Remote Power Switching for Credit-Purchased Electrical Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumers often fail to pay off outstanding balances on credit-purchased products, making it difficult for providers to recover these products, necessitating a method to remotely control power supply to such items.
Innovation Solution
A power control apparatus is installed between a power source and an electrical device, capable of receiving remote power switching messages to either terminate or resume electricity flow based on customer payment status, utilizing a communication interface, memory, and processor to manage power distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If providers purchase expensive products on credit, then consumers can access products immediately, but providers cannot easily recover products when payments are not made
Solution Approach 1:
A power control device is introduced as an intermediary component between the power source and the electrical subsystem. This mediator can remotely control power delivery based on payment status, enabling providers to terminate product operation without physically recovering the product. The intermediary resolves the contradiction by providing a non-invasive method to enforce payment compliance while maintaining product accessibility.
2Productivity
If providers install power control devices to remotely manage power supply, then product recovery efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power control device performs multiple functions: it controls power delivery, communicates payment status, and enables remote termination of product operation. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional device, the system achieves high recovery efficiency without proportionally increasing complexity. The universal device replaces what would otherwise require separate components for power management, communication, and control.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for controlling a supply of power to an electrical device. The apparatus comprises an electrical flow path configured to be disposed between a source of electricity and an electrical subsystem of the electrical device. The electrical flow path can be configured to selectively provide a flow electricity from the source to the electrical subsystem based on a power switching message originating from a location remote from the electrical device. The apparatus further comprises a communication interface configured to receive the power switching message, memory for storing instructions, and a processor connected to the memory and the communication interface. The processor can be configured to the memory and the communication interface, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to control the flow of electricity through the electrical path based on the power switching message.