Systems and methods for activation and deactivation of appliances

• US 9,020,852 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2013
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: D.light Design Incorporated
• Original Assignee: D.light Design Incorporated
• Inventors: Ricket, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US13/741,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20130211551A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 700 1- 3, 700 19- 20, 700/22, 709208-211, 713/100, 713/176, 713/310, 713/320, 705/14.35, 705 39- 40, 705/52, 705/77, 705/307
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25359 Special power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/38215 Use of certificates or encrypted proofs of transaction rights
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3249 using RSA or related signature schemes, e.g. Rabin scheme

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for an appliance system. The system includes an appliance, and a processor connected to the appliance such that the processor places the appliance in one of an enabled state and a disabled state. The processor is configured to track usage of the appliance and to place the appliance in a disabled state when the usage of the appliance exceeds a threshold amount. The system also includes a data receiving device configured to receive a code, wherein upon receipt of a valid code, the processor is configured to adjust the threshold amount to allow additional usage of the appliance.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

at a computing device having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors;

receiving an indication of payment for usage of a first appliance in a plurality of appliances;

crediting the payment for usage of the first appliance within a first code for the first appliance wherein, responsive to the payment, the first code represents an amount that the first appliance is authorized to be used; and

wirelessly communicating the first code to the first appliance thereby permitting usage of the first appliance by an amount of time indicated by the first code.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device tracks usage of a plurality of devices by sending one or more codes to each device in the plurality of devices.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first code comprises a device serial number associated with the first appliance.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first code includes a mechanism for prevention of reuse of the code.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first code is encrypted.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first appliance is a television and wherein at least one television channel on the television is disabled when an amount of time of operation specified by the first code is exceeded.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first appliance is a light appliance having a plurality of brightness settings and wherein operation of the first appliance at only the lowest brightness setting in the plurality of brightness settings is permitted when an amount of time of operation specified by the first code is exceeded.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first appliance is a fan having a plurality of speed settings and wherein operation of the first appliance at only the slowed speed setting in the plurality of speed settings is permitted when an amount of time of operation specified by the first code is exceeded.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first code includes a payment confirmation.

10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a computer system with one or more processors, cause the computer system to:

receive an indication of payment for usage of a first appliance in a plurality of appliances;

credit the payment for usage of the first appliance within a first code for the first appliance wherein, responsive to the payment, the first code represents an amount that the first appliance is authorized to be used; and

wirelessly communicate the first code to the first appliance thereby permitting usage of the first appliance by an amount of time indicated by the first code.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the computer system tracks usage of a plurality of devices by sending one or more codes to each device in the plurality of devices.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the first code comprises a device serial number associated with the first appliance.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the first code includes a mechanism for prevention of reuse of the code.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the first code is encrypted.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the first appliance is a television and wherein at least one television channel on the television is disabled when an amount of time of operation specified by the first code is exceeded.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the first appliance is a light appliance having a plurality of brightness settings and wherein operation of the first appliance at only the lowest brightness setting in the plurality of brightness settings is permitted when an amount of time of operation specified by the first code is exceeded.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the first appliance is a fan having a plurality of speed settings and wherein operation of the first appliance at only the slowed speed setting in the plurality of speed settings is permitted when an amount of time of operation specified by the first code is exceeded.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the first code includes a payment confirmation.

19. A computing system, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors;

the one or more programs comprising instructions for;

receiving an indication of payment for usage of a first appliance in a plurality of appliances;

crediting the payment for usage of the first appliance within a first code for the first appliance wherein, responsive to the payment, the first code represents an amount that the first appliance is authorized to be used; and

wirelessly communicating the first code to the first appliance thereby permitting usage of the first appliance by an amount of time indicated by the first code.

20. The computing system of claim 19, wherein the computing system tracks usage of a plurality of devices by sending one or more codes to each device in the plurality of devices.

21. The computing system of claim 19, wherein the first code comprises a device serial number associated with the first appliance.

22. The computing system of claim 19, wherein the first code includes a mechanism for prevention of reuse of the code.

23. The computing system of claim 19, wherein the first code is encrypted.

24. The computing system of claim 19, wherein the first appliance is a television and wherein at least one television channel on the television is disabled when an amount of time of operation specified by the first code is exceeded.

25. The computing system of claim 19, wherein the first appliance is a light appliance having a plurality of brightness settings and wherein operation of the first appliance at only the lowest brightness setting in the plurality of brightness settings is permitted when an amount of time of operation specified by the first code is exceeded.

26. The computing system of claim 19, wherein the first appliance is a fan having a plurality of speed settings and wherein operation of the first appliance at only the slowed speed setting in the plurality of speed settings is permitted when an amount of time of operation specified by the first code is exceeded.

27. The computing system of claim 19, wherein the first code includes a payment confirmation.