Method and apparatus for suspending or adjusting billing charge for usage of electrically powered devices if abnormal or halt condition detected

• US 7,143,204 B1
• Filed: 11/07/2000
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: logiclink Incorporated (Logiclink, Inc. /Management/)
• Original Assignee: logiclink Incorporated (Logiclink, Inc. /Management/)
• Inventors: Kao, Kim Y., Kwan, Kent, Sauer, Bruce K.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEYTON, TAMMARA R
• Application Number:
  US09/707,647
• Time in Patent Office: 2,212 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 710/15, 710/17, 710/18, 710/16, 710/19, 235/381, 379/100.04, 318/3
• US Class Current: 710/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3423 where the assessed time is active or idle time
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines

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 method comprising:

monitoring an output of an electrically powered device; and

comparing the output to a database of operating profiles for the electrically powered device to detect an abnormal condition and to adjust billing charges when the electrically powered device is in the abnormal condition, the database of operating profiles includes plurality of power usage profiles being regular operating power profiles and abnormal operating power profiles, each abnormal operating power profile to denote an abnormal condition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each power usage profile is a function of amperage and time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first condition is a catastrophic condition.

4. A software module embodied for execution by a controller, the software module comprising:

software to monitor an output of an electrically powered device; and

software to compare the output to a plurality of power usage profiles for the electrically powered device to detect a first condition and to adjust billing charges when the electrically powered device is in the first condition, the electrically powered device is placed in the first condition in response to an abnormal operating condition.

5. The software module of claim 4 further comprising software to record the plurality of power usage profiles.

6. The software module of claim 4, wherein the electrically powered device is an appliance.

7. The software module of claim 4 further comprising software to record the plurality of power usage profiles.

8. The software module of claim 4, wherein each power usage profile is a function of amperage and time.

9. The software module of claim 4 further comprising a user interface software to enable programmability of conditions to adjust billing charges for usage of the electrically powered device including the first condition.

10. The software module of claim 4, wherein the electrically powered device is a printer.

11. The software module of claim 10, wherein the abnormal condition is a paper jam.

12. A method comprising:

monitoring an output of an electrically powered device; and

comparing the output to a plurality of operating profiles associated with the electrically powered device to detect an abnormal condition and to adjust billing charges when the electrically powered device is in the abnormal condition, the plurality of operating profiles includes a plurality of power usage profiles includes an abnormal operating power profile of the electrically powered device to denot the abnormal condition.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of operating profiles includes a plurality of power usage profiles being regular operating power profiles of the electrially powered device and the abnormal operating power profile.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein each power usage profile is a function of amperage and time.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the monitoring of the output of an electrically powered device is a monitoring of the output of a printer.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the monitoring of the output of an electrically powered device is a monitoring of the output of an appliance.