both the current power level is determined to be one of less than and equal to the given threshold, and the power supply charging device being wirelessly detected in proximity to the portable electronic device.