Methods, Systems, and Products for Charging Batteries

• US 20130317979A1
• Filed: 07/19/2013
• Published: 11/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: MARATHE, NIKHIL S., BALDWIN, CHRISTOPHER F., KENNY, PATRICK JOHN, KHOSHABA, SHADI, STAHULAK, CHARLES, BARNES, BRUCE
• Application Number:
  US13/945,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20130317979A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/60 Monitoring or controlling charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• 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

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products charge a battery in a vehicle. A charging station selects charging parameters based on a vehicle identification number associated with the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

establishing an initial communication between a vehicle and a charging station;

establishing, during the initial communication, an expected voltage for charging a battery in the vehicle;

terminating the initial communication between the vehicle and the charging station;

receiving, at the vehicle, electrical power from the charging station;

comparing a voltage of the electrical power to the expected voltage established during the initial communication;

determining a match between the voltage and the expected voltage; and

authorizing charging the battery in the vehicle in response to the match.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing a payment for the electrical power.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising retrieving a credit card number for the payment.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising retrieving billing information for the payment.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a vehicle identification number during the initial communication.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising determining the expected voltage based on the vehicle identification number.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising terminating the electrical power.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise processing a payment for the electrical power.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving a credit card number for the payment.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving billing information for the payment.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a vehicle identification number during the initial communication.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise determining the expected voltage based on the vehicle identification number.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise terminating the electrical power.

8. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing code that when executed causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

establishing an initial communication between a smartphone and a charging station;

establishing, during the initial communication, an expected voltage for charging a battery in a vehicle;

terminating the initial communication between the smartphone and the charging station;

receiving, at the vehicle, electrical power from the charging station;

comparing a voltage of the electrical power to the expected voltage established during the initial communication;

determining a match between the voltage and the expected voltage; and

authorizing charging the battery in the vehicle in response to the match.

15. A memory storing instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

establishing communication between a vehicle and a charging station;

retrieving a vehicle identification number associated with the vehicle;

selecting a voltage based on the vehicle identification number;

receiving electrical power from an electrical grid;

transforming the electrical power to the voltage based on the vehicle identification number; and

sending transformed electrical power from the charging station to charge a battery in the vehicle.

16. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise processing a payment for the electrical power.

17. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise metering the electrical power consumed during charging the battery.

18. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise terminating the electrical power.

19. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise querying for payment of the electrical power.

20. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise associating the vehicle identification number to a credit card number.