Transaction processing and remote activation
First Claim
1. A device having a functionality, the device comprising:
- a control unit having a processor;
circuitry providing the functionality of the device;
a power supply that is independent of a mains power supply;
an internal switch coupled between the power supply and the circuitry providing the functionality of the device, wherein the internal switch is controlled by the processor of the control unit;
an external switch that is controlled by a user of the device; and
a wireless communications interface communicatively coupled to the control unit,wherein the processor is configured to receive a message from a remote transaction processing system via the wireless communications interface, the message conveying information representing an outcome of a transaction processed by the remote transaction processing system via communication with a mobile communications apparatus separate from the device,wherein the device has multiple operational states including a functional operational state and a non-functional operational state, and the control unit is configured to set the operational state of the device based on the information conveyed by the message received from the remote transaction processing system,wherein when the control unit sets the device in the functional operational state, the processor activates the internal switch such that the power supply supplies power to the circuitry providing the functionality and the device provides the functionality in response to user activation of the external switch, and when the control unit sets the device in the non-functional operational state, the processor deactivates the internal switch such that the power supply is not able to supply power to the circuitry for providing the functionality and the device is unable to provide the functionality regardless of user activation of the external switch.
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Abstract
A device is communicatively connected to a remote transaction processing system. In at least one embodiment, the device comprises a dedicated power supply that is independent of a mains power supply, and has an operational state that is set according to an outcome of a transaction processed by the remote transaction processing system. The remote transaction processing system processes the transaction via communication with a separate mobile communications device. In another embodiment, a system comprises a device having a primary function other than facilitating communication, an interface for operating the device, and a transaction processing system that is remote from the device. The device, the interface, and the transaction processing system communicate wirelessly. The transaction processing system is configured to process payment transactions for usage of the device, and the outcome of the payment transactions determines whether the device is operational to provide its primary function.
67 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A device having a functionality, the device comprising:
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a control unit having a processor; circuitry providing the functionality of the device; a power supply that is independent of a mains power supply; an internal switch coupled between the power supply and the circuitry providing the functionality of the device, wherein the internal switch is controlled by the processor of the control unit; an external switch that is controlled by a user of the device; and a wireless communications interface communicatively coupled to the control unit, wherein the processor is configured to receive a message from a remote transaction processing system via the wireless communications interface, the message conveying information representing an outcome of a transaction processed by the remote transaction processing system via communication with a mobile communications apparatus separate from the device, wherein the device has multiple operational states including a functional operational state and a non-functional operational state, and the control unit is configured to set the operational state of the device based on the information conveyed by the message received from the remote transaction processing system, wherein when the control unit sets the device in the functional operational state, the processor activates the internal switch such that the power supply supplies power to the circuitry providing the functionality and the device provides the functionality in response to user activation of the external switch, and when the control unit sets the device in the non-functional operational state, the processor deactivates the internal switch such that the power supply is not able to supply power to the circuitry for providing the functionality and the device is unable to provide the functionality regardless of user activation of the external switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 29)
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11. A method of configuring a device having a functionality, the method comprising:
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receiving, by a wireless communications interface of the device, an electronic message conveying information representing an outcome of a transaction that was processed by a remote transaction processing system in communication with a mobile communications apparatus separate from the device; and setting an operational state of the device based on the information conveyed by the received message, wherein the device has multiple operational states including a functional operational state and a non-functional operational state, wherein setting the device in the functional operational state includes activating an internal switch in the device that enables a power supply of the device to supply power to circuitry in the device that provides the functionality and the device is able to provide the functionality in response to user activation of the device, and setting the device in the non-functional operational state includes deactivating the internal switch such that the power supply is not able to supply power to the circuitry that provides the functionality and the device is unable to provide the functionality regardless of user activation of the device, wherein the power supply of the device is independent of a mains power supply and provides power for the functionality of the device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 30)
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21. A system, comprising:
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a device having a functionality, the device including an internal switch that couples a power supply to circuitry in the device that provides the functionality, wherein the device has multiple operational states including a functional operational state and a non-functional operational state such that when the device is set in the functional operational state, the internal switch is activated which enables the power supply to supply power to the circuitry that provides the functionality and the device is able to provide the functionality in response to user activation of the device, and when the device is set in the non-functional operational state, the internal switch is deactivated such that the power supply is not able to supply power to the circuitry that provides the functionality and the device is unable to provide the functionality regardless of user activation of the device; an interface for operating the device; and a transaction processing system that is remote from the device, wherein the device and the transaction processing system communicate wirelessly, wherein the transaction processing system is configured to process payment transactions for use of the device, and wherein the outcome of the payment transactions determines whether the device is set in the non-functional operational state or the functional operational state, the device being set in the functional operational state in response to receipt of a wireless message by the device from the transaction processing system resulting from successful processing of a payment transaction for use of the functionality of the device. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A device, comprising:
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equipment in the device configured to provide a functionality other than two-way communication; a control unit in the device configured to control use of the equipment; and communications circuitry in the device configured for wireless communication, wherein the communications circuitry is communicatively coupled to the control unit; wherein the device is configured to operate in a plurality of operational states including a functional operational state and a non-functional operational state; wherein the control unit is configured to; communicate with a transaction processing system that is remote from the device via the communications circuitry and, in response, receive from the remote transaction processing system an instruction that is based on a state of an account, and based on the received instruction, control whether the device is operating in the functional operational state or in the non-functional operational state; wherein, when the device is operating in the functional operational state, the control unit activates an internal switch in the device that couples a power supply to the equipment which provides power to the equipment and enables the equipment to respond to user activation of the device and provide the functionality for a determined amount of use, and after the functionality of the device has been used for the determined amount of use, the control unit transitions the device to operate in the non-functional operational state in which the internal switch is deactivated which decouples the power supply from the equipment and the equipment does not provide the functionality regardless of user activation of the device; and wherein, when the device is operating in the non-functional operational state, the control unit transitions the device to operate in the functional operational state in response to communication with the remote transaction processing system and receipt of a further instruction based on the state of the account. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification