Detection and management of portable electronic devices in secure compartments of charging stations

• US 9,330,520 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2013
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kwikboost LLC
• Original Assignee: Brightbox, Inc. (EBSCO Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Phelps, Jack Standish, Gridley, William W., Johnson, Adam Hubbard
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robbins, Jerry D
• Application Number:
  US13/907,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20140354214A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,067 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 of 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;

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;

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.

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

removal of the other portable electronic device; and

an identifier for the user.

3. The method of claim 2, 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.

4. 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 base on the input; and

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.

5. The charging station of claim 4, 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.