ENERGY TRANSFER MECHANISM

1 . A method comprising:

determining an amount of energy to transfer from a provider battery powered peer device to a consumer battery powered peer device;

selecting an energy transfer connection between the provider device and the consumer device; and

initiating transfer of energy via the energy transfer connection.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of energy to transfer is a percentage of battery power of the provider device.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein initiating transfer of energy comprises:

transferring energy via the energy transfer connection; and

metering the amount of energy transferred.

4 . The method of claim 3 and further comprising stopping the energy transfer when the determined amount of energy has been transferred as indicated by the metering of the amount of energy transferred.

5 . The method of claim 3 and further comprising stopping the energy transfer when a remaining battery power in the provider device reaches a stop transfer threshold.

6 . The method of claim 3 and further comprising stopping the energy transfer when an energy transfer time period has been reached regardless of the amount of energy transferred.

7 . The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

negotiating a value for a negotiated amount of energy to be transferred; and

receiving the negotiated value in exchange for the transferred energy.

8 . The method of claim 1 wherein initiating transfer of energy comprises providing energy to the consumer device via a cable.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein initiating transfer of energy comprises providing energy to the consumer device via electromagnetically coupled electromagnetic coils.

10 . A device comprising:

a display;

a processor operatively coupled to the display;

an energy transfer connection;

a battery which supplies power to the processor and which is operatively coupled to the energy transfer connection; and

power management electronics configured to:

determine an amount of energy to transfer from a provider battery powered peer device to a consumer battery powered peer device;

select an energy transfer connection between the provider device and the consumer device; and

initiate transfer of energy via the energy transfer connection.

11 . The device of claim 10 and further comprising an electromagnetic coil coupled to the power management electronics to transfer energy to the consumer device when selected as the energy transfer connection.

12 . The device of claim 10 wherein transfer of energy via the energy transfer connection comprises energy stored in the battery.

13 . The device of claim 12 and further comprising a transceiver coupled to the power management electronics to exchange information with a peer device.

14 . The device of claim 13 wherein the battery comprises a low battery detector and wherein the power management electronics uses the transceiver to transmit a low battery power beacon responsive to the low battery detector.

15 . A machine readable storage device having instructions for execution by a processor of the machine to perform:

determining an amount of energy to transfer from a provider battery powered peer device to a consumer battery powered peer device;

selecting an energy transfer connection between the provider device and the consumer device; and

initiating transfer of energy via the energy transfer connection.

16 . The machine readable storage device of claim 15 wherein initiating transfer of energy comprises:

causing transfer of energy via the energy transfer connection; and

receiving metering information specifying the amount of energy transferred.

17 . The machine readable storage device of claim 16 wherein the machine further performs stopping the energy transfer when the determined amount of energy has been transferred as indicated by the metering of the amount of energy transferred.

18 . The machine readable storage device of claim 16 wherein the machine further performs stopping the energy transfer when a remaining battery power in the provider device reaches a stop transfer threshold or when an energy transfer time period has been reached regardless of the amount of energy transferred.

19 . The machine readable storage device of claim 15 wherein the machine further performs:

negotiating a value for a negotiated amount of energy to be transferred; and

receiving the negotiated value in exchange for the transferred energy.

20 . The machine readable storage device of claim 15 wherein initiating transfer of energy comprises plugging in a cable over which to transfer the energy or placing the provider device in close proximity to the consumer device to effect energy transfer via electromagnetic coils.