Electricity Vending Devices And Associated Methods
First Claim
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1. An electricity vending device comprising:
- an electrical outlet for supplying electricity to a user;
a user interface for receiving payment information;
a controller;
a switch responsive to the controller for connecting and disconnecting the electricity to and from the electrical outlet;
a meter or a timer for measuring an amount of electricity supplied to the electrical outlet; and
a communication interface for sending the payment information and the amount of electricity to a payment processor.
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Abstract
Electricity vending devices and methods and software for vending electrical power are disclosed. Payment information may be received by the electricity vending devices by way of a magnetic or electric card reader, a fingerprint scanner, a retinal scanner, a keypad, a touchscreen, or an RFID detector.
22 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electricity vending device comprising:
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an electrical outlet for supplying electricity to a user; a user interface for receiving payment information; a controller; a switch responsive to the controller for connecting and disconnecting the electricity to and from the electrical outlet; a meter or a timer for measuring an amount of electricity supplied to the electrical outlet; and a communication interface for sending the payment information and the amount of electricity to a payment processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for distributing electricity from an electricity vending device to an external electrical device comprising:
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detecting the presence or absence of a plug in an electrical outlet; receiving payment information; supplying electricity to the electrical outlet; and terminating a transaction. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A software product comprising instructions, stored on computer-readable media, wherein the instructions, when executed by a computer, perform steps for vending electricity, comprising:
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instructions for detecting the presence or absence of a plug; instructions for receiving payment information; instructions for delivering power to an outlet; and instructions for terminating an electricity vending transaction. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification