Abstract: The invention relates to a charging station (100) for charging mobile electronic devices (404), and an associated server (300), system (400), and method (500). The charging station (100) includes a plurality of lockable enclosures (120), each having an associated charging terminal (222), an input arrangement (124) operable to receive a mobile subscriber identifier, and a communication module (122) operable to communicate with a remote authorisation server (300).
Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling electrical energy supply to one or more peripheral devices. The apparatus includes a first input operable to receive electrical energy from an electrical energy source and a battery operable to store the received electrical energy. The apparatus further includes at least one output operable to supply electrical energy to at least one peripheral device and an energy management controller operable to control the supply of electrical energy to the at least one peripheral device. The apparatus also includes a communications module operable to detect the purchase of prepaid airtime associated with the apparatus, with the energy management controller activating the peripheral device(s) for as long as there is sufficient airtime and deactivating the peripheral device(s) once the airtime has expired.
Abstract: The invention provides a content broadcasting system comprising a communications satellite and a satellite control arrangement for controlling the communications satellite to transmit a satellite broadcast signal. The satellite control arrangement is arranged to control the satellite to transmit the satellite broadcast signal to a first geographical area during a first time interval and to transmit the satellite broadcast signal to a second geographical area during a second time interval. The broadcast signal is not transmitted to the first geographical area during at least the second time interval and the broadcast signal is not transmitted to the second geographical area during at least the first time interval. This enables broadcast content to be provided to a large geographical area, while increasing the radio frequency spectrum efficiency of the system and minimising the continuous power consumption of the satellite required for the broadcast.
Type:
Application
Filed:
December 10, 2009
Publication date:
January 19, 2012
Applicants:
ECONET WIRELESS IP HOLDINGS LIMITED, ASTRIUM LIMITED
Inventors:
Kevin Hodson, Donald Lester, Ian Leslie Cullen