Systems and Methods for Accessing Charging Capabilities of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

• US 20130043306A1
• Filed: 08/19/2011
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Acosta-Cazaubon, Jesus, Alexander, George
• Granted Patent: US 8,500,013 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 5/00 Methods or arrangements for verifying the correctness of markings on a record carrier; Column detection devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• 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 30/14 Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and methods for accessing charging capabilities of electric vehicle charging stations. According to one embodiment of the invention, a system can be provided. The system can include a computer processor. The system can also include a memory operable to store computer-executable instructions operable to receive a readable code associated with an electric vehicle charging station, and further receive a unique identifier associated with a mobile device; and based at least in part on the readable code and unique identifier, authorize a consumer associated with the mobile device to access charging capabilities associated with the electric vehicle charging station.

Claims

1. A method for accessing charging capabilities of electric vehicle charging stations, comprising:

registering a unique identifier of a mobile device with an electric vehicle charging station operator;

transmitting a readable code to the electric vehicle charging station operator with the mobile device, wherein the readable code is associated with a particular electric vehicle charging station having a readable code; and

receiving an indication that a consumer associated with the unique identifier of the mobile device can access charging capabilities associated with the electric vehicle charging station.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon or after receipt of the indication, authorizing charging of an electric vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier of the mobile device is a media access control address.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the readable code comprises a quick response (QR) code, a bar code, or an encrypted identification code.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet device, or a handheld communication device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein registering, transmitting, and receiving are performed using communications via a secure platform.

7. A method for accessing charging capabilities of electric vehicle charging stations, comprising:

associating a consumer with a mobile device, wherein the mobile device comprises a unique identifier;

associating an electric vehicle charging station with a particular readable code;

receiving communications from the mobile device, wherein the communications comprise the readable code associated with the electric vehicle charging station having the readable code, and wherein the communications further comprise the unique identifier associated with the mobile device; and

verifying the consumer associated with the unique identifier of the mobile device can access charging capabilities associated with the electric vehicle charging station.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

upon or after verifying the consumer associated with the unique identifier of the mobile device can access charging capabilities associated with the electric vehicle charging station, authorizing charging of an electric vehicle by the electric vehicle charging station.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

upon or after allowing access to charging capabilities associated with the electric vehicle charging station, billing the consumer.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the unique identifier of the mobile device is a media access control address.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the readable code comprises a quick response (QR) code, a bar code, or an encrypted identification code.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the mobile device comprises a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet device, or a handheld communication device.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the communications are performed via a secure platform.

14. A system for accessing charging capabilities of electric vehicle charging stations, comprising:

a computer processor; and

a memory operable to store computer-executable instructions operable to;

receive a readable code associated with an electric vehicle charging station, and further receive a unique identifier associated with a mobile device; and

based at least in part on the readable code and unique identifier, authorize a consumer associated with the mobile device to access charging capabilities associated with the electric vehicle charging station.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer processor is associated with a server or a computer.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer processor is associated with the mobile device.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the unique identifier of the mobile device is a media access control address.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the readable code comprises a quick response (QR) code, a bar code, or an encrypted identification code.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the mobile device comprises a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet device, or a handheld communication device.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein all communications are performed via a secure platform.