Electric power information management apparatus, electric power information management system, and electric power information management method

• US 9,114,721 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2010
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auto Tech Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Tsuda, Yoshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Derose, Volvick
• Application Number:
  US13/695,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20130067253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,708 Days
• Field of Search: 705/340, 705/63, 710/33
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/67 Controlling two or more charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• 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 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/28 using burst mode transfer, e.g. direct memory access DMA, cycle steal G06F13/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/008 involving trading of energy or energy transmission rights
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/322 : the battery being on-board an electric or hybrid vehicle, e.g. vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G], power aggregation, use of the battery for network load balancing, coordinated or cooperative battery charging
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 : Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• 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: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• 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 10/14 : Energy storage units
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 : Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 : using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 : using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 : Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

An electric power information management apparatus includes a power meter that measures electric power data on electric power to be supplied from a storage battery of a vehicle to an electric power facility; a security module that associates and encrypts identification information corresponding to the vehicle and the measured electric power data; a communication device that transmits to an electric power management database the identification information corresponding to the vehicle and the electric power data encrypted by the security module to store the electric power data associated with the identification information in the electric power management database; and an electric power control device that extracts necessary electric power from the electric power facility and supplies the electric power to the storage battery of the vehicle corresponding to the identification information, based on the electric power data stored in the electric power management database, being associated with the identification information.

Claims

1. An electric power information management apparatus comprising:

a power meter that measures electric power data on electric power to be supplied from a storage battery of a vehicle to an electric power facility;

a security module that associates and encrypts identification information corresponding to the vehicle and the electric power data measured by the power meter;

a communication device that transmits to an electric power management database held by a management center apparatus the identification information corresponding to the vehicle and the electric power data that have been encrypted by the security module to store an electric storage amount based on the electric power data associated with the identification information in the electric power management database and comprising a quantity of the electric power having been supplied from the storage battery of the vehicle to the electric power facility; and

an electric power control device capable of inputting the identification information corresponding to the vehicle and a charge amount for charging the storage battery of the vehicle comprising a quantity of the electric power being supplied to the storage battery of the vehicle from the electric power facility, the electric power control device causing the management center apparatus to determine whether or not the input charge amount exceeds the electric storage amount associated with the identification information and stored in the electric power management database upon input of the identification information and the charge amount, and when the management center apparatus determines that the charge amount does not exceed the electric storage amount comprising the quantity of the electric power having been supplied from the storage battery of the vehicle to the electric power facility, the electric power control device causing the management center apparatus to update the electric power management database using a value obtained by subtracting the charge amount from the electric storage amount as a new amount for the electric storage amount and extracting from the electric power facility or a different electric power facility electric power indicated by the charge amount that is used for updating the electric storage amount and then supplying the extracted electric power to the storage battery of the vehicle corresponding to the identification information that is input.

2. The electric power information management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

when the electric power control device causes the management center apparatus to determine whether or not the input charge amount exceeds the electric storage amount associated with the identification information and stored in the electric power management database, and then when the management center apparatus determines that the input charge amount exceeds the electric storage amount associated with the identification information in the electric power management database, the electric power control device causes the management center apparatus to update the electric storage amount associated with the identification information to zero, causes the management center apparatus to perform an accounting process on a portion of an electric power amount indicated by the charge amount exceeding the electric storage amount, and extracts from the electric power facility or the different electric power facility the electric power indicated by the charge amount and then supplies the extracted electric power to the storage battery of the vehicle corresponding to the identification information that is input.

3. The electric power information management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

when the electric power control device causes the management center apparatus to determine whether or not the input charge amount exceeds the electric storage amount associated with the identification information and stored in the electric power management database, and then when the management center apparatus determines that the input charge amount is equal to or larger than the electric storage amount associated with the identification information in the electric power management database, the electric power control device causes the management center apparatus to update the electric storage amount associated with the identification information to zero, and extracts from the electric power facility or the different electric power facility electric power indicated by the electric storage amount and then supplies the extracted electric power to the storage battery of the vehicle corresponding to the identification information that is input.

4. The electric power information management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the security module further associates electric power generation amount data indicating electric power generated by the vehicle corresponding to the identification information with the identification information and the electric power data, and encrypts the identification information, the electric power data, and the electric power generation amount data;

and

the communication device transmits the identification information, the electric power data, and the electric power generation amount data that have been encrypted by the security module to the electric power management database to store the electric power data and the electric power generation data both associated with the identification information in the electric power management database.

5. The electric power information management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the security module encrypts vehicle behavior data obtained from a sensor mounted on the vehicle;

and

the communication device further transmits to the electric power management database the vehicle behavior data encrypted by the security module, in addition to the identification information corresponding to the vehicle and the electric power data that have been encrypted by the security module to store the electric power data associated with the identification information and the vehicle behavior data in the electric power management database.

11. The electric power information management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electric power control device is connectable to different electric power meters at different locations.

6. An electric power information management system comprising a management center apparatus holding an electric power management database and a plurality of electric power information management apparatuses, wherein

each electric power information management apparatus measures electric power data on electric power to be supplied from a storage battery of a vehicle to an electric power facility, associates and encrypts identification information corresponding to the vehicle and the electric power data measured by a power meter, and transmits the identification information corresponding to the vehicle and the electric power data that have been encrypted to the electric power management database of the management center apparatus to store an electric storage amount based on the electric power data associated with the identification information in the electric power management database and comprising a quantity of the electric power having been supplied from the storage battery of the vehicle to the electric power facility;

each power information management apparatus of the plurality of electric power information management apparatuses including the electric power information management apparatus that has transmitted the encrypted identification information and the encrypted electric power data to the electric power management database is capable of inputting the identification information corresponding to the vehicle and a charge amount for charging the storage battery of the vehicle comprising a quantity of the electric power being supplied to the storage battery of the vehicle from the electric power facility and encrypts and transmits the identification information and the charge amount to the management center apparatus upon input of the identification information and the charge amount; and

upon receiving the identification information and the charge amount that have been encrypted, the management center apparatus decodes the encrypted identification information and the encrypted charge amount, determines whether or not the charge amount exceeds the electric storage amount associated with the identification information and stored in the electric power management database, and when the management center apparatus determines that the charge amount does not exceed the electric storage amount comprising the quantity of the electric power having been supplied from the storage battery of the vehicle to the electric power facility, the management center apparatus updates the electric power management database using a value obtained by subtracting the charge amount from the electric storage amount as a new amount for the electric storage amount, and

the electric power information management apparatus that has input the identification information and the charge amount extracts from the electric power facility or a different electric power facility electric power indicated by the charge amount that is used for updating the electric storage amount by the management center apparatus, and then supplies the extracted electric power to the storage battery of the vehicle corresponding to the input identification information.

7. The electric power information management system according to claim 6, wherein

when the management center apparatus determines whether or not the charge amount received from the electric power information management apparatus exceeds the electric storage amount associated with the identification information and stored in the electric power management database, and then when the management center apparatus determines that the received charge amount exceeds the electric storage amount associated with the identification information in the electric power management database, the management center apparatus updates the electric storage amount associated with the identification information to zero and performs an accounting process on a portion of an electric power amount indicated by the charge amount exceeding the electric storage amount;

and

the electric power information management apparatus that has input the identification information and the charge amount extracts from the electric power facility or the different electric power facility the electric power indicated by the charge amount, and then supplies the extracted electric power to the storage battery of the vehicle corresponding to the input identification information.

8. The electric power information management system according to claim 6, wherein

when the management center apparatus determines whether or not the charge amount received from the electric power information management apparatus exceeds the electric storage amount associated with the identification information and stored in the electric power management database, and then when the management center apparatus determines that the received charge amount is equal to or larger than the electric storage amount associated with the identification information in the electric power management database, the management center apparatus updates the electric storage amount associated with the identification information to zero;

and

the electric power information management apparatus that has input the identification information and the charge amount extracts from the electric power facility or the different electric power facility electric power indicated by the electric storage amount, and then supplies the extracted electric power to the storage battery of the vehicle corresponding to the input identification information.

9. The electric power information management system according to claim 6, wherein

the electric power information management apparatus that has input the identification information and the charge amount further associates electric power generation amount data indicating electric power generated by the vehicle corresponding to the identification information with the identification information and the electric power data, encrypts the identification information, the electric power data, and the electric power generation amount data, and transmits the identification information, the electric power data, and the electric power generation amount data that have been encrypted to the electric power management database to store the electric power data and the electric power generation data both associated with the identification information in the electric power management database.

12. The electric power information management system according to claim 6, wherein the electric power information management apparatus updates the electric power management database with said quantity of said electric power transferred at different electric power meters at different locations.

10. An electric power information management method that is executed by an electric information management apparatus comprising a power meter, a security module, a communication device, and an electric power control device, the method comprising:

by the power meter, measuring electric power data on electric power to be supplied from a storage battery of a vehicle to an electric power facility;

by the security module, associating and encrypting identification information corresponding to the vehicle and the electric power data measured by the power meter;

by the communication device, transmitting to an electric power management database held by a management center apparatus the identification information corresponding to the vehicle and the electric power data that have been encrypted by the security module to store an electric storage amount based on the electric power data associated with the identification information in the electric power management database and comprising a quantity of the electric power having been supplied from the storage battery of the vehicle to the electric power facility; and

by the electric power control device, the electric power control device being capable of inputting the identification information corresponding to the vehicle and a charge amount for charging the storage battery of the vehicle comprising a quantity of the electric power being supplied to the storage battery of the vehicle from the electric power facility, causing the management center apparatus to determine whether or not the input charge amount exceeds the electric storage amount associated with the identification information and stored in the electric power management database upon input of the identification information and the charge amount to the electric power control device, and when the management center apparatus determines that the charge amount does not exceed the electric storage amount comprising the quantity of the electric power having been supplied from the storage battery of the vehicle to the electric power facility, causing the management center apparatus to update the electric power management database using a value obtained by subtracting the charge amount from the electric storage amount as a new amount for the electric storage amount, extracting from the electric power facility or a different electric power facility electric power indicated by the charge amount that is used for updating the electric storage amount, and then supplying the extracted electric power to the storage battery of the vehicle corresponding to the identification information that is input.

13. The electric power information management method according to claim 10, further comprising transferring said quantity of said electric power by connecting to different electric power meters at different locations.