Electric vehicle charging station with integrated camera
First Claim
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1. A smart Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE), the smart EVSE comprising:
- a body having an exterior surface;
a camera unit integrated with the body, the camera unit having a camera disposed on the exterior surface, the camera is communicatively coupled to a server via a communications network, wherein the camera unit including;
a processor configured to receive authentication information of a user of the smart EVSE over the communications network, anda storage device configured to store the authentication information locally at the smart EVSE,wherein the processor is configured to compare the stored authentication information with information acquired from the camera to ascertain an identity of the user of the smart EVSE,wherein the camera is configured to read a graphic image from a mobile device of a user of the smart EVSE or a graphic image affixed on a vehicle of the user to make a payment authentication, wherein the graphic image is a 3D authentication code;
a media storage device to store the information acquired from the camera and store the EVSE usage information including a specific time when the smart EVSE is used and an amount of energy used at the specific time,wherein the processor is further configured to report the EVSE usage information via the communications network based on the stored authentication information and the information acquired from the camera;
a short-range communications module for providing short-range wireless communications including Bluetooth communications;
a motion sensor that is responsive to motion;
an enclosure that is tamper resistant, the enclosure to house the camera of the camera unit; and
a communication module coupled to the camera unit, wherein the communication module to transmit an alert signal to a camera application (APP) installed on a mobile device of an operator to cause the camera APP to indicate that motion has been detected.
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Abstract
An electric vehicle charging station such as a smart Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) with an integrated camera is provided. A networked on-charging station camera unit disposed either internally to the smart EVSE or connected externally on the smart EVSE. The camera unit includes at least one of a video camera and a still image camera. A communication module is coupled to the camera unit to communicate acquired camera data over a camera connection to a server or to a mobile device of a user over one or more public networks, one or more private networks, or a combination of one or more public networks and one or more private networks.
9 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A smart Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE), the smart EVSE comprising:
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a body having an exterior surface; a camera unit integrated with the body, the camera unit having a camera disposed on the exterior surface, the camera is communicatively coupled to a server via a communications network, wherein the camera unit including; a processor configured to receive authentication information of a user of the smart EVSE over the communications network, and a storage device configured to store the authentication information locally at the smart EVSE, wherein the processor is configured to compare the stored authentication information with information acquired from the camera to ascertain an identity of the user of the smart EVSE, wherein the camera is configured to read a graphic image from a mobile device of a user of the smart EVSE or a graphic image affixed on a vehicle of the user to make a payment authentication, wherein the graphic image is a 3D authentication code; a media storage device to store the information acquired from the camera and store the EVSE usage information including a specific time when the smart EVSE is used and an amount of energy used at the specific time, wherein the processor is further configured to report the EVSE usage information via the communications network based on the stored authentication information and the information acquired from the camera; a short-range communications module for providing short-range wireless communications including Bluetooth communications; a motion sensor that is responsive to motion; an enclosure that is tamper resistant, the enclosure to house the camera of the camera unit; and a communication module coupled to the camera unit, wherein the communication module to transmit an alert signal to a camera application (APP) installed on a mobile device of an operator to cause the camera APP to indicate that motion has been detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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integrating a camera with a body of a smart Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE); communicatively coupling the camera to a server via a communications network; providing a short-range communications module in the smart EVSE for providing short-range wireless communications including Bluetooth communications; providing a motion sensor at the smart EVSE that is responsive to motion; providing an enclosure that is tamper resistant, the enclosure to house the camera; providing a communication module coupled to the camera, wherein the communication module to transmit an alert signal to a camera application (APP) installed on a mobile device of an operator to cause the camera APP to indicate that motion has been detected; acquiring information from the camera; receiving authentication information of a user of the smart EVSE over the communications network; storing the authentication information locally at the smart EVSE; comparing the stored authentication information with the information acquired from the camera to ascertain an identity of the user of the smart EVSE; reading a graphic image from a mobile device of the user of the smart EVSE to make a payment authentication, wherein the graphic image is a 3D authentication code; storing EVSE usage information, wherein the EVSE usage information including a specific time when the smart EVSE is used and an amount of energy used at the specific time; and reporting the EVSE usage information via the communications network based on the stored authentication information and the information acquired from the camera.
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Specification