SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRICAL ENERGY SUPPLY TO PERIPHERAL DEVICES USING PREPAID AIRTIME

• US 20130137394A1
• Filed: 07/11/2012
• Published: 05/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Econet Wireless IP Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Econet Wireless IP Holdings Limited
• Inventors: JORDAN, Colin Stephen
• Application Number:
  US13/546,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20130137394A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/008 involving trading of energy or energy transmission rights
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling electrical energy supply to one or more peripheral devices. The apparatus includes a first input operable to receive electrical energy from an electrical energy source and a battery operable to store the received electrical energy. The apparatus further includes at least one output operable to supply electrical energy to at least one peripheral device and an energy management controller operable to control the supply of electrical energy to the at least one peripheral device. The apparatus also includes a communications module operable to detect the purchase of prepaid airtime associated with the apparatus, with the energy management controller activating the peripheral device(s) for as long as there is sufficient airtime and deactivating the peripheral device(s) once the airtime has expired.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling electrical energy supply to one or more peripheral devices, the apparatus including:

a first input operable to receive electrical energy from an electrical energy source;

a battery operable to store the received electrical energy;

at least one output operable to supply electrical energy to at least one peripheral device;

an energy management controller operable to control the supply of electrical energy to the at least one peripheral device; and

a communications module operable to detect the purchase of prepaid airtime associated with the apparatus, with the energy management controller activating the peripheral device(s) for as long as there is sufficient airtime and deactivating the peripheral device(s) once the airtime has expired.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the first input is connected to a solar panel array to generate electrical energy using solar energy.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the peripheral device includes a battery charger and a plurality of lights.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the communications module is in communication with a remote system via a communications network, the remote system managing the payment of the prepaid airtime and the activation of the apparatus.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the communications network is a mobile telecommunications network with the communications module comprising a SIM card to facilitate communications via the network, and the remote system is a mobile operator system, so that the apparatus is linked into the mobile operator system.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, which includes a logging module operable to:

measure and log the energy usage, and in particular the energy consumed by, and the efficiency of, the peripheral device(s);

log the energy feed from a solar panel array (if present) to the energy management controller and battery;

log a condition of the battery (if present); and

/or

log the ambient temperature and humidity.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which the logged information is sent to the remote system by the communications module for recordal and management.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, which includes a tampering detector, which upon detecting a tamper condition, instructs the energy management controller to deactivate the apparatus, or at least the output thereof, and thus any peripheral device(s) connected thereto.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which the detection of a tampering condition is sent to the remote system by the communications module for recordal and, if need be, remedial action.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the communications module is operable to detect when the apparatus is out of network coverage, and if the apparatus is out of network coverage for longer than a predetermined period of time, the communications module is operable to instruct the energy management controller to deactivate the apparatus, or at least the output thereof, and thus any peripheral device(s) connected thereto.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, which includes a light sensor operable to measure the ambient light intensity, and if the ambient light intensity is greater than a predetermined amount, the light sensor is operable to instruct the energy management controller to deactivate the apparatus, or at least the output thereof, and in particular any peripherals connected thereto.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, which includes a display operable to display at least one of the following system parameters to a user:

battery condition;

charge status;

low energy level;

low battery power;

low credit balance; and

network communication status.

13. A method for controlling electrical energy supply to one or more peripheral devices, the method including:

receiving electrical energy from an electrical energy source via a first input;

storing the received electrical energy in a battery;

supplying electrical energy to at least one peripheral device via at least one output;

controlling by an energy management controller the supply of electrical energy to the at least one peripheral device;

detecting by a communications module the purchase of prepaid airtime associated with the apparatus;

activating by the energy management controller the peripheral device(s) for as long as there is sufficient airtime; and

deactivating the peripheral device(s) once the airtime has expired.