Patent ID: 8489481

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a power unit configured to obtain power from a source that is not connected to a main electrical supply; equipment coupled to the power unit, wherein the equipment is configured to provide a principal functionality of providing power from the power unit to a device, wherein the equipment is operable to provide power to the device without being connected to the main electrical supply; a computing device configured to control the equipment; and a modem configured for wireless communication, wherein the modem is communicatively coupled to the computing device, wherein the apparatus is configured to operate in a plurality of modes including an operational mode and a paid off mode, wherein, when the apparatus is in the operational mode, the computing device is configured to: communicate with a remote computer via the modem and in response, receive from the remote computer an instruction that is based on a state of a financial account in which an amount is owed at least initially for a capital cost of the apparatus and payments made are credited toward the capital cost of the apparatus, and based on the received instruction, control whether the equipment provides the principal functionality, wherein, when the apparatus is in the paid off mode, at least the capital cost of the apparatus is paid off and the equipment provides the principal functionality without being controlled by the computing device based on the state of the financial account, and wherein the apparatus is configured to transition from the operational mode to the paid off mode in response to receipt of a wireless communication from the remote computer resulting from the amount owed in the financial account being paid off.