RESERVATION SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME

• US 20130151293A1
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Published: 06/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Blink Acquisition, LLC (Blink Charging Co.)
• Original Assignee: Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation (Intertek Group PLC)
• Inventors: Karner, Donald B., Carpinteri, Carmelo A.
• Application Number:
  US13/722,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20130151293A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/10 Air crafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/36 Vehicles designed to transport cargo, e.g. trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/42 Fork lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/72 Charging station selection relying on external data
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/14 by input of vehicle departure time
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/20 using propulsion power generated by humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/30 using propulsion power stored mechanically, e.g. in fly-wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/50 : Charging stations characterised by energy-storage or power-generation means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/51 : Photovoltaic means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/52 : Wind-driven generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 : in response to network capacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 : involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 : Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 : Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 55/00 : Arrangements for supplying energy stored within a vehicle to a power network, i.e. vehicle-to-grid [V2G] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/30 : for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 : Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 : Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 : Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 : Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 : Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 : Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 : characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• 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: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 : the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/12 : Billing, invoicing, buying or selling transactions or other related activities, e.g. cost or usage evaluation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/14 : Marketing, i.e. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards

Abstract

Some embodiments include a reservation system for electric vehicle charging station and method of using the same as disclosed herein. Other embodiments of related systems and methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. ) A method for coordinating a reservation for an electric vehicle charging station, the method being implemented via execution of computer instructions configured to run at one or more processing modules of at least one of a charger computer system or a centralized computer system and configured to be stored at one or more non-transitory memory storage modules of the at least one of the charger computer system or the centralized computer system, the method comprising:

executing one or more first computer instructions configured to receive from a client computer system of a client a request for a reservation for the electric vehicle charging station;

executing one or more second computer instructions configured to define a first timeframe for the reservation based on the request; and

if the electric vehicle charging station is available for use to charge a rechargeable energy storage system of an electric vehicle of the client for the first timeframe, executing one or more third computer instructions configured to prevent the electric vehicle charging station from making available electricity for at least a first part of the first timeframe until receiving an authentication of the client.

2. ) The method of claim 1 wherein:

the first timeframe and the at least the first part of the first timeframe begin simultaneously with each other.

3. ) The method of claim 1 wherein:

executing the one or more first computer instructions comprises executing one or more fourth computer instructions configured to receive at the at least one of the charger computer system or the centralized computer system at least one of;

a desired time that the client provides to the client computer system;

a charge level of the rechargeable energy storage system of the electric vehicle;

a location of the electric vehicle;

a planned route of the electric vehicle;

a location of the electric vehicle charging station;

or

an estimated time of arrival of the electric vehicle at the electric vehicle charging station.

4. ) The method of claim 1 further comprising:

executing one or more fourth computer instructions configured to receive the authentication of the client; and

after executing the one or more fourth computer instructions, executing one or more fifth computer instructions configured to enable the electric vehicle charging station to make available the electricity.

5. ) The method of claim 4 further comprising:

after executing the one or more fifth computer instructions, executing one or more sixth computer instructions configured to provide the electricity to the rechargeable energy storage system of the electric vehicle for a remaining part of the first timeframe.

6. ) The method of claim 4 wherein:

executing the one or more fourth computer instructions comprises executing one or more sixth computer instructions configured to receive a signal from one of the client or the client computer system, the signal being configured to identify the client.

7. ) The method of claim 6 wherein:

executing the one or more sixth computer instructions comprises executing one or more seventh computer instructions configured to receive at least one of;

a sonic signal;

an infrared signal;

a radio frequency identification signal;

a Bluetooth signal;

a wireless modem signal;

a signal of a cable coupled between the charger computer system of the vehicle charging station and the electric vehicle;

or

an optical recognition signal of an optical recognition device configured to recognize the client.

8. ) The method of claim 4 further comprising:

after executing the one or more fifth computer instructions and when or after the first timeframe elapses, executing one or more sixth computer instructions configured to prevent the electric vehicle charging station from making available the electricity for a period of time.

9. ) The method of claim 1 further comprising at least one of:

if the electric vehicle charging station is available for use to charge the rechargeable energy storage system of the electric vehicle for the first timeframe, executing one or more fourth computer instructions configured to inform the client that the request for the reservation is approved;

or

if the electric vehicle charging station is unavailable for use to charge the rechargeable energy storage system of the electric vehicle for the first timeframe, executing one or more fifth computer instructions configured to inform the client that the request for the reservation is not approved.

10. ) The method of claim 1 further comprising:

executing one or more fourth computer instructions configured to provide at least one suggested alternative timeframe to the client.

11. ) A method for coordinating a reservation for an electric vehicle charging station, the method being implemented via execution of computer instructions configured to run at one or more processing modules of a client computer system of a client and configured to be stored at one or more non-transitory memory storage modules of the client computer system, the method comprising:

executing one or more first computer instructions configured to provide to at least one of a charger computer system or a centralized computer system a request for a reservation for the electric vehicle charging station; and

executing one or more second computer instructions configured to receive a confirmation regarding whether or not the request for the reservation is approved.

12. ) The method of claim 11 further comprising:

executing one or more third computer instructions configured to provide an authentication of the client to the at least one of the charger computer system or the centralized computer system.

13. ) A system for coordinating a reservation for an electric vehicle charging station, the system comprising:

at least one of a charger computer system or a centralized computer system;

wherein;

the at least one of the charger computer system or the centralized computer system is configured to communicate with a client computer system of a client;

the at least one of the charger computer system or the centralized computer system is configured to receive from the client computer system a request for a reservation for the electric vehicle charging station;

the at least one of the charger computer system or the centralized computer system is configured to define a first timeframe for the reservation based on the request; and

the at least one of the charger computer system or the centralized computer system is configured such that if the electric vehicle charging station is available for use to charge a rechargeable energy storage system of an electric vehicle for the first timeframe, the at least one of the charger computer system or the centralized computer system prevents the electric vehicle charging station from making available electricity for at least a first part of the first timeframe until an authentication of the client is received.

14. ) The system of claim 13 further comprising:

the electric vehicle charging system.

15. ) The system of claim 13 wherein:

the first timeframe and the at least the first part of the first timeframe begin simultaneously with each other.

16. ) The system of claim 13 wherein:

the at least one of the charger computer system or the centralized computer system is configured to receive the authentication from at least one of the client or the client computer system.

17. ) The system of claim 13 wherein:

the at least one of the charger computer system or the centralized computer system is configured to receive the authentication as a signal comprising at least one of;

a sonic signal;

an infrared signal;

a radio frequency identification signal;

a Bluetooth signal;

a wireless modem signal;

a signal of a cable coupled between the charger computer system of the vehicle charging station and the electric vehicle;

or

an optical recognition signal of an optical recognition device configured to recognize the client.

18. ) The system of claim 13 wherein:

the client comprises one of a non-member user or a member user.

19. ) The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a return module configured such that;

if the electric vehicle charging station is available for use to charge the rechargeable energy storage system of the electric vehicle for the first timeframe, the return module informs the client that the request for the reservation is approved;

or

if the electric vehicle charging station is unavailable for use to charge the rechargeable energy storage system of the electric vehicle for the first timeframe, the return module informs the client that the request for the reservation is not approved.

20. ) The system of claim 13 wherein:

the request for the reservation for the electric vehicle charging station comprises at least one of;

a desired time that the client provides to the client computer system;

a charge level of the rechargeable energy storage system of the electric vehicle;

a location of the electric vehicle;

a planned route of the electric vehicle;

a location of the electric vehicle charging station;

or

an estimated time of arrival of the electric vehicle at the electric vehicle charging station.