Remote Battery Notification via Intermediary Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery-powered devices often lack a reliable method to notify users of low battery levels, especially when the device itself cannot display or indicate this status, leading to unexpected failures.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a communication system between electronic devices, such as a set-top box and a remote control, where the remote control can send a low battery notification to the set-top box even after its battery is depleted, allowing the set-top box to alert the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a battery-powered device uses its own display or indicator to notify low battery, then the notification is immediate and visible, but the device must still have sufficient battery power to display the notification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a second electronic device as an intermediary to receive and display battery status notifications. When the first battery-powered device detects low battery, it sends a notification to the second device (e.g., smartphone, tablet), which then displays the alert to the user. This mediator approach allows notification even when the original device's display may fail or be inaccessible.
Solution Approach 2:
The notification function is segmented into two separate devices: the first device responsible for detecting battery status and sending notifications, and the second device responsible for displaying the notification to the user. This separation allows the notification system to remain functional even if the first device's display fails or battery depletes completely.
2Device complexity
If a battery-powered device has no display or indicator, then the device structure is simpler, but the user cannot know the battery status until the device fails
Solution Approach 1:
For devices without built-in displays or indicators, the patent uses a second electronic device as an intermediary to receive battery status data via communication protocols (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc.) and display the information. This allows simple battery-powered devices to provide battery status information without adding complex display hardware to the original device.
Solution Approach 2:
The second electronic device serves multiple functions: it acts as a display for the first device, a communication hub, and a user interface. By making the second device universal and multi-functional, the patent avoids adding dedicated notification hardware to the first device, maintaining its simplicity while providing comprehensive battery status monitoring.
3Reliability
If the battery-powered device sends notifications continuously, then the user is always informed of battery status, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous monitoring and notification, the patent implements periodic battery status checks at predetermined intervals. The first device monitors its battery level at scheduled times and only sends notifications when the battery reaches threshold levels (e.g., 20%, 10%). This periodic approach maintains reliable battery status monitoring while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary battery status assessments at predetermined intervals to determine if notification is necessary. By checking battery levels periodically before complete depletion and only notifying when thresholds are reached, the system prepares users in advance without requiring continuous high-energy monitoring operations.
Data Source
AI summary
There is a need to provide an intuitive way for a battery-powered device to send a low battery notification to another device that can properly notify a user that the battery-powered device has a low battery. The user can be notified by the other device even after the battery-powered device has exhausted its battery to the point where it can no longer report its battery state. A second electronic device (e.g., a remote control) can send a low battery notification to a first electronic device (e.g., a set-top box) so that the first electronic device can alert a user that the second electronic device has a low battery.