Embedded Microcontroller for Appliance Payment Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for managing user devices remotely and facilitating timely payments are complex and costly, often requiring multiple hardware units and device-specific communication capabilities, making them difficult to deploy and manage efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A remote device management system that embeds a hardware subsystem, such as a microcontroller, in appliances to control usage based on payment status, using a mobile phone or internet-capable device to communicate with the subsystem via USB or mobile data networks, allowing third-party infrastructure to manage access and activation/deactivation of devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple hardware units are required to be connected to the device for controlling and managing usage, then payment tracking capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the control unit and payment management unit into a single integrated hardware subsystem embedded within the appliance. This merging eliminates the need for multiple separate hardware units while maintaining both control and payment tracking capabilities, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The embedded hardware subsystem performs multiple functions including device control, payment tracking, and communication through a single integrated unit. This multi-functionality approach allows the system to maintain comprehensive payment tracking capability without requiring additional specialized hardware, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If mobile communication capability is added to the device for electronic payment verification, then payment management is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication approach where the embedded hardware subsystem communicates with external payment networks through standardized interfaces (USB or mobile data networks) rather than requiring the device itself to have direct mobile communication capability. This intermediary layer enables payment verification while minimizing the communication requirements of the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The hardware subsystem is designed to work with various communication methods (USB connection or mobile data network) through a unified interface, making the system adaptable to different communication environments without requiring the device to have specific communication hardware, thereby reducing device complexity.
3Reliability
If device-specific communication capabilities are required, then communication reliability is improved, but ease of manufacture and deployment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The embedded hardware subsystem is designed with universal communication capabilities that can operate through multiple standard interfaces (USB or mobile data networks). This universality allows the same hardware design to be deployed across different device types and communication environments without requiring device-specific customization, thereby improving ease of manufacture and deployment while maintaining communication reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments described herein include methods and systems for remotely managing appliances, including enabling communication between a user of the appliance and third party systems. The third party systems can include any entity that has a relationship with the user of the appliance, such as a payment infrastructure handling incremental payments for the appliance, and managing access to the appliance accordingly. In some embodiments, the appliance being controlled is a mobile phone that also includes third party operating system software. Various methods for preventing alteration or replacement of the third party operating system are also described.