An embodiment of the invention extends to a device (which may be considered an asset that is purchased or which provides a service that may be purchased) that can be controlled through the use of a mobile communications apparatus such as a cellular phone. The cellular phone is connected to a transaction processing system that allows a user to pay for the use of the device. The transaction processing system communicates with the device to allow usage of the device only if the user has successfully paid for such use. A further embodiment of the invention relates to collecting usage information of the device and collating this information at a location remote from the device.

An embodiment of the invention extends to a device (which may be considered an asset that is purchased or which provides a service that may be purchased) that can be controlled through the use of a mobile communications apparatus such as a cellular phone. The cellular phone is connected to a transaction processing system that allows a user to pay for the use of the device. The transaction processing system communicates with the device to allow usage of the device only if the user has successfully paid for such use. A further embodiment of the invention relates to collecting usage information of the device and collating this information at a location remote from the device.

An information processing system comprises a requirement specification acquisition unit for acquiring requirement specification information indicative of a content of a requirement specification relating to a fuel cell; and a fee plan determination unit for determining a fee plan for determining a usage fee of the fuel cell, based on the requirement specification indicated by the requirement specification information. The fee plan may include information indicative of a correspondence between a degree of operation of the fuel cell and the usage fee of the fuel cell.

A recharge method includes: monitoring a balance of a living expense account, wherein the living expense account is an account for obtaining life service resource by paying fees, and the balance is indicative of remaining funds in the living expense account and/or a remaining amount of the life service resource in the living expense account; and recharging the living expense account according to a preset recharge path when the balance is less than or equal to a preset threshold value.

A system for controlling prepaid delivery of utilities includes a utility meter with a cutoff device for enabling or disabling delivery of a utility; and a server connected to the utility meter via a network. The utility meter receives a usage limit from the server, measures usage of the utility by the load, and when the usage limit is exceeded, activates the cutoff device. The utility meter transmits the measured usage to the server at configurable intervals. The server maintains an account balance associated with the load, receives the measured usage from the utility meter, and decrements the account balance based on the measured usage. When the account balance is exhausted, the server sends a command to activate the cutoff device to the utility meter. Otherwise, the server generates a further usage limit based on the account balance, and sends the further usage limit to the utility meter.

A system for controlling prepaid delivery of utilities includes a utility meter with a cutoff device for enabling or disabling delivery of a utility; and a server connected to the utility meter via a network. The utility meter receives a usage limit from the server, measures usage of the utility by the load, and when the usage limit is exceeded, activates the cutoff device. The utility meter transmits the measured usage to the server at configurable intervals. The server maintains an account balance associated with the load, receives the measured usage from the utility meter, and decrements the account balance based on the measured usage. When the account balance is exhausted, the server sends a command to activate the cutoff device to the utility meter. Otherwise, the server generates a further usage limit based on the account balance, and sends the further usage limit to the utility meter.

A vehicle charging control apparatus includes: a unit which presents unit prices of charging power; a unit which issues an instruction for preferentially charging a vehicle for which allowable time is short in proportion to request amount; and a unit which determines whether there is another allowable time which is associated with the request amount and meets a condition that the other allowable time is longer than the allowable time and the unit price associated with the other allowable time is lower than the unit price associated with the request amount and the allowable time. The unit prices are set lower when associated with a longer allowable time and also set lower when associated with a smaller request amount. When the other allowable time meets the condition, the other allowable time and the unit price associated with the other allowable time are presented.

A vehicle charging control apparatus includes: a unit which presents unit prices of charging power; a unit which issues an instruction for preferentially charging a vehicle for which allowable time is short in proportion to request amount; and a unit which determines whether there is another allowable time which is associated with the request amount and meets a condition that the other allowable time is longer than the allowable time and the unit price associated with the other allowable time is lower than the unit price associated with the request amount and the allowable time. The unit prices are set lower when associated with a longer allowable time and also set lower when associated with a smaller request amount. When the other allowable time meets the condition, the other allowable time and the unit price associated with the other allowable time are presented.

A pay-per-use battery charging system for charging portable electronic devices, such as cellular telephones, tablet computers, etc. The charging system may be implemented as a central hub that dispense charging devices, as a standalone device, or may be incorporated into commonly available devices, such as customer order entry stations, ATMs, vending machines, etc., which now also provide the function of charging stations for the convenience of users. The system provides power to portable electronic devices via common USB cables, such that no additional equipment is required by the individual to charge their portable electronic device. The system provides for payment by the user prior to charging their portable electronic device.

A device is communicatively connected to a remote transaction processing system. In at least one embodiment, the device comprises a dedicated power supply that is independent of a mains power supply, and has an operational state that is set according to an outcome of a transaction processed by the remote transaction processing system. The remote transaction processing system processes the transaction via communication with a separate mobile communications device. In another embodiment, a system comprises a device having a primary function other than facilitating communication, an interface for operating the device, and a transaction processing system that is remote from the device. The device, the interface, and the transaction processing system communicate wirelessly. The transaction processing system is configured to process payment transactions for usage of the device, and the outcome of the payment transactions determines whether the device is operational to provide its primary function.