Method and system for creating an alternative energy vehicle supply station network

• US 9,753,614 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2013
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lightening Energy
• Original Assignee: Lightening Energy
• Inventors: Epstein, Michael L., McNellis, Ryan, Katz, Greg, Dyer, Christopher K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alhija, Saif
• Application Number:
  US14/012,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20130346902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,469 Days
• Field of Search: 703 1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• 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: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/18 Network design, e.g. design based on topological or interconnect aspects of utility systems, piping, heating ventilation air conditioning [HVAC] or cabling circuit design at the physical level G06F30/39; network planning tools for wireless communication networks H04W16/18
• 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

Abstract

A computer implemented method for creating an alternative energy vehicle supply station network is provided. The method includes displaying selectable potential alternative energy vehicle supply stations to users via a graphical user interface displayed on remote devices, the potential alternative energy vehicle supply stations being selectable by each of the users of remote devices to submit at least one preference of each user as a user submission; updating a memory of a computer to include the user submissions; processing, by a processor of the computer, the user submissions as a function of preselected criteria; and outputting, by the computer, the potential alternative energy vehicle supply stations satisfying the preselected criteria.

Claims

1. A method for creating an alternative energy vehicle supply station network comprising:

displaying selectable potential alternative energy vehicle supply stations to users via a graphical user interface displayed on remote devices, the potential alternative energy vehicle supply stations being selectable by each of the users of remote devices to submit at least one preference of each user as a user submission, each of the at least one preference including at least one of the potential alternative energy vehicle supply stations;

updating a memory of a computer to include the user submissions;

processing, by a processor of the computer, the user submissions by running the preferences through a model defining preselected criteria stored in the memory and determining which of the potential alternative energy vehicle supply stations satisfy the preselected criteria, the model including a solver for satisfying the preselected criteria by identifying a minimal number of potential alternative energy vehicle supply stations satisfying the potential alternative energy vehicle supply stations in the preferences of each of the users for minimal constructions costs;

outputting, by the computer, the potential alternative energy vehicle supply stations satisfying the preselected criteria by transmitting the potential alternative energy vehicle supply stations identified by the solver to each of the users to inform the users that the potential alternative energy vehicle supply stations identified by the solver have been selected for construction; and

constructing at least one of the outputted potential alternative energy supply stations.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising requesting, by the computer, geographical information via the graphical user interface.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the displaying selectable potential alternative energy vehicle supply stations includes modifying the graphical user interface in response to the geographical information.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the outputting includes generating a request that the users submit a commitment regarding the potential alternative energy vehicle supply stations satisfying the preselected criteria.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the processing the user submissions includes processing, by the processor of the computer, the user submissions as a function of the preselected criteria when the number of user submissions reaches a predetermine value.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the potential alternative energy vehicle supply stations are electric vehicle battery charging stations.

7. A method for creating an alternative energy vehicle supply station network comprising:

displaying selectable potential alternative energy vehicle supply stations on to users via graphical user interfaces displayed on remote devices, the potential alternative energy vehicle supply stations being selectable by each of the users of remote devices to submit at least one preference of each user as a user submission, each of the at least one preference including a location and a specified radius each user is willing to drive from the location to use an alternative energy vehicle supply station;

updating a memory of a computer to include the user submissions;

processing, by a processor of the computer, the user submissions by running the preferences through a model defining preselected criteria stored in the memory and determining which of the potential alternative energy vehicle supply stations satisfy the preselected criteria, the model configured for satisfying the preselected criteria by identifying a minimal number of potential alternative energy vehicle supply stations within each of the specified radii of the users for minimal constructions costs;

outputting, by the computer, the potential alternative energy vehicle supply stations satisfying the preselected criteria by transmitting the potential alternative energy vehicle supply stations identified by the model to each of the users to inform the users that the potential alternative energy vehicle supply stations identified by the model have been selected for construction; and

constructing at least one of the outputted potential alternative energy supply stations.