SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FUEL CARTRIDGE DISTRIBUTION

摘要

The invention relates to systems and methods that improve distribution of fuel cartridges. The cartridges include compatibility information. A controller on the device validates the compatibility information before permitting fuel provision from the cartridge to the device. Invalid compatibility information, or absence of the compatibility information, then denies fuel flow to the device. This permits the device to validate that the cartridge and its contents are acceptable. This improves distribution by allowing the device or fuel cell manufacturer to implement cartridge selectivity by permitting cartridges from select manufacturers to provide fuel and denying cartridge of other manufacturers from providing fuel. Compatibility information stored in the cartridge memory may also be encrypted to prevent open access to the compatibility information. The compatibility information also improves fuel refilling distribution. In this case, the compatibility information permits a cartridge or device manufacturer to selectively control who can refill their cartridges.