Maintaining energy principal preferences in a vehicle

• US 8,498,763 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2008
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hafner, James Lee, Harrison, Colin George, O'Mara, Melissa Wiltsey, Williamson, Paul Stuart
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIPALA, EDWARD J
• Application Number:
  US12/139,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20090312903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,870 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/22, 701 29- 33, 701/35, 701/36, 701/123, 701/29.1, 701/29.6, 701/31.4, 701/32.3, 180/65.1, 180/65.29, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.7, 705/1.1, 705/7.12, 705/7.22, 705/13, 705/14.1, 705/400, 705/412
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/36 of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/64 Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
• 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 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/008 Rewarding for providing delivery of electricity to the network
• 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 30/14 Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for managing user preferences associated with charging transactions for electric vehicles. In one embodiment, a set of principals associated with a charging transaction for an electric vehicle is identified in response to receiving a request for a set of preferences from an energy transaction planner. The vehicle preference service is located on the electric vehicle. The set of preferences are retrieved from a plurality of preferences. The set of preferences comprises a subset of preferences for each principal in the set of principals. A preference in the set of preferences specifies a parameter of the charging transaction that is to be minimized, maximized, or optimized. The set of preferences are sent to an energy transaction planner.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of managing user preferences associated with charging transactions for electric vehicles, the computer implemented method comprising:

receiving a request for a set of preferences associated with a charging transaction for an electric vehicle from an energy transaction planner, wherein the request is received by a vehicle preference service included within the electric vehicle;

responsive to a vehicle preference service receiving a request for a set of preferences associated with a charging transaction for an electric vehicle from an energy transaction planner, identifying a set of principals associated with the charging transaction for the electric vehicle, wherein a principal in the set of principals is an entity having an interest in the charging transaction for the electric vehicle, and wherein the charging transaction is a transaction associated with at least one of charging the electric vehicle, storing electric power in an electric storage mechanism associated with the electric vehicle, and de-charging the electric vehicle;

responsive to identifying the set of principals associated with the charging transaction for the electric vehicle, retrieving the set of preferences from a plurality of preferences, by the vehicle preference service, wherein the set of preferences comprises a subset of preferences of the plurality of preferences for each principal in the set of principals, wherein a preference in the set of preferences specifies a parameter of the charging transaction that is to be minimized, maximized, or optimized, wherein the plurality of preferences comprises a maximum price per kilowatt hour to be paid by a party for electricity, a location where charging may occur, a location where charging may not occur, a rate of charging the electric vehicle, a minimum amount of charge, wherein each preference in the plurality of preferences is associated with a weighting value and wherein retrieving the set of preferences further comprises retrieving the weighting value associated with each preference in the set of preferences; and

sending the weighting value associated with the each preference in the set of preferences to the energy transaction planner, wherein the weighting value indicates a priority of each preference relative to other preferences in the set of preferences; and

sending the set of preferences to the energy transaction planner, by the vehicle transaction planner.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a selection of preferences from a principal in the set of principals to form selected preferences for the principal in the plurality of preferences, wherein the principal enters the selection of preferences using a user interface coupled to the electric vehicle, wherein the selection of preferences comprises prices at which electricity may be transferred from the electric vehicle and sold back to an electric grid; and

responsive to receiving an identification of the principal, associating the identification of the principal with the selected preferences for the principal.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2 wherein the identification is selected from a group consisting of a principal name, a password, a personal identification number, a fingerprint, a thumbprint, a retinal scan result, and an iris scan result.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to a determination that a principal is a new principal, creating a preferences template and prompting the new principal to select preferences;

receiving selected preferences from the new principal through a user interface; and

storing the selected preferences for the new principal in the plurality of preferences.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to a determination that a principal has previously selected preferences to form current selected preferences, retrieving the current selected preferences for the principal and presenting the current selected preferences to the principal;

responsive to receiving a selection to enter changes to the current selected preferences by the principal, prompting the principal to enter the changes to the current selected preferences;

receiving the changes to the current selected preferences; and

storing the changes to the current selected preferences in a data storage device to form updated preferences for the principal.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein retrieving the set of preferences from the plurality of preferences further comprises:

responsive to identifying a temporary preference in the subset of preferences for a given principal, determining whether the temporary preference is valid, wherein a temporary preference is a preference that is only valid until a predetermined condition occurs; and

responsive to a determination that the temporary preference is valid, including the temporary preference in the subset of preferences for the given principal.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein retrieving the set of preferences from the plurality of preferences further comprises:

responsive to identifying a dynamic preference in the subset of preferences for a given principal, prompting the given principal to select a preference value for the dynamic preference, wherein the dynamic preference is a preference that requires a selection of a preference value by the given principal in real time as the subset of preferences is being generated;

receiving a selection of the preference value for the dynamic preference from the given principal; and

including the dynamic preference and the value selected for the dynamic preference in the subset of preferences.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein each preference in the set of preferences is associated with an indicator that indicates whether the preference is mandatory or optional, wherein all requirements of a mandatory preference are met during the charging transaction, and wherein the charging transaction is stopped in response to a determination that a mandatory preference is not met.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the principal is selected from a group consisting of an operator of the electric vehicle, an owner of the electric vehicle, an owner of a charging station, an operator of the charging station, an electric power provider of the owner of the electric vehicle, an electric power provider of the operator of the electric vehicle, an electric power provider of the owner of the charging station, a financial institution, and a third party broker.

10. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable storage medium including computer usable program code for managing user preferences associated with charging transactions for electric vehicles, the computer program product comprising;

computer usable program code for receiving a request for a set of preferences associated with a charging transaction for an electric vehicle from an energy transaction planner, wherein the request is received by a vehicle preference service included within the electric vehicle;

computer usable program code for identifying a set of principals associated with a charging transaction for an electric vehicle in response to a vehicle preference service receiving a request for preferences associated with the charging transaction for the electric vehicle from an energy transaction planner, wherein a principal in the set of principals is an entity having an interest in the charging transaction for the electric vehicle, and wherein the charging transaction is a transaction associated with at least one of charging the electric vehicle, storing electric power in an electric storage mechanism associated with the electric vehicle, and de-charging the electric vehicle;

computer usable program code, responsive to identifying the set of principals associated with the charging transaction for the electric vehicle, for retrieving the set of preferences from a plurality of preferences, by the vehicle preference service, wherein the set of preferences comprises a subset of preferences of the plurality of preferences for each principal in the set of principals, wherein a preference in the set of preferences specifies a parameter of the charging transaction that is to be minimized, maximized, or optimized, wherein the plurality of preferences comprises a maximum price per kilowatt hour to be paid by a party for electricity, a location where charging may occur, a location where charging may not occur, a rate of charging the electric vehicle, a minimum amount of charge, wherein each preference in the set of preferences is associated with a weighting value and further comprising computer usable program code for retrieving the weighting value associated with the each preference in the set of preferences and computer usable program code for sending the weighting value associated with the each preference in the set of preferences to the energy transaction planner, wherein the weighting value indicates a priority of each preference relative to other preferences in the set of preferences; and

computer usable program code for sending the set of preferences to the energy transaction planner, by the vehicle transaction planner.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 further comprising:

computer usable program code for creating a preferences template and prompting a principal to enter selected preferences in response to a determination that the principal is a new principal;

computer usable program code for receiving the preferences selected by the new principal through a user interface; and

computer usable program code for storing the preferences selected by the new principal to form selected preferences for the new principal in the plurality of preferences.

12. The computer program product of claim 10 further comprising:

computer usable program code for retrieving current selected preferences for a principal and presenting the current selected preferences to the principal in response to a determination that the principal has previously selected preferences to form the current selected preferences;

computer usable program code for prompting the principal to enter changes to the current preferences in response to receiving a selection to enter the changes to the current selected preferences by the principal;

computer usable program code for receiving the changes to the current selected preferences; and

computer usable program code for storing the changes to the current selected preferences in a data storage device to form updated preferences for the principal.

13. The computer program product of claim 10 further comprising:

computer usable program code for prompting a principal to select a preference value for a dynamic preference in response to identifying the dynamic preference in a subset of preferences for the principal in the set of preferences, wherein the dynamic preference is a preference that requires a selection of a preference value by the principal in real time as the set of preferences is being generated;

computer usable program code for receiving a selection of the preference value for the dynamic preference; and

computer usable program code for including the dynamic preference and the value selected for the dynamic preference in the set of preferences.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a bus system;

a communications system coupled to the bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes computer usable program code; and

a processing unit coupled to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the computer usable program code to receive a request for a set of preferences associated with a charging transaction for an electric vehicle from an energy transaction planner, wherein the request is received by a vehicle preference service included within the electric vehicle;

identify a principal associated with a charging transaction for an electric vehicle in response to a vehicle preference service receiving a request for a set of preferences associated with the charging transaction for the electric vehicle from an energy transaction planner, wherein the principal is an entity having an interest in the charging transaction for the electric vehicle, and wherein the charging transaction is a transaction associated with at least one of charging the electric vehicle, storing electric power in an electric storage mechanism associated with the electric vehicle, and de-charging the electric vehicle;

responsive to identifying the set of principals associated with the charging

transaction for the electric vehicle, retrieve the set of preferences from a plurality of preferences, by the vehicle preference service, wherein the set of preferences comprises a subset of preferences of the plurality of preferences for each principal in the set of principals, wherein a preference in the set of preferences specifies a parameter of the charging transaction that is to be minimized, maximized, or optimized, wherein the plurality of preferences comprises a maximum price per kilowatt hour to be paid by a party for electricity, a location where charging may occur, a location where charging may not occur, a rate of charging the electric vehicle, a minimum amount of charge, wherein each preference in the set of preferences is associated with a weighting value, and wherein the processor unit further executes the computer usable program code to retrieve the weighting value associated with each preference in the set of preferences; and

send the weighting value associated with the each preference in the set of preferences to the energy transaction planner, wherein the weighting value indicates a priority of each preference relative to other preferences in the set of preferences; and

send the set of preferences to the energy transaction planner, by the vehicle transaction planner.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the processor unit further executes the computer usable program code to retrieve current selected preferences for a principal and present the current selected preferences to the principal in response to a determination that the principal has previously selected preferences to form the current selected preferences;

prompt the principal to enter changes to the current selected preferences in response to receiving a selection to enter the changes to the current selected preferences by the principal;

receive the changes to the current selected preferences; and

store the changes to the current selected preferences in a data storage device to form updated preferences for the principal.

16. A vehicle preference service on an electric vehicle comprising:

a planner interface, wherein the planner interface receives a request for a set of preferences for an identified principal associated with a charging transaction for the electric vehicle from an energy transaction planner, and wherein the planner interface sends the set of preferences responsive to the request to the energy transaction planner, wherein the identified principal is an entity having an interest in the charging transaction for the electric vehicle, wherein the charging transaction is a transaction associated with at least one of charging the electric vehicle, storing electric power in an electric storage mechanism associated with the electric vehicle, and de-charging the electric vehicle; and

a preference manager, wherein the preference manager retrieves the set of preferences from a plurality of preferences stored on the electric vehicle for the identified principal, wherein a preference in the set of preferences specifies a parameter of the charging transaction that is to be minimized, maximized, or optimized, wherein the plurality of preferences comprises a maximum price per kilowatt hour to be paid by a party for electricity, a location where charging may occur, a location where charging may not occur, a rate of charging the electric vehicle, a minimum amount of charge, wherein each preference in the set of preferences is associated with a weighting value, and wherein the processor unit further executes the computer usable program code to retrieve the weighting value associated with each preference in the set of preferences; and

send the weighting value associated with the each preference in the set of preferences to the energy transaction planner, wherein the weighting value indicates a priority of each preference relative to other preferences in the set of preferences.

17. The vehicle preference service of claim 16 further comprising:

a user input/output interface, wherein the user input/output interface receives an identification of a principal and associates the identification of the principal with the set of preferences created by the principal in response to the principal creating the set of preferences.