Electric vehicle charging transaction interface for managing electric vehicle charging transactions

• US 8,836,281 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2012
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Globalfoundries US Incorporated (GlobalFoundries, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ambrosio, Ronald, Ferro, Erica Haefner, Hafner, James L., Harrison, Colin G., Williamson, Paul S., O'Mara, Melissa W., Schurr, Allan J., Trekell, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gart, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRAWLEY, TALIA F
• Application Number:
  US13/431,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20120191524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1.1, 705/35, 705/8
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/36 of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/64 Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
• 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: B60L 55/00 Arrangements for supplying energy stored within a vehicle to a power network, i.e. vehicle-to-grid [V2G] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/00 Electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/003 for electricity
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/008 Rewarding for providing delivery of electricity to the network
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/08 with means for varying the tariff or changing the price
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• 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 10/126 : the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/12 : Billing, invoicing, buying or selling transactions or other related activities, e.g. cost or usage evaluation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/14 : Marketing, i.e. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a computer manages an electric vehicle charging transaction. A set of principals is identified associated with the charging transaction for an electric vehicle. A principal is an entity having an interest in the charging transaction. Electric vehicle charging information is retrieved from a set of sources. An energy transaction plan is generated during a pre-charge phase using the electric vehicle charging information and based on preferences of one or more principals to govern the charging transaction. The computer initiates a charging phase of the electric vehicle charging transaction for an electric vehicle connected to a charging station according to the energy transaction plan. The charging phase comprises charging the electric vehicle with electricity, storing electricity in the electric vehicle, and removing electricity to de-charge the electric vehicle. The computer settles the financial obligations among principals according to the energy transaction plan.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of managing an electric vehicle charging transaction, the computer implemented method comprising:

one or more processors identifying a set of principals associated with the electric vehicle charging transaction for an electric vehicle, wherein a principal in the set of principals is an entity having an interest in the electric vehicle charging transaction;

the one or more processors retrieving electric vehicle charging information from a set of sources;

the one or more processors generating an energy transaction plan by an energy transaction planner on the electric vehicle, for the electric vehicle during a pre-charge phase immediately prior to starting the electric vehicle charging transaction using the electric vehicle charging information and based on preferences of one or more principals, wherein the set of preferences associated with charging the electric vehicle comprises a subset of preferences for each principal in the set of principals authenticated by an authentication module, wherein a preference in the set of preferences specifies a parameter of the charging transaction that is to be minimized, maximized, or optimized to govern aspects of the charging transaction in a charging phase;

the one or more processors initiating the charging phase of the electric vehicle charging transaction for an electric vehicle connected to a charging station using an execution engine on the electric vehicle in accordance with an approved energy transaction plan, wherein the charging phase comprises at least one of charging the electric vehicle with electricity, storing electricity in an electric storage mechanism associated with the electric vehicle, and removing electricity from the electric storage mechanism to de-charge the electric vehicle; and

the one or more processors, responsive to completion of the charging phase, settling financial obligations of a subset of principals in the set of principals in accordance with the energy transaction plan.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to a determination that approval of the energy transaction plan by a subset of reviewing principals is required, sending the energy transaction plan to the subset of reviewing principals for approval; and

responsive to receiving approval from the subset of reviewing principals, using the energy transaction plan to manage a plurality of aspects of the electric vehicle charging transaction during the charging phase and the settling of the financial obligations of the subset of principals in the set of principals.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the electric vehicle charging information comprises a set of preferences, wherein the set of preferences comprises a subset of preferences for each principal in the set of principals, wherein a preference in the set of preferences specifies a parameter of the charging transaction that is to be minimized, maximized, or optimized.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 2 further comprising:

responsive to a determination that the energy transaction plan is a plan, including contractual relationships between all principals, generating a summary of the energy transaction plan; and

sending the summary of the energy transaction plan with a request for approval of the energy transaction plan to the subset of reviewing principals for review.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the electric vehicle charging information comprises information describing capabilities of devices associated with the electric vehicle and information describing a current state of the devices associated with the electric vehicle.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to detecting an interrupt condition, sending an incomplete charge notification to an execution engine; and

responsive to a determination that the electric vehicle is still connected to the charging station, requesting a new energy transaction plan.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein settling financial obligations of a subset of principals in the set of principals in accordance with the energy transaction plan further comprises:

identifying a set of payees;

calculating payment due to the set of payees; and

disbursing payments to the set of payees.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein settling financial obligations of a subset of principals in the set of principals in accordance with the energy transaction plan further comprises:

identifying a set of payees;

calculating incentives applicable to the electric vehicle charging transaction, wherein an incentive is a benefit or reward;

applying the incentives to reduce payment due to the set of payees to form adjusted payments; and

disbursing adjusted payments to the set of payees.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein settling financial obligations of a subset of principals in the set of principals in accordance with the energy transaction plan further comprises:

identifying a set of payees;

identifying incentives to be provided to the set of payees, wherein an incentive is a benefit or reward; and

disbursing the incentives to the set of payees.

10. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer recordable storage medium including computer usable program code for managing an electric vehicle charging transaction stored thereon, said computer program product comprising;

computer usable program code for identifying a set of principals associated with the electric vehicle charging transaction, wherein a principal in the set of principals is an entity having an interest in the electric vehicle charging transaction;

computer usable program code for retrieving electric vehicle charging information from a set of sources;

computer usable program code for generating an energy transaction plan by an energy transaction planner on the electric vehicle, for the electric vehicle during a pre-charge phase immediately prior to starting the electric vehicle charging transaction using the electric vehicle charging information and based on preferences of one or more principals, wherein the set of preferences associated with charging the electric vehicle comprises a subset of preferences for each principal in the set of principals, authenticated by an authentication module, wherein a preference in the set of preferences specifies a parameter of the charging transaction that is to be minimized, maximized, or optimized, to govern aspects of the charging transaction in a charging phase;

computer usable program code for initiating the charging phase of the electric vehicle charging transaction for an electric vehicle connected to a charging station using an execution engine on the electric vehicle in accordance with an approved energy transaction plan, wherein the charging phase comprises at least one of charging the electric vehicle with electricity, storing electricity in an electric storage mechanism associated with the electric vehicle, and removing electricity from the electric storage mechanism to de-charge the electric vehicle; and

computer usable program code for settling financial obligations of a subset of principals in the set of principals in accordance with the energy transaction plan in response to completion of the charging phase.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 further comprising:

computer usable program code stored on the non-transitory computer recordable storage medium for sending the energy transaction plan to a subset of reviewing principals for approval in response to a determination that approval of the energy transaction plan by the subset of reviewing principals is required; and

computer usable program code stored on the non-transitory computer recordable storage medium for using the energy transaction plan to manage a plurality of aspects of the electric vehicle charging transaction during the charging phase and the settling of the financial obligations of the subset of principals in the set of principals in response to receiving approval from the subset of reviewing principals.

12. The computer program product of claim 10 wherein the electric vehicle charging information comprises a set of preferences, wherein the set of preferences comprises a subset of preferences for each principal in the set of principals, wherein a preference in the set of preferences specifies a parameter of the charging transaction that is to be minimized, maximized, or optimized.

13. The computer program product of claim 11 further comprising:

computer usable program code stored on the non-transitory computer recordable storage medium for generating a summary of the energy transaction plan in response to a determination that the energy transaction plan is a plan, including contractual relationships between all principals; and

computer usable program code stored on the non-transitory computer recordable storage medium for sending the summary of the energy transaction plan with a request for approval of the energy transaction plan to the subset of reviewing principals for review in response to receiving approval from the subset of reviewing principals.

14. The computer program product of claim 10 wherein the electric vehicle charging information comprises information describing capabilities of devices associated with the electric vehicle and information describing a current state of the devices associated with the electric vehicle.

15. The computer program product of claim 10 further comprising:

computer usable program code stored on non-transitory computer recordable storage medium for sending an incomplete charge notification to an execution engine in response to detecting an interrupt condition; and

computer usable program code stored on non-transitory computer recordable storage medium for requesting a new energy transaction plan in response to a determination that the electric vehicle is still connected to the charging station.

16. The computer program product of claim 10 wherein settling financial obligations of a subset of principals in the set of principals in accordance with the energy transaction plan further comprises:

computer usable program code stored on the non-transitory computer recordable storage medium for identifying a set of payees;

computer usable program code stored on the non-transitory computer recordable storage medium for calculating payment due to the set of payees; and

computer usable program code stored on the non-transitory computer recordable storage medium for disbursing payments to the set of payees.

17. The computer program product of claim 10 wherein settling financial obligations of a subset of principals in the set of principals in accordance with the energy transaction plan further comprises:

computer usable program code stored on the non-transitory computer recordable storage medium for identifying a set of payees;

computer usable program code stored on the non-transitory computer recordable storage medium for calculating incentives applicable to the electric vehicle charging transaction, wherein an incentive is a benefit or reward;

computer usable program code stored on the non-transitory computer recordable storage medium for applying the incentives to reduce payment due to the set of payees to form adjusted payments; and

computer usable program code stored on the non-transitory computer recordable storage medium for disbursing adjusted payments to the set of payees.

18. The computer program product of claim 10 wherein settling financial obligations of a subset of principals in the set of principals in accordance with the energy transaction plan further comprises:

computer usable program code stored on the non-transitory computer recordable storage medium for identifying a set of payees;

computer usable program code stored on non-transitory computer recordable storage medium for identifying incentives to be provided to the set of payees, wherein an incentive is a benefit or reward; and

computer usable program code stored on non-transitory computer recordable storage medium for disbursing the incentives to the set of payees.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a bus system;

a communications system coupled to the bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes computer usable program code; and

a processing unit coupled to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the computer usable program code to identify a set of principals associated with the electric vehicle charging transaction, wherein a principal in the set of principals is an entity having an interest in the electric vehicle charging transaction;

retrieve electric vehicle charging information from a set of sources;

generate an energy transaction plan by an energy transaction planner on the electric vehicle, for the electric vehicle during a pre-charge phase immediately prior to starting the electric vehicle charging transaction using the electric vehicle charging information and based on preferences of one or more principals, wherein the set of preferences associated with charging the electric vehicle comprises a subset of preferences for each principal in the set of principals authenticated by an authentication module, wherein a preference in the set of preferences specifies a parameter of the charging transaction that is to be minimized, maximized, or optimized, to govern aspects of the charging transaction in a charging phase;

initiate the charging phase of the electric vehicle charging transaction for an electric vehicle connected to a charging station using an execution engine on the electric vehicle in accordance with an approved energy transaction plan, wherein the charging phase comprises at least one of charging the electric vehicle with electricity, storing electricity in an electric storage mechanism associated with the electric vehicle, and removing electricity from the electric storage mechanism to de-charge the electric vehicle; and

settle financial obligations of a subset of principals in the set of principals in accordance with the energy transaction plan in response to completion of the charging phase.

20. A system for charging an electric vehicle comprising:

a processor unit in a network of data processing systems configured as a principal identification component, wherein the principal identification component identifies a set of principals associated with an electric vehicle charging transaction, wherein a principal in the set of principals is an entity having an interest in the electric vehicle charging transaction;

a processor unit in the network of data processing systems configured as an energy transaction planner, wherein the energy transaction planner generates an energy transaction plan by the energy transaction planner on the electric vehicle, for the electric vehicle during a pre-charge phase immediately prior to starting the electric vehicle charging transaction using electric vehicle charging information, and a set of preferences, wherein the set of preferences associated with charging the electric vehicle comprises a subset of preferences for each principal in the set of principals authenticated by an authentication module, wherein a preference in the set of preferences specifies a parameter of the charging transaction that is to be minimized, maximized, or optimized, wherein the electric vehicle charging information is received from a set of sources;

a processor unit in the network of data processing systems configured as an execution engine on the electric vehicle, wherein the execution engine initiates a charging phase of the electric vehicle charging transaction for an electric vehicle connected to a charging station in accordance with an approved energy transaction plan, wherein the charging phase comprises at least one of charging the electric vehicle with electricity, storing electricity in an electric storage mechanism associated with the electric vehicle, and removing electricity from the electric storage mechanism to de-charge the electric vehicle; and

a processor unit in the network of data processing systems configured as an energy transaction broker, wherein the energy transaction broker settles financial obligations of a subset of principals in the set of principals in accordance with the energy transaction plan in response to completion of the charging phase.

21. The system for charging an electric vehicle of claim 20 further comprising:

a processor unit in the network of data processing systems configured as an energy transaction plan approval service, wherein the energy transaction plan approval service receives the energy transaction plan and obtains approval of the energy transaction plan from a subset of principals in the set of principals.

22. The system for charging an electric vehicle of claim 20 further comprising:

a processor unit in the network of data processing systems configured as a vehicle preference service, wherein the electric vehicle charging information comprises a set of preferences, wherein the set of preferences comprises a subset of preferences for each principal in the set of principals, wherein a preference in the set of preferences specifies a parameter of the charging transaction that is to be minimized, maximized, or optimized, and wherein the vehicle preference service sends the set of preferences to the energy transaction planner to form the electric vehicle charging information.

23. The system for charging an electric vehicle of claim 20 further comprising:

a processor unit in the network of data processing systems configured as an energy transaction plan approval service, wherein the energy transaction plan approval service generates a summary of the energy transaction plan in response to a determination that the energy transaction plan is a plan, including contractual relationships between all principals, and sends the summary of the energy transaction plan with a request for approval of the energy transaction plan to a subset of principals in the set of principals for approval.

24. The system for charging an electric vehicle of claim 20 wherein the electric vehicle charging information comprises information describing capabilities of devices associated with the electric vehicle and information describing a current state of the devices associated with the electric vehicle.

25. The system for charging an electric vehicle of claim 20 further comprising:

a processor unit in the network of data processing systems configured as an interrupt monitor, wherein the interrupt monitor detects an interrupt condition, sends an incomplete charge notification to an execution engine; and

requests a new energy transaction plan in response to a determination that the electric vehicle is still connected to the charging station.