BATTERY EXCHANGE LICENSING PROGRAM BASED ON STATE OF CHARGE OF BATTERY PACK

• US 20180012197A1
• Filed: 09/30/2016
• Published: 01/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nio Usa Inc. (NIO, Inc. (China))
• Original Assignee: NextEV USA, Inc. (NIO, Inc. (China))
• Inventors: Ricci, Christopher P., Newman, Austin L.
• Application Number:
  US15/282,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20180012197A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/22 Motor vehicles operators, e.g. drivers, pilots, captains
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1171 based on the shapes or appearances of their bodies or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1172 using fingerprinting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1176 Recognition of faces
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/212 displaying on manual operation elements, e.g. on a knob
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/20 the prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines, e.g. HEVs
• 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 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/24 Pantographs
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/53 in combination with an external power supply, e.g. from overhead contact lines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• 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 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/10 : Dynamic electric regenerative braking B60L7/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 : Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/006 : Converting flow of air into electric energy, e.g. by using wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 9/00 : Electric propulsion with power supply external to the vehicle electric propulsion for monorail vehicles, suspension vehicles or rack railways B60L13/00; in combination with batteries or fuel cells within the vehicle B60L50/53
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 1/00 : Power supply lines for contact with collector on vehicle collectors therefor B60L5/00
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• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 : Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0003 : inside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 : outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 : characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/804 : for lane monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/105 : Radio frequency identification data [RFID]
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• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 : related to drivers or passengers
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• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/912 : Electric vehicles with power supply external to vehicle, e.g. trolley buses or trams
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/92 : Hybrid vehicles
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• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 : Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
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• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 : Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
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• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 : Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0708 : the source being electromagnetic or magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10257 : arrangements for protecting the interrogation against piracy attacks computer security in general G06F21/00; jamming of communication, countermeasures H04K3/00; secret communication H04K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 : using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10425 : the interrogation device being arranged for interrogation of record carriers passing by the interrogation device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 : Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 : involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 : Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 : specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/308 : using the Internet of Things
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 : using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 : Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
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• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 : Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
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• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0208 : Trade or exchange of goods or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
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• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 : Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 : Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 : Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 : Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0637 : Approvals
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/59 : inside of a vehicle, e.g. relating to seat occupancy, driver state or inner lighting conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/597 : Recognising the driver's state or behaviour, e.g. attention or drowsiness
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 : Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 : Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/172 : Classification, e.g. identification
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 : using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 : communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 : Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 : Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 : Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 : wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 : using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 : identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 : having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09626 : where the origin of the information is within the own vehicle, e.g. a local storage device, digital map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 : where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 : where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096838 : where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 : Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 : Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/325 : characterised by the location of the antenna on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3266 : using the mirror of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3275 : mounted on a horizontal surface of the vehicle, e.g. on roof, hood, trunk
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3283 : side-mounted antennas, e.g. bumper-mounted, door-mounted mounted on windscreens H01Q1/1271
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3291 : mounted in or on other locations inside the vehicle or vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 : Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 : Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 : for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 : Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 : Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/84 : Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 : wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/321 : involving a third party or a trusted authority
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3226 : using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 : Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 : Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 : Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 : for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 : for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/46 : for vehicle-to-vehicle communication [V2V]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• 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

A method and system are provided that manage an exchange of a vehicle power source. The system maintains a set of user or vehicle records for each of one or more users or vehicles and a set of equipment records for each of a plurality of pieces of equipment. The system receives a request to exchange a power source of the vehicle, identifies a service level of a plurality of service levels for the requested service based at least in part on the set of user or vehicle records and selects an available power source for the exchange based on the identified at least one service level and the set of equipment records.

Claims

1. A method for managing an exchange of a vehicle power source, the method comprising:

maintaining a set of user or vehicle records for each of one or more users or vehicles;

maintaining a set of equipment records for each of a plurality of pieces of equipment;

receiving a request for service of a vehicle, the service comprising at least an exchange of a power source of the vehicle;

identifying at least one service level of a plurality of service levels for the requested service based at least in part on the set of user or vehicle records; and

selecting at least one available power source for the exchange of the power source of the vehicle based on the identified at least one service level and the set of equipment records.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the at least one service level of the plurality of service levels for the requested service comprises determining whether the requested service is a prepaid service at a preselected service level of a plurality of service levels and wherein selecting at least one available power source for the exchange of the power source of the vehicle comprises, in response to determining the requested service is a prepaid service at a preselected service level of a plurality of service levels, selecting an available power source for the exchange of the power source of the vehicle based on the pre-elected service level.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the at least one service level has been preselected; and

in response to determining the at least one service level has been preselected, identifying the preselected service level, selecting the at least one available power source for the exchange of the power source of the vehicle based on the preselected service level, determining a price or an incentive for using the at least one selected available power source for the exchange of the power source of the vehicle, and providing the determined price or incentive to a user.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising, in response to determining a service level has been preselected:

identifying one or more available power sources for the exchange of the power source of the vehicle;

determining a service level for each of the identified one or more available power sources;

determining a price or an incentive for using each of the identified available power sources for the exchange of the power source of the vehicle; and

providing the determined price or incentive for using each of the identified available power sources to a user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle power source comprises a battery, wherein the plurality of service levels are defined based on a level of charge of a battery used for the exchange of the vehicle power source, wherein a first service level of the plurality of service levels is defined based on a level of charge that is higher than a level of charge defined for a second service level of the plurality of service levels, and wherein a cost for the first service level is higher than a cost for the second service level.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle power source comprises a battery, wherein the plurality of service levels are defined based on a state of life of a battery used for the exchange of the vehicle power source, wherein a first service level of the plurality of service levels is defined based on a state of life that is newer than a state of life defined for a second service level of the plurality of service levels, and wherein a cost for the first service level is higher than a cost for the second service level.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle power source comprises a battery, wherein the plurality of service levels are defined based on a historic number of charging cycles on a battery used for the exchange of the vehicle power source, wherein a first service level of the plurality of service levels is defined based on a higher number of charging cycles than a number of charging cycles defined for a second service level of the plurality of service levels, and wherein a cost for the first service level is higher than a cost for the second service level.

8. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled with and readable by the processor and storing therein a set of instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to manage an exchange of a vehicle power source by;

maintaining a set of user or vehicle records for each of one or more users or vehicles;

maintaining a set of equipment records for each of a plurality of pieces of equipment;

receiving a request for service of a vehicle, the service comprising at least an exchange of a power source of the vehicle;

identifying at least one service level of a plurality of service levels for the requested service based at least in part on the set of user or vehicle records; and

selecting at least one available power source for the exchange of the power source of the vehicle based on the identified at least one service level and the set of equipment records.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein identifying the at least one service level of the plurality of service levels for the requested service comprises determining whether the requested service is a prepaid service at a preselected service level of a plurality of service levels and wherein selecting at least one available power source for the exchange of the power source of the vehicle comprises, in response to determining the requested service is a prepaid service at a preselected service level of a plurality of service levels, selecting an available power source for the exchange of the power source of the vehicle based on the pre-elected service level.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein managing an exchange of a vehicle power source further comprises:

determining whether the at least one service level has been preselected; and

in response to determining the at least one service level has been preselected, identifying the preselected service level, selecting the at least one available power source for the exchange of the power source of the vehicle based on the preselected service level, determining a price or an incentive for using the at least one selected available power source for the exchange of the power source of the vehicle, and providing the determined price or incentive to a user.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising, in response to determining a service level has been preselected:

identifying one or more available power sources for the exchange of the power source of the vehicle;

determining a service level for each of the identified one or more available power sources;

determining a price or an incentive for using each of the identified available power sources for the exchange of the power source of the vehicle; and

providing the determined price or incentive for using each of the identified available power sources to a user.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the vehicle power source comprises a battery, wherein the plurality of service levels are defined based on a level of charge of a battery used for the exchange of the vehicle power source, wherein a first service level of the plurality of service levels is defined based on a level of charge that is higher than a level of charge defined for a second service level of the plurality of service levels, and wherein a cost for the first service level is higher than a cost for the second service level.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the vehicle power source comprises a battery, wherein the plurality of service levels are defined based on a state of life of a battery used for the exchange of the vehicle power source, wherein a first service level of the plurality of service levels is defined based on a state of life that is newer than a state of life defined for a second service level of the plurality of service levels, and wherein a cost for the first service level is higher than a cost for the second service level.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the vehicle power source comprises a battery, wherein the plurality of service levels are defined based on a historic number of charging cycles on a battery used for the exchange of the vehicle power source, wherein a first service level of the plurality of service levels is defined based on a higher number of charging cycles than a number of charging cycles defined for a second service level of the plurality of service levels, and wherein a cost for the first service level is higher than a cost for the second service level.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a set of instructions stored therein which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to manage an exchange of a vehicle power source by:

maintaining a set of user or vehicle records for each of one or more users or vehicles;

maintaining a set of equipment records for each of a plurality of pieces of equipment;

receiving a request for service of a vehicle, the service comprising at least an exchange of a power source of the vehicle;

identifying at least one service level of a plurality of service levels for the requested service based at least in part on the set of user or vehicle records; and

selecting at least one available power source for the exchange of the power source of the vehicle based on the identified at least one service level and the set of equipment records.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein identifying the at least one service level of the plurality of service levels for the requested service comprises determining whether the requested service is a prepaid service at a preselected service level of a plurality of service levels and wherein selecting at least one available power source for the exchange of the power source of the vehicle comprises, in response to determining the requested service is a prepaid service at a preselected service level of a plurality of service levels, selecting an available power source for the exchange of the power source of the vehicle based on the pre-elected service level.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein managing an exchange of a vehicle power source further comprises:

determining whether the at least one service level has been preselected; and

in response to determining the at least one service level has been preselected, identifying the preselected service level, selecting the at least one available power source for the exchange of the power source of the vehicle based on the preselected service level, determining a price or an incentive for using the at least one selected available power source for the exchange of the power source of the vehicle, and providing the determined price or incentive to a user.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising, in response to determining a service level has been preselected:

identifying one or more available power sources for the exchange of the power source of the vehicle;

determining a service level for each of the identified one or more available power sources;

determining a price or an incentive for using each of the identified available power sources for the exchange of the power source of the vehicle; and

providing the determined price or incentive for using each of the identified available power sources to a user.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the vehicle power source comprises a battery, wherein the plurality of service levels are defined based on a level of charge of a battery used for the exchange of the vehicle power source, wherein a first service level of the plurality of service levels is defined based on a level of charge that is higher than a level of charge defined for a second service level of the plurality of service levels, and wherein a cost for the first service level is higher than a cost for the second service level.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the vehicle power source comprises a battery, wherein the plurality of service levels are defined based on a historic number of charging cycles on a battery used for the exchange of the vehicle power source, wherein a first service level of the plurality of service levels is defined based on a higher number of charging cycles than a number of charging cycles defined for a second service level of the plurality of service levels, and wherein a cost for the first service level is higher than a cost for the second service level.