Authorization in a networked electric vehicle charging system

• US 10,135,262 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2017
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chargepoint, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Chargepoint, Inc.
• Inventors: Solomon, James, Tormey, Milton, Mandal, Praveen, Lowenthal, Richard, Bhade, Harjinder, Baxter, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Syed, Nabil
• Application Number:
  US15/811,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20180069406A1
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/12 Remote or cooperative charging
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

Networked electric vehicle charging stations for charging electric vehicles are coupled with an electric vehicle charging station network server that performs authorization for charging session requests while the communication connection between the charging stations and the server are operating correctly. When the communication connection is not operating correctly, the networked electric vehicle charging stations enter into a local authorization mode to perform a local authorization process for incoming charging session requests.

Claims

1. A method in a networked electric vehicle charging station that is coupled with an electric vehicle charging station network server, the method comprising:

receiving, from the electric vehicle charging station network server over a network, a first list that includes a first plurality of identifiers that identify a first plurality of electric vehicle operators respectively, wherein the first list is applicable to a first time period of a day;

receiving, from the electric vehicle charging station network server over the network, a second list that includes a second plurality of identifiers that identify a second plurality of electric vehicle operators respectively, wherein the second list is applicable to a second time period of the day, wherein the first time period of the day and the second time period of the day are different;

receiving, during the first time period of the day, a first charging session request that requests a first charging session between a first electric vehicle and the networked electric vehicle charging station, wherein the first charging session request includes a first identifier that identifies a first electric vehicle operator;

responsive to determining that a connection to the electric vehicle charging station network server is not functioning correctly, performing a local authorization for the first charging session request including comparing the first identifier against the first plurality of identifiers on the first list to determine whether to authorize the first charging session, wherein determining to compare the first identifier against the first plurality of identifiers on the first list is a result of the first charging session request being received during the first time period of the day;

receiving a second charging session request that requests a second charging session between a second electric vehicle and the networked electric vehicle charging station, wherein the second charging session request includes a second identifier that identifies a second electric vehicle operator;

responsive to determining that the connection to the electric vehicle charging station network server is functioning properly, performing the following;

transmitting, to the electric vehicle charging station network server, a charging session authorization request that includes the second identifier,

receiving, from the electric vehicle charging station network server over the network, a charging session authorization reply that indicates whether authorize the second charging session, and

determining whether to grant or deny the second charging session based on the charging session authorization reply;

receiving, during the second time period of the day, a third charging session request that requests a third charging session between a third electric vehicle and the networked electric vehicle charging station, wherein the third charging session request includes a third identifier that identifies a third electric vehicle operator; and

responsive to determining that the connection to the electric vehicle charging station network server is not functioning correctly, performing a local authorization for the third charging session request including comparing the third identifier against the second plurality of identifiers on the second list to determine whether to authorize the third charging session, wherein determining to compare the third identifier against the second plurality of identifiers on the second list is a result of the third charging session request being received during the second time period of the day.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first list is a whitelist, and wherein the method further comprises granting the first charging session request responsive to determining that the first identifier is represented on the whitelist.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first list is a blacklist, and wherein the method further comprises denying the first charging session request responsive to determining that the first identifier is represented on the blacklist.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing charging session data in the networked electric vehicle charging station for the first charging session while the connection between the networked electric vehicle charging station and the electric vehicle charging station network server is not functioning correctly; and

transmitting the stored charging session data for the first charging session to the electric vehicle charging station network server responsive to determining that the connection is functioning correctly.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the received first list includes the first plurality of identifiers that identify the first plurality of electric vehicle operators who are authorized to use the electric vehicle charging station during the first time period of the day, and wherein the received second list includes the second plurality of identifiers that identify the second plurality of electric vehicle operators who are authorized to use the electric vehicle charging station during the second time period of the day.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the received first list includes the first plurality of identifiers that identify the first plurality of electric vehicle operators who are not authorized to use the electric vehicle charging station during the first time period of the day, and wherein the received second list includes the second plurality of identifiers that identify the second plurality of electric vehicle operators who are not authorized to use the electric vehicle charging station during the second time period of the day.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the first identifier against the first list includes comparing a portion of the first identifier against the first list to determine whether to grant the first charging session, wherein the portion of the first identifier is common to an organizational section.

8. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium that provides instructions that, if executed by a processor of a networked electric vehicle charging station, will cause said processor to perform operations, comprising:

receiving, from an electric vehicle charging station network server over a network, a first list that includes a first plurality of identifiers that identify a first plurality of electric vehicle operators respectively, wherein the first list is applicable to a first time period of a day;

receiving, from the electric vehicle charging station network server over the network, a second list that includes a second plurality of identifiers that identify a second plurality of electric vehicle operators respectively, wherein the second list is applicable to a second time period of the day, wherein the first time period of the day and the second time period of the day are different;

receiving, during the first time period of the day, a first charging session request that requests a first charging session between a first electric vehicle and the networked electric vehicle charging station, wherein the first charging session request includes a first identifier that identifies a first electric vehicle operator;

responsive to determining that a connection to the electric vehicle charging station network server is not functioning correctly, performing a local authorization for the first charging session request including comparing the first identifier against the first plurality of identifiers on the first list to determine whether to authorize the first charging session, wherein determining to compare the first identifier against the first plurality of identifiers on the first list is a result of the first charging session request being received during the first time period of the day;

receiving a second charging session request that requests a second charging session between a second electric vehicle and the networked electric vehicle charging station, wherein the second charging session request includes a second identifier that identifies a second electric vehicle operator;

responsive to determining that the connection to the electric vehicle charging station network server is functioning properly, performing the following;

transmitting, to the electric vehicle charging station network server, a charging session authorization request that includes the second identifier,

receiving, from the electric vehicle charging station network server over the network, a charging session authorization reply that indicates whether authorize the second charging session, and

determining whether to grant or deny the second charging session based on the charging session authorization reply;

receiving, during the second time period of the day, a third charging session request that requests a third charging session between a third electric vehicle and the networked electric vehicle charging station, wherein the third charging session request includes a third identifier that identifies a third electric vehicle operator; and

responsive to determining that the connection to the electric vehicle charging station network server is not functioning correctly, performing a local authorization for the third charging session request including comparing the third identifier against the second plurality of identifiers on the second list to determine whether to authorize the third charging session, wherein determining to compare the third identifier against the second plurality of identifiers on the second list is a result of the third charging session request being received during the second time period of the day.

9. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first list is a whitelist, and wherein the operations further comprise granting the first charging session request responsive to determining that the first identifier is represented on the whitelist.

10. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first list is a blacklist, and wherein the operations further comprise denying the first charging session request responsive to determining that the first identifier is represented on the blacklist.

11. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

storing charging session data in the networked electric vehicle charging station for the first charging session while the connection between the networked electric vehicle charging station and the electric vehicle charging station network server is not functioning correctly; and

transmitting the stored charging session data for the first charging session to the electric vehicle charging station network server responsive to determining that the connection is functioning correctly.

12. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the received first list includes the first plurality of identifiers that identify the first plurality of electric vehicle operators who are authorized to use the electric vehicle charging station during the first time period of the day, and wherein the received second list includes the second plurality of identifiers that identify the second plurality of electric vehicle operators who are authorized to use the electric vehicle charging station during the second time period of the day.

13. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the received first list includes the first plurality of identifiers that identify the first plurality of electric vehicle operators who are not authorized to use the electric vehicle charging station during the first time period of the day, and wherein the received second list includes the second plurality of identifiers that identify the second plurality of electric vehicle operators who are not authorized to use the electric vehicle charging station during the second time period of the day.

14. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein comparing the first identifier against the first list includes comparing a portion of the first identifier against the first list to determine whether to grant the first charging session, wherein the portion of the first identifier is common to an organizational section.

15. An electric vehicle charging station that is to be communicatively coupled with an electric vehicle charging station network server over a network, the electric vehicle charging station comprising:

a processor;

a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the electric vehicle charging station to perform operations including;

receive, from the electric vehicle charging station network server over a network, a first list that includes a first plurality of identifiers that identify a first plurality of electric vehicle operators respectively, wherein the first list is to be applicable to a first time period of a day;

receive, from the electric vehicle charging station network server over the network, a second list that includes a second plurality of identifiers that identify a second plurality of electric vehicle operators respectively, wherein the second list is to be applicable to a second time period of the day, wherein the first time period of the day and the second time period of the day are different;

receive, during the first time period of the day, a first charging session request that requests a first charging session between a first electric vehicle and the electric vehicle charging station, wherein the first charging session request is to include a first identifier that identifies a first electric vehicle operator;

determine that a connection to the electric vehicle charging station network server is not functioning correctly and responsive to this determination, perform a local authorization for the first charging session request including comparing the first identifier against the first plurality of identifiers on the first list to determine whether to authorize the first charging session, wherein the determination to compare the first identifier against the first plurality of identifiers on the first list is a result of the first charging session request being received during the first time period of the day;

receive a second charging session request that requests a second charging session between a second electric vehicle and the electric vehicle charging station, wherein the second charging session request is to include a second identifier that identifies a second electric vehicle operator;

determine that the connection to the electric vehicle charging station network server is functioning properly and responsive to this determination, perform the following;

transmit, to the electric vehicle charging station network server, a charging session authorization request that includes the second identifier,

receive, from the electric vehicle charging station network server over the network, a charging session authorization reply that indicates whether authorize the second charging session, and

determine whether to grant or deny the second charging session based on the charging session authorization reply;

receive, during the second time period of the day, a third charging session request that requests a third charging session between a third electric vehicle and the electric vehicle charging station, wherein the third charging session request includes a third identifier that identifies a third electric vehicle operator; and

determine that a connection to the electric vehicle charging station network server is not functioning correctly and responsive to this determination, perform a local authorization for the third charging session request including comparing the third identifier against the second plurality of identifiers on the second list to determine whether to authorize the third charging session, wherein the determination to compare the third identifier against the second plurality of identifiers on the second list is a result of the third charging session request being received during the second time period of the day.

16. The electric vehicle charging station of claim 15, wherein the first list is a whitelist, and wherein the instructions further cause the electric vehicle charging station to grant the first charging session request responsive to a determination that the first identifier is represented on the whitelist.

17. The electric vehicle charging station of claim 15, wherein the first list is a blacklist, and wherein the instructions further cause the electric vehicle charging station to deny the first charging session request responsive to a determination that the first identifier is represented on the blacklist.

18. The electric vehicle charging station of claim 15, wherein the instructions further cause the electric vehicle charging station to perform the following operations:

store charging session data in the electric vehicle charging station for the first charging session while the connection between the electric vehicle charging station and the electric vehicle charging station network server is not functioning correctly; and

transmit the stored charging session data for the first charging session to the electric vehicle charging station network server responsive to a determination that the connection is functioning correctly.

19. The electric vehicle charging station of claim 15, wherein the received first list is to include the first plurality of identifiers that identify the first plurality of electric vehicle operators who are authorized to use the electric vehicle charging station during the first time period of the day, and wherein the received second list is to include the second plurality of identifiers that identify the second plurality of electric vehicle operators who are authorized to use the electric vehicle charging station during the second time period of the day.

20. The electric vehicle charging station of claim 15, wherein the received first list is to include the first plurality of identifiers that identify the first plurality of electric vehicle operators who are not authorized to use the electric vehicle charging station during the first time period of the day, and wherein the received second list is to include the second plurality of identifiers that identify the second plurality of electric vehicle operators who are not authorized to use the electric vehicle charging station during the second time period of the day.

21. The electric vehicle charging station of claim 15, wherein comparison of the first identifier against the first list includes a comparison of a portion of the first identifier against the first list to determine whether to grant the first charging session, wherein the portion of the first identifier is common to an organizational section.