Pairing of a battery monitor to a communication device

• US 9,013,323 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
• Inventors: Grothaus, Brent J., Winner, Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jiang, Yong Hang
• Application Number:
  US13/832,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20140266779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 340/855.8, 340/531, 340/539.26, 340/693.1, 340/7.2, 340/333, 340/3.1, 340/3.7, 324/426, 324/427, 324/428, 324/429, 324/430, 324/431, 324/432, 324/433, 324/434, 324/435, 324/436, 455/572, 455/573, 455/574, 455/41.2, 455/41.3
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/06 Lead-acid accumulators semi-lead accumulators H01M10/20
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• 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 battery monitor is paired to a communication device, e.g., as provided on an industrial vehicle, battery charger, etc., for wireless communication. Pairing is implemented by transmitting an encoded message from the communication device to a load. The encoded message is detected by the battery monitor, by sensing changes in a characteristic of the battery that occur responsive to the communication device transmitting the encoded message to the load. The battery monitor then converts the encoded message into a discovery parameter. A paired wireless connection is set up between the communication device and the battery monitor using the discovery parameter such that the battery monitor and communication device wirelessly communicate thereafter.

Claims

1. A method of pairing a communication device to a battery monitor that monitors a battery, the method comprising:

detecting, by the battery monitor, an encoded message by sensing changes in a characteristic of the battery that occurs responsive to the communication device transmitting the encoded message to a component not associated with the battery monitor;

converting, by the battery monitor, the encoded message into a discovery parameter;

setting up a paired wireless connection with the communication device using the discovery parameter; and

using the paired wireless connection thereafter, to wirelessly communicate information between the battery monitor and the communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

detecting, by the battery monitor, an encoded message, comprises using a sensor coupled to the battery monitor to detect current drawn from the battery responsive to the communication device transmitting the encoded message to the component, where the component is a load external to the battery monitor.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by the battery monitor, a triggering event; and

waiting for the encoded message, by the battery monitor, in response to detecting the triggering event.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein detecting, by the battery monitor, a triggering event, comprises detecting a power cable being connected between the battery and an industrial vehicle, wherein the communication device is on the industrial vehicle and is powered by the battery.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery monitor is physically mounted on the battery, the battery is installed in an industrial vehicle, the communication device is provided on the industrial vehicle, and the characteristic of the battery sensed by the sensor is battery current, the method further comprising:

detecting an encoded message by detecting current being drawn from the battery to drive the component with the encoded message, where the encoded message corresponds to a unique identification known to the communication device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

converting, by the battery monitor, the encoded message into a discovery parameter, comprises converting the encoded message into a substitute MAC address; and

setting up a paired wireless connection with the communication device, comprises;

implementing, in the battery monitor, a discoverable mode by wirelessly broadcasting the substitute MAC address.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

converting, by the battery monitor, the encoded message into a discovery parameter, comprises converting the encoded message into a discovery name; and

setting up a paired wireless connection with the communication device using the discovery name, comprises;

implementing, in the battery monitor, a discoverable mode by wirelessly transmitting the discovery name as a broadcast name; and

receiving, by the battery monitor, a pairing request from the communication device in response to the communication device recognizing the discovery name based upon the encoded message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

converting, by the battery monitor, the encoded message into a discovery parameter, comprises converting the encoded message into a passkey; and

setting up a paired wireless connection with the communication device, comprises;

implementing, in the battery monitor, a discoverable mode by wirelessly transmitting a discovery name as a broadcast name; and

receiving, by the battery monitor, a pairing request from the communication device in response to the communication device recognizing the discovery name, and pairing with the communication device if the communication device transmits a security value that matches the passkey extracted from the encoded message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

converting, by the battery monitor, the encoded message into a discovery parameter, comprises converting the encoded message into a discovery name; and

setting up a paired wireless connection with the communication device using the discovery name, comprises;

implementing, by the battery monitor, a discoverable mode by searching names that are wirelessly broadcast for a match to the discovery name, which is broadcast by the communication device; and

issuing a pairing request from the battery monitor to the communication device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

setting up a paired wireless connection with the communication device using the discovery parameter, further comprises negotiating a passkey to authenticate the communication device and the battery monitor.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the negotiated passkey is received by the battery monitor as part of the encoded message.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing on the battery monitor, information related to the pairing with the communication device.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining the pairing with the communication device until a battery cable is disconnected from an industrial vehicle on which the communication device resides, independent of whether the industrial vehicle is powered on for normal operation.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein:

setting up a paired wireless connection with the communication device using the discovery parameter, comprises;

implementing a discoverable mode; and

issuing a pairing request to set up a paired wireless connection with the communication device, which is provided on an industrial vehicle, before the industrial vehicle is started for normal operation.

15. A method of pairing a battery monitor that monitors a battery, to a communication device, the method comprising:

transmitting, by the communication device, an encoded message to a component that is external to the battery monitor, so as to be detected by the battery monitor sensing changes in a characteristic of the battery responsive to the encoded message, where the encoded message corresponds to a unique discovery parameter;

setting up a paired wireless connection between the battery monitor and the communication device using the discovery parameter; and

using the paired wireless connection thereafter, to wirelessly communicate information between the battery monitor and the communication device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

booting up the communication device in response to power being connected between the battery and an industrial vehicle on which the communication device is provided, wherein;

transmitting, by the communication device, an encoded message to a component of the industrial vehicle, comprises transmitting the encoded message before the industrial vehicle is powered up for normal operation.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein transmitting, by the communication device, an encoded message to a component, further comprises:

converting the MAC address of the communication device into at least one component of the encoded message.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the component comprises an external load; and

the encoded message is transmitted by the communication device, to the external load, such that the battery monitor senses the current drawn from the battery responsive to the encoded message.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein transmitting, by the communication device, an encoded message comprises:

obtaining a unique code wirelessly from a server computer, the server computer remotely located from the communication device; and

transmitting, by the communication device, the unique code as the encoded message.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein:

transmitting, by the communication device, an encoded message, comprises providing a discovery name as at least part of the discovery parameter included in the encoded message;

setting up a paired wireless connection between the battery monitor and the communication device using the discovery parameter, comprises;

implementing a discoverable mode by wirelessly transmitting the discovery name as a broadcast name; and

receiving a pairing request from the battery monitor in response to the battery monitor recognizing the discovery name based upon the encoded message.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein:

transmitting, by the communication device, an encoded message, comprises providing a discovery name as at least part of the discovery parameter included in the encoded message;

setting up a paired wireless connection between the battery monitor and the communication device using the discovery name, comprises;

implementing a discoverable mode by searching names that are wirelessly broadcast for a match to the discovery name, where the battery monitor transmits the discovery name responsive to receiving the encoded message; and

issuing a pairing request from the communication device to the battery monitor.

22. A method of pairing a battery monitor that monitors a battery, to a communication device, the method comprising:

using a current sensor coupled to the battery monitor to detect an encoded message by sensing changes in battery current responsive to the communication device transmitting the encoded message to a load, where the load is electrically coupled to the communication device;

converting the encoded message into a discovery parameter;

setting up a paired wireless connection between the communication device and the battery monitor using the discovery parameter; and

using the paired wireless connection thereafter, to wirelessly communicate information between the battery monitor and the communication device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein:

transmitting the encoded message to a component comprises transmitting the encoded message to a load such that current is required from the battery to drive the encoded message across the load; and

using a sensor of the battery monitor comprises detecting the current required from the battery to drive the load according to the encoded message.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein:

converting the encoded message into a discovery parameter comprises converting the encoded message into a discovery name; and

setting up a paired wireless connection between the communication device and the battery monitor using the discovery parameter comprises broadcasting the discovery name.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein:

converting the encoded message into a discovery parameter comprises converting the encoded message into a substitute MAC address; and

setting up a paired wireless connection between the communication device and the battery monitor using the discovery parameter comprises broadcasting a discovery name and the substitute MAC address.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein:

converting the encoded message into a discovery parameter comprises converting the encoded message into a passkey; and

setting up a paired wireless connection between the communication device and the battery monitor using the discovery parameter comprises pairing the battery monitor to the communication device if the communication device conveys to the battery monitor, a security value that matches the passkey.