Patent Publication Number: US-2020285291-A1

Title: Low battery switchover

Description:
FIELD 
     The application relates to low battery switchover of computer simulation controllers 
     BACKGROUND 
     Video simulation such as video gaming is growing in popularity. As understood herein, simulations are played with game controllers that are typically powered by rechargeable batteries. 
     SUMMARY 
     As understood herein, depending on computer simulation context, a simulation controller with a particular battery may or may not have enough power left prior to recharging to complete play of the simulation. 
     Accordingly, a device includes at least one computer memory that is not a transitory signal and that in turn includes instructions executable by at least one processor to, responsive to a computer simulation having a first context and a computer simulation controller having a first voltage, present a human-perceptible indication of low voltage. The instructions are also executable to, responsive to the computer simulation having a second context and the computer simulation controller having the first voltage, not present the human-perceptible indication of low voltage. 
     In examples, the first context includes at least one simulation event associated with a period greater than a period of use associated with the first voltage. 
     In some examples, the instructions may be executable to, responsive to an active computer simulation controller having a voltage satisfying a low voltage threshold, generate a human-perceptible indication of a spare computer simulation controller, and responsive to input received from the spare computer simulation controller, automatically execute a log in of at least one of: a user, and/or the spare computer simulation controller. 
     In another aspect, a device includes at least one computer memory that is not a transitory signal and that in turn includes instructions executable by at least one processor to, responsive to an active computer simulation controller having a voltage satisfying a low voltage threshold, generate a human-perceptible indication of a spare computer simulation controller. The instructions are executable to, responsive to input received from the spare computer simulation controller, automatically execute a log in of at least one of: a user, and/or the spare computer simulation controller. 
     In another aspect, a method includes, responsive to a computer simulation having a first context and a computer simulation controller having a first voltage, presenting a human-perceptible indication of low voltage. On the other hand, the method also includes, responsive to the computer simulation having a second context and the computer simulation controller having the first voltage, not presenting the human-perceptible indication of low voltage. 
     The details of the present application, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example system including an example in accordance with present principles; 
         FIG. 2  is a flow chart of example overall logic consistent with present principles; 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart of example battery voltage determination logic consistent with present principles; 
         FIG. 4  is a screen shot of an example simulation context in which a particular battery voltage does not result in a warning; 
         FIG. 5  is a screen shot of an example simulation context in which the same battery voltage as in  FIG. 4  results in a warning; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of an active controller and multiple spare controllers; 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart of example logic consistent with  FIG. 6 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a screen shot of a user interface consistent with  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This disclosure relates generally to computer ecosystems including aspects of consumer electronics (CE) device networks such as but not limited to computer simulation networks such as computer game networks. A system herein may include server and client components, connected over a network such that data may be exchanged between the client and server components. The client components may include one or more computing devices including game consoles such as Sony PlayStation® or a game console made by Microsoft or Nintendo or other manufacturer virtual reality (VR) headsets, augmented reality (AR) headsets, portable televisions (e.g. smart TVs, Internet-enabled TVs), portable computers such as laptops and tablet computers, and other mobile devices including smart phones and additional examples discussed below. These client devices may operate with a variety of operating environments. For example, some of the client computers may employ, as examples, Linux operating systems, operating systems from Microsoft, or a Unix operating system, or operating systems produced by Apple Computer or Google. These operating environments may be used to execute one or more browsing programs, such as a browser made by Microsoft or Google or Mozilla or other browser program that can access websites hosted by the Internet servers discussed below. Also, an operating environment according to present principles may be used to execute one or more computer game programs. 
     Servers and/or gateways may include one or more processors executing instructions that configure the servers to receive and transmit data over a network such as the Internet. Or, a client and server can be connected over a local et or a virtual private network A server or controller may be instantiated by a game console such as a Sony PlayStation®, a personal computer, etc. 
     Information may be exchanged over a network between the clients and servers. To this end and for security, servers and/or clients can include firewalls, load balancers, temporary storages, and proxies, and other network infrastructure for reliability and security. One or more servers may form an apparatus that implement methods of providing a secure community such as an online social website to network members. 
     As used herein, instructions refer to computer-implemented steps for processing information in the system. instructions can be implemented in software, firmware or hardware and include any type of programmed step undertaken by components of the system. 
     A processor may be any conventional general-purpose single- or multi-chip processor that can execute logic by means of various lines such as address lines, data lines, and control lines and registers and shift registers. 
     Software modules described by way of the flow charts and user interfaces herein can include various sub-routines, procedures, etc. Without limiting the disclosure, logic stated to be executed by a particular module can be redistributed to other software modules and/or combined together in a single module and/or made available in a shareable library. 
     Present principles described herein can be implemented as hardware, software, firmware, or combinations thereof; hence, illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps are set forth in terms of their functionality. 
     The functions and methods described below, when implemented in software, can be written in an appropriate language such as but not limited to Java, C# or C++, and can be stored on or transmitted through a computer-readable storage medium such as a random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage such as digital versatile disc (DVD), magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices including removable thumb drives, etc. A connection may establish a computer-readable medium. Such connections can include, as examples, hard-wired cables including fiber optics and coaxial wires and digital subscriber line (DSL) and twisted pair wires. Such connections may include wireless communication connections including infrared and radio. 
     Components included in one embodiment can be used in other embodiments in any appropriate combination. For example, any of the various components described herein and/or depicted in the Figures may be combined, interchanged or excluded from other embodiments. 
     “A system having at least one of A, B, and C” (likewise “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” and “a system having at least one of A, B, C”) includes systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc. 
     Now specifically referring to  FIG. 1 , an example system  10  is shown, which may include one or more of the example devices mentioned above and described further below in accordance with present principles. The first of the example devices included in the system  10  is a consumer electronics (CE) device such as an audio video device (AVD)  12  such as but not limited to an Internet-enabled TV with a TV tuner (equivalently, set top box controlling a TV). However, the AVD  12  alternatively may be an appliance or household item, e.g. computerized Internet enabled refrigerator, washer, or dryer. The AVD  12  alternatively may also be a computerized Internet enabled (“smart”) telephone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a wearable computerized device such as e.g. computerized Internet-enabled watch, a computerized Internet-enabled bracelet, other computerized Internet-enabled devices, a computerized Internet-enabled music player, computerized Internet-enabled head phones, a computerized Internet-enabled implantable device such as an implantable skin device, etc. Regardless, it is to be understood that the AVD  12  is configured to undertake present principles (e.g. communicate with other CE devices to undertake present principles, execute the logic described herein, and perform any other functions and/or operations described herein). 
     Accordingly, to undertake such principles the AVD  12  can be established by some or all of the components shown in  FIG. 1 . For example, the AVD  12  can include one or more displays  14  that may be implemented by a high definition or ultra-high definition “4K” or higher flat screen and that may be touch-enabled for receiving user input signals via touches on the display. The AVD  12  may include one or more speakers  16  for outputting audio in accordance with present principles, and at least one additional input device  18  such as e.g. an audio receiver/microphone for e.g. entering audible commands to the AVD  12  to control the AVD  12 . The example AVD  12  may also include one or more network interfaces  20  for communication over at least one network  22  such as the Internet, an WAN, an LAN, etc. under control of one or more processors  24 . A graphics processor  24 A may also be included. Thus, the interface  20  may be, without limitation, a Wi-Fi transceiver, which is an example of a wireless computer network interface, such as but not limited to a mesh network transceiver. It is to be understood that the processor  24  controls the AVD  12  to undertake present principles, including the other elements of the AVD  12  described herein such as e.g. controlling the display  14  to present images thereon and receiving input therefrom. Furthermore, note the network interface  20  may be, e.g., a wired or wireless modem or router, or other appropriate interface such as, e.g., a wireless telephony transceiver, or Wi-Fi transceiver as mentioned above, etc. 
     In addition to the foregoing, the AVD  12  may also include one or more input ports  26  such as, e.g., a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port or a USB port to physically connect (e.g. using a wired connection) to another CE device and/or a headphone port to connect headphones to the AVD  12  for presentation of audio from the AVD  12  to a user through the headphones. For example, the input port  26  may be connected via wire or wirelessly to a cable or satellite source  26   a  of audio video content. Thus, the source  26   a  may be, e.g., a separate or integrated set top box, or a satellite receiver. Or, the source  26   a  may be a game console or disk player containing content such as computer game software and databases. The source  26   a  when implemented as a game console may include some or all of the components described below in relation to the CE device  44 . 
     The AVD  12  may further include one or more computer memories  28  such as disk-based or solid-state storage that are not transitory signals, in some cases embodied in the chassis of the AVD as standalone devices or as a personal video recording device (PVR) or video disk player either internal or external to the chassis of the AVD for playing back AV programs or as removable memory media. Also in some embodiments, the AVD  12  can include a position or location receiver such as but not limited to a cellphone receiver, GPS receiver and/or altimeter  30  that is configured to e.g. receive geographic position information from at least one satellite or cellphone tower and provide the information to the processor  24  and/or determine an altitude at which the AVD  12  is disposed in conjunction with the processor  24 . However, it is to be understood that another suitable position receiver other than a cellphone receiver, GPS receiver and/or altimeter may be used in accordance with present principles to e.g. determine the location of the AVD  12  in e.g. all three dimensions. 
     Continuing the description of the AVD  12 , in some embodiments the AVD  12  may include one or more cameras  32  that may be, e.g., a thermal imaging camera, a digital camera such as a webcam, and/or a camera integrated into the AVD  12  and controllable by the processor  24  to gather pictures/images and/or video in accordance with present principles. Any of the cameras described herein may employ the high spectrum camera example or multiple examples described further below. 
     Also included on the AVD  12  may be a Bluetooth transceiver  34  and other Near Field Communication (NFC) element  36  for communication with other devices using Bluetooth and/or NFC technology, respectively. An example NFC element can be a radio frequency identification (MD) element. Zigbee also may be used. 
     Further still, the AVD  12  may include one or more auxiliary sensors  37  (e.g., a motion sensor such as an accelerometer, gyroscope, cyclometer, or a magnetic sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, an optical sensor, a speed and/or cadence sensor, a gesture sensor (e.g. for sensing gesture command), etc.) providing input to the processor  24 . The AVD  12  may include an over-the-air TV broadcast port  38  for receiving OTA TV broadcasts providing input to the processor  24 . In addition to the foregoing, it is noted that the AVD  12  may also include an infrared (IR) transmitter and/or IR receiver and/or IR transceiver  42  such as an IR data association (IRDA) device. A battery (not shown) may be provided for powering the AVD  12 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , in addition to the AVD  12 , the system  10  may include one or more other CE device types. In one example, a first CE device  44  may be used to send computer game audio and video to the AVD  12  via commands sent directly to the AVD  12  and/or through the below-described server while a second CE device  46  may include similar components as the first CE device  44 . In the example shown, the second CE device  46  may be configured as a VR headset worn by a player  47  as shown, or a hand-held game controller manipulated by the player  47 . In the example shown, only two CE devices  44 ,  46  are shown, it being understood that fewer or greater devices may be used. 
     In the example shown, to illustrate present principles all three devices  12 ,  44 ,  46  are assumed to be members of an entertainment network in, e.g., a home, or at least to be present in proximity to each other in a location such as a house. However, present principles are not limited to a particular location, illustrated by dashed lines  48 , unless explicitly claimed otherwise. 
     The example non-limiting first CE device  44  may be established by any one of the above-mentioned devices, for example, a portable wireless laptop computer or notebook computer or game controller (also referred to as “console”), and accordingly may have one or more of the components described below. The first CE device  44  may be a remote control (RC) for, e.g., issuing AV play and pause commands to the AVD  12 , or it may be a more sophisticated device such as a tablet computer, a game controller communicating via wired or wireless link with the AVD  12 , a personal computer, a wireless telephone, etc. 
     Accordingly, the first CE device  44  may include one or more displays  50  that may be touch-enabled for receiving user input signals via touches on the display. The first CE device  44  may include one or more speakers  52  for outputting audio in accordance with present principles, and at least one additional input device  54  such as e.g. an audio receiver/microphone for e.g. entering audible commands to the first CE device  44  to control the device  44 . The example first CE device  44  may also include one or more network interfaces  56  for communication over the network  22  under control of one or more CE device processors  58 . A graphics processor  58 A may also be included. Thus, the interface  56  may be, without limitation, a Wi-Fi transceiver, which is an example of a wireless computer network interface, including mesh network interfaces. It is to be understood that the processor  58  controls the first CE device  44  to undertake present principles, including the other elements of the first CE device  44  described herein such as e.g. controlling the display  50  to present images thereon and receiving input therefrom. Furthermore, note the network interface  56  may be, e.g., a wired or wireless modem or router, or other appropriate interface such as, e.g., a wireless telephony transceiver, or Wi-Fi transceiver as mentioned above, etc. 
     In addition to the foregoing, the first CE device  44  may also include one or more input ports  60  such as, e.g., a HDMI port or a USB port to physically connect (e.g. using a wired connection) to another CE device and/or a headphone port to connect headphones to the first CE device  44  for presentation of audio from the first CE device  44  to a user through the headphones. The first CE device  44  may further include one or more tangible computer readable storage medium  62  such as disk-based or solid-state storage. Also in some embodiments, the first CE device  44  can include a position or location receiver such as but not limited to a cellphone and/or GPS receiver and/or altimeter  64  that is configured to e.g. receive geographic position information from at least one satellite and/or cell tower, using triangulation, and provide the information to the CE device processor  58  and/or determine an altitude at which the first CE device  44  is disposed in conjunction with the CE device processor  58 . However, it is to be understood that another suitable position receiver other than a cellphone and/or GPS receiver and/or altimeter may be used in accordance with present principles to e.g. determine the location of the first CE device  44  in e.g. all three dimensions. 
     Continuing the description of the first CE device  44 , in some embodiments the first CE device  44  may include one or more cameras  66  that may be, e.g., a thermal imaging camera, a digital camera such as a webcam, and/or a camera integrated into the first CE device  44  and controllable by the CE device processor  58  to gather pictures/images and/or video in accordance with present principles. Also included on the first CE device  44  may he Bluetooth transceiver  68  and other Near Field Communication (NFC) element  70  for communication with other devices using Bluetooth and/or NFC technology, respectively. An example NFC element can be a radio frequency identification (RFID) element. 
     Further still, the first CE device  44  may include one or more auxiliary sensors  72  (e.g., a motion sensor such as an accelerometer, gyroscope, cyclometer, or a magnetic sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, an optical sensor, a speed and/or cadence sensor, a gesture sensor (e.g. for sensing gesture command), etc. providing input to the CE device processor  58 , The first CE device  44  may include still other sensors such as e.g. one or more climate sensors  74  (e.g. barometers, humidity sensors, wind sensors, light sensors, temperature sensors, etc.) and/or one or more biometric sensors  76  providing input to the CE device processor  58 . In addition to the foregoing, it is noted that in some embodiments the first CE device  44  may also include an infrared (IR) transmitter and/or IR receiver and/or IR transceiver  78  such as an IR data association (IRDA) device. A battery (not shown) may be provided for powering the first CE device  44 . The CE device  44  may communicate with the AVD  12  through any of the above-described communication modes and related components. 
     The second CE device  46  may include some or all of the components shown for the CE device  44 . Either one or both CE devices may be powered by one or more batteries. 
     Now in reference to the afore-mentioned at least one server  80 , it includes at least one server processor  82 , at least one tangible computer readable storage medium  84  such as disk-based or solid-state storage, and at least one network interface  86  that, under control of the server processor  82 , allows for communication with the other devices of  FIG. 1  over the network  22 , and indeed may facilitate communication between servers and client devices in accordance with present principles. Note that the network interface  86  may be, e.g., a wired or wireless modem or router, Wi-Fi transceiver, or other appropriate interface such as, e.g., a wireless telephony transceiver. 
     Accordingly, in some embodiments the server  80  may be an Internet server or an entire server “farm” and may include and perform “cloud” functions such that the devices of the system  10  may access a “cloud” environment via the server  80  in example embodiments for, e.g., network gaming applications. Or, the server  80  may be implemented by one or more game consoles or other computers in the same room as the other devices shown in  FIG. 1  or nearby. 
     Further to what has been alluded to above, logical blocks, modules, and circuits described below can be implemented or performed with a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A processor can be implemented by a controller or state machine or a combination of computing devices. Thus, the methods herein may be implemented as software instructions executed by a processor, suitably configured application specific integrated circuits (ASIC) or field programmable gate array (FPGA) modules, or any other convenient manner as would be appreciated by those skilled in those art. Where employed, the software instructions may be embodied in a non-transitory device such as a hard disk chive, CD RUM or Flash drive. The software code instructions may also be downloaded over the Internet. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 2 , example logic may be seen for assisting a user of a simulation controller when low battery conditions exist in the controller, depending on the current context of the simulation. Commencing at state  200  it is determined whether a controller battery is low on energy using, e.g., battery voltage in some implementations. This may be done by comparing the voltage to first, relatively high threshold, above which the controller is assumed to have enough energy to play most simulations for a considerable time, which when being the case causes the logic to end at state  202 . 
     On the other hand, when battery voltage reaches a level below the threshold tested for at state  200 , the logic may move to state  204  to determine whether the current simulation context is a context in which play can be expected to exceed the remaining energy in the battery of the controller. For example, the context may be that a simulation event associated with a period greater than a period of use associated with the voltage is upcoming, e.g., a prolonged simulated battle. To continue the example, if the player is about to enter a boss fight that the simulation console knows takes an average of fifteen minutes to play and the console determines that there is only twelve minutes of battery left on the active controller, the logic returns a positive response at state  204 , causing the logic to move to block  206  to present a warning to switch to a different controller before the intensity of play increases. As described further below, the warning may be presented visually on a display, aurally on a speaker, tactilely using a haptic element on the controller, or combinations of the above. 
     On the other hand, if the context at state  204  is determined to be a different context for which no low battery warning is indicated, the logic moves to state  208  to not present warning. For example, if sufficient battery life exists to play an upcoming scene in the simulation, no warning need be generated. Yet again, it may be that sufficient battery life does not exist to play an upcoming scene, but the context nonetheless may indicate that no warning should be presented of low battery. An example of such a context is that the user is already in the middle of intense gameplay, in which case no warning is presented so as not to add stress by warning the user of low battery. 
     Thus, responsive to the computer simulation having a first context and a computer simulation controller battery having a first voltage, a human-perceptible indication of low voltage may be presented, whereas responsive to the computer simulation having a second context and the computer simulation controller having the same, first voltage, the human-perceptible indication of low voltage is not presented. Note that in addition to presenting a low battery warning as described, in situations of low voltage in the controller, haptic feedback/rumble, force feedback, lights, etc. on the controller may be disabled to essentially enter a battery-saving mode while still allowing completion of play. 
     For example, a given voltage may not result in a low voltage warning responsive to signals from the simulation indicate an upcoming scene that is associated with a playing time of under ten seconds, whereas the same voltage may result in a warning responsive to signals from the simulation indicate an upcoming scene that is associated with a playing time in excess of ten seconds. A given voltage may not result in a low voltage warning responsive to signals from the simulation indicate an upcoming scene that is associated with a playing time of under two minutes, whereas the same voltage may result in a warning responsive to signals from the simulation indicate an upcoming scene that is associated with a playing time in excess of two minutes. A given voltage may not result in a low voltage warning responsive to signals from the simulation indicate an upcoming scene that is associated with a playing time of under five minutes, whereas the same voltage may result in a warning responsive to signals from the simulation indicate an upcoming scene that is associated with a playing time in excess of five minutes. 
     Continuing, a given voltage may not result in a low voltage warning responsive to signals from the simulation indicate a scene that is associated with an input of user signals from the controller of less than five inputs, whereas the same voltage may result in a warning responsive to signals from the simulation indicate a scene that is associated with an input of user signals from the controller of more than five inputs. A given voltage may not result in a low voltage warning responsive to signals from the simulation indicate a scene that is associated with an input of user signals from the controller of less than twenty inputs, whereas the same voltage may result in a warning responsive to signals from the simulation indicate a scene that is associated with an input of user signals from the controller of more than twenty inputs. given voltage may not result in a low voltage warning responsive to signals from the simulation indicate a scene that is associated with an input of user signals from the controller of less than one hundred inputs, whereas the same voltage may result in a warning responsive to signals from the simulation indicate a scene that is associated with an input of user signals from the controller of more than one hundred inputs. 
     Combinations of the above non-limiting example correlations may be implemented. 
     The above correlations of simulation contexts to battery life (e.g., remaining voltage) may be derived using an artificial intelligence mechanism such as a neural network to identify patterns of simulation play for a particular user and how long the user&#39;s simulation sessions last. In this way, how particular users play can be a factor for determining when to switch controllers and/or provide charge reminders. 
     Indeed, and turning now to  FIG. 3  for example logic pertaining to determining voltage, commencing at block  300  an indication is received, e.g., by a simulation console such as a Sony PlayStation® console, from a battery-powered controller indicating the current voltage of the battery in the controller. The signal may be sent via wired or wireless link. Moving to block  302  a lookup table may be accessed using the voltage as entering argument to correlate the voltage to a remaining time of use prior to recharging the battery. The simulation being played by the console on a display device is accessed at block  304 , and at state  306  it is determined whether an event in the simulation that is upcoming, e.g., an intense play event, is expected to last longer than the time period from block  302 . The period of play of the upcoming event may be indicated in the simulation itself or derived using AI as described above. If the period of play will not exceed the remaining life indicated from block  302 , the logic may end at state  308 , but otherwise the logic can move to block  310  to return the low battery warning. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate principles described above. In  FIG. 4 , a simulation is presented on a display device  400 . The simulation has a first context in which a controller  402  with battery  404  has sufficient charge left to play the context, in which case no warning is presented. On the other hand, in  FIG. 5  the battery  404  can have the same voltage as in  FIG. 4 , but because the context of the simulation being presented on the display  400  is a different, more intense or time-consuming context than that assumed in  FIG. 3 , a warning  500  is presented that the battery has low voltage and the user should change controllers. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  provide further description consistent with present principles. In  FIG. 6 , an active controller  600  is shown communicating simulation play signals to a simulation console  602  for presenting a computer simulation on a display  604 . Spare controller  606  also are illustrated, communicating their battery voltages to the console  602  as indicated by the arrows  608 . Each controller  606  may include one or more haptic generators  610 , lamps such ass light bars  612 , and speakers  614  for outputting human-perceptible indications of low battery, among other indications. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates logic consistent with  FIG. 6 . At block  700  all controllers shown in  FIG. 6  can send signals to the console  602  indicating the voltages of their respective batteries. At state  702  it is determined whether the active controller  600  has a low battery consistent with principles described herein. If not the logic ends at state  704 , but otherwise the logic can move to block  706  to generate a warning of low battery such as any warning describe herein, including activating one or more of the haptic generator  610  of the spare controller  606  with the highest battery voltage, or the lamp  612  of the spare controller  606 , or the speaker  614  (to emit a beep, for example) of the controller  606 . The simulation may also be automatically paused at block  706  to allow the user a few moments to access a spare controller  606 . 
     Moving from block  706  to block  708 , the logic may receive a gesture from a spare controller, such as a shaking or other manipulation of the spare controller. This indicates that the user has heeded the warning and has commenced use of the spare controller. Proceeding to block  710 , in response to the gesture the user and/or spare controller are automatically logged on so that the user need not re-log on to the simulation system. The simulation may then be automatically re-started if it had been paused at block  706 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates that at block  706  in  FIG. 7 , in addition to or in lieu of the indications described above of low voltage, the simulation console may present on a display  800  a graphic and/or textual indication  802  of low battery voltage in the active controller, along with a graphic and/or textual indication  804  to switch to a spare controller with an indication of where the spare controller is, as may be determined using, e.g., global position satellite (GPS) signals from the spare controller, or triangulation of signals received from the spare controller, or other means. 
     If controllers are not changed out, upon completion of game play a reminder may be presented, e.g., on the display  800  to charge all controllers. A reminder may also be presented to plug in a low battery controller to recharge its battery when the UI of  FIG. 8  is presented. 
     It will be appreciated that whilst present principals have been described with reference to some example embodiments, these are not intended to be limiting, and that various alternative arrangements may be used to implement the subject matter claimed herein.