Method and apparatus for sharing electric vehicle and electric appliance usage data

Abstract

A system and method allowing electric vehicle (EV) and other appliance owners to share data with other appliance owners and service providers. For an EV, data like SoC, or whether the EV is presently connected to an EV charger, can be shared through a server and database with a control system that can now know the type of vehicle that is connected to a particular EV charger. Such a system can also know when an EV owner has been notified that his EV is charging, or fully charged, and if the EV is still connected to an EV charger. Such data originates at the EV (or other appliance), is sent wirelessly to the EV manufacturer's central database, and from there is sent to, or can be requested by, the EV owner(s). Data is merged with EV charger usage data for the EV or a plurality of EV's.

Description

[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61 / 715,856 filed on Oct. 19, 2012 and entitled “System and Method for Managing Vehicle Charging Stations”, which shares common inventor-ship with the present application and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates generally to the field of electrical energy supply and usage and more particularly to a method and apparatus for sharing usage data from Electric Vehicles (EVs) and fixed appliances.[0004]2. Description of the Prior Art[0005]As the smart grid and smart appliances (both mobile, such as electric vehicles, and stationary) develop, permeating offices, homes, multi-unit dwellings, industrial parks, etc., and as networks and data become more ubiquitous, and as the standards evolve and perhaps merge to become well accepted and universal standards, then sharing the usage data, often in real time, or some reasonable t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a method and device that allows electric vehicle (EV) and other appliance owners to share their usage data with each other and with nearby systems and service providers like fleet management services. This data can include information about the EV's battery level, charging status, and other important details. This helps improve predictions of when the EV will be charged and when an EV charger will be available. The data is collected by the EV and sent wirelessly to its manufacturer's central database, which then sends it to the EV owner. This data can be used for various purposes such as asset control and management, reservation, and planning.

Problems solved by technology

There is currently no system for forwarding and sharing EV or other appliance data from EV owners' computers or mobile devices to a central database where this data can be aggregated and processed and securely shared, as needed, among a group of EV owners and EVs and EV charger asset management systems.

Images