Abstract:
A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). To charge, the machines employ electrical current from an external source, such as the electrical grid or an electrical service of an installation location. The charging and distribution machines may distribute portable electrical energy storage devices of particular performance characteristics and other attributes based on customer preferences and/or customer profiles. The charging and distribution machines may provide instructions to or otherwise program portable electrical energy storage devices stored within the charging and distribution machines to perform at various levels according to user preferences and user profiles.
Abstract:
A charger vending assembly includes a housing that may be positioned on a support surface. A vending unit is movably positioned within the housing and the vending unit contains a plurality of chargers. The vending unit selectively dispenses a selected number of the chargers outwardly from the housing. In this way the selected number of chargers may be used to charge an electronic device. A control unit is coupled to the housing and the control unit is selectively manipulated. The control unit is electrically coupled to the vending unit such that the control unit controls operational parameters of the vending unit. The vending unit dispenses the selected chargers in accordance with commands from the control unit.
Abstract:
Two-way exchange vending can be performed by a two-way exchange based vending machine. The two-way exchange based vending machine can vend rechargeable batteries. The two-way exchange based vending machine can include different modules to perform different functionalities. The two-way exchange based vending machine can include a communications module, a dispensing module, a rejection module, and a receiving module. The communications module can communicate information to and receive inputs from a user. The dispensing module can dispense one or more rechargeable batteries or other requested products to a user. The receiving module can receive one or more rechargeable batteries from a user.
Abstract:
A secure mobile phone storage and wristband dispensing kiosk includes a support portion and a locker portion. The locker portion includes a plurality of storage compartments and a plurality of dispensing compartments. An authenticator is provided for authenticating the user of an individual storage compartment and dispensing compartment. A series of electronic wristbands are individually stored in each dispensing compartment. A processor is configured to condition unlocking a dispensing compartment upon successful connection of a mobile phone to a charging station in a storage compartment, and to condition unlocking a storage compartment upon successful authentication and installation of one of the electronic wristbands in a storage compartment, thereby allowing a user to store and charge a mobile phone while wearing a wristband that can receive rudimentary communications from the phone.
Abstract:
A method for providing electrical energy to a user device associated with a user includes: identifying a communications link between the user device and the mobile charging system; sending a user identifier to a remote server associated with the application; verifying a user eligibility for electrical energy provision to the device based on the user identifier; verifying a data integrity of mobile charging system software; controlling the mobile charging system to provide electrical energy to the user device; and controlling the mobile charging system to adjust electrical energy provision to the user device.
Abstract:
A method for tracking a quantity of a utility supplied to a device connected to a utility supply associated with a first account of the utility is disclosed. The method may include determining if the device is associated with a second account, and associating the quantity of the utility consumed by the device to the second account if the device is associated with the second account.
Abstract:
A secure charging station for portable electronic devices (PEDs) may include plurality of individual charging sub-stations, each with an associated charging port, PED sensing area and authentication system. The PED sensing area includes one or more sensors sensing the presence and/or absence of the PED. The authentication system permits a PED owner to enter authentication information, such as a four-digit code via keypad, or information on a credit card, to initiate a secure mode in which unauthorized removal of the PED will trigger an alarm. When in the secure mode, the charging station may display a signal to notify unauthorized persons that tampering or removal of a corresponding PED from the sensing area will trigger an alarm. When charging is complete, or when the owner desires to remove the PED from the secure sensing area, he or she again enters authentication information via the authentication system to cause the PED sensing area to assume an unsecure mode, which permits removal of the PED without the sounding of an alarm.
Abstract:
A method for completing a transaction at a terminal between a terminal and a mobile device including: initiating a transaction at the terminal; initiating communication with the mobile device; determining that the mobile device is without power; transmitting a wireless power signal to power the mobile device; sending a transaction authentication request message to the mobile device after transmitting the wireless power signal; receiving an authentication message from the mobile device; and completing the transaction after receiving the authentication message from the mobile device.
Abstract:
Two-way exchange vending can be performed by a two-way exchange based vending machine. The two-way exchange based vending machine can vend rechargeable batteries. The two-way exchange based vending machine can include different modules to perform different functionalities. The two-way exchange based vending machine can include a communications module, a dispensing module, a rejection module, and a receiving module. The communications module can communicate information to and receive inputs from a user. The dispensing module can dispense one or more rechargeable batteries or other requested products to a user. The receiving module can receive one or more rechargeable batteries from a user.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a charging station (100) for charging mobile electronic devices (404), and an associated server (300), system (400), and method (500). The charging station (100) includes a plurality of lockable enclosures (120), each having an associated charging terminal (222), an input arrangement (124) operable to receive a mobile subscriber identifier, and a communication module (122) operable to communicate with a remote authorisation server (300). The charging station (100) further includes a control module (206) operable to generate and send, via the communication module (122), a query communication including the mobile subscriber identifier to the remote authorisation server (300), the query communication serving to query whether or not the subscriber (406) has sufficient airtime in his account to pay for use of the charging station (100), to receive, via the communication module (122), a response communication, and to provide access to a lockable enclosure (120) and its associated charging terminal (222), in response to the subscriber (406) having sufficient airtime.