DISABLING A POWER PACK FROM A HOST DEVICE

1 . A method comprising:

receiving a command from an external source at a processor for a portable electronic device, the command instructing the portable electronic device to disable an internal power pack for the portable electronic device; and

sending a signal from the processor to the internal power pack to disable the internal power pack in response to the command.

2 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:

providing a warning indicating that the internal power pack is to be disabled; and

waiting for a period of time after receiving the command from the external source before sending the signal.

3 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:

disabling the internal power pack from both charging and discharging.

4 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:

disabling the internal power pack by open circuiting a power path between a power providing component of the internal power pack and terminals of the internal power pack.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the signal from the processor stores a value in a register for another processor on the internal power pack.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the internal power pack includes at least one of a battery cell, a fuel cell, and a fuel tank.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic device is communicatively coupled to a network, wherein the external source comprises a network device communicatively coupled to the network.

8 . A portable electronic device comprising a processor configured to:

receive a command from an external source, the command instructing the portable electronic device to disable an internal power pack for the portable electronic device; and

send a signal to the internal power pack to disable the internal power pack in response to the command.

9 . The portable electronic device of claim 8 , comprising:

a body comprising a structure housing the processor, a display, and an input device;

wherein the internal power pack is docked with the body, and wherein the internal power pack is configured to provide power to the processor, display and the input device.

10 . The portable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the internal power pack includes a power providing component configured to provide power to the body via a power path, wherein the internal power pack is configured to open circuit the power path in response to the signal from the processor.

11 . The portable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the power providing component includes at least one of a battery cell, a fuel cell, and a fuel tank.

12 . The portable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the signal from the processor is configured to store a value in a register for a processor on the internal power pack.

13 . The portable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the portable electronic device is communicatively coupled to a network and wherein the external source comprises a network device communicatively coupled to the network.

14 . A machine-readable medium including instructions, which when executed by the machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

determining whether an internal power pack for the machine should be disabled; and

sending a signal to the internal power pack to disable the internal power pack.

15 . The machine-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

receiving a command from an external source to disable the internal power pack, and wherein determining includes determining based on the command whether the internal power pack should be disabled.

16 . The machine-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

receiving data from at least one sensor on the internal power pack, wherein determining includes determining based on the data whether the internal power pack should be disabled.

17 . An internal power pack for docking with a body of a portable electronic device and providing power to system components in the body, the internal power pack comprising:

a power providing component; and

a switching device coupled in series between the power providing component and a terminal of the internal power pack, the terminal configured to contact a corresponding terminal on the body, wherein the switching device is configured to be set to a non-conductive state in response to a signal from the body.

18 . The internal power pack of claim 17 , wherein the switching device is configured to open circuit the power path between the power providing component and the terminal.

19 . The internal power pack of claim 17 , comprising:

a first processor configured to communicate with a second processor in the body of the portable electronic device, wherein the first processor is configured to set the switching device to a non-conductive state in response to a signal from the second processor.

20 . The internal power pack of claim 19 , comprising:

a protection integrated circuit (IC) configured to protect the internal power pack from over-charging or over-discharging.