Patent Publication Number: US-9847679-B2

Title: System and method for controlling communication between wireless power transmitter managers

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present disclosure is related to U.S. non-provisional patent application DWV-3DPF-010 entitled “Methodology for Pocket-forming”; and DWV-3DPF-028 entitled “Methodology for Multiple Pocket-Forming”; DWV-3DPF-015 entitled “Method for 3 Dimensional Pocket-forming”; DWV-3DPF-027 entitled “Receivers for Wireless Power Transmission”; and DWV-3DPF-029 entitled “Transmitters for Wireless Power Transmission” the entireties of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The present disclosure relates in general to electronic transmitters, and more specifically to a method for controlling communication between wireless power transmitter managers. 
     Background Information 
     Electronic devices such as laptop computers, smartphones, portable gaming devices, tablets, and so forth may need power for performing their intended functions. This may require having to charge electronic equipment at least once a day, or in high-demand electronic devices more than once a day. Such an activity may be tedious and may represent a burden to users. For example, a user may be required to carry chargers in case his electronic equipment is lacking power. In addition, users may have to find available power sources to connect to. Lastly, users must plugin to an electric outlet or other power supply to be able to charge his or her electronic device. However, such an activity may render electronic devices inoperable during charging. Current solutions to this problem may include inductive pads which may employ magnetic induction or resonating coils. Nevertheless, such a solution may still require that electronic devices may have to be placed in a specific place for powering. Thus, electronic devices during charging may not be portable. 
     Other solutions to this problem may include using controlled Radio RF waves which may converge in 3-D space for charging or powering electronic devices. This option may provide wireless power transmission using one or more wireless power transmitters and one or more wireless power receivers, while eliminating the use of wires or pads for charging devices. However, when wireless power transmission requires one or more wireless power transmitter managers, constant communication may be needed among them to avoid power transfer interruption when an electronic device starts moving from one wireless power transmitter to another. 
     For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a method that may enable communication between wireless power transmitter managers, to power electronic devices without requiring extra chargers or plugs, and where the mobility and portability of electronic devices may not be compromised. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides a method for controlling the communication between wireless power transmitter managers. 
     In one embodiment, a wireless power transmission system may include one or more wireless power transmitter managers and/or one or more wireless power receivers for powering various customer devices. A wireless power receiver may be paired with a customer device or may be built into a customer device. 
     Wireless power transmitter managers may receive customer device&#39;s signal strength from ads emitted by a wireless power receiver and a graphical user interface. 
     In a different embodiment, wireless power transmitter managers may include a device database. Device database may store customer device&#39;s power schedules, customer device&#39;s status, names, customer&#39;s sign names, and details running the system, among others, for each customer device in the wireless power transmission system near to a given wireless power transmitter manager. 
     In another aspect of this embodiment, wireless power transmitter manager may transfer power in a range between 15 feet to 30 feet, but only the wireless power transmitter manager with control over wireless power receiver&#39;s power record may be allowed to send power to a specific wireless power receiver. Furthermore wireless power transmitter managers may share wireless power receiver&#39;s power record, but only the wireless power transmitter manager with control over wireless power receiver&#39;s power record can change the information stored for that power record in the device database. 
     According to another aspect of this embodiment, wireless power transmitter managers may need to fulfill two conditions to control wireless power receiver&#39;s power record in the device database: 1) customer device&#39;s signal strength threshold has to be significantly greater than 50% (for example 55%) of the signal strength measured by all other wireless power transmitter managers and 2) has to remain significantly greater than 50% for a minimum amount of time. If multiple wireless power transmitter managers are within range to communicate with and transfer power to a given wireless power receiver, then only the closest wireless power transmitter manager or the last wireless power transmitter manager closest to wireless power receiver has control of the wireless power receiver&#39;s power record in the device database. However, each wireless power transmitter manager may individually and simultaneously transfer power to the wireless power receiver. In this case, communication with the wireless power receiver is time-phased (shared) between the multiple wireless power transmitter managers so that each can track the 3-D location of the wireless power receiver, in case it is in movement. 
     In another embodiment, wireless power transmitter managers may use, but is not limited to, Bluetooth low energy to establish a communication link with the wireless power receiver and a control link with customer device&#39;s graphical user interface (GUI). 
     According to some aspects of this embodiment, wireless power transmitter managers may include an antenna manager software to map the tracking customer device. 
     In another aspect of this embodiment, a Wi-Fi connection may be established between wireless power transmitter managers to share customer device&#39;s information. Each wireless power transmitter manager in the wireless power transmission system may create a wireless energy area model which includes information about all the movements in the system. This information may be stored in the device database. 
     In a different embodiment, wireless power transmitter managers may be connected to a cloud to share customer device&#39;s information. The cloud may also be used to share data between system devices, including: quality control information, statistics, and problem reports, among others. 
     In yet another embodiment, a server may be connected to the cloud as a backup of the device database shared by every wireless power transmitter manager in the wireless power transmission system. 
     The method described here may enable communication between wireless power transmitters to power electronic devices without requiring extra chargers or plugs, and where the mobility and portability of electronic devices may not be compromised. Numerous other aspects, features and benefits of the present disclosure may be made apparent from the following detailed description taken together with the drawing figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure can be better understood by referring to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosure. In the figures, reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. 
         FIG. 1  shows a wireless power transmission system using a wireless power transmitter manager, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates handing off wireless power transfer to a wireless power receiver between one wireless power transmitter manager to another, in a wireless power transmission system, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart of handing off wireless power transfer to a wireless power receiver between one wireless power transmitter manager to another, in a wireless power transmission system, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is an exemplary embodiment of handing off wireless power transfer to a wireless power receiver between one wireless power transmitter manager to another, in a wireless power transmission system, according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure is here described in detail with reference to embodiments illustrated in the drawings, which form a part here. Other embodiments may be used and/or other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description are not meant to be limiting of the subject matter presented here. 
     Definitions 
     As used here, the following terms may have the following definitions: 
     “Transmitter” refers to a device, including a chip which may generate two or more RF signals, at least one RF signal being phase shifted and gain adjusted with respect to other RF signals, all of which pass through one or more RF antenna such that focused RF signals are directed to a target. 
     “Receiver” refers to a device which may include at least one antenna, at least one rectifying circuit, and at least one power converter for powering or charging an electronic device using RF waves. 
     “Pocket-forming” refers to generating two or more RF waves which converge in 3-D space, forming controlled constructive and destructive interference patterns. 
     “Pockets of energy” refers to areas or regions of space where energy or power may accumulate in the form of constructive interference patterns of RF waves. 
     Description Of The Drawings 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, which may not be to scale or to proportion, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings and claims, are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be used and/or and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 1  shows a wireless power transmission system  100  using a wireless power transmitter manager  102 , according to an embodiment. Wireless power transmitter manager  102  may include a processor with computer-readable medium, such as a random access memory (RAM) (not shown) coupled to the processor. Examples of processor may include a microprocessor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and field programmable object array (FPOA), among others. 
     Wireless power transmitter manager  102  may transmit controlled Radio RF waves which may converge in 3-D space to a wireless power receiver  104  for charging or powering a customer device  106 . These RF waves may be controlled through phase and/or relative amplitude adjustments to form constructive and destructive interference patterns (pocket-forming). Pockets of energy may form at constructive interference patterns and can be 3-dimensional in shape whereas null-spaces may be generated at destructive interference patterns. 
     Wireless power receiver  104  may be paired with customer device  106  or may be built into customer device  106 . Examples of customer devices  106  may include laptop computer, smartphones, tablets, music players, and toys, among other. Customer device  106  may include a graphical user interface  112  (GUI). Wireless power transmitter manager  102  may receive customer device&#39;s signal strength from ads emitted by wireless power receiver  104  and graphical user interface  112  (GUI). 
     According to some aspects of this embodiment, wireless power transmitter manager  102  may include a device database  116 , where device database  116  may store customer device&#39;s power schedules, customer device&#39;s status, names, customer&#39;s sign names, and details running the system, among others, for each customer device  106  in the wireless power transmission system  100  near to a given wireless power transmitter manager. Device database  116  may also store information about all system devices such as wireless power transmitter managers, wireless power receivers, end user hand-held devices, and servers, among others. 
     Wireless power transmitter manager  102  may transfer power in a range between 15 feet to 30 feet, but only wireless power transmitter manager  102  with control over wireless power receiver&#39;s power record may be allowed to send power to a specific wireless power receiver  104 . 
     According to some aspect of this embodiment, wireless power transmitter managers  102  may need to fulfill two conditions to control wireless power receiver&#39;s power record in device database  116 : 1) customer device&#39;s signal strength threshold has to be significantly greater than 50% (for example 55%) of the signal strength measured by all other wireless power transmitter managers  102  and 2) has to remain significantly greater than 50% for a minimum amount of time. 
     Wireless power transmitter manager  102  may use, but is not limited to, Bluetooth low energy (BTLE) to establish a communication link  108  with wireless power receiver  104  and a control link  110  with customer device&#39;s graphical user interface (GUI). Wireless power transmitter manager  102  may use control link  110  to receive commands from and send pairing information to customer device&#39;s graphical user interface (GUI). 
     Wireless power transmitter manager  102  may include an antenna manager software  114  to track customer device  106 . Antenna manager software  114  may use real time telemetry to read the state of the power received in customer device  106 . 
     Wireless power transmitter manager  102  may create a wireless energy area model which includes information about all the movements in the system. This information may be stored at device database  116 . 
     In other situations, there can be multiple wireless power transmitter managers  102  and/or multiple wireless power receivers  104  for powering various customer devices  106 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates handing off  200  wireless transfer of a wireless power receiver, between one wireless power transmitter manager to another, in a wireless power transmission system, according to an embodiment. 
     In a wireless power transmission system, multiple wireless power transmitter managers and/or multiple wireless power receivers may be used for powering various customer devices  202 . A wireless power receiver  204  may be paired with customer device  202  or may be built into customer device  202 . Example of customer devices  202  may include smartphones, tablets, music players, toys and others at the same time. Customer device  202  may include a graphical user interface (GUI) 
     Each wireless power transmitter manager in the wireless power transmission system may receive customer device&#39;s signal strength from ads emitted by wireless power receiver  204  and graphical user interface (GUI). 
     Each wireless power transmitter manager in the wireless power transmission system may include a device database  210 . Device database  210  may store customer device&#39;s power schedules, customer device&#39;s status, names, customer&#39;s sign names, and details running the system, among others, for each customer device  202  in the wireless power transmission system near to a wireless power transmitter manager. Device database  210  may also store information about all system devices such as wireless power transmitter managers, wireless power receivers, end user hand-held devices, and servers, among others. 
     A WiFi connection  212  may be established between a wireless power transmitter manager one  206  and a wireless power transmitter manager two  208  to share data between system devices, including: device database&#39;s power records, quality control information, statistics, and problem reports, among others. 
     Each wireless power transmitter manager may create a wireless energy area model which includes information about all the movements in the system. Also this information may be stored at device database  210 . Wireless energy area model may be used to hand off the power transfer from wireless power transmitter manager one  206  to wireless power transmitter manager two  208 . For example if a customer device  202  moves away from wireless power transmitter manager one  206  and nearer to wireless power transmitter manager two  208 , this movement may be registered in the wireless energy area model. 
     In another aspect of this embodiment, wireless power transmitter managers may transfer power in a range between 15 feet to 30 feet, but only wireless power transmitter manager with control over wireless power receiver&#39;s power record may be allowed to send power to a specific wireless power receiver. Furthermore wireless power transmitter managers may share wireless power receiver&#39;s power record, but only the wireless power transmitter manager with control over wireless power receiver&#39;s power record can change the information stored for that power record in the device database  210 . 
     According to another aspect of this embodiment, wireless power transmitter managers may need to fulfill two conditions to control wireless power receiver&#39;s power record in device database  210 : 1)customer device&#39;s signal strength threshold has to be significantly greater than 50% (for example 55%) of the signal strength measured by all other wireless power transmitter managers and 2) has to remain significantly greater than 50% for a minimum amount of time. If multiple wireless power transmitter managers are within range to communicate with and transfer power to a given wireless power receiver, then only the closest wireless power transmitter manager or the last wireless power transmitter manager closest to wireless power receiver has control of the wireless power receiver&#39;s power record in device database  210 . However, each wireless power transmitter manager may individually and simultaneously transfer power to the wireless power receiver. In this case, communication with the wireless power receiver is time-phased (shared) between the multiple wireless power transmitter managers so that each can track the 3-D location of the wireless power receiver, in case it is in movement. 
     In another aspect of this embodiment, wireless power transmitter manager one  206  and wireless power transmitter manager two  208  may share customer device&#39;s information through a cloud  214 . Both wireless power transmitter managers may be connected to cloud  214  through network connections (not shown in  FIG. 2 ). Network connections may refer to any suitable connections between computers such as, for example, intra nets, local area networks (LAN), virtual private networks (VPN), wireless area networks(WAN) and the internet among others. Cloud  214  may also be used to share data between system devices, including: quality control information, statistics, and problem reports, among others. 
     According to some aspects of this embodiment, a server  216  may be connected to cloud  214  as a backup of device database  210  shared by every wireless power transmitter manager in the wireless power transmission system. 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart  300  of handing off wireless transfer of a wireless power receiver, between one wireless power transmitter manager to another, in a wireless power transmission system, according to an embodiment. 
     In a wireless power transmission system with two wireless power transmitter managers the process may start when a wireless power receiver moves away from a wireless power transmitter manager and nearer to another, at step  302 . A customer device may be paired with the wireless power receiver. Example of customer devices may include smartphones, tablets, music players, and toys, among others. Customer device may include a graphical user interface (GUI) 
     Wireless power transmitter managers may receive customer device&#39;s signal strength from ads emitted by wireless power receiver and graphical user interface (GUI). 
     Subsequently, both wireless power transmitter managers may update a device database with the customer device&#39;s signal strength measured by each transmitter manager, at step  304 . 
     Each wireless power transmitter manager in the wireless power transmission system may include a device database. Device database may store customer device&#39;s power schedules, customer device&#39;s status, names, customer&#39;s sign names, and details running the system, among others, for each customer device in the power transmission system near to a given wireless power transmitter manager. Device database also may store information about all system devices such as wireless power transmitter managers, wireless power receivers, end user hand-held devices, and servers, among others. 
     According to some aspects of this embodiment, only the wireless power transmitter manager with control over wireless power receiver&#39;s power record may be allowed to send power to a specific wireless power receiver. Also wireless power transmitter managers in the system may share wireless power receiver&#39;s power records, but only the wireless power transmitter manager with control over wireless power receiver&#39;s power record can change the information stored for that power record in the device database. 
     Both wireless power transmitter managers may decide which one of them first receives the strongest signal strength from customer device, at step  306 . 
     According to some aspects of this embodiment, wireless power transmitter managers may need to fulfill two conditions to control power transfer over a customer device: 1) customer device&#39;s signal strength threshold has to be significantly greater than 50% (for example 55%) of the signal strength measured by all the other wireless power transmitter managers for 2) a minimum amount of time. If multiple wireless power transmitter managers are within range to communicate with and transfer power to a given wireless power receiver, then only the closest wireless power transmitter manager or the last wireless power transmitter manager closest to wireless power receiver has control of the wireless power receiver&#39;s power record in the device database. However, each wireless power transmitter manager may individually and simultaneously transfer power to the wireless power receiver. In this case, communication with the wireless power receiver is time-phased (shared) between the multiple wireless power transmitter managers so that each can track the 3-D location of the wireless power receiver, in case it is in movement. 
     The wireless power transmitter manager that first receives the strongest signal strength from customer device may verify if the signal strength of customer device has been 50% (for example 55%) or more for a minimum amount of time, at step  308 . 
     The wireless power transmitter manager that first receives the strongest signal strength from customer device for a minimum amount of time may take control of wireless power receiver&#39;s power records and power transfer, at step  310 . 
       FIG. 4  is an exemplary embodiment  400  of handing off wireless transfer of a wireless power receiver, between one wireless power transmitter manager to another, in a wireless power transmission system, according to an embodiment. 
     In a wireless power transmission system  408 , multiple wireless power transmitter managers and/or multiple wireless power receivers may be used for powering various customer devices. 
     As an exemplary embodiment  400 , two wireless power transmitter managers may be in different rooms. Wireless power transmitter manager one  402  may be located in room B and wireless power transmitter manager two  404  may be located in room A. Room A and B may be next to each other. 
     Wireless power receiver  406  may be located in room B and may receive power transfer from wireless power transmitter manager one  402 . A customer device may be paired with a wireless power receiver  406 . Examples of customer devices may include smartphones, tablets, music players, toys and others at the same time. Customer device may include a graphical user interface (GUI). 
     Each wireless power transmitter manager near to customer device may receive customer device&#39;s signal strength from ads emitted by wireless power receiver  406  and graphical user interface (GUI). 
     Each wireless power transmitter manager in the power transmission system  408  may have a device database. Device database may store customer device&#39;s power schedules, customer device&#39;s status, names, customer sign names, and details running the system, among others, for each customer device in the power transmission system  408  near to any wireless power transmitter manager. Device database also may store information about all system devices such as wireless power transmitter managers, wireless power receivers, end user hand-held devices, and servers, among others. 
     Each wireless power transmitter manager may create a wireless energy area model which includes information about all the movements in the system. This information may be used to hand off the power transfer from wireless power transmitter manager one  402  to wireless power transmitter manager two  404 . Wireless energy area model may be stored in the corresponding device database for each wireless power transmitter manager. 
     If wireless power receiver  406  starts moving from room B to room A, wireless power transmitter manager one  402  may take control over power transfer for wireless power receiver  406  and wireless power transmitter&#39;s power records if customer device&#39;s signal strength threshold is significantly greater than 50% of the signal strength measured by all other wireless power transmitter managers. For example if wireless power transmitter manager one  402  receives 90% signal strength from customer device, wireless power transmitter manager one  402  may still have control over power transfer and wireless power receiver&#39;s power records. 
     If wireless power receiver  406  continues moving toward room A, but wireless power transmitter manager one  402  receives 60% signal strength from customer device, wireless power transmitter manager one  402  may still have control over power transfer and wireless power receiver&#39;s power records. 
     Wireless power receiver  406  may move until mid-way between room A and room B. If wireless power transmitter manager one  402  and wireless power transmitter manage two  404  each receive 50% signal strength from customer device, wireless power transmitter manager one  402  may still have control over power transfer and wireless power receiver&#39;s power records. 
     Wireless power receiver  406  continues moving towards room A. If wireless power transmitter manager one  402  may receive 40% or 45% signal strength from customer device and wireless power transmitter manager two  404  may receive 55% or 60% signal strength from customer device for a minimum amount of time, wireless power transmitter manager one  402  may hand control of the power transfer and may provide wireless power receiver&#39;s power record to wireless power transmitter manager two  404 . Wireless power transmitter manager two  404  may take control over power transfer and wireless receiver power&#39;s power record. 
     If wireless power receiver  406  moves back from room A to room B, wireless power transmitter manager two  404  may have control over power transfer for wireless power receiver  406  until signal strength drops to 45% or less for a minimum amount of time. Wireless power transmitter manager one  402  may take control over power transfer until customer device&#39;s signal strength reaches 55% or more for a minimum amount of time. 
     EXAMPLES 
     Example #1 is an application of the system described in  FIG. 2 . First wireless power transmitter manager may be located in a living room and a second wireless power transmitter manager may be located in a bedroom. A customer may be watching television in the living room, and at the same time the customer may be charging his cellphone using the wireless power transmitter manager located in the living room. The customer&#39;s cellphone may be paired with a wireless power receiver. Wireless power transmitter manager located in the living room and wireless power transmitter manager located in the bedroom may receive customer cellphone&#39;s signal strength from ads emitted by wireless power receiver and cellphone&#39;s graphical user interface (GUI). The customer may go to sleep and may take his cellphone with him; the customer&#39;s cellphone may continue charging using the wireless power transmitter manager located in the living room until his/her cellphone&#39;s signal strength drops to 45% or less. When the cellphone&#39;s signal strength drops to 45% or less for wireless power transmitter manager located in the living room, wireless power transmitter manager located in the bedroom may take control over power transfer without power transfer interruption, after it receives 55% or more signal strength for a minimum amount of time. Customer cellphone may continue charging using wireless power transmitter manager located in the bedroom. Handing off process between wireless power transmitter managers located in the living room and wireless power transmitter manager located in the bedroom may not be noticed by customer. 
     While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed, other aspects and embodiments are contemplated. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims. 
     The foregoing method descriptions and the interface configuration are provided merely as illustrative examples and are not intended to require or imply that the steps of the various embodiments must be performed in the order presented. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art the steps in the foregoing embodiments may be performed in any order. Words such as “then,” “next,” etc. are not intended to limit the order of the steps; these words are simply used to guide the reader through the description of the methods. Although process flow diagrams may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be re-arranged. A process may correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process corresponds to a function, its termination may correspond to a return of the function to the calling function or the main function. 
     The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed here may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present invention. 
     Embodiments implemented in computer software may be implemented in software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. A code segment or machine-executable instructions may represent a procedure, a function, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a software package, a class, or any combination of instructions, data structures, or program statements. A code segment may be coupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passing and/or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted via any suitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, etc. 
     The actual software code or specialized control hardware used to implement these systems and methods is not limiting of the invention. Thus, the operation and behavior of the systems and methods were described without reference to the specific software code being understood that software and control hardware can be designed to implement the systems and methods based on the description here. 
     When implemented in software, the functions may be stored as one or more instructions or code on a non-transitory computer-readable or processor-readable storage medium. The steps of a method or algorithm disclosed here may be embodied in a processor-executable software module which may reside on a computer-readable or processor-readable storage medium. A non-transitory computer-readable or processor-readable media includes both computer storage media and tangible storage media that facilitate transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A non-transitory processor-readable storage media may be any available media that may be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such non-transitory processor-readable media may comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other tangible storage medium that may be used to store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that may be accessed by a computer or processor. Disk and disc, as used here, include compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media. Additionally, the operations of a method or algorithm may reside as one or any combination or set of codes and/or instructions on a non-transitory processor-readable medium and/or computer-readable medium, which may be incorporated into a computer program product. 
     The preceding description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined here may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown here but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the following claims and the principles and novel features disclosed here.