METHOD FOR A TWO-STAGE AUTHORIZATION OF A CHARGING PROCESS ON A CHARGING POST

• US 20200130643A1
• Filed: 01/08/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecog GmbH
• Original Assignee: Ecog GmbH
• Inventors: BODE, Sebastian
• Granted Patent: US 10,717,409 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/12 by confirmation, e.g. of the input
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/20 by driver identification
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• 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 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/67 Controlling two or more charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/103 Near field communication [NFC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/108 Encryption
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/002 Locking of control actuating or transmitting means of steering mechanism B60R25/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2756/10 : Involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5416 : by adding signals to the wave form of the power source
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 : Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 : using certificates or pre-shared keys
• 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 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 30/12 : Remote or cooperative charging
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

The method for a two-stage authorization of a charging operation includes a first stage and a second stage. In the first stage, a control device allocated to the charging station receives a terminal-side proof of authorization transmitted from a mobile terminal device. The first personal authorization of the charging station user is verified on the basis of the terminal-side proof of authorization, without any action of the charging station user being required. With the given first authorization, the charging cable is released. In the second stage, the vehicle-side proof of authorization is received and verified after the vehicle has been connected to the charging cable, whereupon in response to verification of the vehicle-side proof of authorization, a second authorization is carried out, due to which the charging operation is approved.

Claims

1. A method for a two-stage authorization of a charging operation at a charging station, comprising:

receiving, by a control device allocated to the charging station, a terminal-side proof of authorization transmitted by a mobile terminal via a near-field communication link, the charging station charging a vehicle via a charging cable;

verifying the terminal-side proof of authorization by the control device and, in response to verification of the terminal-side proof of authorization, establishing a first authorization,

releasing the charging cable due to the first authorization;

receiving a vehicle-side proof of authorization by the control device;

verifying the vehicle-side proof of authorization by the control device and, in response to verification of the vehicle-side proof of authorization, establishing a second authorization; and

approving the charging operation due to the second authorization.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal device is carried by a charging station user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal device is a Smart Watch or a Smart Phone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the charging cable is released by releasing a vehicle-side plug at one end of the charging cable.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the charging cable is released by unlocking of the plug.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the charging cable is released by opening a cover covering the plug.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the near-field communication link operates a local radio network according to a communication standard of the standard family IEEE 802.11.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the near-field communication link operates a local radio network according to a communication standard IEEE 802.15.1.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the near-field communication link operates a local radio network according to Bluetooth specification 4.2.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the verification of at least one proof of authorization is performed, in part, in cooperation with at least one authorization server.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a cryptographically protected data link is established via the near-field communication link.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the terminal-side proof of authorization and/or the vehicle-side proof of authorization comprise a digital certificate.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein a digital certificate comprises the terminal-side proof of authorization and/or the vehicle-side proof of authorization.

14-15. -15. (canceled)

16. An apparatus for two-stage authorization of a charging operation at a charging station, the apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory, the at least one processor configured;

to receive, from a control device allocated to the charging station, a terminal-side proof of authorization transmitted by a mobile terminal via a near-field communication link, the charging station configured for charging a vehicle via a charging cable;

to verify the terminal-side proof of authorization and, in response to verification of the terminal-side proof of authorization, establish a first authorization,

to release the charging cable in response to the first authorization;

to receive a vehicle-side proof of authorization from the control device;

to verify the vehicle-side proof of authorization by the control device and, in response to a positive result of verification of the vehicle-side proof of authorization, establish a second authorization; and

to approve the charging operation in response to the second authorization.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the mobile terminal device is carried by a charging station user.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the mobile terminal device is a Smart Watch or a Smart Phone.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to release the charging cable by releasing a vehicle-side plug at one end of the charging cable.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to release the charging cable by unlocking the plug.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to release the charging cable by opening a cover covering the plug.

22. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the near-field communication link operates a local radio network according to a communication standard of the standard family IEEE 802.11.