Authentication, authorization, and/or accounting of power-consuming devices

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device and from a power-consuming device, a power profile indicating an expected power consumption of the power-consuming device;

determining, by the computing device, whether the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device exceeds a threshold power consumption; and

in response to determining that the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device does not exceed the threshold power consumption, granting the power-consuming device access to a power source.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the expected power consumption comprises at least one of a rated power consumption and a historical power consumption of the power-consuming device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises at least one of a power outlet and a charger, and wherein the receiving the power profile is performed in response to the power-consuming device being connected to the at least one of the power outlet and the charger.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the power profile indicates a manufacturer of the power-consuming device, the method further comprising:

determining whether devices manufactured by the manufacturer of the power-consuming device are authorized to access the power source,

wherein the granting the power-consuming device access to the power source is performed in response to determining that the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device does not exceed the threshold power consumption and in response to determining that devices manufactured by the manufacturer of the power-consuming device are authorized to access the power source.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the power profile indicates a category of the power-consuming device, the method further comprising:

determining whether devices categorized in the category of the power-consuming device are authorized to access the power source,

wherein the granting the power-consuming device access to the power source is performed in response to determining that the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device does not exceed the threshold power consumption and in response to determining that devices categorized in the category of the power-consuming device are authorized to access the power source.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, based on the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device, whether a circuit of the power source would be overloaded if the power-consuming device is granted access to the power source,

wherein the granting the power-consuming device access to the power source is performed in response to determining that the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device does not exceed the threshold power consumption and in response to determining that the circuit of the power source would not be overloaded if the power-consuming device is granted access to the power source.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

after the granting the power-consuming device access to the power source and in response to determining that a power consumption of the power-consuming device exceeds the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device by a second threshold power consumption, denying the power-consuming device access to the power source.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

authenticating the power-consuming device,

wherein the granting the power-consuming device access to the power source is performed in response to determining that the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device does not exceed the threshold power consumption and in response to authenticating the power-consuming device.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

prior to the authenticating the power-consuming device, providing a pulse to the power-consuming device, wherein the pulse is configured to initiate the authenticating.

10. A method comprising:

sending, by a power-consuming device and to a computing device, a power profile indicating an expected power consumption of the power-consuming device; and

in response to receiving an indication from the computing device that the power-consuming device has been granted access to a power source based on the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device, accessing, by the power-consuming device, the power source.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the expected power consumption comprises at least one of a rated power consumption and a historical power consumption of the power-consuming device.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the computing device comprises at least one of a power outlet and a charger, and wherein the sending the power profile is performed in response to the power-consuming device being connected to the at least one of the power outlet and the charger.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the power profile indicates a manufacturer of the power-consuming device, and wherein the accessing the power source is performed in response to receiving the indication from the computing device that the power-consuming device has been granted access to the power source based on the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device and based on a determination that devices manufactured by the manufacturer of the power-consuming device are authorized to access the power source.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the power profile indicates a category of the power-consuming device, and wherein the accessing the power source is performed in response to receiving the indication from the computing device that the power-consuming device has been granted access to the power source based on the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device and based on a determination that devices categorized in the category of the power-consuming device are authorized to access the power source.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the accessing the power source is performed in response to receiving the indication from the computing device that the power-consuming device has been granted access to the power source based on the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device and based on a determination that a circuit of the power source would not be overloaded if the power-consuming device is granted access to the power source.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

after the power-consuming device accesses the power source, sending, by the power-consuming device and to the computing device, a present power consumption of the power-consuming device; and

receiving an indication from the computing device that the power-consuming device has been denied access to the power source based on a determination that the present power consumption of the power-consuming device exceeds the expected power consumption of the power-consuming device by a second threshold power consumption.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

in response to the power-consuming device receiving a pulse from the computing device, initiating, by the power-consuming device, an authentication session.

18. A power-consuming device comprising:

a processor;

a power supply; and

memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the power-consuming device to:

receive a charge pulse from a power access controller;

charge the power supply of the power-consuming device using the charge pulse; and

use the charged power supply to authenticate or to authorize the power-consuming device to access a power source managed by the power access controller.

19. The power-consuming device of claim 18 , wherein the memory stores additional computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the power-consuming device to:

responsive to receiving a message indicating that the power-consuming device is authenticated or authorized to access the power source, access the power supply.

20. The power-consuming device of claim 18 , wherein the memory stores additional computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the power-consuming device to:

send, to the power access controller, a message indicating that a charge level of the power supply of the power-consuming device is below a threshold charge level; and

receive a second charge pulse from the power access controller.