AUTHENTICATION, AUTHORIZATION, AND/OR ACCOUNTING OF POWER-CONSUMING DEVICES

• US 20170063126A1
• Filed: 08/31/2015
• Published: 03/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Haebler, Marcus, Frederick, Chad
• Granted Patent: US 9,804,210 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00032 characterised by data exchange
• 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: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries

Abstract

Systems and methods for authenticating, authorizing, and/or accounting for a power-consuming device to access a power source are described. A power access controller may manage the power source and authenticate and/or authorize the power-consuming device to access the power source based on, for example, a power profile of the power-consuming device. The power profile may indicate categories of devices that the power-consuming device belongs in, the manufacturer of the power-consuming device, and/or the device'"'"'s expected power consumption. Accounting of the power consumed by the power-consuming device may also be performed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device and from a power-consuming device, a power profile indicating an expected power consumption of the power-consuming device;

determining, by the computing device, whether the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device exceeds a threshold power consumption; and

in response to determining that the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device does not exceed the threshold power consumption, granting the power-consuming device access to a power source.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the expected power consumption comprises at least one of a rated power consumption and a historical power consumption of the power-consuming device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises at least one of a power outlet and a charger, and wherein the receiving the power profile is performed in response to the power-consuming device being connected to the at least one of the power outlet and the charger.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the power profile indicates a manufacturer of the power-consuming device, the method further comprising:

determining whether devices manufactured by the manufacturer of the power-consuming device are authorized to access the power source,

wherein granting the power-consuming device access to the power source is performed in response to determining that the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device does not exceed the threshold power consumption and in response to determining that devices manufactured by the manufacturer of the power-consuming device are authorized to access the power source.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the power profile indicates a category of the power-consuming device, the method further comprising:

determining whether devices categorized in the category of the power-consuming device are authorized to access the power source,

wherein granting the power-consuming device access to the power source is performed in response to determining that the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device does not exceed the threshold power consumption and in response to determining that devices categorized in the category of the power-consuming device are authorized to access the power source.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, based on the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device, whether a circuit of the power source would be overloaded if the power-consuming device is granted access to the power source,

wherein granting the power-consuming device access to the power source is performed in response to determining that the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device does not exceed the threshold power consumption and in response to determining that the circuit of the power source would not be overloaded if the power-consuming device is granted access to the power source.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after the granting the power-consuming device access to the power source and in response to determining that a power consumption of the power-consuming device exceeds the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device by a second threshold power consumption, denying the power-consuming device access to the power source.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

authenticating the power-consuming device,

wherein granting the power-consuming device access to the power source is performed in response to determining that the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device does not exceed the threshold power consumption and in response to authenticating the power-consuming device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

prior to authenticating the power-consuming device, providing a pulse to the power-consuming device, wherein the pulse is configured to initiate the authenticating.

10. A method comprising:

sending, by a power-consuming device and to a computing device, a power profile indicating an expected power consumption of the power-consuming device; and

in response to receiving an indication from the computing device that the power-consuming device has been granted access to a power source based on the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device, accessing, by the power-consuming device, the power source.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the expected power consumption comprises at least one of a rated power consumption and a historical power consumption of the power-consuming device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the computing device comprises at least one of a power outlet and a charger, and wherein the sending the power profile is performed in response to the power-consuming device being connected to the at least one of the power outlet and the charger.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the power profile indicates a manufacturer of the power-consuming device, and wherein the accessing the power source is performed in response to receiving the indication from the computing device that the power-consuming device has been granted access to the power source based on the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device and based on a determination that devices manufactured by the manufacturer of the power-consuming device are authorized to access the power source.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the power profile indicates a category of the power-consuming device, and wherein the accessing the power source is performed in response to receiving the indication from the computing device that the power-consuming device has been granted access to the power source based on the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device and based on a determination that devices categorized in the category of the power-consuming device are authorized to access the power source.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the accessing the power source is performed in response to receiving the indication from the computing device that the power-consuming device has been granted access to the power source based on the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device and based on a determination that a circuit of the power source would not be overloaded if the power-consuming device is granted access to the power source.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

after the power-consuming device accesses the power source, sending, by the power-consuming device and to the computing device, a present power consumption of the power-consuming device; and

receiving an indication from the computing device that the power-consuming device has been denied access to the power source based on a determination that the present power consumption of the power-consuming device exceeds the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device by a second threshold power consumption.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

in response to the power-consuming device receiving a pulse from the computing device, initiating, by the power-consuming device, an authentication session.

18. A power-consuming device comprising:

a processor;

a power supply; and

memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the power-consuming device to;

receive a charge pulse from a power access controller;

charge the power supply of the power-consuming device using the charge pulse; and

use the charged power supply to authenticate or to authorize the power-consuming device to access a power source managed by the power access controller.

19. The power-consuming device of claim 18, wherein the memory stores additional computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the power-consuming device to:

responsive to receiving a message indicating that the power-consuming device is authenticated or authorized to access the power source, access the power supply.

20. The power-consuming device of claim 18, wherein the memory stores additional computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the power-consuming device to:

send, to the power access controller, a message indicating that a charge level of the power supply of the power-consuming device is below a threshold charge level; and

receive a second charge pulse from the power access controller.