Method and Apparatus for Charging Station Monitoring

• US 20160358472A1
• Filed: 06/03/2015
• Published: 12/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2015
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Bezak, Jonathon, Carpenter, Owen, Platt, Michael, Stone, Damian, Gunnels, Gregory Jerome
• Granted Patent: US 10,262,536 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/20 using propulsion power generated by humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/60 Monitoring or controlling charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/133 within the vehicle ; Indicators inside the vehicles or at stops
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• 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

Abstract

A system includes a processor configured to receive indication that a chargeable vehicle is within proximity to a known charging point. The processor is also configured to determine if the charging point is available for immediate use. The processor is further configured to notify a vehicle driver if the charging point is available for immediate use and offer an option to receive notification when a charging point is available for use if the charging point is not available for immediate use.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive indication that a chargeable vehicle is within proximity to a known charging point;

determine if the charging point is available for immediate use;

notify a vehicle driver if the charging point is available for immediate use; and

offer an option to receive notification when a charging point is available for use if the charging point is not available for immediate use.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the indication includes vehicle GPS coordinates within a predefined area including the charging point.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to provide directions to the charging point within the predefined area.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive acceptance of charging point usage from the vehicle driver following notification that the charging point is available for immediate use.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to reserve the charging point for use by the chargeable vehicle following acceptance of charging point usage.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to add the vehicle to a queue for charging point usage upon acceptance of the option to receive notification.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to prioritize the queue based on priorities associated with various vehicles within the queue.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to notify all vehicles within the queue when the charging point is available for use.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to notify a next-vehicle in the queue when the charging point is available for use.

10. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

manage a queue of entities designated to receive notification when a charging point within the queue is available for use;

notify an entity in the queue when the charging point is determined to be available for use;

receive acceptance of charging point usage from the notified entity; and

reserve the charging point for use by the notified entity upon receipt of the acceptance.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to reserve the charging point for a limited period of time.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to receive updated GPS coordinates corresponding to the notified entity and to extend the limited period of time based on an indication, determined by the updated GPS coordinates, that the notified entity is attempting to use the charging point.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to:

notify multiple entities in the queue at the same time when the charging point is available for use; and

reserve the charging point for use by a first-responding entity that was first to respond with acceptance of charging point usage.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to notify other non-first-responding entities of the notified entities upon receipt of acceptance from the first-responding entity.

15. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

establish communication between a beacon-detecting device and a beacon;

determine that a charging point is in use based on the established communication; and

designate the charging point as in-use until communication between the beacon-detecting device and the beacon is no longer present.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to:

determine the identity of a charging entity associated with either one of the beacon or the beacon-detecting device;

verify the permissibility of the charging entity to use the charging point; and

provide power from the charging point contingent on the verification.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to notify the charging entity if charging point use is not verified as permissible.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to add the charging entity to a charging point queue if charging point use is not verified as permissible.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the beacon is provided in conjunction with the charging point and the beacon-detecting device is provided in conjunction with a vehicle.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the beacon-detecting device is provided in conjunction with a vehicle and the beacon-detecting device is provided in conjunction with the charging point.