Charging station management system and method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a charging station management system which comprises the following elements. And the rate module is used for setting a rate table of each charging gun, determining whether one of the charging guns is reserved or not, and determining whether the reserved charging gun is in a reservation expiration state or not. And the starting module and the stopping module are used for remotely controlling each charging gun to start charging / stop charging, and detecting and recording the starting time / stopping time of the charging period and the reservation period of each charging gun. And the payment module is used for selectively calculating the charging cost, the reservation cost and the reservation expiration cost of each charging gun according to each rate table, the charging period, the reservation period and at least one attribute of each charging gun.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging management mechanism, and more particularly to a charging station management system and method thereof for managing a rate table of a charging gun. Background Art

[0002] Despite the rapid development of emerging energy sources, electric energy has been widely used in daily life. Electric energy can be applied to various electric vehicles, such as electric motorcycles, electric cars and electric buses. Charging stations are widely set up by the government or the private sector to provide the electric energy required by electric vehicles. The charging station has multiple charging piles, and each charging pile has multiple charging guns.

[0003] In order to more flexibly adapt to the needs of different users (for example, drivers of electric vehicles), the charging guns of the charging station can have a reservation function. Users can reserve a charging gun during a specific period and use the charging gun for charging during the reservation period. However, each charging gun has different properties, and each charging gun has a different reservation period or charging period. In addition, the charging gun reserved by the user may have a reservation expiration status (i.e., the reservation has expired).

[0004] In view of the above, an effective charging management mechanism needs to be provided, which is expected to formulate a suitable rate table in response to the properties of the charging gun, and accurately calculate the cost of the charging gun in response to the reservation period, charging period and reservation expiration status of the charging gun. Summary of the invention

[0005] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a charging station management system is provided, which is arranged in a cloud server and is used to manage multiple charging guns in a charging station, and the charging station management system includes the following elements. A rate module is used to set the rate table of each charging gun, confirm whether one of the charging guns is reserved, and confirm whether the reserved charging gun is in a reservation expiration state. A start module is used to remotely control the start of charging of each charging gun, receive the first data of each charging gun, and detect and record the start time of the charging period and the start time of the reservation period of each charging gun. A stop module is used to remotely control the stop of charging of each charging gun, receive the second data of each charging gun, and detect and record the stop time of the charging period and the stop time of the reservation period of each charging gun, wherein the second data includes at least one attribute of the charging gun. A payment module is used to selectively calculate the charging fee, reservation fee and reservation expiration fee of each charging gun according to each rate table, charging period, reservation period and the at least one attribute.

[0006] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a charging station management method is provided for managing multiple charging guns in a charging station, and the charging station management method includes the following steps. The rate module sets the rate table of each charging gun, confirms whether one of the charging guns is reserved, and confirms whether the reserved charging gun is in the reservation expiration state. The start module remotely controls the start of charging of each charging gun, receives the first data of each charging gun, and detects and records the start time of the charging period and the start time of the reservation period of each charging gun. The stop module remotely controls the stop of charging of each charging gun, receives the second data of each charging gun, and detects and records the stop time of the charging period and the stop time of the reservation period of each charging gun. The payment module selectively calculates the charging fee, reservation fee and reservation expiration fee of each charging gun according to each rate table, charging period, reservation period and at least one attribute.

[0007] Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a review of the following drawings, detailed description, and claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the application of the charging station management system of the present invention;

[0009] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A block diagram of an embodiment of a charging station management system;

[0010] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A block diagram of another embodiment of a charging station management system;

[0011] Figure 4 It is a flow chart of the rate table configuration on the charging gun;

[0012] Figure 5A It is a flow chart for setting a rate table in the charging station management method of the present invention;

[0013] Figure 5B It is a schematic diagram showing various parameters of the rate table on the front-end interface;

[0014] Fig. 6A It is a flow chart for setting general information of a rate table in the charging station management method of the present invention;

[0015] Figure 6B It is a schematic diagram of the parameters of the general information of the rate table displayed on the front-end interface;

[0016] Fig. 7A It is a flow chart of setting the platform fee of the charging gun in the charging station management method of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 7B ,7C It is a schematic diagram showing the relevant parameters of the platform fee of the charging gun on the front-end interface;

[0018] Fig. 8A It is a flow chart of setting various time parameters of a charging gun in the charging station management method of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 8B This is a schematic diagram showing the various time parameters of the charging gun on the front-end interface;

[0020] Fig.9A , 9B It is a flow chart of calculating the charging fee, reservation fee and / or reservation expiration fee of a charging gun in the charging station management method of the present invention;

[0021] Wherein, the reference numerals are:

[0022] 1000: Charging station management system;

[0023] 1100: submodule;

[0024] 2000: Charging station;

[0025] 100: rate module;

[0026] 110: front-end interface;

[0027] 120: database;

[0028] 200: fee notification module;

[0029] 300: payment module;

[0030] 410: Stop module;

[0031] 420: Start module;

[0032] 500: charging management module;

[0033] 11: rate processing unit;

[0034] 31: payment processing unit;

[0035] 32: receipt processing unit;

[0036] 51: charging pile management unit;

[0037] 52: connecting unit;

[0038] U1: Charging station operator;

[0039] U2: Driver;

[0040] U3: third-party operator;

[0041] C1~C6: Charging gun;

[0042] E1~E3: Charging piles;

[0043] s1: operation signal;

[0044] s2: control signal;

[0045] cs1~cs6,cs1a,cs1b: data;

[0046] S400~S406: step;

[0047] S500~S514: step;

[0048] S600~S612: step;

[0049] S700~S706: steps;

[0050] S800~S812: step;

[0051] S900~S940: steps. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] The technical terms in this specification refer to the customary terms in the technical field. If some terms are explained or defined in this specification, the interpretation of these terms shall be based on the explanation or definition in this specification. Each embodiment of the present invention has one or more technical features. Under the premise of possible implementation, a person with ordinary knowledge in the technical field can selectively implement some or all of the technical features in any embodiment, or selectively combine some or all of the technical features in these embodiments.

[0053] Figure 1 1 is a schematic diagram of the application of the charging station management system (CSMS) 1000 of the present invention. Figure 1As shown, the charging station management system 1000 can be applied to the management of the charging station 2000. The charging station 2000 is provided with a plurality of charging posts (electric vehicle supply equipment, EVSE) E1~E3. Moreover, each of the charging posts E1~E3 is provided with a plurality of charging connectors. For example: the charging post E1 is provided with charging connectors C1 and C2, the charging post E2 is provided with charging connectors C3 and C4, and the charging post E3 is provided with charging connectors C5 and C6. The charging station management system 1000 is coupled to the charging connectors C1~C6 (the "coupling" described herein refers to communicative coupling or electrical coupling). The charging station operator (CPO) U1 can manage the charging connectors C1~C6 of the charging station 2000 through the charging station management system 1000, for example: setting, adjusting and managing the rate tables trf1~trf6 of the charging connectors C1~C6.

[0054] The charging station management system 1000 includes a rate module 100. The charging station operator U1 operates the rate module 100 via an operation signal s1 to set, adjust and manage rate tables trf1~trf6. Rate tables trf1~trf6 include relevant information and related parameters of the charging fees, reservation fees and reservation expiration fees of the charging guns C1~C6. More specifically, if the user reserves the charging guns C1~C6, the user may need to pay the reservation fee. If the user actually uses the charging guns C1~C6 for charging, the user may need to pay the charging fee. If the user reserves the charging guns C1~C6 but does not actually use them, the user may need to pay the reservation expiration fee.

[0055] The charging guns C1 to C6 can transmit corresponding data cs1 to cs6 to the charging station management system 1000. The timing of transmitting the data cs1 to cs6 to the charging station management system 1000 is, for example, the time when the charging guns C1 to C6 just start charging, after charging starts, and when charging stops. The information covered by the above data cs1 to cs6 includes at least one attribute of each of the charging guns C1 to C6, for example, the location of the charging guns C1 to C6, and the charging speed of the charging guns C1 to C6, etc. The charging station management system 1000 can calculate the fees of each of the charging guns C1 to C6 according to the rate tables trf1 to trf6 and the attributes of the charging guns C1 to C6, so that the charging fees, reservation fees, and reservation expiration fees of the charging guns C1 to C6 have differentiated prices. In one example, the location of the charging gun C1 is closer to the entrance of the charging station 2000, which is more convenient for users, so the charging fee, reservation fee, and reservation expiration fee of the charging gun C1 can be adjusted to a higher price. Relatively speaking, the location of charging gun C6 is far from the entrance of charging station 2000, which is inconvenient for users, so the charging fee, reservation fee and reservation expiration fee of charging gun C6 can be adjusted to lower prices to attract users. In another example, the charging speed of charging gun C2 is faster and more convenient for users, so the charging fee, reservation fee and reservation expiration fee of charging gun C2 can be adjusted to higher prices. Relatively speaking, the charging speed of charging gun C5 is slower and less convenient for users, so the charging fee, reservation fee and reservation expiration fee of charging gun C5 can be adjusted to lower prices to attract users.

[0056] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A block diagram of an embodiment of a charging station management system 1000 is shown. Figure 2 As shown, the charging station management system 1000 includes a front-end interface 110, a rate module 100, a database 120, a fee notification module 200, a payment module 300, a stop module 410, and a start module 420. In one example, the charging station management system 1000 may be set in a cloud server. The charging station management system 1000 may be implemented by a hardware circuit (such as a central processing unit, a microprocessor, or a system single chip) in the cloud server. Alternatively, the charging station management system 1000 may be a software program installed in the cloud server.

[0057] The front-end interface 110 may be any form of input / output interface, such as a touch screen with a graphical user interface. The charging station operator U1 inputs an operation signal s1 via the front-end interface 110. The front-end interface 110 generates a control signal s2 in response to the operation signal s1, and controls the rate module 100 through the control signal s2.

[0058] The rate module 100 is coupled to the front-end interface 110 and the database 120. The rate module 100 is, for example, a hardware circuit or a software module in the charging station management system 1000. The rate module 100 can set, adjust and manage the rate table ( Figure 2 The embodiment only takes the charging gun C1 as an example, and the rate module 100 sets the rate table trf1 for the charging gun C1). After the setting is completed, the rate table trf1 can be stored in the database 120. The database 120 is, for example, a cloud hard disk set on a cloud server. The user can access the rate table trf1 from the database 120 through the rate module 100, and understand the estimated price of the charging gun C1 (including: charging fee, reservation fee and reservation expiration fee) according to the rate table trf1. The above-mentioned users include the driver U2 of the electric vehicle, and the driver U2 is a registered user of the charging station operator U1. Users may also include registered users of third-party operators U3 (other operators other than the charging station operator U1).

[0059] On the other hand, the fee notification module 200, the payment module 300, the stop module 410 and the start module 420 may be included in the submodule 1100 of the charging station management system 1000. The fee notification module 200, the payment module 300, the stop module 410 and the start module 420 may be implemented by hardware circuits or software programs. The rate module 100 and the database 120 are coupled to the stop module 410 and the start module 420. In addition, the start module 420 is coupled to the charging gun C1. The stop module 410 is coupled to the payment module 300, and the payment module 300 is coupled to the fee notification module 200.

[0060] The start module 420 and the stop module 410 can remotely control the start and stop of charging of the charging gun C1, and can detect, record and time the relevant operation period and time point of the charging gun C1. The charging gun C1 can transmit corresponding data cs1 to the charging station management system 1000, and the data cs1 includes: data cs1a transmitted to the start module 420, and data cs1b transmitted to the stop module 410.

[0061] The start module 420 can detect and record the start time of the scheduled period of the charging gun C1, and remotely control the charging gun C1 to start charging. When the charging gun C1 starts charging, the start module 420 can detect and record the start time of the charging period of the charging gun C1, and the charging gun C1 transmits the corresponding data cs1a to the start module 420. At the time point when the charging gun C1 just starts charging, the transmitted data cs1a includes: the "start state" of the charging gun C1 (that is: the event of the charging gun C1 starting charging, or called "start activity"). And, after the charging gun C1 starts charging, the continuously transmitted data cs1a includes: relevant information when the charging gun C1 is charging.

[0062] On the other hand, the stop module 410 can detect and record the stop time of the charging gun C1 during the reservation period, and remotely control the charging gun C1 to stop charging. When the charging gun C1 stops charging, the stop module 410 can detect and record the stop time of the charging gun C1 during the charging period, and the charging gun C1 transmits the corresponding data cs1b to the stop module 410. At the time point when the charging gun C1 stops charging, the transmitted data cs1b includes: the "stop state" of the charging gun C1 (that is, the event that the charging gun C1 stops charging, or is called "stop activity"). Then, the stop module 410 transmits the stop state of the charging gun C1 and the information contained in the data cs1b to the payment module 300. Then, the payment module 300 calculates the relevant fees of the charging gun C1 based on the information contained in the data cs1b. In one example, information related to at least one attribute of the charging gun C1 (eg, location of the charging gun C1 , charging speed, etc.) may be included in the data cs1b transmitted by the charging gun C1 , and then provided to the payment module 300 for fee calculation.

[0063] More specifically, the payment module 300 can perform specific calculation and statistical functions to selectively calculate the charging fee, reservation fee and / or reservation expiration fee of the charging gun C1 according to the rate table trf1. In addition, the payment module 300 also has the function of processing money flow (the flow of money), which can cooperate with external third-party payment systems ( Figure 2 (not shown) to perform payment.

[0064] The fee notification module 200 can perform a specific communication function to generate communication data to transmit the charging fee, reservation fee and / or reservation expiration fee that the user must pay to the user via a wired network or a wireless network. For example, the charging fee, reservation fee and / or reservation expiration fee can be recorded in a receipt, and the fee notification module 200 can generate different forms of communication data (including email, mobile phone text messages, or message (i.e., information) applications (Message App, etc.) to transmit the above receipts to the user.

[0065] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A block diagram of another embodiment of a charging station management system 1000 is shown. Figure 3 In the embodiment of the present invention, the charging station management system 1000 includes a rate module 100, a payment module 300 and a charging management module 500. The rate module 100 includes a rate processing unit 11. The payment module 300 includes a payment processing unit 31 and a receipt processing unit 32. The charging management module 500 includes a charging pile management unit 51 and a connection unit 52.

[0066] Take the charging gun C1 as an example. When the charging station operator U1 operates the rate module 100 to set the rate table trf1 of the charging gun C1, the rate table trf1 is added to the rate processing unit 11. The rate processing unit 11 sets, adjusts and manages the rate table trf1 to adjust the charging fee, reservation fee and reservation expiration fee of the charging gun C1 to appropriate prices.

[0067] Furthermore, when the charging station operator U1 operates the rate module 100 to set the rate table trf1 of the charging gun C1, the relevant information of the charging pile E1 to which the charging gun C1 belongs is added to the charging pile management unit 51. On the other hand, when the relevant information of the charging pile E1 is added to the charging pile management unit 51, the connection unit 52 connects the rate table trf1 of the charging gun C1 to the charging pile E1.

[0068] The payment processing unit 31 can selectively calculate the reservation fee, charging fee, and reservation expiration fee of the charging gun C1 according to the rate table trf1, and can cooperate with an external third-party payment system to process the payment flow.

[0069] The receipt processing unit 32 is used to generate a receipt, which can record the reservation fee, charging fee, and reservation expiration fee of the charging gun C1. In one example, the receipt processing unit 32 can cooperate with an external third-party processing system to generate different types of receipts, such as: a receipt in the form of a mobile phone carrier, a receipt in the form of a company carrier, or a receipt in the form of an email, etc. In addition, the receipt processing unit 32 transmits the receipt to Figure 2 The fee notification module 200 generates communication data to send a receipt to the user.

[0070] Figure 4 This is a flow chart of the rate table configuration on the charging gun. The charging station operator U1 can Figure 2 The front-end interface 110 is operated to perform Figure 4 process. First, execute step S400: the charging station operator U1 selects a charging pile, for example: selects charging pile E1. Then, execute step S402: the charging station operator U1 opens the menu of the selected charging pile E1. The menu includes a list of all charging guns set for the charging pile E1, and the list lists the numbers of all charging guns. Then, execute step S404: the charging station operator U1 selects a charging gun according to the number of the charging gun, for example: selects charging gun C1. Then, execute step S406: the charging station operator U1 specifies the rate table trf1 corresponding to the charging gun C1 from the rate module 100 and the database 120, and configures the rate table trf1 to the selected charging gun C1.

[0071] Before the rate table trf1 is configured on the selected charging gun C1, the charging station operator U1 sets the rate table trf1 via the rate module 100. The process of setting the rate table trf1 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B.

[0072] Figure 5A This is a flow chart for setting a rate table in the charging station management method of the present invention. Figure 5B It is a schematic diagram showing various parameters of the rate table displayed by the front-end interface 110. Figure 5A , 5B The embodiment of the present invention takes the rate table trf1 of the charging gun C1 of the charging pile E1 as an example, and the charging station operator U1 can operate via the front-end interface 110 to perform Figure 5A process.

[0073] Please also see Figure 5A , 5B First, execute step S500: the charging station operator U1 inputs the general information of the rate table trf1 through the front-end interface 110 of the charging station management system 1000. The parameters of the general information include: the name of the rate table, the currency of the rate table, the payment category, the minimum price, and the maximum price. For example: the currency of the rate table trf1 is "Singapore Dollar", the payment category of the rate table trf1 is "Regular", and so on. Then, execute step S502: input the charging period and / or reservation period of the charging gun C1 through the front-end interface 110. The relevant parameters may include: the start time / date and stop time / date of the charging period, and the start time / date and stop time / date of the reservation period.

[0074] Then, step S504 is executed: the rate module 100 confirms whether the charging gun C1 has been reserved by the user (for example, reserved by the driver U2 of the electric vehicle). If the confirmation result is "yes", step S506 is executed: the relevant parameters of the reserved charging gun C1 are input through the front-end interface 110, including the relevant parameters of the reservation fee and the relevant parameters of the reservation period, for example, the reservation platform fee of the charging gun C1 and / or the time length of the reservation period. Among them, the time length of the reservation period is equal to the time difference between the start time of the reservation period and the stop time of the reservation period.

[0075] After step S506, execute step S508: the rate module 100 cooperates with the start module 420 and the stop module 410 to confirm whether the reservation of the charging gun C1 has expired (i.e., it is in the reservation expiration state). The reservation expiration state of the charging gun C1 means that during the reservation period of the charging gun C1, the driver U2 of the electric vehicle has not actually used the charging gun C1 for charging (for example, after the stop time of the reservation period, the charging gun C1 has not been actually used). In one example, the reservation expiration state of the charging gun C1 can be confirmed according to the start time of the charging period and the stop time of the reservation period. If the confirmation result is "yes", execute step S510: input the relevant parameters of the reservation expiration of the charging gun C1 through the front-end interface 110, including: the reservation expiration platform fee of the charging gun C1 and / or the time length of the reservation expiration. In this embodiment, the time length of the reservation expiration can be set to be equal to the time length of the reservation period.

[0076] After step S510, step S512 is executed: the information and parameters input in the above steps are submitted via the front-end interface 110 and transmitted to the rate module 100 and the database 120. Then, step S514 is executed: the above rate table setting results are recorded in different forms, such as text form, timeline (reflecting the setting and calculation of the rate table according to the time axis), etc.

[0077] On the other hand, if the confirmation result of step S504 is "No", step S508 is directly executed. And if the confirmation result of step S508 is "No", step S512 is directly executed.

[0078] Fig. 6A This is a flow chart for setting general information of a rate table in the charging station management method of the present invention. Figure 6B It is a schematic diagram of parameters of general information of the rate table displayed by the front-end interface 110. Fig. 6A , 6B The embodiment also takes the rate table trf1 of the charging gun C1 as an example. The charging station operator U1 can operate through the front-end interface 110 to perform Fig. 6A process.

[0079] Please also see Fig. 6A , 6BFirst, execute step S600: enter the name of the rate table trf1. Then, execute step S602: enter the currency of the rate table trf1 (for example, "Singapore Dollar"). In one example, the charging station operator U1 can manually enter the currency of the rate table trf1. In another example, the front-end interface 110 has a menu (not shown in the figure), and the menu lists multiple currencies. The charging station operator U1 can select the currency used by the rate table trf1 from the menu. Then, execute step S604: enter the payment category of the rate table trf1 (for example, "Regular"). Then, execute step S606: enter the description of the rate table trf1. Then, execute step S608: enter the start date and end date of the rate table trf1 (for example, the start date and end date of the charging period and the reservation period respectively).

[0080] Then, execute step S610: input the lowest price of rate table trf1. Then, execute step S612: input the highest price of rate table trf1. The above-mentioned lowest price and highest price refer to the minimum consumption amount and the maximum consumption amount. The lowest price is, for example, the lower limit of the charging fee, reservation fee or reservation expiration fee of the charging gun C1. The highest price is, for example, the upper limit of the charging fee, reservation fee or reservation expiration fee of the charging gun C1. In addition, the lowest price and the highest price can be tax-inclusive or tax-exclusive. For example: the lowest price excluding tax is 10 yuan, and the lowest price including tax is 10.8 yuan (the tax rate is 8%).

[0081] Fig. 7A This is a flow chart of setting the platform fee of the charging gun in the charging station management method of the present invention. Figure 7B , 7C It is a schematic diagram showing the relevant parameters of the platform fee of the charging gun displayed on the front-end interface 110. Figures 7A to 7C The embodiment also takes the rate table trf1 of the charging gun C1 as an example. The charging station operator U1 can operate through the front-end interface 110 to perform Fig. 7A process.

[0082] Please also see Fig. 7A , 7B First, execute step S700: input the platform fee of the charging gun C1. The platform fee includes: reservation platform fee, and reservation expiration platform fee. Then, execute step S702: input the priority to select the rate plan corresponding to the priority. For example: the rate table trf1 includes different rate plans, and these rate plans have their own priorities. The charging station operator U1 selects the corresponding rate plan according to the priority. For example, on Wednesday of the week, the charging gun C1 has multiple rate plans. The charging station operator U1 enters the priority as "Level 1" to select the corresponding rate plan for Wednesday.

[0083] Then, execute step S704: input the price of rate table trf1, including: the basic price of the reservation platform fee, and the price of the reservation platform fee of each rate plan with different priority levels. If the price of rate table trf1 must include tax, execute step S706: input the tax rate. Figure 7B In the embodiment of , the basic price of the reservation platform fee is 1 yuan and the tax rate is 0%. If the priority level "level 1" is selected, the price of the reservation platform fee for the rate plan corresponding to the priority level "level 1" is 0.5 yuan. On Wednesday, the user has reserved the charging gun C1, and the user actually uses the charging gun C1 to charge during the reservation period; in this case, the user must pay a reservation platform fee of 0.5 yuan.

[0084] On the other hand, see Figure 7C .exist Figure 7C In the embodiment, the basic price of the reservation platform fee is 2 yuan and the tax rate is 0%. If the priority level "1" is selected, the reservation platform fee price of the rate plan corresponding to the priority level "1" is 1 yuan. On Wednesday, the user reserved the charging gun C1 but did not actually use it; in this case, the user must pay a reservation platform fee of 1 yuan.

[0085] Fig. 8A It is a flow chart of setting various time parameters of a charging gun in the charging station management method of the present invention. Figure 8B 8A and 8B also use the rate table trf1 of the charging gun C1 as an example. The charging station operator U1 can operate through the front-end interface 110 to perform Fig. 8A And, various time parameters during the reservation period of the charging gun are taken as an example.

[0086] Please also see Fig. 8A , 8B First, execute step S800: input the category of time parameter. The category is, for example, appointment period. Then, execute step S802: input the timing step. For example, the timing step of the appointment period, in seconds. Then, execute step S804: confirm whether to perform advanced settings. If the confirmation result is "yes", execute step S806: input the minimum duration and maximum duration of the charging gun C1. The minimum duration is, for example, the lower limit of the time length of the appointment period of the charging gun C1, and the maximum duration is, for example, the upper limit of the time length of the appointment period of the charging gun C1. In another example (not shown in the figure), when the category of the time parameter is charging period, the minimum duration is, for example, the lower limit of the time length of the charging period, and the maximum duration is, for example, the upper limit of the time length of the charging period.

[0087] Then, execute step S808: input the start date and end date of the reservation period of the charging gun C1 (for example, in days, the input format is day / month / year (dd / mm / yyyy)). Then, execute step S810: input the start time and end time of the reservation period of the charging gun C1 (for example, in seconds). Then, execute step S812: input the date of the week of the reservation period of the charging gun C1 (for example, Wednesday).

[0088] On the other hand, if the confirmation result of step S804 is "No", the process ends directly (steps S806 to S812 are not executed).

[0089] exist Figure 8B In the embodiment of the reservation time fee, the reservation unit price of the reservation time fee is 0.5 yuan per minute (basic price), and the tax rate is 0%, and the timing step during the reservation period is 1 second. In the rate plan corresponding to the priority level "Level 1", the reservation unit price of the reservation time fee is 0.1 yuan per minute. On Wednesday, the user made a reservation for the charging gun C1, the length of the reservation period was 10 minutes and 30 seconds, and the user actually used the charging gun C1 for charging during the above reservation period. In this case, the user must pay a reservation time fee of 5.25 yuan. That is, the reservation time fee is equal to the length of the reservation period (10 minutes and 30 seconds) multiplied by the reservation unit price (0.1 yuan per minute).

[0090] Fig.9A , 9B It is a flow chart for calculating the charging fee, reservation fee and / or reservation expiration fee of a charging gun in the charging station management method of the present invention. Fig.9A , 9B The process can be based on Figure 2 The charging station management system 1000 is implemented, and the rate table trf1 of the charging gun C1 of the charging pile E1 is used as an example. Figure 2 and Fig.9A First, step S900 is executed: the user (e.g., the driver U2 of the electric vehicle) reserves the charging gun C1, and the rate module 100 confirms that the charging gun C1 is reserved by the user. The length of the reservation period for the user to reserve the charging gun C1 is, for example, 30 minutes, the start time of the reservation period is 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, and the end time of the reservation period is 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

[0091] Then, step S902 is executed: the rate module 100 confirms whether the charging gun C1 should be charged. If the confirmation result is "yes", step S904 is executed: the rate module 100 further confirms whether the charging gun C1 is actually used by the user who made the reservation (for example, the driver U2 of the electric vehicle), rather than by other users. If the confirmation result is "no", step S906 is executed: the start module 420 controls the charging gun C1 not to charge.

[0092] If the confirmation result of step S904 is "yes", step S908 is executed: the start module 420 controls the charging gun C1 to start charging. In addition, the start module 420 records the start time of the charging period of the charging gun C1. For example, the start time of the charging period is 1:20 pm on Wednesday.

[0093] Then, step S910 is executed: the stop module 410 controls the charging gun C1 to stop charging. In addition, the stop module 410 records the stop time of the charging period of the charging gun C1. For example, the stop time of the charging period is 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday (i.e., the stop time of the charging period in this embodiment is equal to the stop time of the scheduled period). In this case, the length of the charging period is 10 minutes (i.e., 1:20 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.).

[0094] Then, step S912 is executed: the payment module 300 calculates the charging time fee of the charging gun C1. In one example, the charging time fee is equal to the length of the charging period multiplied by the unit price of the charging time fee. The unit price of the charging time fee is, for example, 10 yuan per minute. Therefore, the charging time fee is 100 yuan.

[0095] Then, step S914 is executed: the payment module 300 confirms whether the user needs to pay the reservation platform fee. If the confirmation result is "yes", step S916 is executed: the payment module 300 calculates the reservation platform fee of the charging gun C1, and adds the reservation platform fee to the charging time fee obtained in step S912. For example: on Wednesday, the reservation platform fee of the rate plan corresponding to the priority level "level 1" is 0.5 yuan, which is added to the charging time fee of 100 yuan, totaling 100.5 yuan.

[0096] Then, execute step S918: the payment module 300 confirms whether the user needs to pay the reservation time fee. If the confirmation result is "yes", execute step S920: the payment module 300 calculates the reservation time fee of the charging gun C1, and adds the reservation time fee to the charging time fee obtained in step S912 and / or the reservation platform fee obtained in step S916. For example: the reservation unit price of the reservation time fee is 0.1 yuan per minute, and the time length of the reservation period is 30 minutes (that is, 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm), then the reservation time fee is 3 yuan, which is added to the charging time fee of 100 yuan and the reservation platform fee of 0.5 yuan, totaling 103.5 yuan. Then, in step S922, the payment module 300 integrates (or summarizes) that the total fee that the user needs to pay for making an appointment and / or using the charging gun C1 is 103.5 yuan.

[0097] On the other hand, if the confirmation result of step S914 is "No", indicating that the user does not need to pay the reservation platform fee, step S916 is skipped and step S918 is directly executed. Similarly, if the confirmation result of step S918 is "No", indicating that the user does not need to pay the reservation time fee, step S920 is skipped and step S922 is directly executed. For example, if the confirmation results of step S914 and step S918 are both "No" (that is, the user only needs to pay the charging time fee of 100 yuan obtained in step S912), the total fee integrated (or aggregated) in step S922 is 100 yuan.

[0098] Consider step S902 again. If the confirmation result of step S902 is "No", it means that the charging gun C1 is not charging, then execute Fig. 9B Please refer to Figure 2 and Fig. 9B In step S924, the stop module 410 detects and records the stop time of the reservation period of the charging gun C1. After the stop time (1:30) of the reservation period of the charging gun C1, if the start module 420 still does not detect the start time of the charging period of the charging gun C1, it means that the user did not actually use the charging gun C1 for charging during the reservation period (1:00 pm to 1:30 pm). Therefore, the start module 420 and the stop module 410 can confirm that the charging gun C1 is in the reservation expiration state.

[0099] Then, step S926 is executed: the payment module 300 confirms whether the user needs to pay the expiration fee. If the confirmation result is "no", step S928 is executed: the user does not need to pay any fees. That is, the payment module 300 obtains the result that although the user has made an appointment for the charging gun C1 and the appointment has expired, the user does not need to pay any fees. Conversely, if the confirmation result of step S926 is "yes", step S930 is executed: the payment module will calculate the expiration fee based on the appointment expiration status of the charging gun C1.

[0100] Then, step S932 is executed: the payment module 300 confirms whether the user needs to pay the reservation expiration platform fee. If the confirmation result is "yes", step S934 is executed: the payment module 300 calculates the reservation expiration platform fee of the charging gun C1 (for example: 5 yuan).

[0101] Then, execute step S936: the payment module 300 confirms whether the user needs to pay the reservation expiration time fee. If the confirmation result is "yes", execute step S938: the payment module 300 calculates the reservation expiration time fee of the charging gun C1, and selectively adds it to the reservation expiration platform fee obtained in step S934. The reservation expiration time fee is calculated based on the reservation period. In one example, the reservation expiration time fee is equal to the length of time during the reservation period (for example: 30 minutes) multiplied by the reservation expiration unit price (for example: 2 yuan per minute); therefore, the reservation expiration time fee is 60 yuan, which is added to the reservation expiration platform fee of 5 yuan, totaling 65 yuan. Then, in step S940, the payment module 300 summarizes (or summarizes): the user makes an appointment with the charging gun C1 but expires, and the total fee to be paid is 65 yuan.

[0102] In summary, the charging station management system 1000 of the present invention calculates the respective charges of the charging guns according to the respective properties of the multiple charging guns of the charging station (for example, including the respective positions and charging speeds of the charging guns), so that the prices of the charging charges, reservation charges and reservation expiration charges of each charging gun are different. Users can choose charging guns for charging according to differentiated prices. In addition, the charging station management system 1000 of the present invention can accurately detect, record and calculate the charging period and reservation period of each charging gun (including: start time / date, stop time / date, and time length), so as to accurately calculate the charging charges and reservation charges of each charging gun (including: platform fee, and / or time fee). In addition, the reservation expiration status of the charging gun is confirmed according to the charging period and the reservation period, so as to calculate the reservation expiration charges of each charging gun. Accordingly, the charging station management system 1000 of the present invention can flexibly set, adjust and manage the rate table of the charging gun to meet the needs of different users. In addition, the charging station management system 1000 of the present invention provides a complete front-end interface to facilitate the charging station operator to set various parameters of the rate table through the front-end interface.

[0103] Although the present invention has been disclosed in detail above with preferred embodiments and examples, it is to be understood that these examples are intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive. It is expected that a person with ordinary knowledge in the art may think of various modifications and combinations, which fall within the spirit of the present invention and the scope of the appended patent applications.

Claims

1. A charging station management system, which is set in a cloud server and is used to manage multiple charging guns in a charging station, characterized in that: The charging station management system includes: a rate module, used to set a rate table for each charging gun, confirm whether one of the charging guns is reserved, and confirm whether the reserved charging gun is in a reservation expiration state; A start module, used for remotely controlling each charging gun to start charging, receiving a first data of each charging gun, and detecting and recording a start time of a charging period and a start time of a reservation period of each charging gun; a stop module, used for remotely controlling each charging gun to stop charging, receiving a second data of each charging gun, and detecting and recording a stop time of the charging period and a stop time of the scheduled period of each charging gun, wherein the second data includes at least one attribute of the charging gun; and A payment module is used to selectively calculate a charging fee, a reservation fee and a reservation expiration fee of each charging gun according to each rate table, the charging period, the reservation period and the at least one attribute.

2. The charging station management system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rate module also includes: A rate processing unit, when the rate module sets the rate table of one of the charging guns, the rate table is added to the rate processing unit, and the rate processing unit adjusts the charging fee, the reservation fee and the reservation expiration fee.

3. The charging station management system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The at least one attribute includes at least a position and a charging speed of the charging gun.

4. The charging station management system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: A front-end interface generates a control signal in response to an operation signal. When the rate module confirms that one of the charging guns is reserved, the front-end interface controls the rate module through the control signal to input and set a reservation platform fee of the reservation fee and the length of time of the reservation period.

5. The charging station management system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The payment module calculates the reservation fee according to the start time and the stop time of the reservation period, and the reservation fee further includes a reservation time fee, which is equal to the time length of the reservation period multiplied by a reservation unit price.

6. The charging station management system according to claim 4, characterized in that: When the rate module confirms that the reserved charging gun is in the reservation expiration state, it means that the reserved charging gun has not been actually used for charging. The front-end interface controls the rate module through the control signal to input and set a reservation expiration platform fee and a reservation expiration time length of the reservation expiration fee.

7. The charging station management system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The payment module calculates the reservation expiration fee according to the reservation expiration status, and the reservation expiration fee further includes a reservation expiration time fee, which is equal to the time length of the reservation period multiplied by a reservation expiration unit price.

8. The charging station management system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The rate module cooperates with the start module and the stop module to confirm the reservation expiration status of the reserved charging gun according to the start time of the charging period and the stop time of the reservation period.

9. The charging station management system according to claim 6, characterized in that: Also includes: A database for storing the rate table of each charging gun, The front-end interface submits and transmits the reservation platform fee, the duration of the reservation period, the reservation expiration platform fee, and the duration of the reservation expiration to the rate module and the database.

10. The charging station management system according to claim 1, characterized in that: It further includes a front-end interface for inputting and setting a plurality of parameters of each rate table, wherein the parameters include a rate table name, a rate table currency, a payment type, a minimum price and a maximum price.

11. The charging station management system according to claim 10, characterized in that: The minimum price is a lower limit of the charging fee, the reservation fee or the reservation expiration fee, and the maximum price is an upper limit of the charging fee, the reservation fee or the reservation expiration fee.

12. The charging station management system according to claim 10, characterized in that: The parameters further include a minimum duration and a maximum duration. The minimum duration is a lower limit of the length of a charging period or a reservation period of each charging gun, and the maximum duration is an upper limit of the length of the charging period or the reservation period.

13. The charging station management system according to claim 10, characterized in that: Each of the rate tables includes a plurality of rate plans, and the parameters further include a priority of each of the rate plans.

14. The charging station management system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: A charging management module includes a charging pile management unit. When the rate module sets the rate table of one of the charging guns, information of a charging pile to which the charging gun belongs is added to the charging pile management unit.

15. The charging station management system according to claim 14, characterized in that: The charging management module further includes: A connection unit is used to connect the rate table to the charging pile when the information of the charging pile is added to the charging pile management unit.

16. The charging station management system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The payment module includes: A payment processing unit is used to calculate the charging fee, the reservation fee and the reservation expiration fee, and to cooperate with a third-party payment system to process the payment flow.

17. The charging station management system according to claim 16, characterized in that: The payment module also includes: A receipt processing unit is used to collaborate with a third-party processing system to generate a receipt to record the charging fee, the reservation fee and the reservation expiration fee, wherein the receipt has a mobile phone carrier form, a company carrier form, or an email form.

18. The charging station management system according to claim 17, characterized in that: Also includes: A fee notification module is used to execute a communication function to generate a communication data to transmit the receipt, wherein the communication data includes an email, a mobile phone text message, or a message application.

19. A charging station management method for managing multiple charging guns in a charging station, characterized in that: The charging station management method includes: Setting a rate table for each charging gun through the rate module, confirming whether one of the charging guns is reserved, and confirming whether the reserved charging gun is in a reservation expiration state; Remotely control each charging gun to start charging through a start module, receive a first data of each charging gun, and detect and record a start time of a charging period and a start time of a reservation period of each charging gun; Remotely controlling each charging gun to stop charging through a stop module, receiving a second data of each charging gun, and detecting and recording a stop time of the charging period and a stop time of the scheduled period of each charging gun, wherein the second data includes at least one attribute of the charging gun; and A charging fee, a reservation fee and a reservation expiration fee of each charging gun are selectively calculated by a payment module according to each rate table, the charging period, the reservation period and the at least one attribute.

20. The charging station management method according to claim 19, characterized in that: The step of setting the rate table of each charging gun through the rate module includes: adding the rate table to a rate processing unit of the rate module; and The charging fee, the reservation fee and the reservation expiration fee are adjusted by the rate processing unit.

21. The charging station management method according to claim 19, characterized in that: The at least one attribute includes at least a position and a charging speed of the charging gun.

22. The charging station management method according to claim 19, characterized in that: Also includes: generating a control signal in response to an operation signal through a front-end interface; and When the rate module confirms that one of the charging guns is reserved, the rate module is controlled by the front-end interface according to the control signal to input and set a reservation platform fee of the reservation fee and the length of the reservation period.

23. The charging station management method according to claim 22, characterized in that: The step of selectively calculating the reservation fee of each charging gun through the payment module includes: Calculating the reservation fee according to the start time and the stop time of the reservation period by the payment module; The reservation fee further includes a reservation time fee, which is equal to the time length of the reservation period multiplied by a reservation unit price.

24. The charging station management method according to claim 22, characterized in that: When the rate module confirms that the reserved charging gun is in the reservation expiration state, it means that the reserved charging gun is not actually used for charging. The charging station management method further includes: The rate module is controlled by the front-end interface according to the control signal to input and set a reservation period platform fee and a reservation period time length of the reservation period fee.

25. The charging station management method according to claim 24, characterized in that: The step of selectively calculating the reservation expiration fee of each charging gun through the payment module includes: Calculating the reservation expiration fee according to the reservation expiration status through the payment module; The reservation period fee further includes a reservation period time fee, and the reservation period time fee is equal to the length of the reservation period multiplied by a reservation period unit price.

26. The charging station management method according to claim 24, characterized in that: The reservation expiration status of the reserved charging gun is confirmed by the rate module in cooperation with the start module and the stop module according to the start time of the charging period and the stop time of the reservation period.

27. The charging station management method according to claim 24, characterized in that: Also includes: Storing the rate table of each charging gun through a database; and The reservation platform fee, the duration of the reservation period, the reservation expiration platform fee, and the duration of the reservation expiration are submitted and transmitted to the rate module and the database through the front-end interface.

28. The charging station management method according to claim 19, characterized in that: Before the step of setting the rate table of each charging gun by the rate module, the charging station management method further includes: Input and set multiple parameters of each rate table through a front-end interface; The parameters include a rate table name, a rate table currency, a payment type, a minimum price, and a maximum price.

29. The charging station management method according to claim 28, characterized in that: The minimum price is a lower limit of the charging fee, the reservation fee or the reservation expiration fee, and the maximum price is an upper limit of the charging fee, the reservation fee or the reservation expiration fee.

30. The charging station management method according to claim 28, characterized in that: The parameters further include a minimum duration and a maximum duration. The minimum duration is a lower limit of the length of a charging period or a reservation period of each charging gun, and the maximum duration is an upper limit of the length of the charging period or the reservation period.

31. The charging station management method according to claim 28, characterized in that: Each of the rate tables includes a plurality of rate plans, and the parameters further include a priority of each of the rate plans.

32. The charging station management method according to claim 19, characterized in that: The step of setting the rate table of each charging gun through the rate module further includes: The information of a charging pile to which the charging gun belongs is added to a charging pile management unit of a charging management module.

33. The charging station management method according to claim 32, characterized in that: When the information of the charging pile is added to the charging pile management unit, the charging station management method further includes: The rate table is connected to the charging pile through a connection unit of the charging management module.

34. The charging station management method according to claim 19, characterized in that: The steps of selectively calculating the charging fee, the reservation fee and the reservation expiration fee by the payment module include: Calculating the charging fee, the reservation fee and the reservation expiration fee through a payment processing unit of the payment module; and The payment processing unit cooperates with a third-party payment system to process financial payments.

35. The charging station management method according to claim 34, characterized in that: After the step of selectively calculating the charging fee, the reservation fee, and the reservation expiration fee through the payment module, the charging station management method further includes: A receipt is generated by a receipt processing unit in cooperation with a third-party processing system to record the charging fee, the reservation fee and the reservation expiration fee. The receipt is in the form of a mobile phone carrier, a company carrier, or an email.

36. The charging station management method according to claim 35, characterized in that: Also includes: A communication function is executed by a fee notification module to generate a communication data to transmit the receipt, The communication data includes an email, a mobile phone text message, or a messaging application.

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