Hewlett-Packard (HP) is no stranger to the world of laptop carrying cases and bags. With close to 70 cases and bags to chose from, it would appear that HP has the spectrum of carrying accessories covered from end-to-end. But something is missing: a smart bag.

Enter HP's latest issued patent: a smart bag. Their patent describes a bag that includes multiple power sources and a power management engine able to provision power efficiently to a user's electronic devices. In addition, the power management engine is not only able to detect that an electronic device has been placed in the bag, but also initiate communication with the device using near field communications (NFC), WIFI, BLUETOOTH, and even a wired connection.

While HP does offer a backpack able to charge electronic devices, it lacks the ability to communicate with a user's devices. This newly issued patent provides another glimpse into the future of HP's smart bag offering, as HP received several patent publications in late 2019 relating to a smart bag with a display.

HP did reveal a new lineup of laptop cases and bags at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), but the focus was on environmental impact and durability. With plenty of remaining trade shows scheduled for 2020, lookout for the reveal of HP's smart bag.