METERED DELIVERY OF WIRELESS POWER

• US 20120259735A1
• Filed: 06/20/2012
• Published: 10/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips IP Ventures B.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Taylor, Joshua B., Baarman, David W., Mollema, Scott A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,198,892 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/003 for electricity
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• 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

A system is disclosed for charging or billing for access to wireless power. The device requiring power communicates with the power provider and the billing method is determined. A consumer may be required to provide billing information, or if the billing information is already associated with an existing account, the consumer account is automatically charged for the wireless power. The account may include prepaid charging minutes that are debited as wireless power is provided, or the account may be billed for the wireless power that is provided. The charging/billing for the wireless power may be used to receive value for the power that is provided, while remaining consumer friendly.

Claims

1. A method for receiving wireless power at a device comprising:

detecting, automatically, a wireless power source when the device is near the wireless power source;

providing, automatically, identification of the device to the wireless power source when the wireless power source is detected by the device;

receiving a request for a payment for a receipt of the wireless power;

providing an acceptance of the request; and

receiving the wireless power at the device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the identification comprises account information associated with the device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the account information comprises a payment method.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the account information is encrypted.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the acceptance comprises a verification that is transmitted over a network.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein verification comprises a user identification that is transmitted over the Internet.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the user identification comprises a security certificate.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein verification comprises an email message or a text message.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a confirmation of receipt of the wireless power, wherein the confirmation includes an amount of wireless power received; and

adjusting the payment when the amount of the wireless power in the confirmation is different from the wireless power delivered from the wireless power source.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless power receipt is monitored by a second device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein a power owner provides power for the wireless power source and an equipment owner operates the wireless power source.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the power owner receives at least a portion of the payment and the equipment owner receives at least a portion of the payment.

13. A method for receiving billing information and wireless charge at a device comprising:

detecting a wireless power source automatically, wherein the device identifies the wireless power source when within range;

providing identification of the device to the wireless power source;

identifying whether the wireless power source is billed charge or free charge, wherein the device automatically receives the wireless charge when the source is free charge;

receiving a notification of billing for the wireless charge when the source is billed charge;

providing an approval of the billing when the source is billed charge; and

receiving the wireless charge upon approval of the billing when the source is billed charge.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the notification of billing for the wireless charge when the source is billed charge is encrypted.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the approval of the billing is provided upon verification.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein verification comprises a user identification that is transmitted over the Internet.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the wireless charge receipt is monitored by a second device.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein a power owner provides power for the wireless power source and an equipment owner operates the wireless power source.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the power owner receives at least a portion of the payment and the equipment owner receives at least a portion of the payment.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

receiving, upon detection of the wireless power source, a prompt for receiving wireless charging; and

providing a response to the prompt that comprises the approval for receipt of the wireless charge.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the prompt comprises an email message and the response comprises a reply to the email message.

22. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

providing a confirmation of receipt of the wireless charge, wherein the confirmation includes an amount of wireless charge received; and

adjusting the payment when the amount of wireless charge in the confirmation is different from the wireless charge delivered from the wireless power source.