Power management in a data-capable strapband

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relates generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, and computing devices, and more specifically to structures and techniques for managing power generation, power consumption, and other power-related functions in a data-capable strapband. Embodiments relate to a wearable band including sensors, a controller coupled to the sensors, an energy storage device, a power port configured to receive power and control signals, and a power manager. The power manager includes at least a transitory power manager configured to control an application of power to one or more components of the wearable band in one or more power modes. The band can be configured as a wearable communications device and sensor platform.

1 . A wearable band comprising:
 a plurality of sensors;   a controller coupled to the plurality of sensors;   an energy storage device;   a power port configured to receive power and control signals, the power port coupled to the energy storage device;   a power manager comprising:
 a transitory power manager configured to control an application of power to one or more components of the wearable band in one or more power modes; and 
 a power modification manager comprising a power clock controller configured to adapt a clock frequency of a clock signal configured to be applied to the controller as a function of a power mode, the power mode associated with a mode of operation. 
   
     
     
         2 . The wearable band of  claim 1 , wherein the transitory power manager is configured further to manage power consumption of the wearable band during a first power mode in which no power is applied to the plurality of sensors. 
     
     
         3 . The wearable band of  claim 2 , wherein the transitory power manager is configured further to manage power consumption of the wearable band during a second power mode in which power is applied to a subset of the plurality of sensors, the second power mode being subsequent to the first power mode,
 wherein the transitory power manager is configured to detect power being applied at the power port, and to switch the wearable band from the first power mode to the second power mode in response to the detection of power being applied at the power port.   
     
     
         4 . The wearable band of  claim 3 , wherein the first power mode and the second power mode coincide with a first interval of time and a second interval of time, respectively. 
     
     
         5 . The wearable band of  claim 4 , wherein the first interval of time comprises an amount of time during which the orientation of the wearable band is shared with other wearable bands and the second interval of time comprises another amount of time during which the orientation of the wearable band is independent of the other wearable bands. 
     
     
         6 . The wearable band of  claim 5 , wherein the first interval of time further comprises a quantity of time during which the band is shipped from a first geographic location to a second geographic location with the plurality of sensors in a non-operational state and the second interval of time further comprises another quantity of time during which the plurality of sensors are in an operational state. 
     
     
         7 . The wearable band of  claim 1 , wherein the power port comprises a connector configured to enable data exchange between an internal component of the wearable band and another device. 
     
     
         8 . The wearable band of  claim 7 , wherein the connector is a universal serial bus-compliant connector. 
     
     
         9 . The wearable band of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a memory configured to store one or more applications including executable instructions, wherein the power modification manager is configured to modify power drawn from the energy storage device based on the processing of one of the one or more applications.   
     
     
         10 . The wearable band of  claim 9 , wherein the memory is configured further to store data representing a priority scheme that prioritizes execution of one of the one or more applications in relation to another of the one or more applications, wherein the power modification manager is configured further to control the processing of the one of the one or more applications based on the priority scheme. 
     
     
         11 . The wearable band of  claim 1 , wherein the power clock controller comprises a voltage controller oscillator (“VCO”) configured to vary the clock signal to generate a variable clock signal during the mode of operation. 
     
     
         12 . The wearable band of  claim 11 , wherein the variable clock signal is configured to operate the controller at a rate at which the plurality of sensors generate data. 
     
     
         13 . The wearable band of  claim 11 , wherein the VCO is configured to generate the variable clock signal based on execution of an application including executable instructions. 
     
     
         14 . The wearable band of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a buffer predictor configured to determine a size of a buffer for an event, and further configured to change the size of the buffer to provide an amount of memory for the buffer.   
     
     
         15 . The wearable band of  claim 14 , wherein the event is either a change in activity or a change in mode, or both. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 receiving a first signal to enter a first power mode associated with a wearable band including a subset of sensors, the subset of sensors including one or more accelerometers,   isolating electrically the subset of sensors from a battery using a power manager during transit from a first geographic location to a second geographic location;   receiving a second signal to exit the first power mode;   coupling electrically the battery to the subset of sensors in response to receiving the second signal;   entering a second power mode in response to an indication of change in an orientation of the wearable band from the subset of sensors.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein entering the second power mode comprises:
 maintaining electrical isolation between the battery and a sensor not within the subset of sensors;   detecting a third signal to enter an operational power mode; and   coupling electrically the battery to the sensor upon detecting the third signal to enter the operational power mode.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein entering the second power mode comprises:
 coupling electrically the battery to other sensors.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein receiving the second signal further comprises:
 receiving a power signal at a power port comprising a connector; and   detecting the power signal at a power manager.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 determining an activity in which a user of the wearable band is engaged;   receiving data associated with the activity from a plurality of sensors including the subset of sensors; and   adjusting a frequency of a clock signal to achieve a threshold amount of throughput for the data received from the plurality of sensors.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein adjusting the frequency of the clock signal comprises:
 modifying operation of a voltage controller oscillator (“VCO”) to generate the frequency.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein modifying the operation of the voltage controller oscillator comprises:
 determining a priority of one or more of the plurality of sensors relative to other priorities of other sensors.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein modifying the operation of the voltage controller oscillator comprises:
 determining a priority of an application that is executing relative to other priorities of other applications.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 detecting an event;   receiving an amount of sensor data associated with the event in a unit of time; and   adjusting a size of a buffer to match the amount of the sensor data.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein detecting the event comprises:
 monitoring motion associated with an activity in which a user of the wearable band is engaged;   comparing the motion associated with the activity to motion pattern data to identify precursor motion associated with a subsequent motion; and   establishing the size of the buffer for the amount of sensor data based on a predetermined amount associated with the subsequent motion.   
     
     
         26 . A computer readable medium comprising executable instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:
 receiving a first signal to enter a first power mode associated with a wearable band including a subset of sensors, the subset of sensors including one or more accelerometers,   isolating electrically the subset of sensors from a battery using a power manager during transit from a first geographic location to a second geographic location;   receiving a second signal to exit the first power mode;   coupling electrically the battery to the subset of sensors in response to receiving the second signal; and   entering a second power mode in response to the coupling the battery to the subset of sensors.   
     
     
         27 . The computer readable medium of  claim 26 , wherein the method further comprises dynamically resizing a buffer based on an amount of sensor data generated in a mode of operation. 
     
     
         28 . The computer readable medium of  claim 26 , wherein the method further comprises:
 coupling electrically the battery to a processor housed within the wearable band to enter the second power mode subsequent to the first power mode,   wherein the duration of the first power mode is indicative of an amount of time in transit.   
     
     
         29 . The computer readable medium of  claim 26 , wherein the executable instructions to switch the band from the first power mode to the second power mode comprise executable instructions to generate a power hold signal.