Energy transfer mechanism

Abstract

A device and method of transferring energy between peer devices includes 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.

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.