In some embodiments, power cable 112 is capable of receiving power for charging a battery and/or otherwise powering device 110 as well as transmitting data from device 110 to an external device such as smart power adapter 116, smart outlet 120, and/or monitoring center 130, and vice versa. Examples of data that can be transmitted through power cable 112 include but are not limited to device identification information, queries for such identification information, acknowledgement messages (ACKs), and negative acknowledgement messages (NACKs).

In some embodiments, smart outlet 120 includes USB connector 124 for receiving USB connector 114 attached to power cable 112 and electrical outlet 122 for receiving smart power adapter 116 attached to power cable. In some embodiments, smart outlet 120 also includes contraband detection components for determining whether device 110 is authorized to receive power from smart outlet 120. In some embodiments, authorization for receiving power includes the step of transmitting the identification information to monitoring center 130 and receiving a contraband response monitoring center 130. In some embodiments, the contraband response indicates whether device 110 is authorized to receive power within the controlled environment. Smart power adapter 116 includes external prongs for connecting to electrical receptacles of smart outlet 120.