Wireless power distribution management in an open environment

• US 10,291,072 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2016
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Chao, Ching-Yun, Elliott, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jager, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US15/149,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20170324278A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 307104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices

Abstract

Disclosed aspects relate to wireless power distribution management in an open environment. A key-pair identifier is established in a master server. The key-pair identifier can indicate both a first wireless power target device and a first wireless power source distribution center. The master server detects an indication of a wireless power coupling between the first wireless power target device and a second wireless power source distribution center. A usage assessment is determined for the wireless power coupling by the master server using the key-pair identifier. The usage assessment can relate to the first wireless power source distribution center. The master server may provide or output the usage assessment for the wireless power coupling.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for wireless power distribution management in an open environment, comprising:

establishing, in a master server, a key-pair identifier which indicates both a first wireless power target device and a first wireless power source distribution center;

detecting, by the master server, an indication of a wireless power coupling between the first wireless power target device and a second wireless power source distribution center;

causing the second wireless power source distribution center to distribute wireless power to the first wireless power target device;

monitoring, using the wireless power coupling, the distribution of wireless power from the second wireless power source distribution center to the first wireless power target device;

determining, by the master server using the key-pair identifier, a usage assessment for the wireless power coupling between the first wireless power target device and the second wireless power source distribution center; and

computing the usage assessment by allocating the distribution of wireless power to the first wireless power source distribution center;

providing, by the master server, the usage assessment for the wireless power coupling.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

registering, using a set of identifiers, the first wireless target device with the first wireless power source distribution center; and

authorizing the first wireless target device to receive wireless power.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

comparing, with respect to a power transfer efficiency, a set of candidate wireless power source distribution centers with the second wireless power source distribution center; and

identifying, based on the power transfer efficiency in an automated fashion without user intervention, the second wireless power source distribution center.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

authorizing the first wireless target device to receive wireless power; and

preventing a second wireless target device from receiving wireless power.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

resolving that a power transfer frequency value for the first wireless target device exceeds a power transfer frequency threshold; and

constructing, in response to the resolving, a steadfast wireless power connection for the first wireless target device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

maintaining, using a plurality of resonant frequencies, the steadfast wireless power connection;

calculating, based on movement by the first wireless target device, a threshold decrease in the power transfer frequency value; and

changing, in response to calculating the threshold decrease in the power transfer frequency value, the wireless coupling among a set of candidate wireless power source distribution centers.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining, using a plurality of resonant frequencies, the wireless power coupling; and

switching, to prevent unauthorized devices from accessing wireless power, among the plurality of resonant frequencies using a frequency hopping technique.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

monitoring, with respect to a set of actual power discharges, the plurality of resonant frequencies; and

detecting, based on and in response to monitoring the plurality of resonant frequencies with respect to the set of actual power discharges, an unauthorized power discharge to an unauthorized device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

recording, in a database, a set of authorized power discharges; and

comparing, to detect the unauthorized power discharge to the unauthorized device, the set of authorized power discharges with the set of actual power discharges.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

adjusting, in response to detecting the unauthorized power discharge to the unauthorized device, the frequency hopping technique.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

modifying, with respect to both the first wireless power target device and the second wireless power source distribution center, a set of frequency hopping parameters to adjust the frequency hopping technique.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the open environment is selected from a group consisting of:

an outdoor public park open to individuals without a fee, an outdoor sports venue open to individuals with an electronic entrance ticket, a public transportation vehicle, a private consumer vehicle, an indoor auditorium open to individuals with an electronic invitation, and an indoor airport waiting area open to individuals that pass an electronic-based security check.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the master server is operated for a utility which is corporately-unaffiliated from the second wireless power source distribution center.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the key-pair identifier is used to track power consumption for the first wireless power target device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the establishing, the detecting, the determining, and the providing each occur in an automated fashion without user intervention.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

metering use of the wireless power distribution management; and

generating an invoice based on the metered use.

17. A computer-implemented method for wireless power distribution management in an open environment, comprising:

establishing, in a master server, a key-pair identifier which indicates both a first wireless power target device and a first wireless power source distribution center;

detecting, by the master server, an indication of a wireless power coupling between the first wireless power target device and a second wireless power source distribution center;

causing the first wireless power target device to receive power from the second wireless power source distribution center;

monitoring, using the wireless power coupling, the distribution of wireless power from the second wireless power source distribution center to the first wireless power target device;

determining, by the master server using the key-pair identifier, a usage assessment for the wireless power coupling between the first wireless power target device and the second wireless power source distribution center; and

computing the usage assessment by allocating the distribution of wireless power to the first wireless power source distribution center;

providing, by the master server, the usage assessment for the wireless power coupling.

18. A computer-implemented method for wireless power distribution management in an open environment, comprising:

establishing, in a master server, a key-pair identifier which indicates both a first wireless power target device and a first wireless power source distribution center;

detecting, by the master server, an indication of a wireless power coupling between the first wireless power target device and a second wireless power source distribution center;

causing a battery of the first wireless power target device to charge in response to the first wireless power target device receiving power from the second wireless power source distribution center;

monitoring, using the wireless power coupling, the distribution of wireless power from the second wireless power source distribution center to the first wireless power target device;

determining, by the master server using the key-pair identifier, a usage assessment for the wireless power coupling between the first wireless power target device and the second wireless power source distribution center; and

computing the usage assessment by allocating the distribution of wireless power to the first wireless power source distribution center;

providing, by the master server, the usage assessment for the wireless power coupling.