Remote power usage management for plug-in vehicles
First Claim
1. A remote command center, associated with a telematics service provider, for directing the recharging and billing of a plurality of distinctly identified plug-in vehicles, the remote command center comprising:
- a communication system configured to transmit charge authorizations to recharge each of the plurality of plug-in vehicles and to receive data related to power consumption from each of the plurality of plug-in vehicles, and to receive power generation data from a utility company, wherein each of the plurality of plug-in vehicles includes a vehicle data communications system for communicating with a remote command center over a data communication network;
a controller communicatively coupled to the communication system and configured to receive the data related to power consumption and to direct the charge authorizations based thereon, and to direct billing of user or vehicle accounts based on recharging of a corresponding vehicle, wherein directing the billing of a particular user or vehicle account includes;
determining whether a plug-in vehicle associated with the particular user or vehicle account is being recharged at a remote location;
billing the particular user or vehicle account for recharging costs only if the plug-in vehicle is determined as being recharged at a remote location;
consolidating the recharging costs with telematics service-related costs for telematics services provided to the plug-in vehicle by the remote command center in a consolidated bill; and
debiting the user or vehicle account for the consolidated costs based on the consolidated bill; and
a database communicatively coupled to the controller, the database configured to store the data related to power consumption during particular recharging of individual vehicles of the plurality of plug-in vehicles in association with corresponding user or vehicle accounts.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for controlling the charging of onboard energy storage systems of a plurality of plug-in vehicles using a remote command center. A system for directing the charging of a plurality of remotely located plug-in vehicles is provided. The system includes a communication system configured to transmit charging authorizations to charge each of the plurality of plug-in vehicles and to receive data related to power consumption from each of the plurality of plug-in vehicles. The system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the communication system and configured to receive the data related to power consumption and to direct the charge authorizations based thereon. A database is also included in the system and is communicatively coupled to the controller, with the database configured to store the data related to power consumption.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A remote command center, associated with a telematics service provider, for directing the recharging and billing of a plurality of distinctly identified plug-in vehicles, the remote command center comprising:
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a communication system configured to transmit charge authorizations to recharge each of the plurality of plug-in vehicles and to receive data related to power consumption from each of the plurality of plug-in vehicles, and to receive power generation data from a utility company, wherein each of the plurality of plug-in vehicles includes a vehicle data communications system for communicating with a remote command center over a data communication network; a controller communicatively coupled to the communication system and configured to receive the data related to power consumption and to direct the charge authorizations based thereon, and to direct billing of user or vehicle accounts based on recharging of a corresponding vehicle, wherein directing the billing of a particular user or vehicle account includes; determining whether a plug-in vehicle associated with the particular user or vehicle account is being recharged at a remote location; billing the particular user or vehicle account for recharging costs only if the plug-in vehicle is determined as being recharged at a remote location; consolidating the recharging costs with telematics service-related costs for telematics services provided to the plug-in vehicle by the remote command center in a consolidated bill; and debiting the user or vehicle account for the consolidated costs based on the consolidated bill; and a database communicatively coupled to the controller, the database configured to store the data related to power consumption during particular recharging of individual vehicles of the plurality of plug-in vehicles in association with corresponding user or vehicle accounts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 18, 19)
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10. A recharging system of a plug-in vehicle configured to recharge a battery of the vehicle, the recharging system comprising:
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a sensor configured to sense electric power received from a utility power source used to recharge the battery; a data storage device communicatively coupled to the sensor, the data storage device configured to store data related to the electric power and user or vehicle account information; and a data communication system communicatively coupled to the data storage device and configured to transmit a charge authorization request to a remote command center, to send user or vehicle account information to the remote command center, transmit the data related to the electric power to the remote command center, and to receive power generation data from a utility company associated with the utility power source, wherein the user or vehicle account information is utilized by the remote command center for charge authorization and billing associated with recharging of the vehicle; a positioning system, configured to determine whether a location where the plug-in vehicle is being recharged is a remote location, wherein the user or vehicle account is billed by the remote command center for recharging costs only if the plug-in vehicle is determined as being recharged at a remote location, with the user or vehicle account being billed using a consolidated bill that that consolidates the recharging costs with telematics service-related costs for telematics services provided to the plug-in vehicle by the remote command center. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method of charging a plurality of onboard energy storage systems of a plurality of plug-in vehicles, the method comprising:
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transmitting, by a remote command center, charge authorizations to recharge the plurality of onboard energy storage systems; receiving, by the remote command center, from the plurality of plug-in vehicles, data related to power consumption during the recharging of each of the plurality of onboard energy storage systems according to the charge authorizations and user or vehicle account data; receiving, by the remote command center, power generation data from one or more utility companies; determining, by the remote command center, whether a plug-in vehicle is being recharged at a remote location or a home location; determining, by the remote command center, an amount to bill a user or vehicle account associated with the plug-in vehicle for recharching costs only if the corresponding plug-in vehicle is determined as recharged at a remote location; and consolidating, by the remote command center, the recharging costs with telematics service-related costs for telematics services provided to the plug-in vehicle by the remote command center in a consolidated bill; and debiting, by the remote command center, the user or vehicle account for the consolidated costs based on the consolidated bill. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification