Point of play terminal

• US 7,162,378 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2005
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blackbird Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: J & E Hynds LLC
• Inventors: Hynds, John P., Antilla, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui; Bryan
• Application Number:
  US11/078,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20060003619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 702/60, 702/62, 702/122, 702/186, 439/188, 439/131, 439/842, 439/95, 439/517, 361/631, 361/643, 361/668, 361/669
• US Class Current: 702/60
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6397 with means for preventing unauthorised use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors

Abstract

A point of play terminal includes a lockable outlet strip having one or more power sockets and an source of electric power, wherein the sockets can be selectively enabled with power, a computing device in electronic communication with said strip, wherein the computing device selectively enables power to individual sockets, and an access terminal in electronic communication with said computing device. A computer software driven process for allocating duration of allowed power use for individual power sockets based on identification data. An apparatus for allocating duration of allowed power use for individual power sockets based on identification data. An article including: a storage medium, the storage medium having instructions stored thereon for allocating duration of allowed power use for individual power sockets based on identification data, one or more enclosing walls, and a locking bar. A lockable electrical strip includes a power outlet strip base with a plurality of electrical outlet sockets on the top of said base, one or more locking rings, one or more enclosing walls, and a locking piece.

Claims

1. A point of play terminal, comprising:

a lockable outlet strip connectable to a source of electrical power having one or more electrical sockets which can be selectively energized by switching means;

a computer in electronic communication with said switching means, wherein the state of said switch means is controlled by said computer, said computer comprising a microprocessor, a computer readable medium encoded with software comprising a set of instructions and parameters, and input means for modifying said instructions or parameters.

2. A process for allocating duration of allowed power use for individual power sockets based on identification data in a computer readable medium encoded with a set of instructions, comprising the steps of:

receiving identification data from a user;

comparing the identification data with a user account database to determine amount of power usage allowed to the user;

determining whether the user is allowed power usage;

if the user is allowed power usage, performing the steps of;

allowing the user to choose one or more power outlet sockets to power,

monitoring the length in time of the power usage by the user,

storing the elapsed time of power usage in the user account database; and

incrementing the elapsed session time to the total elapsed time for the user in the power usage database; and

declining further power usage when the aggregate lapsed time reaches certain predefined parameters.

3. The process of claim 2, further comprising the step of resetting user specific power usage parameters.

4. An apparatus for allocating duration of allowed power use for individual power sockets based on identification data, comprising:

a computer;

means loaded on said computer for receiving identification data from a user;

means loaded on said computer for comparing the identification data with a user account database to determine amount of power usage allowed to the user;

means loaded on said computer for determining whether the user is allowed power usage;

if the user is allowed power usage, means loaded on said computer for performing the steps of;

allowing the user to choose one or more power outlet sockets to power;

monitoring the length in time of the power usage by the user;

storing the elapsed time of power usage in the user account database; and

incrementing the elapsed session time to the total elapsed time for the user in the power usage database; and

means loaded on said computer for declining further power usage when the aggregate lapsed time reaches certain predefined parameters.

5. A data processing system loaded with a set of instructions for receiving identification data from a user, comparing the identification data with a user account database to determine amount of power usage allowed to the user, determining whether the user is allowed power usage, it the user is allowed power usage, then allowing the user to choose one or more power outlet sockets to power, monitoring the length in time of the power usage by the user, storing the elapsed time of power usage in the user account database, incrementing the elapsed session time to the total elapsed time for the user in the power usage database, declining further power usage when the aggregate lapsed time reaches certain predefined parameters, comprising;

a computer;

a set of instructions loaded on said computer, said instructions comprising;

instructions for receiving identification data from a user;

instructions for comparing the identification data with a user account database to determine amount of power usage allowed to the user;

instructions for determining whether the user is allowed power usage;

if the user is allowed power usage, instructions for performing the steps of;

allowing the user to select power outlet sockets to power;

monitoring the length in time of the power usage by user;

storing the elapsed time of power usage in the user account database; and

incrementing the elapsed session time to the total elapsed time for the user in the power usage database; and

instructions for declining further power usage when the aggregate lapsed time reaches certain predefined parameters; and

a lockable power outlet ship having one or more power sockets in electronic communication with said computer; and

an access terminal in electronic communication with said computer.

6. A point of play terminal, comprising:

a storage medium, the storage medium having instructions stored thereon, wherein when the instructions are executed, they result in;

receiving identification data from a user;

comparing the identification data with a user account database to determine amount of power usage allowed to the user;

determining whether the user is allowed power usage;

if the user is allowed power usage, performing the steps of;

allowing the user to select power outlet sockets to power;

monitoring the length in time of the power usage by the user;

storing the elapsed time of power usage in the user account database; and

incrementing the elapsed session time to the total elapsed time for the user in the power usage database; and

declining further power usage when the aggregate lapsed time reaches certain predefined parameters.