ATTENUATION LEVEL BASED ASSOCIATION IN COMMUNICATION NETWORKS

• US 20130038424A1
• Filed: 08/01/2012
• Published: 02/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm Atheros Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Katar, Srinivas, Yonge, Lawrence W. III, Newman, Richard Ernest
• Granted Patent: US 9,021,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/67 Controlling two or more charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/71 Wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/08 by repeating transmission, e.g. Verdan system H04L1/1858 and H04L1/189 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/84 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3263 involving certificates, e.g. public key certificate [PKC] or attribute certificate [AC]; Public key infrastructure [PKI] arrangements network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using certificates in a packet data network H04L63/0823
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/18 TPC being performed according to specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• 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 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• 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 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 : using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

An electric vehicle can be configured to execute an association procedure with one or more charging stations in a charging facility to securely connect to and receive electric power from one of the charging stations. The electric vehicle can broadcast one or more service matching messages to the charging stations and, in response, can receive attenuation information from one or more of the charging stations. The electric vehicle can analyze the attenuation information received from the charging stations to identify with which charging station the electric vehicle should associate (e.g., to determine which charging station should provide electric power to the electric vehicle). The electric vehicle can then associate with (and receive electric power from) the identified charging station.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting one or more multi-network broadcast messages from a client network device to at least a subset of a plurality of target network devices of one or more networks; and

determining with which of the plurality of target network devices to associate in the one or more networks based, at least in part, on attenuation information received at the client network device from at least one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting the one or more multi-network broadcast messages further comprises:

transmitting security information associated with the client network device to enable at least the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices to validate the client network device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

broadcasting a request for communication parameters from the client network device to the plurality of target network devices;

receiving, from at least each of the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices, communication parameters associated with the target network device;

determining at least a number of multi-network broadcast messages to be transmitted from the client network device to at least the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices based, at least in part, on said receiving, from at least the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices, the communication parameters associated with the target network device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said broadcasting the request for communication parameters to the plurality of target network devices comprises:

initiating a predetermined time interval for receiving the communication parameters associated with one or more of the plurality of target network devices;

in response to determining that the predetermined time interval has elapsed, determining whether communication parameters were received from any of the plurality of target network devices;

in response to determining that the communication parameters were received from the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices, executing an association process to determine with which of the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices to associate;

in response to determining that the communication parameters were not received from any of the plurality of target network devices, rebroadcasting the request for the communication parameters to the plurality of target network devices.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining whether to execute secure operations for identifying with which of the plurality of target network devices to associate based, at least in part, on said receiving, from each of the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices, the communication parameters associated with the target network device;

in response to determining to execute secure operations for identifying with which of the plurality of target network devices to associate,

transmitting security information associated with the client network device to at least the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices;

receiving security information associated with at least each of the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices; and

signing subsequent transmissions from the client network device using the security information associated with the client network device; and

receiving subsequent transmissions from each of the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices that are signed with the security information associated with the target network device.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein, for each of the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices, the communication parameters associated with the target network device comprise one or more of a number of service matching messages that should be transmitted from the client network device to the target network device, a maximum time interval within which the service matching messages should be transmitted from the client network device to the target network device, and an indication of whether secure communications are supported at the target network device.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving, at the client network device, a plurality of communication parameters from corresponding each of at least the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices;

combining the plurality of received communication parameters to determine a consolidated set of communication parameters; and

transmitting the one or more multi-network broadcast messages from the client network device to at least the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices based, at least in part, on the consolidated set of communication parameters.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining with which of the plurality of target network devices to associate comprises:

determining, at the client network device, to associate with a first of the plurality of the target network devices based, at least in part, on the attenuation information received at the client network device from at least the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices; and

transmitting a notification from the client network device to the first of the plurality of the target network devices to establish a communication link with the first of the plurality of the target network devices and to receive a service from the first of the plurality of the target network devices.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein in response to transmitting the notification from the client network device to the first of the plurality of the target network devices, the method further comprises:

receiving a confirmation message at the client network device from the first of the plurality of target network devices including one or more network parameters of a network associated with the first of the plurality of target network devices; and

joining the network associated with the first of the plurality of target network devices based, at least in part, on the one or more network parameters received at the client network device to establish the communication link with the first of the plurality of the target network devices to receive the service from the first of the plurality of the target network devices.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more network parameters of the network associated with the first of the plurality of target network devices comprises a network identifier, a device address, and security information associated with the network of the first of the plurality of target network devices.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a notification at the client network device from the first of the plurality of the target network devices indicating that the client network device should associate with a second of the plurality of the target network devices and indicating network parameters associated with a network of the second of the plurality of the target network devices; and

causing the client network device to join the network of the second of the plurality of the target network devices based, at least in part, on the network parameters associated with the network of the second of the plurality of the target network devices.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting a first amplitude map associated with the client network device to the first of the plurality of target network devices;

receiving a second amplitude map associated with the first of the plurality of target network devices at the client network device; and

determining a transmit power level for communicating with the first of the plurality of target network devices based, at least in part, on the first amplitude map and the second amplitude map.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the client network device is a plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) and each of the plurality of target network devices is an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) station.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to said transmitting the one or more multi-network broadcast messages from the client network device to at least the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices the method further comprises:

broadcasting a notification message to the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices to indicate a start of a transmission of the one or more multi-network broadcast messages, wherein the notification message comprises one or more of a maximum number of multi-network broadcast messages that will be transmitted, a maximum time interval during which the one or more multi-network broadcast messages will be transmitted, and an identifier of the client network device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein in response to said transmitting the one or more multi-network broadcast messages from the client network device to at least the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices, the method further comprises:

initiating a predetermined time interval for receiving the attenuation information from at least the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices;

in response to determining that the predetermined time interval has elapsed, determining whether the attenuation information is received from any of the plurality of target network devices;

in response to determining that the attenuation information is received from at least the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices, determining with which of the plurality of target network devices to associate in the one or more networks; and

in response to determining that the attenuation information is not received from any of the plurality of target network devices, retransmitting the one or more multi-network broadcast messages to at least the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining which with of the plurality of target network devices to associate in the one or more networks comprises:

determining, at the client network device, to associate with a first of the plurality of target network devices that is associated with a lowest attenuation level.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining with which of the plurality of target network devices to associate in the one or more networks comprises:

determining, at the client network device and for each of the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices, an attenuation level associated with the target network device based, at least in part, on transmissions received at the client network device from the target network device;

determining, at the client network device, to associate with a first of the plurality of target network devices based on the attenuation information received from the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices and based on the attenuation level determined by the client network device for each of the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining with which of the plurality of target network devices to associate in the one or more networks comprises:

determining whether an attenuation level associated with at least one of the plurality of target network devices is less than a predetermined attenuation threshold;

in response to determining that the attenuation level associated with at least one of the plurality of target network devices is less than the predetermined attenuation threshold, determining with which of the plurality of target network devices to associate in the one or more networks; and

in response to determining that none of the attenuation levels associated with corresponding plurality of target network devices is less than the predetermined attenuation threshold, retransmitting the one or more multi-network broadcast messages from the client network device to at least the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining with which of the plurality of target network devices to associate in the one or more networks is based on one of:

analyzing, at the client network device, the attenuation information received from at least the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices to determine with which of the plurality of target network devices to associate,

receiving a notification from a first of the plurality of target network devices to associate with the first of the plurality of target network devices, or

receiving a notification from a central coordinator device to associate with the first of the plurality of target network devices.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting the one or more multi-network broadcast service matching messages from the client network device to at least the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices of the one or more networks comprises:

transmitting a first set of multi-network broadcast messages at a reduced transmit power level from the client network device to the plurality of target network devices of the one or more networks;

in response to not receiving a message from any of the plurality of target network devices, transmitting one or more subsequent sets of multi-network broadcast messages at increasing transmit power levels from the client network device to the plurality of target network devices of the one or more networks, wherein each increased transmit power level is greater than previous transmit power levels; and

in response to receiving the message from at least the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices, transmitting a third set of multi-network broadcast messages at the reduced transmit power level to the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the client network device is configured in a client operating mode and each of the plurality of target network devices is configured in a master operating mode.

22. A method comprising:

receiving one or more multi-network service matching broadcast messages from a client network device at a service provider;

transmitting attenuation information associated with the service provider from the service provider to the client network device based, at least in part, on analyzing the one or more multi-network service matching broadcast messages received at the service provider from the client network device; and

receiving a request at the service provider from the client network device to associate with the client network device and to provide a service to the client network device based, at least in part, on the attenuation information associated with the service provider.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein in response to said receiving the request to associate with the client network device and to provide the service to the client network device, the method further comprises:

receiving attenuation information associated with a plurality of other service providers of one or more networks at the service provider;

determining that the client network device should associate with a second service provider based on the attenuation information associated with the service provider and the attenuation information received from the plurality of other service providers;

determining network parameters associated with a network of the second service provider; and

providing the network parameters associated with the network of the second service provider to the client network device to cause the client network device to associate with the second service provider and to receive the service from the second service provider.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

determining whether security information associated with the client network device is received at the service provider from the client network device;

in response to determining that security information associated with the client network device is received at the service provider,

transmitting security information associated with the service provider from the service provider to the client network device; and

determining to sign subsequent transmissions to the client network device using the security information associated with the service provider; and

in response to determining that security information associated with the client network device is not received at the service provider, determining not to sign subsequent transmissions to the client network device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said determining to sign subsequent transmissions to the client network device using the security information associated with the service provider further comprises:

determining to encrypt subsequent transmissions to the client network device using the security information associated with the client network device.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein said receiving the request to associate with the client network device and to provide the service to the client network device comprises:

transmitting network parameters associated with a network of the service provider from the service provider to the client network device; and

configuring the service provider with the network parameters associated with the network of the service provider to enable the service provider to form a logical network with the client network device.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the network parameters comprise a network identifier and a network membership key.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

after the service provider forms the logical network with the client network device, executing one or more operations for authenticating the client network device at the service provider; and

providing the service to the client network device after successfully authenticating the client network device at the service provider.

29. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

receiving a notification message from the client network device that indicates a start of a transmission of the one or more multi-network service matching broadcast messages;

initiating a predetermined time interval to receive the one or more multi-network service matching broadcast messages, in response to said receiving the notification message from the client network device that indicates the start of the transmission of the one or more multi-network service matching broadcast messages; and

transmitting the attenuation information associated with the service provider from the service provider to the client network device in response to determining that the predetermined time interval has elapsed.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein said transmitting the attenuation information associated with the service provider from the service provider to the client network device comprises:

grouping a predetermined number of a plurality of unmasked frequency carriers within a communication band associated with the service provider and the client network device into a plurality of carrier groups;

for each of the plurality of carrier groups, determining an average attenuation level associated with the carrier group based, at least in part, on receiving the one or more multi-network service matching broadcast messages in the communication band;

transmitting a number of the plurality of carrier groups and the average attenuation level associated with each of the plurality of carrier groups to the client network device.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein said transmitting the attenuation information associated with the service provider from the service provider to the client network device is in response to one of:

receiving a predetermined number of multi-network service matching broadcast messages from the client network device,

determining that a last multi-network service matching broadcast message is received from the client network device, or

determining that a time interval allocated to the client network device for transmitting the multi-network service matching broadcast messages has elapsed.

32. The method of claim 22, wherein said determining whether to associate with the client network device comprises:

utilizing a low bandwidth out-of-band communication medium to execute validation operations at the charging station and to determine whether to associate with the client network device and whether to provide the service to the client network device.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said utilizing the low bandwidth out-of-band communication medium to execute validation operations at the charging station further comprises:

modifying, at the service provider, a duty cycle of a pilot signal along a charging cable associated with the service provider;

transmitting a validation request message from the service provider to the client network device requesting the client network device to determine a duty cycle of the pilot signal detected by the client network device;

receiving an indication of the duty cycle of the pilot signal detected by the client network device from the client network device;

determining whether the duty cycle measured by the service provider matches the duty cycle detected by the client network device;

in response to determining that the duty cycle measured by the service provider matches the duty cycle detected by the client network device, determining that the client network device is connected to the service provider and determining to associate with the client network device; and

in response to determining that the duty cycle measured by the service provider does not match the duty cycle detected by the client network device, determining that the client network device is not connected to the service provider and determining not to associate with the client network device.

34. A network device comprising:

a processor;

an association unit coupled with the processor, the association unit operable to;

transmit one or more multi-network broadcast messages to at least a subset of a plurality of target network devices of one or more networks; and

determine with which of the plurality of target network devices to associate in the one or more networks based, at least in part, on attenuation information received at the network device from at least one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices.

35. The network device of claim 34, wherein the association unit is further operable to:

broadcast a request for communication parameters from the network device to the plurality of target network devices;

receive, from at least each of the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices, communication parameters associated with the target network device;

determine at least a number of multi-network broadcast messages to be transmitted from the network device to at least the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices based, at least in part, on the association unit receiving, from at least the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices, the communication parameters associated with the target network device.

36. The network device of claim 35, wherein the association unit is further operable to:

determine whether to execute secure operations for identifying with which of the plurality of target network devices to associate based, at least in part, on the association unit receiving, from at least each of the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices, the communication parameters associated with the target network device;

in response to the association unit determining to execute secure operations for identifying with which of the plurality of target network devices to associate,

transmit security information associated with the network device to at least the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices;

receive security information associated with at least each of the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices;

sign subsequent transmissions from the network device using the security information associated with the network device; and

receive subsequent transmissions from the each of the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices that are signed with the security information associated with the target network device.

37. A service provider comprising:

a processor; and

an association unit coupled with the processor, the association unit operable to;

receive one or more multi-network service matching broadcast messages from a client network device;

transmit attenuation information associated with the service provider from the service provider to the client network device based, at least in part, on the association unit analyzing the one or more multi-network service matching broadcast messages received from the client network device; and

receive a request from the client network device to associate with the client network device and to provide a service to the client network device based, at least in part, on the attenuation information associated with the service provider

38. The service provider of claim 37, wherein the association unit is further operable to:

determine whether security information associated with the client network device is received from the client network device;

in response to the association unit determining that security information associated with the client network device is received,

transmit security information associated with the service provider to the client network device; and

determine to sign subsequent transmissions to the client network device using the security information associated with the service provider; and

in response to the association unit determining that security information associated with the client network device is not received, determine not to sign subsequent transmissions to the client network device.

39. The service provider of claim 37, wherein the association unit operable to determine whether to associate with the client network device comprises the association unit operable to:

utilize a low bandwidth out-of-band communication medium to execute validation operations at the charging station and to determine whether to associate with the client network device and whether to provide the service to the client network device.

40. One or more machine-readable storage media having instructions stored therein, which when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform operations that comprise:

transmitting one or more multi-network broadcast messages from a client network device to at least a subset of a plurality of target network devices of one or more networks; and

determining with which of the plurality of target network devices to associate in the one or more networks based, at least in part, on attenuation information received at the client network device from at least one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices.

41. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 40, wherein said operation of determining with which of the plurality of target network devices to associate comprises:

determining, at the client network device, to associate with a first of the plurality of the target network devices based, at least in part, on the attenuation information received at the client network device from at least the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices;

transmitting a notification from the client network device to the first of the plurality of the target network devices to establish a communication link with the first of the plurality of the target network devices and to receive a service from the first of the plurality of the target network devices;

receiving a notification at the client network device from the first of the plurality of the target network devices indicating that the client network device should associate with a second of the plurality of the target network devices and indicating network parameters associated with a network of the second of the plurality of the target network devices; and

causing the client network device to join the network of the second of the plurality of the target network devices based, at least in part, on the network parameters associated with the network of the second of the plurality of the target network devices.

42. One or more machine-readable storage media having instructions stored therein, which when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform operations that comprise:

receiving one or more multi-network service matching broadcast messages from a client network device at a service provider;

transmitting attenuation information associated with the service provider from the service provider to the client network device based, at least in part, on analyzing the one or more multi-network service matching broadcast messages received at the service provider from the client network device; and

receiving a request at the service provider from the client network device to associate with the client network device and to provide a service to the client network device based, at least in part, on the attenuation information associated with the service provider.

43. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein said operation of receiving the request at the service provider from the client network device to associate with the client network device and to provide the service to the client network device further comprises:

utilizing a low bandwidth out-of-band communication medium to execute validation operations at the charging station and to determine whether to associate with the client network device and whether to provide the service to the client network device.

44. A method comprising:

determining a number of multi-network broadcast messages to transmit from a client network device to at least a subset of a plurality of target network devices based, at least in part, on one or more communication parameters received from at least the subset of the plurality of target network devices;

transmitting the determined number of multi-network broadcast messages from the client network device to at least the subset of the plurality of target network devices of the one or more networks; and

determining with which of the plurality of target network devices to associate in the one or more networks based, at least in part, on attenuation information received at the client network device from at least one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

determining whether to execute secure operations for identifying with which of the plurality of target network devices to associate;

in response to determining to execute secure operations for identifying with which of the plurality of target network devices to associate,

transmitting security information associated with the client network device to at least the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices;

receiving security information associated with at least each of the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices;

signing subsequent transmissions from the client network device using the security information associated with the client network device; and

receiving subsequent transmissions from the each of the one or more of the subset of the plurality of target network devices that are signed with the security information associated with the target network device.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein said determining with which of the plurality of target network devices to associate in the one or more networks comprises:

determining to associate with a first of the plurality of target network devices;

transmitting a notification from the client network device to the first of the plurality of the target network devices;

receiving a notification at the client network device from the first of the plurality of the target network devices indicating that the client network device should associate with a second of the plurality of the target network devices and indicating network parameters associated with a network of the second of the plurality of the target network devices; and

causing the client network device to join the network of the second of the plurality of the target network devices based, at least in part, on the network parameters associated with the network of the second of the plurality of the target network devices.