Systems and methods for replenishing fuel-cell-powered portable devices

Abstract

Portable electronic devices such as portable telephones, portable computers and the like may obtain power from fuel cells that consume fuel from fuel stores of the portable devices. A network of refilling stations permits users of portable devices to main the devices operational by frequently topping up the fuel stores. Payment systems combine payments for fuel with larger payments for other transactions to avoid the overhead of processing individual payments for very small amounts.

1 . A method for making available to users of fuel-powered portable devices fuel for the portable devices, the method comprising: 
 entering an agreement with a user to make available to the user fuel for a fuel-cell-powered portable device of the user;    receiving a request for authorization to transfer fuel from one refilling station of a system comprising a plurality of geographically-distributed filling stations to the portable device of the user; and,    authorizing the request.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the agreement specifies a rate for making fuel available to the user that is independent of any amount of fuel transferred to the portable device of the user.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  comprising combining a payment amount for making the fuel available to the user with a payment amount for another service and billing the user for an amount of the combined payment.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  comprising creating a debit associated with the user in a payment amount associated with transferring the fuel from the one refilling station to the portable device of the user.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the fuel comprises hydrogen gas.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the plurality of geographically-distributed filling stations include filling stations located at each of a plurality of retail establishments.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the portable device comprises an identifier and the method comprises transmitting information from the identifier to an authorization system and authorizing the request to replenish the supply of fuel in the portable device comprises generating a response to the request at authorization system.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein the authorization system is constituted at least in part by a billing system of an entity with which a user of the portable device has a contract for services.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8  wherein the contract for services relates to services delivered at least in part by way of the portable device.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein the portable device has a wireless data communication capability and transmitting information from the identifier to the authorization system comprises transmitting the information by way of the wireless data communication capability of the portable device.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 8  comprising receiving the information from the identifier of the portable device at the filling station wherein transmitting information from the identifier to the authorization system comprises transmitting the information by way of a data communication capability of the filling station.  
     
     
         12 . A method for maintaining a fuel-powered portable device in an operational state, the method comprising: 
 during a period of time, carrying the portable device while the device is in an operational state in which it consumes fuel from an internal fuel store and using the portable device;    during the period, transacting commercial transactions at each of several different businesses, each of the businesses having a filling station co-located with the business, the filling station capable of providing fuel to the portable device;    substantially concurrently with transacting each of the commercial transactions, and commencing while the fuel store of the portable device is partially filled, connecting the portable device to a filling station of the business with which the transaction is being made and transferring some fuel into the fuel store of the portable device.    
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein each of the commercial transactions involves making a payment to the business for the commercial transaction and a payment amount for refilling the portable device is processed in a common payment transaction with one or more of the payments for the commercial transactions.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the payment amount for refilling the portable device is much smaller than an amount of the common payment transaction.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein a user of the portable device has pre-existing contract for services and a payment amount for refilling the portable device is processed in a common payment transaction with a payment made under the pre-existing contract.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein the pre-existing contract relates to services other than refilling provided by way of the portable device.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the portable device is selected from the group consisting of: portable telephones, music players, portable computers, personal digital assistants, digital cameras, navigation devices, video camcorders, portable computers, radio receivers, radio transceivers, portable power tools, and combinations of these.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the period has a length in the range of one hour to 48 hours.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein, during the period, the portable device consumes a total amount of fuel greater than a maximum capacity of the fuel store of the portable device.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the businesses include businesses of several different types.  
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the businesses include businesses of at least two different businesses types, the two different business types each selected from the group consisting of: coffee shops; restaurants; newsstands; banks; grocery stores; automobile service stations; repair shops; telephone showrooms; hardware stores; book stores; bakeries; clothing stores; department stores; and stores selling parts for automobiles or other products.  
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein each instance of transferring some fuel into the fuel store of the portable device is performed in 30 seconds or less.  
     
     
         23 . A method for providing services to a fuel cell system connected to a device, wherein the method comprises: 
 forming a customer account on a system;    forming a fuel cell system identifier for a fuel cell system connected to the device on the system;    linking the fuel cell system identifier to the customer account;    disposing a copy of the fuel cell system identifier on the device;    generating an authorization sequence linked to the customer account for providing services by a service station to the fuel cell system;    connecting the fuel cell system to the service station;    generating a request for authorization to provide services from the service station to the system;    generating a verification from the device to the service station confirming that the device can receive services;    transmitting an authorization from the system to the service station, wherein the authorization approves the device for receiving the services; and,    providing the services to the device at the service station based, or a terminating the request for service if the authorization is not received.    
     
     
         24 . A method for replenishing a supply of fuel in a portable device, the method comprising: 
 connecting the portable device to a filling station and permitting the filling station to replenish the supply of fuel in the portable device; and,    before, during or after permitting the filling station to replenish the supply of fuel in the portable device adding a payment amount for replenishing the supply of fuel in the portable device to a payment transaction relating to goods or services other than replenishing the supply of fuel in the portable device;    wherein the payment transaction has an amount substantially greater than the payment amount for replenishing the supply of fuel in the portable device.    
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 24  wherein the filling station is located at a business, the payment transaction relates to a purchase of goods or services from the business and then method comprises processing the payment transaction at the same time as, or within  ½ minute of permitting the filling station to replenish the supply of fuel in the portable device.    
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 24  wherein the filling station is located together with a point of sale terminal in a working area and adding a payment amount for replenishing the supply of fuel in the portable device to the payment transaction comprises making an input into the point of sale terminal.  
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 26  comprising automatically enabling the filling station to transfer fuel to the portable device in response to the input into the point of sale terminal.  
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 26  wherein connecting the portable device to the filling station is performed by a person who also operates the point of sale terminal.  
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 26  wherein the filling station and point of sale terminal are connected by an interface and adding the payment amount for replenishing the supply of fuel in the portable device to the payment transaction is performed automatically in the point of sale terminal in response to a signal transmitted from the refilling station to the point of sale terminal by way of the interface.