Remote Console for Central Administration of Usage Credit
First Claim
1. A management console for operation with a plurality of pay-per-use electronic devices comprising:
- a network connection allowing connection with the plurality of pay-per-use electronic devices and an add-value service;
a user interface allowing display of metering status for each of the plurality of pay-per-use electronic devices;
a security module comprising;
a secure memory storing keys and an identifier of the security module;
a tamper-resistant clock;
a cryptographic unit for performing cryptographic functions; and
a processor coupled to the secure memory, the tamper-resistant clock and the cryptographic unit,a computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions; and
a main processor coupled to the network connection, the user interface, the security module, the cryptographic unit, and the computer-readable medium, whereby the processor executes the computer-executable instructions to monitor and update the metering status of each of the plurality of electronic devices.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A management console may be used to monitor available usage on a pay-per-use electronic device, such as a pay-per-use computer. When the management console determines that any of tie monitored electronic devices has reached a trigger level the management console may re-charge the electronic device with value. The value may be taken from a local pool of value stored at the management console or the an add-value transaction may be generated at the management console on behalf of the pay-per-use electronic device. In an Internet cafe or similar environment, the use of the management console shields individual users from usage purchase transactions for individual pay-per-use electronic devices.
44 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A management console for operation with a plurality of pay-per-use electronic devices comprising:
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a network connection allowing connection with the plurality of pay-per-use electronic devices and an add-value service; a user interface allowing display of metering status for each of the plurality of pay-per-use electronic devices; a security module comprising; a secure memory storing keys and an identifier of the security module; a tamper-resistant clock; a cryptographic unit for performing cryptographic functions; and a processor coupled to the secure memory, the tamper-resistant clock and the cryptographic unit, a computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions; and a main processor coupled to the network connection, the user interface, the security module, the cryptographic unit, and the computer-readable medium, whereby the processor executes the computer-executable instructions to monitor and update the metering status of each of the plurality of electronic devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of acquiring usage value for a pay-per-use computer by a management console separate from the pay-per-use computer comprising:
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monitoring usage value of the pay-per-use computer at the management console; obtaining usage value on behalf of the pay-per-use computer; adding usage value to the pay-per-use computer responsive a trigger event corresponding to monitoring the usage value. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for managing pay-per-use electronic devices comprising:
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a pay-per-use computer comprising; a security module comprising; cryptographic keys for authenticating transactions; a stored value corresponding to available usage; and an executable program responsive to a command requesting stored value metrics and further responsive to a second command for processing an add-value packet; a management console coupled to the pay-per-use computer through a network comprising; a console security module comprising; a cryptographic key corresponding to the pay-per-use computer for use in authenticating transactions with the pay-per-use computer; a fulfillment center coupled to the management console, the fulfillment center having cryptographic keys associated with the pay-per-use computer and the management console for use in authenticating transactions with each, wherein an add value packet generated at the fulfillment center is encrypted with the management console key and designated for re-encrypting at the management console for delivery to the pay-per-use computer. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification