U.S. patent application number 14/633188 was filed with the patent office on 2016-09-01 for peer-to-peer wireless communication network among rechargeable batteries.
The applicant listed for this patent is SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.. Invention is credited to ROHAN CHOPRA, GAURAV GOTHOSKAR.
Application Number | 20160254684 14/633188 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56798434 |
Filed Date | 2016-09-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160254684 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
GOTHOSKAR; GAURAV ; et
al. |
September 1, 2016 |
PEER-TO-PEER WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK AMONG RECHARGEABLE
BATTERIES
Abstract
An apparatus and method for operating a peer-to-peer wireless
communication network among batteries. A first step includes
providing a plurality of batteries with each internally housing a
processor and a wireless communication transceiver. A next step
includes designating one of the batteries as a master in the
network, and the remaining batteries as slaves. A next step
includes measuring at least one battery operating parameter for
each battery by its associated processor. A next step includes
peer-to-peer communicating a health indication of each battery,
based on the at least one battery operating parameter, to the
master that can determine which of the batteries is the healthiest,
and inform a user of the healthiest batteries.
Inventors: |
GOTHOSKAR; GAURAV; (ST.
JAMES, NY) ; CHOPRA; ROHAN; (PORT JEFFERSON STATION,
NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. |
Lincolnshire |
IL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56798434 |
Appl. No.: |
14/633188 |
Filed: |
February 27, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/572 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02J 7/0048 20200101;
H04W 84/20 20130101; H02J 7/0027 20130101; H02J 7/0047 20130101;
H02J 7/0021 20130101; H02J 7/0045 20130101; H04W 4/38 20180201 |
International
Class: |
H02J 7/00 20060101
H02J007/00; H04W 68/00 20060101 H04W068/00 |
Claims
1. A method for operating a peer-to-peer wireless communication
network among batteries, the method comprising: providing a
plurality of batteries, each battery internally housing a processor
and a wireless communication transceiver coupled thereto;
designating one of the batteries as a master in the network, and
designating the remaining batteries as slaves; measuring at least
one battery operating parameter for each battery by its associated
processor; peer-to-peer communicating a health indication of each
battery, based on the at least one battery operating parameter, to
the master, determining, by the master using the health indication
from each battery, which one or more batteries is the healthiest
among the plurality of batteries; and informing a user of the
healthiest one or more batteries.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein in the providing step the
batteries are rechargeable batteries, and wherein the at least one
battery operating parameter is a level of charge of the
battery.
3. (canceled)
4. The method of claim 1, wherein in the providing step each
battery is provided with a user interface coupled to the battery
processor, and wherein in the informing step the master uses the
peer-to-peer network to send a signal identifying those batteries
having the highest level of charge, wherein each of those batteries
identified in the signal can alert a user on its associated user
interface that it is one of the healthiest batteries among the
plurality of batteries.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one battery
operating parameter is an open circuit voltage of the battery.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating step broadcasts
the health indication based on weighting the at least one measured
battery operating parameter, and further comprising determining by
the master which one or more of the batteries is healthiest among
the plurality of batteries based on the health indication.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically adding
or removing a battery to the network on an ad-hoc basis.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein in the providing step each
battery is provided with a light indicator coupled to the
processor, and further comprising informing a user of the one or
more healthiest batteries by triggering the light indicator.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the light indicator is operable
to indicate a charging status of the battery as well as indicate a
health of the battery, and wherein the light indicator turns off
when coupled to the communication device.
10. A battery comprising: battery cells; a wireless transceiver
operable on a peer-to-peer wireless communication network having a
plurality of batteries; and a processor coupled to the battery
cells and transceiver, and operable to control the transceiver,
wherein the processor is further operable to: communicate with the
plurality of batteries to designate one of the batteries as a
master in the peer-to-peer network and the remaining batteries as
slaves, measure at least one battery operating parameter for the
battery cells, and communicate a health indication based on the at
least one battery operating parameter to the master, wherein when
the battery is the master, the processor is further operable to
determine, using the health indication from each battery, which one
or more of the batteries is the healthiest among the plurality of
batteries and direct the healthiest one or more batteries to inform
a user that they are the healthiest.
11. The battery of claim 1, wherein battery is a rechargeable
battery, and wherein the at least one battery operating parameter
is a level of charge of the battery cells.
12. (canceled)
13. The battery of claim 10, further comprising a user interface
coupled to the processor, and wherein when the battery is
identified as one of the healthiest among the plurality of
batteries, the processor is further operable to alert a user on its
associated user interface that it is one of the healthiest
batteries among the plurality of batteries.
14. The battery of claim 10, wherein the at least one battery
operating parameter is an open circuit voltage of the battery.
15. The battery of claim 10, wherein the processor directs the
transceiver to broadcast the health indication based on weighting
the at least one measured battery operating parameter.
16. The battery of claim 10, further comprising a light indicator
coupled to the processor, and wherein when the battery is
identified as one of the healthiest batteries, the processor is
further configured to inform a user by triggering the light
indicator.
17. The battery of claim 16, wherein the light indicator is
operable to indicate a charging status of the battery as well as
indicate a health of the battery, and wherein the light indicator
turns off when coupled to the communication device.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Many large government and business establishments (e.g.
public safety, industrial, retail, etc.) utilize wireless
communication devices operating in a trunked or wireless local area
network (WLAN) in order to improve operational efficiency. For
example, some communication devices are operable in a Wi-Fi.TM.
(IEEE 802.11) communication network. Typically, these communication
devices have rechargeable batteries. In those establishments that
operate around the clock, where communication devices may be in
relative constant use, there is insufficient time to wait to
recharge the batteries of these communication devices. Therefore,
these establishments may supply changing stations along with spare
batteries that can be charged while the communication device is
being used. When a device needs a freshly charged battery, a user
can simply go to a charging station and exchange their exhausted
battery with a freshly charged one. In some cases, where there are
more batteries than charging stations, charged batteries can be put
aside to be picked up for use while exhausted batteries are placed
in the charger.
[0002] However, a problem arises as batteries get older and they
have been recharged numerous times. In particular, older batteries
can take different amounts of time to recharge, batteries may not
all charge to the same voltage or level, or batteries may not hold
their charge for the same amount of time. Typically, a standalone
battery pack does not provide information regarding its state of
charge, health, etc. Therefore, a user going to obtain a freshly
charged battery will not know which one of the batteries in a group
is the healthiest choice to replace an exhausted battery. Even in
those cases where the battery includes a built-in display to show a
user its health information, the user still needs to spend time
going over each battery display to check which one is the
healthiest. This is particularly undesirable in situations such as
during a fire or police emergency.
[0003] Accordingly, there is a need for a technique to alleviate
the above issues in rechargeable batteries.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0004] The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals
refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the
separate views, together with the detailed description below, are
incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to
further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed
invention, and explain various principles and advantages of those
embodiments.
[0005] FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a charger and
batteries, in accordance with some embodiments of the present
invention.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of a peer-to-peer
communication network for rechargeable batteries, in accordance
with some embodiments of the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method, in accordance with the
present invention.
[0008] Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the
figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not
necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of
some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to
other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of
the present invention.
[0009] The apparatus and method components have been represented
where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing
only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the
embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the
disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of
ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description
herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] The present invention incorporates a wireless communication
protocol within each rechargeable battery pack itself This wireless
communication protocol can be anything ranging from Radio Frequency
Identification, Bluetooth.TM., Wi-Fi.TM., etc An internal processor
can be included in each battery pack along a wireless communication
transceiver coupled thereto. Using an existing peer-to-peer
protocol in the communication network, such as the ad-hoc IEEE
802.11 protocol for example, the batteries are able to communicate
amongst themselves without requiring a centralize controller or
server. Using the peer-to-peer protocol, one of the batteries can
be designated as a master or group owner in the network, and the
remaining batteries can be designated as slaves or clients.
Alternatively, a battery pack can be initiated as a master by a
gesture or user interrupt using sensors or buttons on the battery
pack.
[0011] The processor of each battery is also operable to measure at
least one battery operating parameter for each battery. These
parameters establish a health of the battery and can include state
or level of charge, open circuit voltage, etc. The batteries can
communicate their identities and a health indication based on the
associated measured parameters to the master in the peer-to-peer
network using their transceivers. The master can then compare the
health indications of the identified batteries and then use the
peer-to-peer network to send a signal identifying those identified
batteries having the healthiest measurements (e.g. highest level of
charge), wherein each of those healthiest batteries identified in
the received signal can alert a user on an associated user
interface that it is one of the healthiest batteries among the
plurality of batteries.
[0012] Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention provides a
plurality of rechargeable battery packs 100. Each battery pack
internally houses rechargeable battery cells 104, a processor 106
that can include a separate or conjoined memory, and a wireless
communication transceiver 108 coupled to the processor. The battery
pack also includes a charging port 102 that can engage a
corresponding charging port 122 on a charging station 130 or
cradle. The charging station 130 can be plugged into AC mains 126
that couples to a power supply 124 used to feed each charging port
122 of the charging station. When a battery pack (e.g. 100c) is
inserted into the charging station, the charging port 102c of the
battery pack engages the charging port 122c of the cradle, and the
power supply 124 can then supply charge to the battery cells 104c
of the battery pack 100c.
[0013] The battery pack also includes a user interface 110 that is
driven by then processor 106. The user interface can be a simple
light indicator (as shown) or a graphical user interface display
built-in to the battery pack. The user interface 110 can indicate
112 an overall health of the battery, as will be detailed below.
The processor, user interface, and transceiver are configured to
provide the various embodiments of the present invention as
described herein.
[0014] In accordance with IEEE 802.11 protocols for example, a
peer-to-peer or ad hoc network can be self-formed where any device
(e.g. battery pack 100) in the network can act as either a client
or a server. In particular, one of the battery packs can be
designated as a master (or group owner) in the network, and the
remaining battery packs as slaves (or clients), using existing IEEE
802.11 peer-to-peer protocols. For example, battery pack 100b could
act as the master and the remaining battery packs 100a, 100c could
act as slaves. It does not matter whether a battery pack is
inserted into the charging station or not in establishing the
network or master/slave status. Alternatively, only those battery
packs that are not connected to the charger could communicate their
health to the master and inform a user of their health status.
[0015] In accordance with the present invention, the processor of
each battery pack will measure at least one battery operating
parameter used in indicating a health of the battery cells.
Operating parameters can include state or level of charge, open
circuit voltage, temperature, aging information, etc. These
parameters can be weighted to provide an overall health indication
of the battery cells. For example, level of charge could be more
important than aging information, and therefore weighted more. The
processor can use the measured and weighted parameters to determine
an overall health indication of the battery cells which it can
store in memory, along with an individual identity of the battery
pack, such as a Media Access Control address.
[0016] The master will initiate polling of nearby slave battery
packs (which will be limited to a certain distance based on signal
strength that limits communications to those slave batteries in
close proximity). After the master initiates the polling, each
battery will broadcast, using its associated wireless communication
transceiver, its identity and the health indication, such as a
weighted number based on at least one battery operating parameter
including, state or level of charge, open circuit voltage, etc. The
health indication can be communicated directly to the master from
each slave, can be part of the slave advertising/broadcast packet
or can be relayed to the master among different intervening slaves
in a mesh network configuration.
[0017] The master will collect this information from the network
and store the information in its memory in a table listing the
plurality of battery pack identities and their associated weighted
health indications. The master can then sort this list (including
itself) in order of best health indication. After the master
decides which battery (or batteries in case of a tie) is healthiest
(including itself), it can send a signal to the selected healthiest
slave battery (or itself if it is the healthiest) to inform a user
of this healthiest state on an associated user interface of the
healthiest battery pack, e.g. that battery pack having the highest
level of charge. For example, each battery pack can be provided
with a light indicator coupled to the processor, wherein those
batteries being identified by the master as being healthiest can
trigger the light indicator to inform a user of its healthiest
status. In this way, a user need not search through a group of
battery packs trying to determine the best battery pack to choose,
but can instead simply select the battery with the lighted
indicator.
[0018] It should be recognized that the light indicator of the
present invention can be implemented in an existing light or light
emitting diode of the battery pack. For example, the battery pack
may have an existing light indicator operable to indicate a
charging status of the battery, e.g. lighted red means charging and
lighted green means charged. The present invention can also use
this same light indicator to indicate a health of the battery, such
as by lighting the indicator using a color other than red or green,
or by blinking or flashing the lighted indicator in any color. The
present invention can also implement state of charge indication
using a combination of LEDs such as a LED strip. In any of the
above cases, the health indication shown by the lighted indicator
can operate whether the battery pack in inserted into the charging
station or not. In addition, the processor, transceiver, and light
indicator turn off when coupled to the communication device.
Alternatively, when coupled to the communication device, the
processor can turn on periodically to measure at least one battery
parameter, and turn on the light indicator in a manner to indicate
to a user that the battery pack needs to be replaced or recharged
if the measurement so deems.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 2, the rechargeable battery packs 100 are
operable to wirelessly communicate 120 in a peer-to-peer
communication network, wherein the batteries can be automatically
added or removed from the network on an ad-hoc basis. It is
envisioned that the wireless network could operate under any IEEE
802.11 communication protocol known in the art. However, it should
be recognized that the present invention could operate under many
different communication systems, including trunked, WLAN, Wireless
Wide Area Networks, Bluetooth.TM., Radio Frequency Identification,
and the like, as are known in the art. In particular, the network
shown is a homogeneous network of similar battery packs 100
although it will be appreciated that a network incorporating
various different devices, a heterogeneous network, can of course
also be formed. The network could also include other wireless and
wired communication devices of various types, which are not shown
for the sake of simplicity.
[0020] A feature of the peer-to-peer network is that it can be
dynamic. As a result, the present invention provides a technique
for managing such a dynamic network as a result of battery packs
being added to, or removed from, the network (e.g. being switched
on or off, respectively, losing power or signal strength, moving
out of range, etc.). For example, within each network a single
master battery 100b is designated, to which the remaining batteries
are slaved. The master can merely be determined as the station
which initiates the network or that controls the network at any one
time, and the master/slave relationship governs communication
procedures. Typically, the master station is chosen by decision
among all the stations 100 or by selection by a user. The master
station would be responsible for managing the information-gathering
and administration processes of the peer-to-peer network and
continually update the slave units with information of the
healthiest batteries. It is envisioned that the network of battery
packs would use a similar protocol as DHCP (Dynamic Host
Configuration Protocol) for efficiency.
[0021] It should be recognized that the peer-to-peer network can
allow access to a fixed network infrastructure, such as a fixed
access point which can be a central computer or server of the
establishment (not shown). For example, any member of the network
could access the fixed network through the master station. In this
arrangement, the master station acts as a gateway for the slave
stations. Alternatively, the slave stations could access the fixed
network infrastructure directly. However, this could give rise to
inefficiency and unnecessary duplication. Therefore, the present
invention preferably does not utilize a fixed central
controller.
[0022] The master designation can be carried out dynamically, based
on a pre-selected network parameter such as signal strength. For
example, the relative average received signal strength value for
each battery pack from the other battery packs in the network can
be used to designate the master, where the master is the battery
pack transceiver having the highest signal strength value.
Accordingly, the best placed battery pack at any time could become
the master, and this is updated constantly to compensate for
battery pack entering or leaving the network.
[0023] Referring back to FIG. 2, the master station is shown
nominally as the upper left battery pack 100b, although as stressed
above other factors may influence which devices are elected as the
master, such as the strongest signaling device being physically
located most centrally, in the network. Preferably, each time a
slave communicates with the master, it can sends an updated network
parameter value (e.g. signal strength) and, if this value exceeds
the master's value then the slave can be newly designated the
master, and the other slave are so informed. An alternative to the
previous approach would be to enable the slaves and master stations
to provide a broadcast packet that provides up to date signal
strength of other stations that are measured during system
operations. Thus the broadcast messages would provide information
that can be evaluated by the master and slaves on the network.
Information could be chosen to include such information as signal
strength, traffic, processor demands and other factors such as
interference.
[0024] It may be the case that the master loses power. As a result,
the master can no longer manage the network. In this case, a new
master may be chosen by the remaining battery packs. There should
be sufficient time before switching functions for the master to
inform the network that the present master will be leaving the
network. In this scenario, the master could appoint a new master or
the remaining battery packs could designate a new master before the
existing master leaves the network. If there is insufficient time
for the master to inform the network of its leaving, the remaining
battery packs will learn of its disappearance in the normal course
of network communications, and designate a new master as previously
described. For example, at a time when the master stops
communicating with the slaves, indicating that the master has
become disabled, the slaves would communicate to designate a new
master to take over control of the network. This new master, due to
the prior updating, can start off where the original master
stopped, thereby providing a failover mechanism. The advantage of
this type of system is that there would be no single point of
failure. Alternatively, an active master my designate back-up
masters based upon system performance and information that is
collected through network operations. The back-up masters will
monitor the master and will take over should the master not respond
within a predetermined time period. This allows for rapid
succession of masters reducing decision making as alternate masters
are already in place.
[0025] The master can store the table of battery pack identities
and their associated health indications in addition to the standard
network data held by any station in the network (including for
example master or slave status-related data). This data can be
cached in a memory of the master, and can be distributed to all the
slaves in the network. Therefore, when the master leaves the
network, the network will designate a new master, as previously
described above. Inasmuch as the new master has the same data as
the old master, the network can continue uninterrupted.
[0026] In addition, the master can maintain a time-out system such
that if no signal is received from a given slave within a
predefined time period, then the slave is deleted from the network.
Alternatively, or in addition, the master can monitor a power level
required by the master to receive signals from a slave. A threshold
power level can be determined, for example based on the system or
communication protocol parameters, indicating that the slave can no
longer communicate in the network when its received power is less
than the threshold. When this threshold is reached the master will
start a time-out period. If the receive power required remains
below the threshold beyond the time-out period, then the slave is
considered as having left the network and its data is removed from
the cache maintained at the master.
[0027] Accordingly, referring back to FIG. 2, master 100b may be
able to communicate with several slave battery packs 100a, 100c,
100d, 100e in close proximity in a first room (Room 1), but due to
poor signal strength 200 with other battery packs 100f, 100g, 100h,
100i the master 100b will not be able to communicate with these
other battery packs in Room 2. In this case, the master will not
attempt to communicate with battery packs in Room 2 and only select
the healthiest battery within its local peer-to-peer communication
network in Room 1. This is advantageous since it would not be
desirable to have a user searching from room to room to find the
healthiest battery pack of a network group. Instead, the present
invention attempts to limit peer-to-peer network groups to only
those battery packs that are in close proximity, i.e. within a
room.
[0028] Therefore, master 100b will communicate only with battery
packs 100a, 100c, 100d, 100e of its local group in Room 1 and
obtain health information from each. In this example, it may be
that battery pack 100c is healthiest, and master sends a signal to
battery pack 100c to trigger its light indicator 112c to let a user
in Room 1 know that it is the healthiest. For example, the
indicator could be lighted constant blue or blink green to show its
healthiest status, as long as the light cannot be confused with a
charging (constant red) or charged (constant green) indication. In
one embodiment, only one of the battery packs will have a lighted
indicator showing its healthiest status (or more than one if there
is a tie for healthiest status or possibly a certain percentage of
the healthiest batteries). However, in another embodiment, all of
the battery packs can show their health status in different ways.
For example, constant blue can indicate the healthiest battery
packs, constant yellow can indicate less healthy battery packs, and
constant orange can indicate the least healthy battery packs. Of
course, different color/blinking lighted indicator schemes can be
used.
[0029] In another embodiment, the firmware or data on the battery
pack can be wirelessly upgraded without having to issue an upgrade
to a host computer to then reprogram the battery. This gives an
option to change charge data, get custom notifications from the
battery, firmware upgrade for the processor, etc. Alternatively,
there can also be real time custom notification commands sent from
a host computer, for example all batteries above 90% health can be
asked to start blinking green.
[0030] FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of a method for operating a
peer-to-peer wireless communication network for batteries, in
accordance with the present invention. The method includes
providing 300 a plurality of rechargeable batteries, each battery
internally housing a processor and a wireless communication
transceiver coupled thereto. Preferably, each battery is provided
with a user interface (e.g. light indicator) coupled to the battery
processor.
[0031] The method includes designating 302 one of the batteries as
a master in the network, and designating the remaining batteries as
slaves.
[0032] The method includes measuring 304 at least one battery
operating parameter for each battery by its associated processor.
The battery operating parameters indicated a health of the battery,
and can include a level of charge of the battery, open circuit
voltage, etc.
[0033] The method further includes peer-to-peer communicating 306 a
health indication broadcast from each battery to the master, the
health indication based on weightings of the at least one battery
operating parameter. The health indication can include a plurality
of weighted battery operating parameters.
[0034] The method further includes determining 308, by the master
using the health indications from each battery, which of the
batteries have the highest health (e.g. level of charge) among the
plurality of batteries.
[0035] The method further includes informing 310 a user of those
batteries having the highest health (e.g. level of charge). This
can include the master using the peer-to-peer network to send a
signal identifying those batteries having the highest health (e.g.
level of charge), wherein each of those batteries identified in the
signal can alert a user on its associated user interface (e.g. by
triggering the light indicator) that it is one of the healthiest
batteries (e.g. highest level of charge) among the plurality of
batteries. The lighted indicator can indicate a charging status of
the battery as well as indicating a health of the battery, and
wherein the light indicator turns off when coupled to the
communication device.
[0036] The method further includes automatically adding or removing
312 a battery to the network on an ad-hoc basis.
[0037] Advantageously, for those users that operate with a large
group of battery packs the present invention provides a fast and
efficient way to choose the best pack out of a group. For mission
critical applications such as military or hospitals, where a user
sometimes does not have time to decide on the best battery pack,
the present invention provides a fast and efficient way of
selecting the best battery pack out of a group. In addition, since
intelligence is built into the batteries, the present invention
provides a way to indicate the healthiest battery pack in a
charging station without any additional engineering, which
simplifies charger implementation. In other words, the charging
station can be made simpler by keeping most of the intelligence and
indications on the battery pack itself
[0038] In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have
been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art
appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made
without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in
the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to
be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and
all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope
of present teachings.
[0039] The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any
element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to
occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a
critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all
the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims
including any amendments made during the pendency of this
application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.
[0040] Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first
and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to
distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action
without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such
relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms
"comprises," "comprising," "has", "having," "includes",
"including," "contains", "containing" or any other variation
thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that
a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has,
includes, contains a list of elements does not include only those
elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or
inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element
proceeded by "comprises . . . a", "has . . . a", "includes . . .
a", "contains . . . a" does not, without more constraints, preclude
the existence of additional identical elements in the process,
method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes,
contains the element. The terms "a" and "an" are defined as one or
more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms
"substantially", "essentially", "approximately", "about" or any
other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood
by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting
embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, in another
embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and in
another embodiment within 0.5%. The term "coupled" as used herein
is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not
necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is
"configured" in a certain way is configured in at least that way,
but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.
[0041] It will be appreciated that some embodiments may be
comprised of one or more generic or specialized processors (or
"processing devices") such as microprocessors, digital signal
processors, customized processors and field programmable gate
arrays (FPGAs) and unique stored program instructions (including
both software and firmware) that control the one or more processors
to implement, in conjunction with certain non-processor circuits,
some, most, or all of the functions of the method and/or apparatus
described herein. Alternatively, some or all functions could be
implemented by a state machine that has no stored program
instructions, or in one or more application specific integrated
circuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of
certain of the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of
course, a combination of the two approaches could be used.
[0042] Moreover, an embodiment can be implemented as a
computer-readable storage medium having computer readable code
stored thereon for programming a computer (e.g., comprising a
processor) to perform a method as described and claimed herein.
Examples of such computer-readable storage mediums include, but are
not limited to, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical storage device, a
magnetic storage device, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM
(Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable
Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable
Read Only Memory) and a Flash memory. Further, it is expected that
one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort
and many design choices motivated by, for example, available time,
current technology, and economic considerations, when guided by the
concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readily capable of
generating such software instructions and programs and ICs with
minimal experimentation.
[0043] The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the
reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure.
It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to
interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition,
in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various
features are grouped together in various embodiments for the
purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure
is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the
claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly
recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect,
inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single
disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby
incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim
standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.
* * * * *