Transaction processing and remote activation

• US 9,536,239 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2011
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: M-Kopa IPR LLC
• Original Assignee: M-Kopa IPR LLC
• Inventors: Moore, Jesse Keith Barton, Hughes, Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Bartley, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US13/699,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20130185194A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,065 Days
• Field of Search: 705/39
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/308 using the Internet of Things
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/003 for electricity
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/006 dispensed for the electrical charging of other devices than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/12 in which metering is on a time basis
• 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: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/12 Billing, invoicing, buying or selling transactions or other related activities, e.g. cost or usage evaluation

Abstract

Embodiment of the invention extend to a device (which may be considered an asset which is purchased or which provides a service which may be purchased) which can be controlled through the use of a mobile communications device such as a cellular phone. The cellular phone is connected to a transaction processing system which allows the user to pay for the use of the device. The transaction processing system communicates with the device to allow usage of the device only if the user has successfully paid for such use. A further embodiment of the invention relates to collecting usage information of the device and collating this information at a location remote from the device.

Claims

1. A method of configuring an asset for use, the method comprising:

in response to receipt of a deposit, providing a user with possession of the asset, the deposit being less than a capital cost of the asset;

by a transaction processing system that is remote from the asset, charging an amount for a determined amount of time in which the asset is switched on, wherein the amount charged includes a portion allocated to the capital cost of the asset;

receiving a funds transfer for payment of the amount charged, wherein the funds transfer is received by the transaction processing system remotely from the asset via wireless communication with a mobile communications apparatus that is separate from the asset;

in response to successful processing of a payment for the amount charged by the transaction processing system, sending an electronic message to the asset by wireless communication from a remote location which causes a processor in the asset to activate an internal switch in the asset so that the internal switch is on, thereby providing a circuit path with electrical power when the asset is switched on for the determined amount of time, and if processing of the payment is not successful or if the asset has been switched on for the determined amount of time, deactivating the internal switch in the asset so that the internal switch is off and the asset cannot be switched on, and wherein the internal switch is coupled to the processor so that the processor determines whether the asset can be switched on even if the user has otherwise attempted to activate the asset;

repeating the steps of charging an amount for a determined amount of time, receiving a funds transfer for payment of the amount charged, and activating the internal switch in the asset so that the asset can be switched on, until the capital cost of the asset has been paid; and

after successful processing of payments by the transaction processing system such that the capital cost of the asset has been paid, sending an electronic message to the asset by wireless communication from a remote location which causes the processor in the asset to activate the internal switch in the asset so that the internal switch is on and enables the asset to be switched on without further charges for the capital cost.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile communications apparatus is a mobile phone.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transaction processing system comprises a processing unit that is remote from the asset and which processes the funds transfer through communication with the mobile communications apparatus.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the processing unit of the transaction processing system wirelessly sends the electronic message to the asset which enables the asset to be switched on for the determined amount of time.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, once the capital cost of the asset has been paid, wirelessly sending an electronic message to the asset which enables the asset to be switched on for a payment amount that is less than the amount previously charged that included a portion allocated to the capital cost.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising wirelessly sending the electronic message to the asset which enables the asset to be switched on without further payments once the capital cost of the asset is paid off.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising wirelessly sending the electronic message to the asset which enables the asset to be switched on for the determined amount of time independent of whether the asset is connected to a mains electrical supply.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the asset is powered by a renewable energy source that is independent of the mains electrical supply.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

in response to the asset receiving an input from the user indicating a desire to use the asset, receiving a request from the asset to enable the asset to be switched on, and sending from the transaction processing system the electronic message to the asset that causes the internal switch to be on which enables the asset to be switched on for the determined amount of time.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the input received by the asset is received from a user that is local to the asset.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the asset has an operational state that is one of a functional state or a non-functional state, and wherein the asset is able to be switched on during a time in which the asset is in the functional state.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising, in response to unsuccessful processing of a payment, causing the internal switch in the asset to be off thus causing the asset to be in the non-functional state.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising monitoring use of the asset and collecting usage information pertaining to use of the asset.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising transmitting the usage information to a computing device remote from the asset.

15. The method according to claim 13, further comprising calculating an amount of carbon offset based on the usage information.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising monitoring a timer that measures time of use of the asset in which the asset is switched on and deactivating the internal switch when the determined amount of time has elapsed.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the asset includes an activation switch separate from the internal switch in the asset that enables the asset to be switched on, and wherein activation of the activation switch initiates said charging an amount for a determined amount of time in which the asset is switched on.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein successful processing of a payment for the amount charged includes processing a payment using credit that additionally is usable to pay for use of the mobile communications apparatus.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the asset includes an activation switch separate from the internal switch, and wherein the asset is able to be switched on only when the internal switch is on and the activation switch is activated.