Control unit that manages the usage of electrical devices
US7499832B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 12, 2007 |
| Grant date | Mar 3, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 26, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H83/06
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A control unit is disclosed for controlling the usage of an electrical device, such as a television. The control unit maintains a plurality of time accounts for a plurality of users. The control unit, responsive to receiving a request to operate the electrical device from a user, identifies a time account for the user and begins decrementing time from the time account for the user when the electrical device is turned on. The control unit decrements time from the time account based on one or more desired algorithms. The algorithms as disclosed herein cause the control unit to continue decrementing time from the time account of the user even after the electrical device is shut off.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.