AUTHORIZATION IN A NETWORKED ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING SYSTEM

• US 20100315197A1
• Filed: 07/23/2009
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chargepoint, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Chargepoint, Inc.
• Inventors: Mandal, Praveen, Bhade, Harjinder, Tormey, Milton, Lowenthal, Richard, Baxter, David, Solomon, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,354,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from 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 90/167 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

Networked electric vehicle charging stations for charging electric vehicles are coupled with an electric vehicle charging station network server that performs authorization for charging session requests while the communication connection between the charging stations and the server are operating correctly. When the communication connection is not operating correctly, the networked electric vehicle charging stations enter into a local authorization mode to perform a local authorization process for incoming charging session requests.

Claims

1. A method for high quality of service for a networked electric vehicle charging station in an unreliable network, wherein the networked electric vehicle charging station is coupled with an electric vehicle charging station network server that performs profile based authorization during regular operation, and wherein the networked electric vehicle charging station communicates with the electric vehicle charging station network server over a communication connection, the method comprising:

transmitting charging session authorization requests to the electric vehicle charging station network server while the communication connection between the networked electric vehicle charging station and the electric vehicle charging station network server is functioning correctly; and

performing a local authorization of charging session requests while the communication connection between the networked electric vehicle charging station and the electric vehicle charging station network server is not functioning correctly.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the charging session requests includes an identifier, and wherein performing the local authorization for each of the charging session request includes the following:

comparing the identifier in that charging session request against a local authorization list to determine whether to grant the charging session request and initiate a charging session.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the local authorization list is a whitelist, and wherein the method further comprises granting that charging session request upon determining that the identifier is represented on the whitelist and denying that charging session request upon determining that the identifier is not represented on the whitelist.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the local authorization list is a blacklist, and wherein the method further comprises denying that charging session request upon determining that the identifier is represented on the blacklist and granting that charging session request upon determining that the identifier is not represented on the blacklist.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

storing charging session data for those charging sessions initiated while the communication connection between the networked electric vehicle charging station and the electric vehicle charging station network server is not functioning correctly; and

transmitting the stored charging session data to the electric vehicle charging station network server upon determining that the communication connection being restored.

6. A method for high quality of service for a networked electric vehicle charging station in an unreliable network, wherein the networked electric vehicle charging station is coupled with an electric vehicle charging station network server, the method comprising:

receiving a first charging session request that includes a first identifier to request a charging session between a first electric vehicle and the networked electric vehicle charging station;

performing a restricted list authorization procedure for the first identifier received in the first charging session request, wherein the restricted list authorization determines whether the first identifier belongs to a group of identifiers that can use the charging station at a time when the first charging session request is received, and wherein a result of the restricted list authorization procedure indicates that the first identifier passes the restricted list authorization procedure;

generating and transmitting a first charging session authorization request to the electric vehicle charging station network server to perform a profile based authorization process for the first identifier, wherein the first charging session authorization request includes the first identifier;

receiving a charging session authorization reply from the electric vehicle charging station network server that indicates whether to grant or deny the first charging session request; and

granting or denying the first charging session authorization request as indicated by the received charging session authorization reply.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a second charging session request that includes a second identifier to request a charging session between a second electric vehicle and the networked electric vehicle charging station;

performing a restricted list authorization procedure for the second identifier received in the second charging session request, wherein the restricted list authorization determines whether the second identifier belongs to a group of identifiers that can use the charging station at a time when the second charging session request is received, and wherein a result of the restricted list authorization procedure indicates that the second identifier fails the restricted list authorization procedure; and

denying the second charging initiation request without performing a profile based authorization process.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the networked electric vehicle charging station is coupled with the electric vehicle charging station network server through a data control unit that is remote from the networked electric vehicle charging station, wherein the networked electric vehicle charging station communicates with the data control unit via a local area network (LAN) communication link and the data control unit communicates with the electric vehicle charging station network server over a wide area network (WAN) communication link.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

wherein the performing of the restricted list authorization procedure for the first identifier includes the following;

comparing the first identifier in the first charging session request with one or more restricted lists, and

determining that at least an organizational section portion of the first identifier is on one or more of the one or more restricted lists; and

wherein the performing of the restricted list authorization procedure for the second identifier includes the following;

comparing the second identifier in the second charging session request with one or more restricted lists, and

determining that at least an organizational section portion of the second identifier is not on the one or more restricted lists.

10. A networked electric vehicle charging station for charging electric vehicles, comprising:

a charging point connection to couple electric vehicles to a power line coupled with a power grid;

an electricity control device coupled with the charging point connection to control the flow of electricity to the charging point connection;

a transceiver to communicate directly or indirectly with an electric vehicle charging station network server;

a charging station controller coupled with the electricity control device, the current measuring device, the transceiver, and the configuration/operator data store, the charging station controller to perform the following;

receive charging session requests each including an identifier;

for those charging session requests that are received while the communication connection between the networked electric vehicle charging station and the electric vehicle charging station network server is operating correctly, performing the following for each of those charging session requests;

generate a charging session authorization request that includes the identifier included in that charging session request,

transmit the charging session authorization request to the electric vehicle charging station network server for profile based authorization, and

receive a charging session authorization reply from the electric vehicle charging station network server that indicates whether to grant or deny that charging session request, wherein the controller is to cause the electricity control device to energize the charging point connection responsive to receipt of a charging session authorization reply that indicates a granting of that charging session request;

for those charging session requests that are received while the communication connection between the networked electric vehicle charging station and the electric vehicle charging station network server is not operating correctly, performing the following for each of those charging session requests;

perform a local authorization procedure for that charging session request based on the identifier included in that charging session request;

for those charging session requests that pass the local authorization procedure, cause the electricity control device to energize the charging point connection; and

for those charging session request that fail the local authorization procedure, reject the charging session request.

11. The networked electric vehicle charging station of claim 10, further comprising

a data store coupled with the charging station controller, the data store to store one or more local authorization lists to be used by charging station controller during performance of the local authorization procedure;

and

wherein the local authorization procedure for each charging session request includes a comparison of the identifier included in that charging session request with the one or more local authorization lists to determine whether to grant or deny the charging session request.

12. The networked electric vehicle charging station of claim 11, wherein the one or more local authorization lists are whitelists.

13. The networked electric vehicle charging station of claim 11, wherein the one or more local authorization lists are blacklists.

14. The networked electric vehicle charging station of claim 11, further comprising:

a current measuring device coupled with the charging point connection to measure electric current flowing on the power line through the charging point connection and provide current data to the charging station controller for charging sessions;

wherein while the communication connection between the networked electric vehicle charging station and the electric vehicle charging station network server is operating correctly, the charging station controller is to store the current data for the charging sessions along with other charging session data; and

the charging station controller to transmit the stored charging session data to the electric vehicle charging station network server responsive to the communication connection between the networked electric vehicle charging station and the electric vehicle charging station network server being restored.

15-23. -23. (canceled)