Method and apparatus for selecting, monitoring, and controlling electrically powered devices

• US 6,618,772 B1
• Filed: 05/29/1998
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CAIS, INCORPORATED, logiclink Incorporated (Logiclink, Inc. /Management/)
• Original Assignee: Kim Y. Kao
• Inventors: Kao, Kim Y., Kwan, Kent, Sauer, Bruce K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEYTON, TAMMARA R
• Application Number:
  US09/088,213
• Time in Patent Office: 1,929 Days
• Field of Search: 710/63, 710/2, 710/7, 710/6, 710/8, 710/10, 710/15, 710/17, 710/18, 710/36, 710/48, 710/62, 710/64, 710/72, 710/73, 710/129, 710/131, 235/381, 235/375, 235/376, 235/382, 235/383, 235/364, 235/380, 364/492, 700/11
• US Class Current: 710/15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3423 where the assessed time is active or idle time
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems

Abstract

An apparatus for selecting, monitoring, and controlling electrically powered devices is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an electrically powered device having a key operating line and switching control circuitry to control usage of the electrically powered device by interrupting continuity of the key operating line. In another embodiment, the apparatus monitors usage of an electrically powered device. The apparatus includes a circuit which is coupled to the device to provide a power output of the device, an analog to digital converter coupled to receive the power output and convert the same to digital form, and a controller to receive a user input, process the user input by establishing communication with a remotely located device to request approval of a financial transaction, and generate control signals in response to receiving approval. The controller receives the digital form of the power output and monitors the operation of the electrically powered device.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a plurality of computer and computer peripheral devices including a controller interface computer which executes a controller interface software module to generate control signals including user interface control signals;

a display responsive to the user interface control signals and adapted to interactively prompt a user to provide user inputs to the controller interface computer, the user inputs including (i) a designation of a selected group of devices from the plurality of computer and computer peripheral devices and (ii) a prepayment method designation; and

switching control circuitry connected to each of the plurality of computer and computer peripheral devices, the switching control circuitry, responsive to the control signals, to control usage by interrupting continuity of at least one key operating line of one or more of the plurality of the computer and computer peripheral devices.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller interface computer to receive the user inputs, process the user inputs by establishing communication with a remotely located device to request approval of a financial transaction, and generate control signals in response to receiving approval.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the key operating control line controls the functionality of the one or more computer and computer peripheral devices.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller interface computer may be operated remotely through a network to generate control signals including user interface control signals.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of computer and computer peripheral devices includes a single computer and a single computer peripheral device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of computer and computer peripheral devices includes only a plurality of computers.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected group of devices is a single computer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected group of devices is a computer peripheral device.

9. A system comprising:

a computer;

a computer peripheral device;

a controller interface computer to generate control signals including user interface control signals;

a display responsive to the user interface control signal and adapted to interactively prompt for inputs to the controller interface computer, including (i) a designation of one of the computer and computer peripheral device, and (ii) a prepayment method designation; and

switching control circuitry in communication with the computer and the computer peripheral device, the switching control circuitry, responsive to the control signals, to control usage by interrupting continuity of at least one key operating line of the computer and the computer peripheral device.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the controller interface computer to receive the user inputs, process the user inserts by establishing communication with a remotely located device to request approval of a financial transaction, and generate control signals in response to receiving approval.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one key operating control line includes a first key operating control line and a second key operating control line.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the switching circuitry to interrupt continuity of the first key operating control line.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the switching circuitry to interrupt continuity of the second key operating control line.