Systems and methods for activation and deactivation of appliances

Abstract

An autonomously powered system comprising a data receiving device and charge controller is provided. The receiving device receives a code comprising an amount, system serial number, and series number. The controller is in electrical communication with an appliance that provides electricity. The controller evaluates appliance usage against a threshold amount. The threshold amount defines an amount that the appliance can be in an enabled state before being disabled, either as a period of time during which the appliance is enabled, an amount of time the appliance is usable in the enabled state, or an amount of power that is used by the appliance before being disabled. Responsive to determining that appliance usage is less than the threshold, the appliance is enabled. Responsive to determining that appliance usage exceeds the threshold, the appliance is disabled. Responsive to determining that the code is valid, the threshold is adjusted responsive to the code.

It is claimed: 
     
         1 . An autonomously powered system comprising:
 a data receiving device configured to receive a code that comprises an amount, a serial number of the autonomously powered system, and a series number; and   a charge controller in electrical communication with a first appliance, wherein the first appliance provides electricity, the charge controller executing the method of:   evaluating the usage of the first appliance against a threshold permitted amount, wherein the threshold permitted amount determines an amount that the first appliance can be in an enabled state before the first appliance is placed in a disabled state, and wherein the threshold amount is (i) a period of time during which the first appliance is to be in the enabled state, (ii) an amount of time the first appliance is usable in the enabled state, or (iii) an amount of power that may be used by the first appliance before being placed in the disabled state,   in response to a determination that the usage of the first appliance is less than the threshold permitted amount, placing the first appliance in the enabled state,   in response to a determination that the usage of the first appliance exceeds the threshold permitted amount, placing the first appliance in the disabled state, and   in response to a determination that the code is a valid code, adjusting the threshold permitted amount so that the amount that the first appliance can be in the enabled state is altered by an amount specified by the code, wherein the determination that the code is a valid code comprises checking the series number in the code against a series number stored by the charge controller and verifying the serial number in the code against a serial number of the autonomously powered system.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first appliance powers a television and wherein the disabled state of the first appliance disables viewing of all but one television channel on the television. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first appliance powers a light appliance having a plurality of brightness settings and wherein the disabled state of the first appliance permits operation of the light at only a single brightness setting in the plurality of brightness settings. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first appliance powers a fan having a plurality of speed settings and wherein the disabled state of the first appliance permits operation of the fan at only a single speed setting in the plurality of speed settings. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the code extends the amount of time that the first appliance is operable in the enabled state. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the code is encrypted. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the code includes a digital signature created using a public key infrastructure, or via a shared secret key. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the code is associated with a rent-to-own plan. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the code is associated with a continuous rental plan. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the usage is determined by (i) a passage of time of possession of the first appliance by a user irrespective of an amount of active use of the first appliance, or (ii) an amount of time that the first appliance is in active use. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first appliance is completely disconnected from a power source when in the disabled state. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first appliance is powered by a solar panel, a wind turbine, or an energy capture-device. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the data receiving device receives the code wirelessly. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first appliance powers a plurality of appliances and each respective appliance in the plurality of appliance is regulated between an enabled state and a disabled state by the charge controller in response to one or more codes received by the data receiving device. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the charge controller comprises a master processor and wherein an appliance powered by the first appliance includes a slave processor responsive to instructions from the master processor to regulate between the enabled state and the disabled state responsive to the code. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the data receiving device comprises a keypad configured to receive the code that is manually inputted by a user. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises one or more appliances that are electrically connected to the first appliance. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the code unlocks the first appliance so that the first appliance is permanently operable in the enabled state. 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 at a computing device having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors:
 receiving an indication of payment for usage of a first appliance in a plurality of appliances; 
 crediting the payment for usage of the first appliance within a first code for the first appliance wherein, responsive to the payment, the first code represents an amount that the first appliance is authorized to be used, wherein the first code further comprises (i) a serial number of the first appliance and (ii) a series number that prevents reuse of the first code, and wherein the amount that the first appliance is authorized to be used is (a) a period of time during which the first appliance is to be in an enabled state, (b) an amount of time the first appliance is usable in the enabled state, or (c) an amount of power that may be used by the first appliance before being placed in a disabled state; and 
 wirelessly communicating the first code to the first appliance thereby permitting usage of the first appliance by the amount indicated by the first code. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the computing device tracks usage of the plurality of appliances by sending one or more codes to each appliance in the plurality of appliances. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first code is encrypted. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first code is signed with a digital signature. 
     
     
         23 . A computing system, comprising:
 one or more processors;   memory storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors;   the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
 receiving an indication of payment for usage of a first appliance in a plurality of appliances; 
 crediting the payment for usage of the first appliance within a first code for the first appliance wherein, responsive to the payment, the first code represents an amount that the first appliance is authorized to be used, wherein the first code further comprises (i) a serial number of the first appliance and (ii) a series number that prevents reuse of the first code, and wherein the amount that the first appliance is authorized to be used is (a) a period of time during which the first appliance is to be in an enabled state, (b) an amount of time the first appliance is usable in the enabled state, or (c) an amount of power that may be used by the first appliance before being placed in a disabled state; and 
 wirelessly communicating the first code to the first appliance thereby permitting usage of the first appliance by the amount indicated by the first code. 
   
     
     
         24 . The computing system of  claim 23 , wherein the one or more programs track usage of the plurality of appliances by sending one or more codes to each device in the plurality of appliances. 
     
     
         25 . The computing system of  claim 23 , wherein the first code is encrypted. 
     
     
         26 . The computing system of  claim 23 , wherein the first code is signed with a digital signature.