Abstract:
An electronic tool and method to manage a battery includes a processor to monitor a battery charge and estimate a required charge needed by the electronic tool to complete any task or job shift. When the processor determines the battery charge is insufficient, the processor applies business rules to reduce and terminate functions of the electronic tool to conserve power.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Field 
   Disclosed is methods, apparatuses, and systems relating to battery powered handheld units and, more particularly to battery management of the handheld or portable unit. 
   2. Background 
   In today&#39;s work environment, the average worker has access to numerous electronic tools to facilitate the worker&#39;s job. These electronic tools are often essential to the performance of the job, but almost always increase the worker&#39;s efficiency. Some tools are simple communication devices, such as, for example, pagers or the like. Other tools are more complex processing devices, such as, for example, handheld computing devices. 
   Frequently, the electronic tools or assets are owned by the employer. The employer provides a bank of units at a central dispatch center where the employee first arrives at work. The bank of units typically reside in a charging device to ensure the electronic tool has a fully or near fully charged battery. The worker, on arriving at the dispatch center, picks up the electronic tool and departs for the job site. The worker may stay on a particular job site for an entire shift or travel from site to site over the course of a shift. The worker typically does not return to the dispatch center until the end of the shift. At the end of the shift, the worker returns to the dispatch center and turns in the electronic tool. 
   The dispatch center receives the tool and puts the electronic tool in a recharge device for a predetermined amount of time. Once that predetermined amount of time lapses, the dispatch center returns the electronic tool to the bank of units for another worker (or potentially the same worker) to use over a corresponding shift. Ideally, the amount of time the electronic tool is charge is long enough for the electronic tool to fully recharge or sufficiently recharge to last the next shift. 
   Unfortunately, sometimes the battery for the electronic tool is damaged or the recharge time is insufficient for the electronic tool. Thus, the battery fails during the worker&#39;s shift. When the battery fails, the worker needs to return to the dispatch center to obtain either a replacement battery or a replacement unit. This wastes a significant amount of time for the worker and drains company resources. Alternatively, each electronic tool could be provided with a backup battery; however, this also is an inefficient use of company resources if the electronic tool battery is capable of lasting an entire shift in the normal course. Battery failure during a worker&#39;s shift is inefficient during the best of cases, but the down time is exacerbated if the battery failure occurs during a particular job. Failure of the battery during a job may require the worker to secure the job site, travel to and from the dispatch center for a new battery, and re-open the job site. 
   One can appreciate the dispatch center described above is exemplary, and other types of battery operated electronic tools can exhibit similar issues. For example, instead of a dispatch center being responsible for recharging an electronic tool, the worker may have an electronic tool signed out to the worker and it is the worker&#39;s responsibility to ensure the electronic tool is recharged prior to being on the job. In this case, the worker does not obtain a tool at a central location, but starts the day with an electronic tool. However, the electronic tool can still experience battery failure. In those cases, the worker would still need to travel to a site to receive a replacement battery or have a replacement battery delivered to the job site so the worker can continue working. 
   Whether centralized or not, the failure of a battery for an electronic tool during a work shift interrupts the work shift and cases inefficiencies. Thus, it would be desirous to provide an electronic tool that alerted the worker whether the battery has sufficient charge for the entire shift. 
   SUMMARY 
   A method for managing a battery in an electronic device during use is provided. The method comprises initially determining an actual charge for a battery of the electronic device and estimating a power consumption requirement for a task to be performed. Once the actual charge and estimated power consumption is known, it s determined whether the actual charge for the battery is sufficient for the estimated power consumption. If it is determined that the actual charge for the battery is not sufficient, providing a warning of insufficient battery. 
   A method is also provided for managing a battery in an electronic device during use comprising estimating power needed by an electronic device to complete a task and determining the power remaining in a battery of the electronic device. The estimated power needed is compared to the power remaining to determine whether sufficient power remains in the battery. If it is determined that sufficient power does not remain in the battery, the power requirements of the electronic device are reduced by reducing or eliminating functions. 
   Also provided is a electronic device capable of managing power requirements and monitoring a battery status, the device includes a battery and processor. The processor monitors a battery charge and estimates a required charge needed by the electronic device to complete any task or job shift. When the processor determines the battery charge is insufficient, the processor applies business rules to reduce and terminate functions of the electronic tool to conserve power. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Features, objects, and advantages will become apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference characters identify correspondingly throughout and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an electronic tool; 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a system; and 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating the system of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   While the below description generally describes electronic tools distributed to workers at a central dispatch center, one of ordinary skill in the art on reading the disclosure would now recognize numerous environments that may exist. For example, instead of an electronic tool, the battery management system may be installed in golf cart or the like to ensure the golf cart has sufficient battery charge to propel a golfer along an expected distance for 18 holes of golf. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram of an electronic tool  100  is shown. Electronic tool  100  may be, for example, a portable digital assistant, an pager, a cellular telephone, a handheld computer, or the like. Electronic tool  100  should be construed broadly however, and can encompass many other electronic devices, such as, for example, an electronic game, a vehicle battery, an mpg player, such as, for example, IPOD® from Apple Computer, or the like. Electronic tool  100  would include a processor  102 , one or more batteries  104 , and a display device  106 . Depending on the complexity of electronic tool  100 , it also may contain a basic input and output system (“BIOS”)  108 . BIOS  108  may include a keypad, a punch pad, a graphical user interface, a bar code scanner, or the like. Display device  106  may be a simple light indicator, such as a laser diode or light emitting diode, or could be a more complex display device, such as a flat screen display or the like. While display device  106  is shown as a single unit, display device  106  may comprise multiple units, such as, for example, speaker to provide an audio indication and a flat screen to provide visual displays, etc. Moreover, display device  106  could be provide audio signals instead of visual signals, as will be explained in more detail below. Memory  110  is connected to processor  102 . Electronic tool  100  would additionally have other circuitry and components necessary for performing its intended functions. For example, many electronic tools today have a navigation system  112 . Navigation system  112  would communicate with, for example, a global positioning satellite (not specifically shown but generally known in the art) to determine its location. Electronic tool  100  may periodically broadcast its location to a dispatch center (also not shown, but generally known in the art). The additional circuitry and components for the different tools are well known in the art and need not be further explained. 
   As shown, battery  104  is connected to a recharge port  114 . Recharge port  114  may be a plug to connect to a power source, such as, for example, a wall socket, a car lighter, or the like, or recharge port may be contacts to match with contacts in a corresponding tool holster. 
   Processor  102  can be for example, microchips, chip-sets, processors, or the like capable of executing computer-executable instructions. Executable instructions include, for example, program modules generally comprising routines, programs, objects, components, and data structures, to perform particular tasks or manipulate data. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a flowchart  200  showing operation when a worker selects an electronic tool at the beginning of a job or shift. First, an electronic tool  100  is disengaged from the power source by interrupting the connection at recharge port  114 , step  202 . Disengagement from a power source is an optional step as the battery management system described herein operates whether the electronic tool is initially connected to a power source or not. Disengagement from the power source may be sensed automatically by sensing battery discharge, manually by a switch, automatically by a motion sensor, or other sensor whether in or out of the device. Whether disengagement is sensed or not, processor  102  makes an initial determination of total battery charge, step  204 . For example, processor  102  may determine battery charge at a percentage of full charge, an amount of total energy stored, or the like. Next, processor  102  would estimate power consumption for the work shift or task, step  206 . For example, when a user may input a specific task, and processor  102  could calculate the estimated power consumption for that specific task based on known task specific activities. Alternatively, the task may have a specific power requirement stored in memory  110  that processor  102  retrieves too estimate the power consumption. These methods of determining estimated or actual power consumption are exemplary and non-limiting. Processor  102  could calculate power consumption in a number of known manners. For example, processor  102  may store in memory  110  historical information regarding power consumption during work shifts. Processor  102  may use the historical information to calculate an average shift power consumption. Because electronic operation may degrade over time, processor  102  may calculate power consumption using historical information using a weighted average factoring more recent information more heavily. Moreover, some job shifts may use an unusually high or low power rate, those shifts may be completely discounted. Processor  102  also may have an expected power consumption for a particular job assignment. For example, job  1  may use 92% of full battery charge on average. Job  1 &#39;s power requirements would be stored in memory  110 . When worker  1  selects electronic tool  100 , they would enter job  1  on BIOS  108 . Processor  102  would retrieve the power requirements stored in memory for job  1 , which would be 92%. 
   To increase the accuracy of the estimated power consumption, known events during a job shift or task may be used by processor  102 . For example, a particular task may require  6  device locating events during the course of the job. Processor  102  may be programmed with the knowledge that  6  locating events consumes 32% of battery charge. Thus, because processor  102  may be preprogrammed with specific events for a given job shift or task, forecasting required battery charge becomes more accurate. 
   Once the actual battery charge is known, and the estimated or forecasted power consumption is known, processor  102  would compare the two values to ensure the battery has sufficient charge for the estimated power for the job or shift, step  208 . If the battery charge is insufficient, processor  102  causes display  106  to provide a warning to the worker, step  210 . In other words, if expected power consumption is 50% full battery charge, and the battery is charged to 40%, a warning of insufficient charge is provided at display  106 , which could be a text message, a tone, a warning light, or a combination thereof. If the worker is close to or at a dispatch center (for example), the worker can either obtain a new electronic tool, with sufficient charge, or obtain a replacement battery pack, step  212 . 
   If it is determined the charge is sufficient for the expected use, processor  102  does may provide a go or ok signal at display  106 , step  214 , although a lack of warning could indicate the device is sufficiently charge. A positive indication, however, is beneficial as no indication could be because the checking system was faulty. Notice, for a margin of safety, processor  102  could be designed that the minimum charge required for each battery be at least 5% more power than expected. 
   Optionally, processor  102  and display device  106  could provide grades of sufficient charge (or lack thereof). For example, assume a job or work shift requires an electronic tool with a battery having a minimum 60% full charge. If the processor determines the battery charge is within a first predetermined range, such as 62% to 67% full charge, a first indication may be provided showing the battery has the minimum charge to function for the job or work shift. In this instance, the worker may elect to use the current tool, or the worker may elect to select a different tool with a better charge. If the processor determines the battery charge is within a second predetermined range, such as 67% to 80% full charge, a second indication may be provided showing the battery is charged above the minimum required charge, but still not fully charged. If the processor determines the battery charge is within a third predetermined range, such as 80% to % 100 full charge, a third indication may be provided showing the battery is charged to the maximum capacity. Of course, in the above example, a battery charge of 62% full capacity or less would receive an insufficient charge warning. The ranges provided and number of ranges are exemplary and non-limiting. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a flowchart  300  showing operation of a selected electronic tool is provided. First, during the job or shift, the electronic tool calculates an estimated power consumption until job or shift completion, step  302 . Estimated power consumption to complete a job could be based on actual power consumption requirements of the operating device. However, absent a monitor of actual power consumption, the estimates could be inferred based on known methodologies, such as, on the amount of charge the battery changes over time. Estimates of power consumption could be based on historical information as well. 
   Next, the total charge remaining in the battery is identified, step  304 . Once the estimated power required and the total power remaining are known, they are compared to determine whether the battery charge is sufficient to complete the job or shift, step  06 . If sufficient charge is available, the process continues repeats steps  302 - 306 . 
   If it is determined that the battery does not have sufficient charge to complete the job or task, processor  102  identifies non-essential functions of the electronic tool, step  308 . If one or more non-essential functions are identified, which would be based on preprogrammed information, processor  102  determines whether the non-essential functions can be terminated, step  310 . If one or more non-essential function can be terminated, processor  102  terminates the function, step  312 , and returns control to step  302  to determine if termination of non-essential functions was sufficient to provide enough battery energy to last the job or shift. Non-essential functions can be terminated one-by-one or in a batch as a matter of design choice. 
   If no non-essential functions can be terminated or once all the non-essential functions that can be terminated are terminated, and power consumption still needs to be reduced, processor  102  would next determine whether certain functions can be reduced, step  314 . Those functions that can be reduced are reduced, step  316 . For example, in the normal course, navigation system  112  may check and broadcast location information every  10  minutes. Processor  102  may determine this is a non-essential feature that can be reduced to once an hour. Once features are reduced, which can again be a one-by-one consideration or batch reduction, control is returned to step  302  to determine if the reduction was sufficient. Notice, termination of non-essential functions and reduction of the functions could be reversed in order. 
   If the termination and reduction of non-essential functions is an insufficient power reduction, processor  102  would next determine whether the remaining functions could be reduced in frequency, step  318 . If additional functions can be reduced, those functions are reduced, step  320 , and control is passed to step  302  for recalculation. Again, reduction of these functions could occur in any order. For example, text messaging may be considered an essential function. Text messaging, however, could be batch transmitted every few minutes instead of a continuous 
   If after termination of non-essential functions, reduction of non-essential and essential functions, processor  102  would terminate the remaining functions based on a predefined priority, step  322 . Optionally, if power consumption cannot be adequately managed by reducing and/or eliminating functions, processor  102  may transmit a signal to a dispatch center or user to deliver or obtain a replacement unit or replacement battery, step  324 . 
   While shown as a local operation on electronic tool  100 , processor  102  may gather data and transmit the data to a server  402  (see  FIG. 4 ) at a dispatch center  400 . Server  402  would be connected to electronic tool via any conventional communication protocol and network  404 , such as, for example, a cellular telephone network, a radio network, other wireless networks, a PSTN, Internet, LAN, WAN, WLAN, WiFi, or the like. 
   While expected power consumption rates and actual power consumption rates will have variation, processor  102  (or server  402  in the appropriate systems) will monitor battery discharge for variants as well, step  502 . Such variants may be, for example, an unusually large power surge, which may indicate an intermittent short in the device, or a device that averages a higher power consumption than other units operating in similar job or shift environments. When processor  102 , server  402 , or some combination thereof notes either large discharges or high average power consumption, a flag is set, step  504 . Setting a flag provides a maintenance report or item for the electronic tool to be checked for problems.