Systems and methods of profiling power cycles in a battery for indicating detrimental battery operation

1. An apparatus comprising:

a battery;

a power supply;

switching logic configured to switch power to the apparatus between the battery and the power supply;

logic configured to detect a series of power cycle events, each power cycle event indicating a depletion of battery power or a transition between line power and battery power;

logic configured to analyze the series of power cycle events to determine a frequency of the events;

logic configured to compare the frequency to a first threshold; and

logic configured to produce a first indication of detrimental battery operation when the frequency exceeds the first threshold.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising logic configured to write the first indication to a log file.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising logic configured to notify a user of the apparatus of the first indication.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

logic configured to compare the frequency to a second threshold; and

logic configured to store a second indication of detrimental battery operation when the frequency exceeds the first threshold.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising:

logic configured to notify the user of the first indication using a first notification method; and

logic configured to notify the user of the second indication using a second notification method.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising logic configured to display a message describing the indication on a display attached to the apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising logic configured to provide an audible indication of the indication.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each power cycle indicates a transition from line power to battery power or a transition from battery power to line power.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the switching logic is further configured to provide the power interruption logic with power from the battery in a first state and to provide the power interruption logic with power from the power supply in a second state.

10. A method of profiling power cycle characteristics in a device powered at least by a battery, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a series of power cycle events, each power cycle event indicating a transition between line power and battery power;

generating at least one indication of reduced life of the battery based on the series of power cycle events; and

notifying a user of the device about the indication.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the indication is based on at least one of a frequency of power cycle events, a duration of a battery power interval, and a total number of power cycle events.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the notifying step further comprises:

notifying the user through a phone call.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the notifying step further comprises: notifying the user through an e-mail message.

14. A method of profiling power cycle characteristics in a device powered at least by a battery, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a series of power cycle events, each power cycle event indicating a transition between line power and battery power;

analyzing the series of power cycle events to produce at least one power cycle characteristic;

comparing the power cycle characteristic to at least one stored power cycle characteristic profile;

storing an indication of detrimental battery operation if the comparison is a match; and

notifying a user of the device of the indication of the detrimental battery operation.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one power cycle characteristic comprises a frequency of power cycle events, a duration of a battery power interval, a total number of power cycle events, and a variation in the frequency of power cycle events.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of notifying the user comprises:

notifying a user of the device, through an e-mail message, of the indication of detrimental battery operation.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of notifying the user comprises:

notifying a user of the device, through a telephone call, of the indication of detrimental battery operation.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving a power cycle characteristics profile; and

storing the power cycle characteristics profile.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:

creating the power cycle characteristics profile based on a description of the profile.