Authorization in a networked electric vehicle charging system

• US 8,354,913 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2009
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chargepoint, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Chargepoint, Inc.
• Inventors: Solomon, James, Tormey, Milton, Mandal, Praveen, Lowenthal, Richard, Bhade, Harjinder, Baxter, David
• Primary Examiner(s): SYED, NABIL H
• Application Number:
  US12/508,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20100315197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.2, 340/5.1, 340/5.5, 340/5.21, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340/10.42, 340/10.5, 340/539.23, 340/426.16, 340/5.28, 340/5.7, 340/5.82, 320/109, 320/108, 320/104, 700/282, 700/11, 700/22
• 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;

receiving a local authorization list;

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, wherein each of the charging session requests includes an identifier associated with an electric vehicle operator, and wherein performing the local authorization for each charging session request while the communication connection between the networked electric vehicle charging station and the electric vehicle charging station network server is not functioning correctly includes comparing the identifier associated with an electric vehicle operator included in that charging session request against the local authorization list to determine whether to grant the charging session request and initiate a charging session;

storing state 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 state data to the electric vehicle charging station network server upon determining that the communication connection is restored.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the local authorization list is a whitelist, and wherein the method further comprises granting a particular one of the charging session requests upon determining that the identifier included in that particular one of the charging session requests is represented on the whitelist and denying that particular one of the charging session requests upon determining that the identifier is not represented on the whitelist.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the local authorization list is a blacklist, and wherein the method further comprises denying a particular one of the charging session requests upon determining that the identifier included in that particular one of the charging session requests is represented on the blacklist and granting that particular one of the charging session requests upon determining that the identifier is not represented on the blacklist.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored state data for each of 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 includes a duration of that charging session.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored state data for each of 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 includes an amount of energy transferred.

4. 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 over a communication connection;

a data store to store a set of one or more local authorization lists;

a charging station controller coupled with the electricity control device and the transceiver the charging station controller to perform the following;

receive charging session requests each including an identifier that is associated with an electric vehicle operator;

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

for those charging session requests that pass the local authorization procedure, the charging station controller is adapted to perform the following;

cause the electricity control device to energize the charging point connection,

cause state data for a charging session corresponding to that charging session request to be stored in the data store, and

transmit the stored state data to the electric vehicle charging station network server when the communication connection between the networked electric vehicle charging station and the electric vehicle charging station network server is restored; and

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

5. The networked electric vehicle charging station of claim 4, wherein the one or more local authorization lists are whitelists.

6. The networked electric vehicle charging station of claim 4, wherein the one or more local authorization lists are blacklists.

7. The networked electric vehicle charging station of claim 4, 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; and

wherein the state data includes electric current data.

10. The networked electric vehicle charging station of claim 4, wherein the stored state data includes a duration of each of those charging sessions.