A network of collection, charging and/or distribution machines collect, charge and/or distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). In some embodiments, if the user selects to change their current portable electrical power storage device exchange plan to a two-portable electrical power storage device exchange plan while exchanging their current portable electrical power storage device, the user will return their current portable electrical power storage device and will receive two portable electrical power storage devices in exchange at the collection, charging and distribution machine. The user may also be required to pay additional fees and/or commit to additional obligations while at the collection, charging and distribution machine in order to change to the different portable electrical power storage device exchange plan.

The present invention relates to a smartphone battery wireless charging system and application. The wireless charging application enables customers to purchase battery charge by paying a fee. The requested battery charge is provided wirelessly over-the-air using Wi-Fi by wireless charging base stations or using IoT devices and more. A server determines the battery capacity of the battery of a smartphone and based on the battery charge purchase request, battery charge is transmitted to the smartphone in the form of waves which are received by the smartphone and is converted into electric charge to recharge the battery. A user can pay a fee to receive, for example, 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% battery charge. The charging of the phone is provided without an external connector thereby enabling individuals to use their phone for extended periods of time without running out of battery charge.

A controller of a transaction card may cause the transaction card to be in a first state. The transaction card may include a battery and at least one other component. In the first state, the battery does not provide power to the at least one other component of the transaction card. The transaction card may receive a signal from a near-field communication (NFC) device and may cause the transaction card to be in a second state based on receiving the signal. In the second state, the battery provides power to the at least one other component of the transaction card. The transaction card may perform a transaction based on the transaction card being in the second state.

A controller of a transaction card may cause the transaction card to be in a first state. The transaction card may include a battery and at least one other component. In the first state, the battery does not provide power to the at least one other component of the transaction card. The transaction card may receive a signal from a near-field communication (NFC) device and may cause the transaction card to be in a second state based on receiving the signal. In the second state, the battery provides power to the at least one other component of the transaction card. The transaction card may perform a transaction based on the transaction card being in the second state.

A contactless card with power harvesting unit is described. The power harvesting unit is configured to harvest power from near field communication radio wave fields and supply power to a memory, processor, and communication circuit of the contactless card. In some embodiments, the contactless card may also include a capacitor for smoothing out power deliver or a rechargeable battery. The contactless card is configured to establish two-way communication with a secondary device and to store and execute applets. In some embodiments, the contactless card is a payment card which contains information associated with a primary profile and a secondary profile. The secondary profile may be activated using two-way communication if the primary profile is deactivated due to fraudulent activity.

A power tool battery charging station (1) in the form of a mobile pod. The station/pod (1) includes a housing (2) and a plurality of compartments (3). Each compartment (3) has a lockable door (4), and a cutout (5) through which an electrical cord may be provided. Ventilation cutouts (7) may additionally be provided in the housing (2). The housing (2) incorporates a plurality of electrical outlets (6), each adapted to receive a plug of a respective power tool battery. The housing (2) additionally incorporates a circuit breaker operatively connected to the electrical outlets (6).

An in-store customer transaction can be detected. Power charging credits can be assigned to the customer based, at least in part, on the in-store customer transaction. A charging station can be activated for the customer. Whether an amount of energy consumption by at least one user device of the customer from the charging station has reached a threshold value can be determined. The threshold value can be based, at least in part, on the charging credits assigned to the customer. Responsive to determining that the energy consumption by the at least one user device of the customer from the charging station has reached the threshold value, the charging station can cease or reduce power being delivered by the charging station to the at least one user device of the user.

An in-store customer transaction can be detected. Power charging credits can be assigned to the customer based, at least in part, on the in-store customer transaction. A charging station can be activated for the customer. Whether an amount of energy consumption by at least one user device of the customer from the charging station has reached a threshold value can be determined. The threshold value can be based, at least in part, on the charging credits assigned to the customer. Responsive to determining that the energy consumption by the at least one user device of the customer from the charging station has reached the threshold value, the charging station can cease or reduce power being delivered by the charging station to the at least one user device of the user.

Systems, devices and methods for managing a preferred energy supply chain are provided. A system including a specialized hardware- and software-based control system with access to a network including one or more distributed ledger(s) authorizes one or more energy distribution entity(ies) to reserve future right(s) to preferred energy for distribution to customers using new forms of promissory tokens (e.g., reserved preferred energy tokens). The system includes a secure metering device with a crypto-processor, holding an asymmetric cryptography key pair associated with preferred energy production hardware. The device is physically attached or integrated with the production hardware, and exclusively holds a unique private key of the asymmetric cryptography key pair, while publishing only the public key of the key pair through the network. The system authenticates production of, and transactions in, clean energy using new forms of smart contracts between buyers and sellers, with the aid of a governance body.

A method of controlling a switch to selectively provide electrical power to an appliance, the method including, in one or more electronic processing devices: (a) providing a service token to a user device, the service token being indicative of one or more pre-selected payment options associated with providing power to the appliance, the user device being responsive to the service token to: (i) provide the service token to a payment system via a communications network; (ii) receive from the payment system an indication of the payment options associated with the service token; (iii) provide payment information to the payment system in accordance with a payment option selected by the user; and (iv) receive a payment token from the payment system in response to successful payment using the provided payment information; (b) receiving the payment token from the user device; and, (c) using the payment token to control the switch.