POWER UNIT EXCHANGE MECHANISMS

• US 20080183752A1
• Filed: 01/30/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Jain, Kamal
• Application Number:
  US11/668,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20080183752A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/104.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

Mechanisms for tracking power unit usage allow power units to be exchanged rather than recharged. Users can purchase power unit subscriptions that are tracked on a per entity basis to allow exchange of power units during the subscription period. The subscriptions can also account for life cycle costs of the power units. Subscriptions can be based on a time period, on an amount of power, and/or on a number of power unit exchanges. In one instance, power unit vending stations interact with a centralized server to allow power unit exchanges at any number of disparate locations.

Claims

1. A system that tracks power units, comprising:

a receiving component that obtains power unit information and/or entity information; and

a power unit tracking component that employs the power unit information and/or entity information to track power units associated with an entity.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a power unit exchange component that interacts with an entity to exchange power units and to obtain power unit information and/or entity information for the power unit tracking component.

3. The system of claim 2, the power unit exchange component resides within an electronic mobile device and provides power unit information when communications are established with the power unit tracking component.

4. The system of claim 1, the power unit comprising a battery, a fuel cell and/or a power cell.

5. The system of claim 1, the entity comprising an individual user and/or an enterprise.

6. The system of claim 1, the power unit tracking component comprising a federated system of tracking components that report to a centralized tracking component, each federated tracking component interacting with at least one power unit exchange component.

7. The system of claim 1, the power unit tracking component comprising a centralized tracking component that interacts with at least one power unit exchange component.

8. The system of claim 1, the power unit tracking component further authorizes power unit exchanges based on a subscription exchange allotment, a subscription time period, and/or a subscription power allotment.

9. The system of claim 1, the receiving component obtains power unit information, exchange information, and/or entity information from a power unit.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a power unit exchange component that interacts with an entity to exchange power units and to obtain power unit information and/or entity information for the power unit tracking component.

20. A device employing the system of claim 1 comprising a computer, a server, and/or a handheld electronic device.

11. A method for tracking power units, comprising:

assigning a unique identifier to each power unit;

determining a usage subscription for the power unit; and

associating the unique identifier and usage subscription with a user.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

storing the associated information on a server and/or on a power unit.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

scribing the associated information on a power unit.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

electronically embedding the associated information within a power unit.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

regulating exchanges of power units based on the usage subscription; and

associating exchanged power unit unique identifiers with the user.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

utilizing time and/or recharge cycles to determine the usage subscription.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

charging fees based on exchanging power units within the usage subscription.

19. A device employing the method of claim 11 comprising a computer, a server, and/or a handheld electronic device.

18. A system that tracks exchanged power units, comprising:

means for obtaining a unique identifier from an exchanged power unit and/or user information associated with the exchanged power unit; and

means for employing the exchanged power unit information and/or user information to regulate power units exchanged by the user based on a subscription agreement.