Battery monitor
A circuit tracks the total amount of time that a host device has spent in its high power “activated” state (and optionally idle and hibernate states) and thereby can estimate the total power consumed by the host device. A remote device can query the state of a counter storing a value representing this time to accurately determine how much of the energy has been consumed by the host device and how much time is left and/or how many more operations can be performed before the host device's battery is exhausted.
1. A system for estimating power consumption of a host device, comprising:
a mechanism for tracking at least an amount of time the host device is in an active state;
a mechanism for generating a value representing at least the amount of time the host device is in the active state based on the tracking; and
a mechanism for wirelessly sending the value or derivative thereof to a remote device that is separate from the host device,
wherein the system for estimating power consumption is embodied, at least in part, on a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, the RFID tag being the host device.
2. A system for estimating power consumption of a host device, comprising:
a mechanism for tracking at least a time related amount that the host device is active;
a mechanism for generating a value representing at least the time related amount that the host device is active based on the tracking; and
a mechanism for wirelessly sending the value or derivative thereof to a remote device that is separate from the host device, for estimating the power consumption of the host device, wherein the system for estimating power consumption is embodied, at least in part, on a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the RFID tag being the host device.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the power consumption is estimated to determine how much life is left in a battery.
4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the power consumption is estimated to determine how much of battery energy has been consumed by the RFID tag.
5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the time related amount that the host device is active includes an amount of time the host device is in an active state.
6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the RFID tag includes a temperature sensor.
7. The system of claim 2 , wherein a counter is utilized for indicating the power consumption of the host device.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the value is provided by the counter.
9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the value or derivative thereof is compared to a benchmark value.
10. The system of claim 2 , wherein the value is reset after a battery is changed.
11. The system of claim 2 , wherein an alert is generated if a battery level falls below a predetermined amount.
12. The system of claim 2 , wherein the value is sent.
13. The system of claim 2 , wherein the derivative is sent.
14. The system of claim 2 , wherein the mechanism for tracking includes circuitry.
15. The system of claim 2 , wherein the mechanism for generating includes circuitry.
16. The system of claim 2 , wherein the mechanism for wirelessly sending includes circuitry.
17. A system for estimating power consumption of a host device, comprising:
a mechanism for tracking at least a time related amount that the host device is active;
a mechanism for generating a value representing at least the time related amount that the host device is active based on the tracking; and
a mechanism for sending the value or derivative thereof to a remote device for estimating the power consumption of the host device, wherein the system is embodied on a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the RFID tag being the host device;
wherein the power consumption is estimated to determine how many more operations can be performed by the host device before a RFID tag battery is exhausted.
18. A system for estimating power consumption of a host device, comprising:
a mechanism for tracking at least an amount of time the host device is in use;
a mechanism for generating a value representing at least the amount of time the host device is in use based on the tracking; and
a mechanism for wirelessly sending the value or derivative thereof to a remote device that is separate from the host device, for estimating the power consumption of the host device,
wherein the system for estimating power consumption is embodied, at least in part, on a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the RFID tag being the host device.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the power consumption is estimated to determine how much life is left in a battery.
20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the power consumption is estimated to determine how much battery energy has been consumed by the RFID tag.
21. The system of claim 18 , wherein the amount of time the host device is active includes the amount of time the host device is in an active state.
22. The system of claim 18 , wherein the RFID tag includes a temperature sensor.
23. The system of claim 18 , wherein a counter is utilized for indicating the power consumption of the host device.
24. The system of claim 18 , wherein the value is provided by the counter.
25. The system of claim 18 , wherein the value or derivative thereof is compared to a benchmark value.
26. The system of claim 18 , wherein the value is reset after a battery is changed.
27. The system of claim 18 , wherein an alert is generated if a battery level falls below a predetermined amount.
28. The system of claim 18 , wherein the value is sent.
29. The system of claim 18 , wherein the derivative is sent.
30. A system for estimating power consumption of a host device, comprising:
a mechanism for tracking at least an amount of time the host device is in use;
a mechanism for generating a value representing at least the amount of time the host device is in use based on the tracking; and
a mechanism for sending the value or derivative thereof to a remote device for estimating the power consumption of the host device, wherein the system is embodied on a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the RFID tag being the host device;
wherein the power consumption is estimated to determine how many more operations can be performed by the host device before a RFID tag battery is exhausted.
31. A computer readable medium with computer code segments for indicating power consumption of a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, comprising:
computer code for wirelessly receiving, at a remote device that is separate from a host device, an indication relating to a time related amount that the host device is active;
computer code for generating a value representing at least the time related amount that the host device is active based on the indication; and
computer code for using the value or derivative thereof to indicate the power consumption of the host device,
wherein a system for indicating power consumption, is embodied, at least in part, on the radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the RFID tag being the host device.
32. The computer readable medium of claim 31 , wherein the power consumption is estimated to determine how much life is left in a battery.
33. The computer readable medium of claim 31 , wherein the power consumption is estimated to determine how much battery energy has been consumed by the RFID tag.
34. The computer readable medium of claim 31 , wherein the time related amount that the host device is active includes an amount of time the host device is in an active state.
35. The computer readable medium of claim 31 , wherein the RFID tag includes a temperature sensor.
36. The computer readable medium of claim 31 , wherein a counter is utilized for indicating the power consumption of the host device.
37. The computer readable medium of claim 36 , wherein the value is provided by the counter.
38. The computer readable medium of claim 31 , wherein the value or derivative thereof is compared to a benchmark value.
39. The computer readable medium of claim 31 , wherein the value is reset after a battery is changed.
40. The computer readable medium of claim 31 , wherein an alert is generated if a battery level falls below a predetermined amount.
41. The computer readable medium of claim 31 , wherein the value is sent.
42. The computer readable medium of claim 31 , wherein the derivative is sent.
43. A computer readable medium with computer code segments for indicating power consumption of a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, comprising:
computer code for receiving an indication relating to a time related amount that a host device is active;
computer code for generating a value representing at least the time related amount that the host device is active based on the indication; and
computer code for using the value or derivative thereof to indicate the power consumption of the host device, wherein a system is embodied on the radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the RFID tag being the host device;
wherein the power consumption is estimated to determine how many more operations can be performed by the host device before a RFID tag battery is exhausted.
44. A method for estimating power consumption of a host device, comprising:
tracking at least an amount of time a host device is in an active state;
generating a value representing at least the amount of time the host device is in the active state based on the tracking; and
wirelessly sending the value or derivative thereof to a remote device that is separate from the host device;
wherein the method for estimating power consumption is carried out, at least in part, using a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, the RFID tag being the host device.
45. A method for estimating power consumption of a host device, comprising:
tracking at least a time related amount that a host device is active;
generating a value representing at least the time related amount that the host device is active based on the tracking; and
wirelessly sending the value or derivative thereof to a remote device that is separate from the host device, for use in estimating the power consumption of the host device;
wherein the method for estimating power consumption is carried out, at least in part, using a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the RFID tag being the host device.
46. The method of claim 45 , wherein the power consumption is estimated to determine how much life is left in a battery.
47. The method of claim 45 , wherein the power consumption is estimated to determine how much of battery energy has been consumed by the RFID tag.
48. The method of claim 45 , wherein the time related amount that the host device is active includes an amount of time the host device is in an active state.
49. The method of claim 45 , wherein the RFID tag includes a temperature sensor.
50. The method of claim 45 , wherein a counter is utilized for indicating the power consumption of the host device.
51. The method of claim 50 , wherein the value is provided by the counter.
52. The method of claim 50 , wherein the value or derivative thereof is compared to a benchmark value.
53. The method of claim 45 , wherein the value is reset after a battery is changed.
54. The method of claim 45 , wherein an alert is generated if a battery level falls below a predetermined amount.
55. The method of claim 45 , wherein the value is sent.
56. The method of claim 45 , wherein the derivative is sent.
57. The method of claim 45 , wherein the power consumption of the host device is estimated by the remote device.
58. A method for estimating power consumption of a host device, comprising:
tracking at least a time related amount that a host device is active;
generating a value representing at least the time related amount that the host device is active based on the tracking; and
sending the value or derivative thereof to a remote device for use in estimating the power consumption of the host device;
wherein the method is carried out using a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the RFID tag being the host device;
wherein the power consumption is estimated to determine how many more operations can be performed by the host device before a RFID tag battery is exhausted.
59. A method for estimating power consumption of a host device, comprising:
tracking at least an amount of time a host device is in use;
generating a value representing at least the amount of time the host device is in use based on the tracking; and
wirelessly sending the value or derivative thereof to a remote device that is separate from the host device, for use in estimating the power consumption of the host device,
wherein the method for estimating power consumption is carried out, at least in part, using a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the REID tag being the host device.
60. The method of claim 59 , wherein the power consumption is estimated to determine how much life is left in a battery.
61. The method of claim 59 , wherein the power consumption is estimated to determine how much battery energy has been consumed by the RFID tag.
62. The method of claim 59 , wherein the amount of time the host device is active includes the amount of time the host device is in an active state.
63. The method of claim 59 , wherein the RFID tag includes a temperature sensor.
64. The method of claim 59 , wherein a counter is utilized for indicating the power consumption of the host device.
65. The method of claim 64 , wherein the value is provided by the counter.
66. The method of claim 59 , wherein the value or derivative thereof is compared to a benchmark value.
67. The method of claim 59 , wherein the value is reset after a battery is changed.
68. A method for estimating power consumption of a host device, comprising:
tracking at least an amount of time a host device is in use;
generating a value representing at least the amount of time the host device is in use based on the tracking; and
sending the value or derivative thereof to a remote device for use in estimating the power consumption of the host device,
wherein the method is carried out using a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the RFID tag being the host device;
wherein the power consumption is estimated to determine how many more operations can be performed by the host device before a RFID tag battery is exhausted.
69. A method comprising:
wirelessly receiving, at a remote device that is separate from a host device, an indication relating to a time related amount that the host device is active;
generating a value representing at least the time related amount that the host device is active based on the indication; and
using the value or derivative thereof to indicate a power consumption of the host device;
wherein the host device is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.