System and method of managing power at a portable computing device and a portable computing device docking station

Abstract

A method of managing power distribution between a portable computing device (PCD) and a PCD docking station is disclosed and may include determining that the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station, switching a power supply to the PCD from a PCD battery to a PCD docking station battery, and powering the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery. Further, the method may include determining whether a PCD battery power equals a charge condition and charging the PCD battery when the PCD battery power equals the charge condition. The method may also include monitoring a PCD docking station battery power, determining whether the PCD docking station battery power equals a warning condition, and transmitting a first warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the warning condition.

1 .- 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A method comprising:
 switching a power supply to a portable computing device (PCD) from a PCD battery to a PCD docking station battery;   powering the PCD and a PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery;   determining whether the PCD docking station battery equals a critical condition;   switching the power supply to the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery to the PCD battery when the PCD docking station battery power equals the critical condition; and   powering the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD battery.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising determining that the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising switching the power supply to the PCD from the PCD battery to the PCD docking station battery in response to determining that the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising executing a first application version by the PCD when it is determined that the PCD is docked, and otherwise executing a second application version by the PCD. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising using a first processor by the PCD when it is determined that the PCD is docked, and otherwise using a second processor by the PCD. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising backing up data from the PCD to the PCD docking station when it is determined that the PCD is docked. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 determining whether a PCD battery power equals a charge condition; and   charging the PCD battery from the PCD docking station battery when the PCD battery power equals the charge condition.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 monitoring the PCD docking station battery power;   determining whether the PCD docking station battery power equals a warning condition; and   transmitting a warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the warning condition.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 transmitting a warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the critical condition.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 determining whether an external power source is connected to the PCD docking station; and   charging the PCD docking station battery when the external power source is connected.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 monitoring the PCD battery power; and   determining whether the PCD battery power equals a power down condition.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 transmitting a warning when the PCD battery power equals the power down condition.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 powering down the PCD and the PCD docking station when the PCD battery power equals the power down condition.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein determining whether the PCD battery power equals a power down condition comprises determining if the PCD battery power is less than a predetermined value. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein determining whether the PCD docking station battery equals a critical condition comprises determining if a PCD docking station battery power is less than a predetermined value. 
     
     
         48 . A system comprising:
 means for switching a power supply to a portable computing device (PCD) from a PCD battery to a PCD docking station battery;   means for powering the PCD and a PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery;   means for determining whether the PCD docking station battery equals a critical condition;   means for switching the power supply to the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery to the PCD battery when the PCD docking station battery power equals the critical condition; and   means for powering the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD battery.   
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 48 , further comprising means for determining that the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49 , further comprising means for switching the power supply to the PCD from the PCD battery to the PCD docking station battery in response to determining that the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 49 , further comprising means for executing a first application version by the PCD when it is determined that the PCD is docked, and otherwise executing a second application version by the PCD. 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 49 , further comprising means for using a first processor by the PCD when it is determined that the PCD is docked, and otherwise using a second processor by the PCD. 
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 49 , further comprising means for backing up data from the PCD to the PCD docking station when it is determined that the PCD is docked. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 48 , further comprising:
 means for determining whether a PCD battery power equals a charge condition; and   means for charging the PCD battery from the PCD docking station battery when the PCD battery power equals the charge condition.   
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 48 , further comprising:
 means for monitoring the PCD docking station battery power;   means for determining whether the PCD docking station battery power equals a warning condition; and   means for transmitting a warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the warning condition.   
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 48 , further comprising:
 means for transmitting a warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the critical condition.   
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 48 , further comprising:
 means for determining whether an external power source is connected to the PCD docking station; and   means for charging the PCD docking station battery when the external power source is connected.   
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 48 , further comprising:
 means for monitoring the PCD battery power; and   means for determining whether the PCD battery power equals a power down condition.   
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 58 , further comprising:
 means for transmitting a warning when the PCD battery power equals the power down condition.   
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 58 , further comprising:
 means for powering down the PCD and the PCD docking station when the PCD battery power equals the power down condition.   
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the means for determining whether the PCD battery power equals a power down condition comprises means for determining if the PCD battery power is less than a predetermined value. 
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein means for determining whether the PCD docking station battery equals a critical condition comprises means for determining if a PCD docking station battery power is less than a predetermined value. 
     
     
         63 . A system comprising:
 a processor, wherein the processor is operable to:
 switch a power supply to a portable computing device (PCD) from a PCD battery to a PCD docking station battery; 
 power the PCD and a PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery; 
 determine whether the PCD docking station battery equals a critical condition; 
 switch the power supply to the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery to the PCD battery when the PCD docking station battery power equals the critical condition; and 
 power the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD battery. 
   
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein the processor is further adapted to determine that the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station. 
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein the processor is further adapted to switch the power supply to the PCD from the PCD battery to the PCD docking station battery in response to determining that the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station. 
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein the processor is further adapted to execute a first application version by the PCD when it is determined that the PCD is docked, and otherwise executing a second application version by the PCD. 
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein the processor is further adapted to back up data from the PCD to the PCD docking station when it is determined that the PCD is docked. 
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein the processor is further adapted to:
 determine whether a PCD battery power equals a charge condition; and   charge the PCD battery from the PCD docking station battery when the PCD battery power equals the charge condition.   
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein the processor is further adapted to:
 monitor the PCD docking station battery power;   determine whether the PCD docking station battery power equals a warning condition; and   transmit a warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the warning condition.   
     
     
         70 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein the processor is further adapted to:
 transmit a warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the critical condition.   
     
     
         71 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein the processor is further adapted to:
 determine whether an external power source is connected to the PCD docking station; and   charge the PCD docking station battery when the external power source is connected.   
     
     
         72 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein the processor is further adapted to:
 monitor the PCD battery power; and   determine whether the PCD battery power equals a power down condition.   
     
     
         73 . The system of  claim 72 , wherein the processor is further adapted to:
 transmit a warning when the PCD battery power equals the power down condition.   
     
     
         74 . The system of  claim 72 , wherein the processor is further adapted to:
 power down the PCD and the PCD docking station when the PCD battery power equals the power down condition.   
     
     
         75 . The system of  claim 72 , wherein the processor adapted to determine whether the PCD battery power equals a power down condition comprises the processor adapted to determine if the PCD battery power is less than a predetermined value. 
     
     
         76 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein the processor adapted to determine whether the PCD docking station battery equals a critical condition comprises the processor adapted to determine if a PCD docking station battery power is less than a predetermined value. 
     
     
         77 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:
 switching a power supply to a portable computing device (PCD) from a PCD battery to a PCD docking station battery;   powering the PCD and a PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery;   determining whether the PCD docking station battery equals a critical condition;   switching the power supply to the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery to the PCD battery when the PCD docking station battery power equals the critical condition; and   powering the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD battery.   
     
     
         78 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 77 , wherein the stored computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising determining that the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station. 
     
     
         79 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 78 , wherein the stored computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising switching the power supply to the PCD from the PCD battery to the PCD docking station battery in response to determining that the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station. 
     
     
         80 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 78 , wherein the stored computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising executing a first application version by the PCD when it is determined that the PCD is docked, and otherwise executing a second application version by the PCD. 
     
     
         81 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 78 , wherein the stored computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising using a first processor by the PCD when it is determined that the PCD is docked, and otherwise using a second processor by the PCD. 
     
     
         82 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 78 , wherein the stored computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising backing up data from the PCD to the PCD docking station when it is determined that the PCD is docked. 
     
     
         83 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 77 , wherein the stored computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 determining whether a PCD battery power equals a charge condition; and   charging the PCD battery from the PCD docking station battery when the PCD battery power equals the charge condition.   
     
     
         84 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 77 , wherein the stored computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 monitoring the PCD docking station battery power;   determining whether the PCD docking station battery power equals a warning condition; and   transmitting a warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the warning condition.   
     
     
         85 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 77 , wherein the stored computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 transmitting a warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the critical condition.   
     
     
         86 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 77 , wherein the stored computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 determining whether an external power source is connected to the PCD docking station; and   charging the PCD docking station battery when the external power source is connected.   
     
     
         87 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 77 , wherein the stored computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 monitoring the PCD battery power; and   determining whether the PCD battery power equals a power down condition.   
     
     
         88 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 87 , wherein the stored computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising transmitting a warning when the PCD battery power equals the power down condition. 
     
     
         89 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 87 , wherein the stored computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising powering down the PCD and the PCD docking station when the PCD battery power equals the power down condition. 
     
     
         90 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 87 , wherein determining whether the PCD battery power equals a power down condition comprises determining if the PCD battery power is less than a predetermined value. 
     
     
         91 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 77 , wherein determining whether the PCD docking station battery equals a critical condition comprises determining if a PCD docking station battery power is less than a predetermined value.