DETECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES IN SECURE COMPARTMENTS OF CHARGING STATIONS

• US 20140354214A1
• Filed: 06/01/2013
• Published: 12/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kwikboost LLC
• Original Assignee: Brightbox, Inc. (EBSCO Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Phelps, Jack Standish, Gridley, William W., Johnson, Adam Hubbard
• Granted Patent: US 9,330,520 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/00 Coin-freed apparatus with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/006 dispensed for the electrical charging of other devices than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments provide a charging station for portable electronic devices. Upon initiating a transaction associated with charging of the portable electronic device by the charging station, the charging station attempts to detect a presence of the portable electronic device in a secure compartment of the charging station, wherein power is supplied to the portable electronic device within the secure compartment. If the presence of the portable electronic device in the secure compartment is detected, the charging station secures a door of the secure compartment. If the presence of the portable electronic device in the secure compartment is not detected, the charging station queries a user of the portable electronic device for input related to a lack of detection of the presence and processes the transaction based on the input.

Claims

1. A method for operating a charging station for a portable electronic device, comprising:

upon initiating a transaction associated with charging of the portable electronic device by the charging station, attempting to detect a presence of the portable electronic device in a secure compartment of the charging station, wherein power is supplied to the portable electronic device within the secure compartment;

if the presence of the portable electronic device in the secure compartment is detected, securing a door of the secure compartment; and

if the presence of the portable electronic device in the secure compartment is not detected;

querying a user of the portable electronic device for input related to a lack of detection of the presence; and

processing the transaction based on the input.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the transaction based on the input involves:

if the input is not received from the user within a first pre-specified period;

operating the secure compartment with an assumed presence of the portable electronic device in the secure compartment; and

periodically reattempting to detect the presence of the portable electronic device in the secure compartment.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein processing the transaction based on the input further involves:

if the presence of the portable electronic device in the secure compartment is not detected after a second pre-specified period, ending the transaction and identifying the secure compartment as unoccupied.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the transaction associated with charging of the portable electronic device by the charging station involves:

selecting the secure compartment for use with the portable electronic device based on at least one of;

a set of ongoing transactions with the charging station;

a set of recently ended transactions with the charging station;

a number of uses of the secure compartment; and

a compatibility of a connector in the secure compartment with the portable electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the transaction associated with charging of the portable electronic device by the charging station involves:

obtaining an identifier for the user that does not match an ongoing transaction associated with charging of the portable electronic device by the charging station.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the presence of the portable electronic device in the secure compartment is detected using at least one of:

a power consumption associated with the secure compartment; and

communication with the portable electronic device through a connector in the secure compartment.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the communication is associated with transmission of at least one of:

a device identifier; and

a device type.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon detecting a presence of another portable electronic device in the secure compartment, querying the user for additional input related to the detected presence of the other portable electronic device; and

processing the transaction based on the additional input.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the additional input comprises at least one of:

removal of the other portable electronic device; and

an identifier for the user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein processing the transaction based on the additional input involves:

ending the transaction and initiating a new transaction if the identifier does not match the transaction; and

continuing the transaction with the other portable electronic device if the identifier matches the transaction.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the input comprises at least one of:

cancelling the transaction;

connecting the portable electronic device to the charging station; and

an identifier for the user.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

activating a disinfecting mechanism within the secure compartment after securing the door of the secure compartment.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the disinfecting mechanism comprises an ultraviolet (UV) light disinfection mechanism.

14. A charging station, comprising:

a set of secure compartments, wherein each of the secure compartments is configured to supply power to a portable electronic device; and

a control apparatus configured to;

upon initiating a transaction associated with charging of the portable electronic device by the charging station, attempt to detect a presence of the portable electronic device in a secure compartment from the set of secure compartments;

if the presence of the portable electronic device in the secure compartment is detected, secure a door of the secure compartment; and

if the presence of the portable electronic device in the secure compartment is not detected;

query a user of the portable electronic device for input related to a lack of detection of the presence; and

process the transaction based on the input.

15. The charging station of claim 14, wherein processing the transaction based on the input involves:

if the input is not received from the user within a first pre-specified period;

operating the secure compartment with an assumed presence of the portable electronic device in the secure compartment;

periodically reattempting to detect the presence of the portable electronic device in the secure compartment; and

if the presence of the portable electronic device in the secure compartment is not detected after a second pre-specified period, ending the transaction and identifying the secure compartment as unoccupied.

16. The charging station of claim 14, wherein initiating the transaction associated with charging of the portable electronic device by the charging station involves:

selecting the secure compartment for use with the portable electronic device based on at least one of;

a set of ongoing transactions with the charging station;

a set of recently ended transactions with the charging station;

a number of uses of the secure compartment; and

a compatibility of a connector in the secure compartment with the portable electronic device.

17. The charging station of claim 14, wherein the presence of the portable electronic device in the secure compartment is detected using at least one of:

a power consumption associated with the secure compartment; and

communication with the portable electronic device through a connector in the secure compartment.

18. The charging station of claim 14, wherein the control apparatus is further configured to:

upon detecting a presence of another portable electronic device in the secure compartment, query the user for additional input related to the detected presence of the other portable electronic device; and

process the transaction based on the additional input.

19. The charging station of claim 18, wherein processing the transaction based on the additional input involves:

obtaining an identifier for the user from the additional input;

ending the transaction and initiating a new transaction if the identifier does not match the transaction; and

continuing the transaction with the other portable electronic device if the identifier matches the transaction.

20. The charging station of claim 14, wherein the control apparatus is further configured to:

activate a disinfecting mechanism within the secure compartment after securing the door of the secure compartment, wherein the disinfecting mechanism comprises an ultraviolet (UV) light disinfection mechanism.