Apparatus and method for sharing energy in wireless device

Abstract

A method and apparatus to share energy in a wireless device are provided. A power sharing method between a wireless device and at least one neighboring wireless device, includes scanning, by the wireless device, the at least one neighboring wireless device. The power sharing method further includes determining to share power with the at least one neighboring wireless device. The power sharing method further includes sharing power with the at least one neighboring wireless device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power sharing method for a wireless device, sharing power between the wireless device and at least one neighboring wireless device, the method comprising:
 scanning, by the wireless device, the at least one neighboring wireless device;   monitoring the at least one neighboring wireless device to determine whether to share the power with the at least one neighboring wireless device;   determining roles of the wireless device and the at least one neighboring wireless device, respectively as either a power supplier or a power consumer; and   determining a power sharing scheme and selectively sharing power between the wireless device and the at least one neighboring wireless device based on the determined roles and the determined power sharing scheme, including the wireless device receiving power when in the power consumer role from the at least one neighboring wireless device that is in the power supplier role,   wherein each of the respective descriptors includes a Received Signal Strength Indication, a battery level, an amount of time the battery level will power the device, a priority level, and a current role.   
     
     
         2 . The power sharing method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining, based on the respective descriptors, whether a preset condition to interrupt the sharing of the power occurs during the sharing of the power. 
     
     
         3 . A power sharing method for a wireless device, sharing power between the wireless device and at least one neighboring wireless device, the method comprising:
 scanning, by the wireless device, the at least one neighboring wireless device;   determining whether to share the power with the at least one neighboring wireless device based on a change in a descriptor of the wireless device;   determining roles of the wireless device and the at least one neighboring wireless device, respectively as either a power supplier or a power consumer;   determining a power transmission scheme to share power between the wireless device and the at least one neighboring wireless device; and   selectively sharing power between the wireless device and the at least one neighboring wireless device based on the determined roles and the power transmission scheme, including the wireless device receiving power when in the power consumer role from the at least one neighboring wireless device that is in the power supplier role,   wherein the determining of the power transmission scheme comprises:   determining the power transmission scheme so that, when the at least one neighboring wireless device comprises at least two neighboring wireless devices, each of the at least two neighboring wireless devices that are in the power supplier roles utilize respective power transmission channels and power transmission times, and alternately transmit power.   
     
     
         4 . The power sharing method of  claim 3 , wherein the determining of the power transmission scheme further comprises:
 determining the power transmission scheme so that each of the at least two neighboring wireless devices that are in the power supplier roles utilize respective power transmission channels and power transmission times, and alternately transmit power, or so that the at least two neighboring wireless devices cooperate with each other and simultaneously transmit the power.   
     
     
         5 . A power sharing method for a wireless device, sharing power between the wireless device and at least one neighboring wireless device, the method comprising:
 scanning, by the wireless device, the at least one neighboring wireless device;   determining whether to share the power with the at least one neighboring wireless device based on a change in a descriptor of the wireless device;   determining roles of the wireless device and the at least one neighboring wireless device, respectively as either a power supplier or a power consumer;   determining a power transmission scheme to share power between the wireless device and the at least one neighboring wireless device; and   selectively sharing power between the wireless device and the at least one neighboring wireless device based on the determined roles and the power transmission scheme, including the wireless device receiving power when in the power consumer role from the at least one neighboring wireless device that is in the power supplier role, wherein the determining of the power transmission scheme comprises:   determining whether at least two power consumers exist among the at least one neighboring wireless device and the wireless device; and   determining the power transmission scheme so that power is transmitted by assigning different frequencies or different time slots to each of the at least two power consumers.