Authentication and pairing of a mobile device to an external power source
First Claim
1. A method of pairing a mobile electrical device with an external power source electrically coupled to each other, the method comprising the steps of:
- monitoring a charge drawn at the external power source to detect whether a recognized load pattern is present;
authenticating the mobile electrical device to receive power from the external power source in response to a recognized load pattern being detected;
receiving a signal from the mobile electrical device at the external power source indicating an intent to draw a charge from the external power source; and
sending a message to specify the load pattern of the charge to be drawn by the mobile electrical device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile device communicates with an authenticator affiliated with a recharging facility, to identify itself. To confirm that the mobile device is connected to the correct facility, the authenticator instructs the mobile device to draw electrical charge according to an identifiable pattern. Upon detecting a charge being drawn according to that pattern, the authenticator has confirmation that the identified device is connected to the facility, and permits the charging to proceed. The amount of electricity drawn during the charging procedure can be metered, and then billed to a party associated with the identified mobile device.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of pairing a mobile electrical device with an external power source electrically coupled to each other, the method comprising the steps of:
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monitoring a charge drawn at the external power source to detect whether a recognized load pattern is present; authenticating the mobile electrical device to receive power from the external power source in response to a recognized load pattern being detected; receiving a signal from the mobile electrical device at the external power source indicating an intent to draw a charge from the external power source; and sending a message to specify the load pattern of the charge to be drawn by the mobile electrical device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of managing a charging session with a mobile device using an external power source connected to a communication network having a plurality of nodes, comprising the steps of:
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sending a broadcast message from the mobile device to nodes in the network, requesting a charging session; receiving an instruction from one or more of the nodes in the network to initiate a unique load pattern, in response to the broadcast message; selecting one of the received instructions for execution; and drawing a charge in accordance with the unique load pattern corresponding to the selected instruction. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An authenticator for managing a pairing of a mobile device and a power source electrically coupled to each other, comprising:
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a receiver for receiving an authentication signal from the power source, the authentication signal representing the charge drawn at the power source; and a controller for monitoring the received authentication signal, for detecting whether a recognized load pattern is present in the authentication signal and for authenticating the mobile device to receive power from the power source in response to a recognized load pattern being detected, wherein in response to the mobile device connecting to the power source, the authenticator detects a series of charge draws at the power source indicating connection by the mobile device intending to authenticate to initiate a charging session, and in response to detection of the series of charge draws at the power source indicating connection by the mobile device, the authenticator sends a message to specify the load pattern of the charge to be drawn by the mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A system for pairing a mobile device with a selected charging device electrically coupled to each other using a wireless communication network, comprising:
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a plurality of charging devices configured to monitor an authentication signal from the mobile device, for detecting whether a recognized load pattern is present in the authentication signal and for authenticating the mobile device to receive power from the power source in response to a recognized load pattern being detected; and a plurality of nodes of the communication network, each corresponding to a respective charging device of the plurality of charging devices, for communicating between the respective charging device and the mobile device, wherein; responsive to the mobile device and the selected charging device of the plurality of charging devices electrically coupling, the mobile device determines which of the plurality of nodes are neighboring nodes of the mobile device and sends a charging signal to the determined neighboring nodes that indicates the mobile device is initiating a series of charge draws. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A system for pairing a mobile device with a selected charging device electrically coupled to each other, using a wireless communication network, comprising:
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a plurality of charging devices configured to monitor an authentication signal from the mobile device, for detecting whether a recognized load pattern is present in the authentication signal and for authenticating the mobile device to receive power from the power source in response to a unique load pattern being detected; a plurality of nodes of the communication network, each corresponding to a respective charging device of the plurality of charging devices, for communicating between the respective charging device and the mobile device, wherein; responsive to the mobile device and the selected charging device of the plurality of charging devices electrically coupling, the mobile device sends a broadcast message to the nodes in the communication network, requesting a charging session; the mobile device receives, from one or more nodes in the communication network, an instruction to initiate a unique load pattern, in response to the broadcast message; the mobile device selects one of the received instructions for execution, and draws a charge in accordance with the unique load pattern corresponding to the selected instruction. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A system for pairing a mobile device with a selected charging device electrically coupled to each other, using a wireless communication network, comprising:
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a plurality of charging devices configured to monitor an authentication signal from the mobile device, for detecting whether a recognized load pattern is present in the authentication signal and for authenticating the mobile device to receive power from the power source in response to a unique load pattern being detected; a plurality of nodes of the communication network, each corresponding to a respective charging device of the plurality of charging devices, for communicating between the respective charging device and the mobile device, wherein; responsive to the mobile device and the selected charging device of the plurality of charging devices electrically coupling, the mobile device initiates a series of current loads at the selected charging device; the selected charging device monitors to detect the series of current loads; in response to detecting the current loads from the mobile device, the node associated with the selected charging device sends an instruction to the mobile device to draw current from the selected charging device according to a recognized pattern; and the selected charging device authenticates a pairing with the mobile device upon detecting a recognized pattern.
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Specification