PLUG-IN ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION WITH VENDING MACHINE PAYMENT OPTIONS

• US 20130207605A1
• Filed: 02/10/2012
• Published: 08/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: ERRATTUPARAMBIL, Moosa Aneesh, GLAZEBROOK, Michael George
• Application Number:
  US13/370,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20130207605A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations

Abstract

A plug-in electric vehicle charging station includes a plug-in electric vehicle interface configured to process payment for charging a plug-in electric vehicle, and to process payment for vending items from a vending machine and a communications interface communicatively coupled to the plug-in electric vehicle interface, and configured to communicate with the vending machine.

Claims

1. A rechargeable electric vehicle (REV) charging station, comprising:

a REV interface configured to process a payment for electrically charging a REV, and to process the payment for at least one vending item purchased from a vending machine; and

a communications interface communicatively coupled to the REV interface, and configured to communicate with the vending machine.

2. The REV charging station as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an electricity grid interface communicatively coupled to the REV interface, and configured to receive electrical energy from an electrical grid and distribute the electrical energy to the REV.

3. The REV charging station as claimed in claim 1 wherein the REV interface is further configured to generate a verification code indicative that the payment for the vending items has been received.

4. The REV charging station as claimed in claim 3 wherein the verification code is encoded to at least one of a charge card, a rewards card, and a receipt.

5. The REV charging station as claimed in claim 3 wherein the verification code is associated, via the communications interface, with a charge card associated with the payment of the at least one vending item.

6. The REV charging station as claimed in claim 3 wherein the REV interface is further configured to authenticate the verification code.

7. A rechargeable electric vehicle (REV) charging system, comprising:

a REV charging station; and

a vending machine communicatively coupled to the REV charging station and configured to dispense at least one item prepaid at the REV charging station.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the REV charging station, comprises:

a REV interface configured to a process payment for electrically charging a REV, and to process the payment for the at least one item purchased from the vending machine; and

a communications interface communicatively coupled to the REV interface, and configured to communicate with the vending machine.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the REV charging station further comprises an electricity grid interface communicatively coupled to the REV interface, and configured to receive electrical energy from an electrical grid and distribute the electrical energy to the REV.

10. The system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the REV interface is further configured to generate a verification code indicative that the payment for the at least one item purchased from the vending machine has been received.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the verification code is encoded to at least one of a charge card, a rewards card, and a receipt.

12. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the verification code is associated, via the communications interface, with a charge card associated with the payment of at least one item.

13. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the REV interface is further configured to authenticate the verification code.

14. The system as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a communications network communicatively coupled between the REV charging station and the vending machine.

15. The system as claimed in claim 7 further comprising an electricity grid connection operatively coupled to the REV charging station.

16. A computer program product including a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions for causing a computer to implement a method, the method comprising:

receiving, in a rechargeable electric vehicle (REV) interface, a request to electrically charge a REV;

generating options, on the REV interface, to purchase at least one vending item;

receiving, in the REV interface, a payment information for the at least one vending item; and

generating, on the REV interface, a verification code to complete the purchase of the at least one vending item.

17. The computer program product as claimed in claim 16, wherein the method further comprises generating, on the REV interface, a payment options to electrically charge the REV.

18. The computer program product as claimed in claim 17 wherein a payment options to electrically charge the REV includes a charge card.

19. The computer program product as claimed in claim 16, wherein the method further comprises encoding, by the computer, the verification code into a form factor.

20. The computer program product as claimed in claim 16, wherein the method further comprises at least one of associating, via the computer, the verification code with a charge card, and encoding, by the computer, the verification code in at least one of an awards card and a receipt.