METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE AUTHORIZATION OF AND PAYMENT FOR ELECTRIC CHARGING OF VEHICLES

• US 20080228613A1
• Filed: 03/10/2008
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel Alexander
• Original Assignee: Daniel Alexander
• Inventors: Alexander, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,885,893 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/003 for electricity
• 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

Methods and systems provide power to a mobile recipient and allow the recipient to pay for the power obtained by having it charged to an account other than the account for the location at which the power is provided.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating payment for mobile charging, comprising:

a. Obtaining from at least one account maintainer a list of accounts in good standing;

b. Obtaining a list of vehicle identification codes associated with vehicles potentially in need of charging;

c. For each of a plurality of vehicle identification codes on the said list of codes, validating the said code by associating the said code with an account on one of the said lists of accounts in good standing;

d. Generating a plurality of valid power-authorization codes;

e. Arranging with at least one charging station for that station to provide power to a vehicle which presents a valid power-authorization code;

f. Sending to at least one information exchange point a plurality of validated vehicle identification codes associated with accounts on the said lists of accounts in good standing, and a plurality of power-authorization codes; and

g. Authorizing the said at least one information exchange point to provide a power-authorization code to a vehicle that communicates to it a validated vehicle identification code, whereby the vehicle is facilitated to obtain power from a charging station upon presentation of the said power-authorization code.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

h. Receiving from at least one information exchange point information with respect to at least one provision of power, obtained from at least one charging station upon presentation of a power authorization code, associated with a validated vehicle identification code;

i. Associating the said information with respect to at least one provision of power with at least one account at an account maintainer; and

j. Forwarding to at least one account maintainer information with respect to at least one provision of power associated with an account.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein communications between the vehicle and at least one of the charging station and the information exchange point is by means of a device in the vehicle capable of at least one of being maintained in possession of an operator of the vehicle, and being removed and placed in another vehicle.

4. A system for facilitating payment for mobile charging, comprising a computer system with instructions disposed on a storage medium which when executed cause the system to:

a. Obtain from at least one account maintainer a list of accounts in good standing;

b. Obtain a list of vehicle identification codes associated with vehicles potentially in need of charging;

c. For each of a plurality of vehicle identification codes on the said list of codes, validate the said code by associating the said code with an account on one of the said lists of accounts in good standing;

d. Generate a plurality of valid power-authorization codes;

e. Arrange with at least one charging station for that station to provide power to a vehicle which presents a valid power-authorization code;

f. Send to at least one information exchange point a plurality of validated vehicle identification codes associated with accounts on the said lists of accounts in good standing, and a plurality of power-authorization codes; and

g. Authorize the said at least one information exchange point to provide a power-authorization code to a vehicle that communicates to it a validated vehicle identification code, whereby the vehicle is facilitated to obtain power from a charging station upon presentation of the said power-authorization code.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising instructions disposed on a storage medium which when executed cause the system to:

h. Receive from at least one information exchange point information with respect to at least one provision of power, obtained from at least one charging station upon presentation of a power authorization code, associated with a validated vehicle identification code;

i. Associate the said information with respect to at least one provision of power with at least one account at an account maintainer; and

j. Forward to at least one account maintainer information with respect to at least one provision of power associated with an account.

6. A method for facilitating payment for mobile charging, comprising:

a. Obtaining from at least one account maintainer a list of accounts in good standing;

b. Generating a plurality of valid power-authorization codes;

c. Arranging with at least one charging station for that station to provide power to a vehicle which presents a valid power-authorization code;

d. Sending to at least one information exchange point at least one list of accounts in good standing, and a plurality of power-authorization codes; and

e. Authorizing the said at least one information exchange point to provide a power-authorization code to a vehicle that communicates to it an, whereby the vehicle is facilitated to obtain power from a charging station upon presentation of the said power-authorization code.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

f. Receiving from at least one information exchange point information with respect to at least one provision of power, obtained from at least one charging station upon presentation of a power authorization code, associated with an account; and

g. Forwarding to at least one account maintainer information with respect to at least one provision of power associated with an account.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein communications between the vehicle and at least one of the charging station and the information exchange point is by means of a device in the vehicle capable of at least one of being maintained in possession of an operator of the vehicle, and being removed and placed in another vehicle.

9. A system for facilitating payment for mobile charging, comprising a computer system with instructions disposed on a storage medium which when executed cause the system to:

a. Obtain from at least one account maintainer a list of accounts in good standing;

b. Generate a plurality of valid power-authorization codes;

c. Arrange with at least one charging station for that station to provide power to a vehicle which presents a valid power-authorization code;

d. Send to at least one information exchange point at least one list of accounts in good standing, and a plurality of power-authorization codes; and

e. Authorize the said at least one information exchange point to provide a power-authorization code to a vehicle that communicates to it an account number on at least one of said lists of accounts in good standing, whereby the vehicle is facilitated to obtain power from a charging station upon presentation of the said power-authorization code.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising instructions disposed on a storage medium which when executed cause the system to:

f. Receive from at least one information exchange point information with respect to at least one provision of power, obtained from at least one charging station upon presentation of a power authorization code, associated with an account; and

g. Forward to at least one account maintainer information with respect to at least one provision of power associated with an account.

11. A method for facilitating payment for mobile charging of vehicles, comprising:

a. transmitting to at least one vehicle a set of at least one validation codes; and

b. arranging with at least one charging station for that station to provide power to at least one of said vehicles which presents at least one validation code from the said set of validation codes.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

c. utilizing at least one of said vehicles for onward transport of power usage and associated account identification information; and

d. obtaining the said power usage and associated account identification from the said at least one of said vehicles.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of said vehicles interacts with the said charging stations to deliver said set of validation codes.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

c. utilizing at least one of said vehicles to deliver said set of validation codes.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

c. using a communicating vehicle for onward transport of power usage and associated account identification information; and

d. obtaining the said power usage and associated account identification from the said least one of said vehicles.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

c. using a communicating vehicle to deliver said set of validation codes.

17. A method for facilitating payment for mobile charging, comprising:

a. Arranging with at least one charging station for that station to provide power to a vehicle which presents a valid power-authorization code;

b. Receiving from an information exchange point a vehicle identification code associated with a vehicle;

c. Obtaining from an account maintainer verification that said vehicle identification code is associated with an account in good standing;

d. Providing a power-authorization code to the said information exchange point; and

e. Authorizing the said information exchange point to provide said power-authorization code to said vehicle, whereby the said vehicle is facilitated to obtain power from a charging station upon presentation of the said power-authorization code.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

f. Receiving from at least one information exchange point information with respect to a provision of power associated with said vehicle, said power having been obtained from a charging station upon presentation of said power authorization code; and

g. Forwarding to said account maintainer said information with respect to said provision of power for association with said account.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein communications between the vehicle and charging station and information exchange point is by means of a device in the vehicle capable of at least one of being maintained in possession of an operator of the vehicle, and being removed and placed in another vehicle.