METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING A GRID CONNECTION POINT USING A TAG
First Claim
1. An electrical outlet cover for use with an electrical outlet, comprising:
- a cover unit having at least one receptacle opening configured to align with an electrical receptacle of the electric outlet; and
an identification unit configured to present a unique identification that is associated with the electrical outlet.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical outlet, an electrical outlet cover for use with an electrical outlet and methods of identifying a grid connection point for bill processing of a charging event and managing energy services are disclosed. The electrical outlet cover includes a cover unit having a receptacle opening configured to align with a receptacle of the electric outlet and an identification unit configured to present a unique identification that is associated with the electrical outlet. In an embodiment, a method includes establishing an identity tag at a grid connection point (GCP) that unique identifies the GCP, receiving identity tag information to uniquely identify the GCP and monitoring charge event information indicating attributes of the charging event. The method further includes associating the charge event information with the identity tag information, as associated information; and sending the associated information for reconciliation of billing accounts associated with the GCP and the mobile charging device.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electrical outlet cover for use with an electrical outlet, comprising:
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a cover unit having at least one receptacle opening configured to align with an electrical receptacle of the electric outlet; and an identification unit configured to present a unique identification that is associated with the electrical outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An electrical outlet, comprising:
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a housing having a front opening; an electrical receptacle mounted in the housing; a cover having at least one receptacle opening configured to align with the electrical receptacle, the cover configured to close the front opening; and an identification unit configured to present a unique identification that is associated with the electrical outlet. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A plug-in vehicle for connection to a charging station having a station connector, comprising:
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an electric storage unit for storing electric power from the charging station; a plug-in vehicle connector configured to connect to the charging station for storage of the electric power in the electric storage unit; and an identification reader that is coupled to the plug-in vehicle connector for reading a unique identity presented by the charging station. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A charging station used to charge a plug-in vehicle via a plug-in vehicle connector, comprising:
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an electrical power source for distributing electric power to the plug-in vehicle; a power source connector configured to connect to the plug-in vehicle connector for charging the plug-in vehicle; and an identification tag configured to present a unique identification that is associated with the charging station to the plug-in vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. An energy storage unit configured to be coupled to a mobile device and to provide power to the mobile device, comprising:
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an energy storage device configured to store energy therein; a coupling unit configured to couple to the energy storage device and to selectively couple to an electric grid to charge or discharge the energy storage device; and a controller configured to; control the energy storage device to charge from or discharge to the electric grid when the mobile device is stationary; determine a level of charging or discharging by energy storage device when the mobile device is stationary; and report the determined quantity level and a unique identifier of the mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. An energy storage life cycle prediction system, comprising:
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an energy storage telemetry database configured to store a plurality of records, each of the plurality of records including; an identifier associated with a respective energy storage unit, and energy storage telemetry information indicating connection event information associated with the respective energy storage unit; a controller configured to; receive information from the energy storage telemetry database; and determine an operational status of the respective energy storage unit based on the corresponding energy storage telemetry data, the operational status data including at least an anticipated time or anticipated time range for failure of the energy storage unit.
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20. A method of managing energy services using an energy storage device powering a mobile device, comprising:
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powering the mobile device using the energy storage device when the mobile device is moving; coupling the energy storage device to an electric grid when the mobile device is stationary; and controlling an operation of the energy storage device; by a first entity in response to detecting that the mobile device is moving and by a second entity in response to detecting that the mobile device is stationary; and controlling an operation of the electric grid by the second entity such that responsive to coupling of the energy storage device to the electric grid, relinquishing, by the first entity, control of the energy storage device to the second entity controlling the electric grid.
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Specification