US 12,068,629 B2
Controlling charging of computing device through ports connected to external devices
Rajesh Kumar, Bangalore (IN)
Assigned to Dell Products L.P., Round Rock, TX (US)
Filed by Dell Products L.P., Round Rock, TX (US)
Filed on Nov. 30, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/106,410.
Prior Publication US 2022/0173605 A1, Jun. 2, 2022
Int. Cl. H02J 7/00 (2006.01); G06F 1/26 (2006.01); G06F 1/28 (2006.01); G06F 13/16 (2006.01); G06F 13/42 (2006.01); H04L 12/10 (2006.01)
CPC H02J 7/007182 (2020.01) [G06F 1/266 (2013.01); G06F 1/28 (2013.01); G06F 13/1668 (2013.01); G06F 13/4282 (2013.01); H04L 12/10 (2013.01); G06F 2213/0042 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus comprising:
at least one processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory;
the at least one processing device being configured to perform steps of:
obtaining information characterizing a status of one or more batteries of a computing device;
determining whether at least one connector port of the computing device is connected to one or more external devices, the at least one connector port being configured (i) to receive power from the connected one or more external devices for charging the one or more batteries of the computing device and (ii) to transfer data between the computing device and the connected one or more external devices; and
responsive to determining that the at least one connector port of the computing device is connected to the one or more external devices, selectively enabling the charging of the one or more batteries of the computing device utilizing power received from the connected one or more external devices based at least in part on the obtained information characterizing the status of the one or more batteries of the computing device, wherein selectively enabling the charging of the one or more batteries of the computing device utilizing power received from the connected one or more external devices is performed while maintaining data transfer functionality between the computing device and the connected one or more external devices, and wherein the connected one or more external devices comprise at least one of one or more peripheral devices and a docking station connecting at least one of the one or more peripheral devices to the computing device.