System and method for roaming billing for electric vehicles
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle charging station for use with a system for transmitting charging power to an electric vehicle, said vehicle charging station configured to:
- communicatively couple to the electric vehicle;
electrically couple to the electric vehicle via a connector;
receive a unique identifier from the electric vehicle, wherein the unique identifier is associated with a preferred provider;
transmit the unique identifier to a server;
receive, from the server, a determination of the preferred provider associated with the unique identifier;
receive, from the server, a determination of an account associated with the unique identifier;
determine a present balance of the account based on the unique identifier;
deliver a quantity of electrical charging power to the electric vehicle via the connector from a roaming third party provider that is different than the preferred provider when the determined present balance of the account meets or exceeds a predetermined amount;
when the determined present balance of the account does not meet the predetermined amount;
deny access to electrical charging power;
increase the determined present balance of the account to meet the predetermined amount; and
deliver the quantity of electrical charging power to the electric vehicle via the connector from the roaming third party provider that is different than the preferred provider; and
meter the quantity of electrical charging power delivered to the electric vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle charging station for use with a system for transmitting charging power to an electric vehicle is configured to receive a unique identifier from the electric vehicle and determine a preferred electrical charging power provider based on the identifier. Vehicle charging station is further configured to determine an account associated with the preferred provider and with the identifier, deliver a quantity of electrical charging power to the electric vehicle, and meter the quantity of electrical charging power delivered to the electric vehicle.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A vehicle charging station for use with a system for transmitting charging power to an electric vehicle, said vehicle charging station configured to:
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communicatively couple to the electric vehicle; electrically couple to the electric vehicle via a connector; receive a unique identifier from the electric vehicle, wherein the unique identifier is associated with a preferred provider; transmit the unique identifier to a server; receive, from the server, a determination of the preferred provider associated with the unique identifier; receive, from the server, a determination of an account associated with the unique identifier; determine a present balance of the account based on the unique identifier; deliver a quantity of electrical charging power to the electric vehicle via the connector from a roaming third party provider that is different than the preferred provider when the determined present balance of the account meets or exceeds a predetermined amount; when the determined present balance of the account does not meet the predetermined amount; deny access to electrical charging power; increase the determined present balance of the account to meet the predetermined amount; and deliver the quantity of electrical charging power to the electric vehicle via the connector from the roaming third party provider that is different than the preferred provider; and meter the quantity of electrical charging power delivered to the electric vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A vehicle charging system for use in charging an electric vehicle, said system comprising:
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a vehicle charging station coupled to a server system, said vehicle charging station configured to; communicatively couple to the electric vehicle; electrically couple to the electric vehicle via a connector; receive a unique identifier from the electric vehicle, wherein the unique identifier is associated with a preferred provider; transmit the unique identifier to said server system; receive, from said server system, a determination of the preferred provider associated with the unique identifier; receive, from said server system, a determination of an account associated with the unique identifier; determine a present balance of the account based on the unique identifier; deliver a quantity of electrical charging power to the electric vehicle via the connector from a roaming third party provider that is different than the preferred provider when the determined present balance of the account meets or exceeds a predetermined amount; when the determined present balance of the account does not meet the predetermined amount; deny access to electrical charging power; increase the determined present balance of the account to meet the predetermined amount; and deliver the quantity of electrical charging power to the electric vehicle via the connector from the roaming third party provider that is different than the preferred provider; and meter the quantity of electrical charging power delivered to the electric vehicle; and said server system configured to; determine the preferred provider based on the unique identifier; determine the account associated with the preferred provider and with the unique identifier; and determine a transaction amount based on the quantity of electrical charging power delivered to the electric vehicle by said vehicle charging station. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for charging an electric vehicle, said method comprising:
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communicatively coupling a vehicle charging station to the electric vehicle; electrically coupling the vehicle charging station to the electric vehicle via a connector; receiving a unique identifier from the electric vehicle, wherein the unique identifier is associated with a preferred provider; determining, by a processor, the preferred provider for the electric vehicle based on the unique identifier; determining, by the processor, an account associated with the preferred provider and the unique identifier; determining, by the processor, a present balance of the account based on the unique identifier; delivering a quantity of electrical charging power to the electric vehicle via the connector from a roaming third party provider that is different than the preferred provider when the determined present balance of the account meets or exceeds a predetermined amount; when the determined present balance of the account does not meet the predetermined amount; denying access to electrical charging power; increasing the determined present balance of the account to meet the predetermined amount; and delivering the quantity of electrical charging power to the electric vehicle via the connector from the roaming third party provider that is different than the preferred provider; and metering the quantity of electrical charging power delivered to the electric vehicle; and determining a transaction amount based on the quantity of electrical charging power delivered to the electric vehicle at the vehicle charging station. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification