Abstract:
A transaction authorisation system comprises a user interface unit 30 capable of accepting a transaction authorisation, and a utility meter 10 provided at a location having an associated location identifier unique to the location, wherein the utility meter 10 is arranged to communicate with the user interface unit 30, to obtain a transaction authorisation and to transmit an authorisation request based on the transaction authorisation and location identifier to obtain authorisation of the transaction. In an alternative embodiment the invention consists of an energy supply system including a utility meter 10 having a unique location identifier, a switching unit controllable by the utility meter 10 provided at a location for switching appliances on and off and a communication unit 20. The utility meter 10 is arranged to communicate with a remote system having a database of unique identifiers via the communication unit 20 in order determine if an appliance needs switching on or off. In a further embodiment the invention consists of a pre-payment energy supply system which comprises a pre-payment utility meter 10 having a unique location identifier and a memory for storing pre-payment credits. The utility meter 10 is arranged to communicate with a remote system having a database of unique identifiers via a communication unit 20. In a further embodiment the invention comprises a method of controlling the provision of energy to users.
Abstract:
The prepayment system is integrally provided in a meter which is in a completely covered state. An automatic supply cut-off device controls the supply of electric power based on the prepaid information received from non-contact smart card used with meter.
Abstract:
A charging fee payment system is used for a payment process for a payment of a charging fee to charge a target apparatus with a charging apparatus. The target apparatus includes a memory, a controller, and a communication section. When the charging apparatus does not have a function to communicate with an external server that performs the payment process, the memory stores an unique ID code of the charging apparatus and electricity usage data indicative of the amount of electricity used by the charging apparatus to charge the target apparatus. The controller allows the target apparatus to be charged with the charging apparatus on a condition that the ID code remains stored in the memory. When the communication section becomes able to communicate with the external server, the communication section sends the ID code and the electricity usage data stored in the memory to the external server.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a charging fee adjustment system capable of adjusting an electric power rate used for charging, even though a charging device does not have a communication function with an external server for adjusting a charging fee of an electric power company, etc.SOLUTION: Quantity of electricity used for charging is stored, in a storage section 16 of an electric vehicle 10, along with an identification code given to a charging device 30. The charging fee used for charging can be adjusted even though the charging device 30 does not have the communication function with an external server 40, because a communication device 13 of the electric vehicle 10 afterward transmits the stored identification code and used quantity of electricity to the external server 40 when being capable of communicating with the external server 40. Therefore, since not every charging device 30 needs the communication function with the external server 40 for adjusting the charging fee, spread of the charging device 30 can be promoted.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mechanism for achieving accurate tax collection to an electric moving body. SOLUTION: There is disclosed an electric moving body including: a battery for accumulating power; an information transmission part for, when charging the battery, transmitting its own identification information and the information of the amounts of charging when the battery is charged to a taxing server which taxes a user with a sum corresponding to the amounts of charging; an information reception part for receiving the completion notification of the taxation processing to be executed based on its own identification information and the information of the amounts of charging transmitted by the information transmission part from the taxing server; and a driving management part for inhibiting the operation of the driving mechanism when the battery is charged, and for permitting the operation of the driving mechanism after the completion notification is received by the information reception part. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To construct a system for contributing to the increase of motivation to the reduction of greenhouse gas by the circulation and use broadening of an electric powered vehicle in a whole community. SOLUTION: An ecological-point management system 100 includes an electric powered vehicle 200, a charging facility 300, a communication network 400, a management server 410, and point recipients 420 each having a device capable of accessing the communication network 400. The electric storage device 216 of the electric powered vehicle 200 is configured to be chargeable by the charging facility 300. In the ecological-point management system 100, an ecological point in accordance with an amount of greenhouse gas emission that can be reduced by traveling using electric power by the electric powered vehicle 200 is given to the point recipients 420. The point recipients 420 can include an owner or a driver of the electric powered vehicle 200, and a manufacturer, an installation personnel, and an owner of the charging facility 300, and an owner of an installation place, and further a provider of the charging power. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cognitive electric power meter using an embedded intelligence which decomposes electric power signal already measured with input meter into each constituent loads, without a need for installation cost in house, while supplying outline of use situation to consumer. SOLUTION: The electric power meter 10 includes an embedded decomposition module 40 configured so that the electric power signal 12 is decomposed into constituent load 14 so as to separate and identify an energy consumption quantity associated with each individual energy consumption device within a plurality of energy consumption devices coupled to the electric power meter 10. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT