Remote control device usage detection based on power consumption

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for remote control device usage detection. A smart battery may be inserted into a remote control device. The smart battery provides power to the remote control device as well as monitors the power consumption when a particular one or more interface elements of the remote control is interacted with by an end user. The power consumption information is transmitted to a receiver, which may identify the remote control device and/or the interface element(s) that has been interacted with based on the received data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A smart battery, comprising:
 a battery;   a sensing device configured to detect a variation in current flow of the battery; and   a current sensing circuit that is configured to determine a voltage level based on the detected variation in current flow; and   a wireless transmitter configured to transmit data to a receiver, the data comprising at least one of the voltage level or information based on the voltage level.   
     
     
         2 . The smart battery of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing device is a resistor. 
     
     
         3 . The smart battery of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing device is a magnetic sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The smart battery of  claim 3 , wherein the magnetic sensor is configured to detect the variation in the current flow by:
 detecting a change in a magnetic field that surrounds the current flow of the battery.   
     
     
         5 . The smart battery of  claim 1 , wherein the smart battery is rechargeable. 
     
     
         6 . The smart battery of  claim 1 , wherein the smart battery is configured to be paired with a remote control device. 
     
     
         7 . The smart battery of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a device configured to obtain information regarding movement of the paired remote control device;   wherein the wireless transmitter is further configured to transmit the information to the receiver.   
     
     
         8 . The smart battery of  claim 7 , wherein the device comprises one of an accelerometer, a magnetic sensor, a gyroscope, or a vibration sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The smart battery of  claim 6 , wherein the wireless transmitter is further configured to transmit at least one of a unique identifier (ID) of the smart battery or identification information for the paired remote control device to the receiver. 
     
     
         10 . The smart battery of  claim 6 , wherein the current sensing device is further configured to identify different voltage level patterns that correspond to an activation of different user interface (UI) elements of the paired remote control device, and wherein the data transmitted to the receiver comprises at least one of the voltage level patterns or information based on the at least one of the voltage level patterns. 
     
     
         11 . A method performed by a smart battery, comprising:
 detecting a variation in current flow of a battery;   determining a voltage level based on the detected variation in current flow; and   transmitting data to a receiver, the data comprising at least one of the voltage level or information based on the voltage level.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 obtaining information regarding movement of a paired remote control device; and   transmitting the information to the receiver.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein obtaining the information regarding the movement of the paired remote control device comprises utilizing one of an accelerometer, a magnetic sensor, a gyroscope, or a vibration sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 transmitting at least one of a unique ID of the smart battery or identification information for a paired remote control device to the receiver.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein determining the voltage level comprises identifying at least one of a plurality of different voltage level patterns that correspond to an activation of different user interface (UI) elements of a paired remote control device, and wherein transmitting the data to the receiver comprises transmitting the at least one voltage level pattern or information based on the at least one voltage level patterns. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein determining the voltage level based on the detected variation in current flow comprises:
 measuring a current variation of the battery between an idle state of a remote control device and an active state of a remote control device.   
     
     
         17 . A smart battery, comprising:
 a battery;   a sensing device configured to detect a variation in current flow of the battery; and   a current sensing circuit that is configured to determine a power level based on the detected variation in current flow; and   a wireless transmitter configured to transmit data to a receiver, the data comprising at least one of the power level or information based on the power level.   
     
     
         18 . The smart battery of  claim 17 , wherein the smart battery is configured to be paired with a remote control device. 
     
     
         19 . The smart battery of  claim 18 , wherein the wireless transmitter is further configured to transmit at least one of a unique identifier (ID) of the smart battery or identification information for the paired remote control device to the receiver. 
     
     
         20 . The smart battery of  claim 18 , wherein the current sensing device is further configured to identify different power level patterns that correspond to an activation of different user interface (UI) elements of the paired remote control device, and wherein the data transmitted to the receiver comprises at least one of the power level patterns or information based on the at least one of the power level patterns.