Systems and methods for determining vehicle queue status

Abstract

Determining a queue status at vehicle charging locations 102, 103, (21, Fig. 2) each of which may have several vehicle charging sites 104, by means of a processor: receiving vehicle charging location data indicating the number of vehicles 108, (25, Fig. 2) in a queue 110 and battery status (26, Fig. 2) for each vehicle; processing the data 120, (28, Fig. 2); outputting the queue status result data (29, Fig. 2). The location data may also indicate the proportion of occupied charging sites while the battery status may be included for both charging and queueing vehicles; this data may be used to estimate a charging time for each vehicle and for the whole queue. The output may be an estimate of queue wait time or show the location with the shortest queuing time. This may be combined with estimated distance to the charging locations, to give the optimal charging location for a given vehicle. The queue may include vehicles intending to join the physical queue: a virtual queue or reservation system. The system may be computer based and include transmission of data from locations (402, 404, Fig. 4) and vehicles (401, Fig. 4) to transceivers (406, Fig. 4).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for determining vehicle queue status. Aspects of the invention relate to a control system for determining a queue status for vehicle charging locations, to a system having the control system and a transceiver, to a vehicle having the system or control system, and to a method for determining a queue status for vehicle charging locations. BACKGROUND It is known to provide connected vehicles having communications capabilities which allow communication with locations visited by the vehicle, and wider vehicle and / or communications infrastructure. It is also known to provide (electrical) systems management for vehicle fuelling or charging locations, for instance for electric vehicles, and for data collected from such locations and systems to be processed. However, these systems are not capable of processing or providing data relating to queueing at charging locations, which data being usable by vehicles or their users. In addition, rudimentary electronic queueing systems are known to the art; these are typically based on a unit counting system, where a wait time for users of a site or apparatus is calculated using a number of units queueing for the site or apparatus. These are insufficient for vehicle (user) systems and infrastructure requiring detailed information on queueing status at fuelling or charging locations. It is an aim of the present invention to address one or more of the disadvantages associated with the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide a control system for determining a queue status for vehicle charging locations, to a system comprising the control system and a transceiver, to a vehicle comprising the system or control system, and to a method for determining a queue status for vehicle charging locations as claimed in the appended claims. According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a control system for determining a queue status for vehicle charging locations, the control system comprising one or more processors collectively configured to: receive, for one or more vehicle charging locations, each of the one or more vehicle charging locations having one or more charging sites, vehicle charging location data indicating: a number of vehicles in a queue for the charging sites of the one or more vehicle charging locations; battery charge status for vehicles at the one or more vehicle charging locations; process the vehicle charging location data to determine the queue status for the one or more vehicle charging locations; and in dependence on the queue status, output queue status result data for the vehicle charging locations. This allows an accurate determination of queue status for the one or more charging locations, which can then be used by vehicles, users and infrastructure to assess preferred locations for vehicles to use. Optionally, the charging location data further indicates a proportion of the one or more charging sites that are occupied by one of the vehicles. This further improves the accuracy of the queue status determination. In embodiments, the processors are configured to receive battery charge status: for vehicles occupying charging sites at the one or more vehicle charging locations; and / or for vehicles in the queue at the one or more vehicle charging locations. This improves accuracy still further - queue status can be assessed on projected length of time to charge vehicles already charging, and / or those which are so far only queueing for charging sites. In embodiments, the queue status result data comprises an estimate of a queue wait time. This allows vehicles / users to assess waiting times at different locations, allowing a better choice of location. Optionally, the processors are configured to process the vehicle charging location data to: for each vehicle in a vehicle charging location queue, estimate a vehicle required charge time which is a time required at one of the charging sites to charge the vehicle; and using the vehicle required charge times, estimate a total required charge time to charge all of the vehicles in the queue. This allows queue status to include all the vehicles in the queue, providing an overall assessment of waiting time. In embodiments, the location data further indicates for battery charge status a proportion of a battery charged. In embodiments, vehicle required charges time is estimated as a time required to charge the vehicle to a predetermined proportion of battery charge or capacity. In embodiments, the one or more vehicle charging locations is a plurality of vehicle charging locations, and the processors are configured to output an indication of the vehicle charging location which has a lowest value for queue wait time. This can provide vehicles / users with a preferred or suggested charging location. Optionally, the processors are configured to: receive, for a vehicle requesting the indication of the vehicle charging location which has the lowest value for queue wait time, data indicating distance from vehicle charging locations for the requesting vehicle; and use the data indicating distance and the determined vehicle charging location queue wait times to output an indication of an optimal vehicle charging location for the requesting vehicle. This provides a means for advising a vehicle / user which charging location it would be most efficient for the requesting vehicle to visit. Optionally, the processors are configured to: receive estimates of queue wait time for vehicle charging locations; receive for a requesting vehicle data indicating distance from vehicle charging locations; use the data indicating distance and the estimated vehicle charging location queue wait times to select one of the vehicle charging locations; and output for the requesting vehicle the selected vehicle charging location. This provides an alternative means for selecting a preferred charging location. In embodiments, the number of vehicles in the queue for charging sites for the one or more vehicle charging locations includes at least one vehicle outside the vehicle charging location, from which data has been received indicating that the vehicle is proceeding to join the queue at the vehicle charging location. This further improves accuracy of the queue data, by including vehicles which are not yet at the charging location, preventing vehicles ahead of a requesting vehicle deteriorating the queue data quality before the requesting vehicle would arrive at a suggested location. In embodiments, the number of vehicles in the queue for charging sites for the one or more vehicle charging locations excludes at least one vehicle from which data has been received indicating that the vehicle has left the queue at the vehicle charging location. In embodiments, the vehicle charging location data is transmitted by one or more of: a vehicle charging location transmitter; a charging site transmitter; a vehicle transmitter. This allows data to be collected from any / all of a variety of sources, improving the queue status data. In embodiments, the vehicle location data indicating battery charge status for vehicles comprises data indicating one or more of: a vehicle type; a battery type; a battery capacity; a battery charge rate. This further improves the queue data quality and specificity. In embodiments, the processors are configured to: on conclusion of a charge for any vehicle at one or more charging sites, determine a charge amount; and output a request for user transaction data relating to the charge amount. This allows an efficient means of providing transaction data for the charge for the vehicle, usable by other systems. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a system comprising the control system of any aspect or embodiment, and a transceiver for: receiving the vehicle charging location data; and transmitting the queue status result data. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle comprising the system or the control system of any of the above aspects or embodiments. According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for determining a queue status for vehicle charging locations, the method comprising: receiving, for one or more vehicle charging locations, each of the one or more vehicle charging locations having one or more charging sites, vehicle charging location data indicating: a number of vehicles in a queue for the charging sites of the one or more vehicle charging locations; battery charge status for vehicles at the one or more vehicle charging locations; determining from the vehicle charging location data the queue status for the one or more vehicle charging locations; and in dependence on the queue status, outputting queue status result data for the vehicle charging locations. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided computer readable instructions which, when executed by a computer, are arranged to perform a method according to the above aspect. In embodiments, the control system comprises one or more controllers collectively comprising at least one electronic processor having an electrical input for receiving an input signal; and at least one memory device electrically coupled to the at least one electronic processor and having instructions stored therein; and wherein the at least one electronic processor is configured to access the at least one memory device and execute the instructions thereon so as to: receive, for one or more vehicle charging locations, each of the one or more vehicle charging locations having one or more charging sites, vehicle charging location data indicating: a number of vehicles in a queue for the charging sites of the one or more vehicle charging locations; battery charge status for vehicles at the one or more vehicle charging locations; process the vehicle charging location data to determine the queue status for the one or more vehicle charging locations; and in dependence on the queue status, output queue status result data for the vehicle charging locations. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a control system for determining a status for vehicle charging locations, the control system comprising one or more processors collectively configured to: receive, for one or more vehicle charging locations, the vehicle charging locations having one or more charging sites, vehicle charging location data indicating: a number of vehicles in a queue for charging sites for a vehicle charging location; battery charge status for vehicles at vehicle charging locations; and process the vehicle charging location data to determine a status for vehicle charging locations. The processors may be configured to output for vehicles status result data for vehicle charging locations. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle system for determining a vehicle charging location recommendation for the vehicle, the system comprising one or more processors collectively configured to: receive, for one or more vehicle charging locations, the vehicle charging locations having one or more charging sites, vehicle charging location data indicating: a number of vehicles in a queue for charging sites for a vehicle charging location; battery charge status for vehicles at a vehicle charging location; process the vehicle charging location data to determine a queue status for vehicle charging locations; process the queue status result data for the vehicle charging locations to determine a vehicle charging location recommendation for the vehicle; and output the recommendation for the vehicle. The determination may be of an optimised, selected or prescribed vehicle charging location. Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and / or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and / or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and / or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and / or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a first schematic representation of a system for determining queue status for vehicle charging locations, according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows steps of a method for determining queue status for vehicle charging locations, according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 shows a first block diagram illustrating components of a system for determining queue status for vehicle charging locations, according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 shows a second schematic representation of a system for determining queue status for vehicle charging locations, according to an embodiment of the invention; Figures 5a and 5b show first and second flow charts showing steps of methods for determining queue status for vehicle charging locations, according to embodiments of the invention; Figure 6 shows a third schematic representation of a system for determining queue status for vehicle charging locations, according to an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 7 shows a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION In general, embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for counting or tallying vehicles at filling / charging locations, and the status of those vehicles and (facilities of) the locations, in order to give an estimate of queuing time overall, for a combination of those locations. This allows estimates of waiting time to be calculated, which can be used by vehicle users or vehicle systems to select preferred locations for charging. This can allow users to assess before travelling to charging locations how long they may wait at locations, and to estimate which location may be most preferred from the point of view of least waiting time for the vehicle / user, for example based on the current vehicle charge status. In general, these systems are suitable for any type of vehicle, such as automotive vehicles (cars, transit or cargo vehicles, electric moped bike or the like), aircraft or UAVs, marine vehicles, or the like. Embodiments of the invention are described in relation to automotive vehicles. Embodiments of the invention are described in relation to charging locations for electric vehicles, although embodiments of the invention are also applicable to other energy storage and transfer systems for vehicles, such as fuelling stations, hydrogen storage stations, and the like. A control system 100, 200, 300 for determining a queue status for vehicle charging locations in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is described herein with reference to the accompanying Figures 1 to 3. As shown in Figure 7, a system 702, 704 incorporating or using such a control system may be installed in a vehicle 700. Turning to Figure 1, in a first vehicle charging location 102, there are a number of vehicle charging sites 104. The charging location may be a service area, retail area, vehicle parking location or the like. The charging sites may be electric vehicle charging devices and / or areas of the charging location designated for use (only) by electric vehicles, equipped with such a device. As can be seen, some of these charging sites are occupied by vehicles 108; for example, a site may be occupied by a vehicle at a charging site connected to charging site infrastructure, such as a vehicle charging device. In embodiments, the vehicle may merely be physically present at the charging site, for instance if the vehicle is about to connect to a charging device, or has recently disconnected. There are also vehicles in a queue 110, waiting to access a charging site at the charging location. Each vehicle is equipped with a communications capability 118 configured to communicate with networks as described below, and each charging site is similarly equipped 114. Other such charging locations 103 may also be available, and will be similarly configured, some with different arrangements and numbers of charging sites, therefore having different capacity, and having different status (charging sites fully used or not, queue of vehicles or not). A data controller or server 120 in communication with the vehicles 108, the charging sites 104 and / or the vehicle charging locations 102, 103 via a network, can receive data from these sources, and process it to determine queue status for the charging locations. Data resulting from this processing can be used and / or received by a vehicle on the road 130 (having communications capability 132) in order to allow the vehicle / user to assess waiting times. Queue status for charging locations is determined to provide information for vehicles and / or users The queue status determined may merely indicate that a charging location is busy (or not), or qualify / quantify how busy the charging location is. Information on, for example, the number of vehicles queueing for a charging location and / or the battery status of those vehicles may be processed to determine the queue status, and may be included in queue status result data. Number of vehicles and / or battery status (for example) may be used as proxy indicators for how busy a charging location is. In embodiments, such information is used to estimate or determine a wait time for the charging location; an amount of time that a vehicle arriving at the location would have to wait to charge the vehicle, given the number of vehicles already present, and / or their battery status (for instance, how long it will take to charge them). Figure 2 illustrates steps of a method for determining queue status for vehicle charging locations according to an embodiment of the invention, a method which can be used in a vehicle such as vehicle 700 of Figure 7. The method may be performed by the system 300 illustrated in Figure 3. In particular, the memory 310 may comprise computer-readable instructions which, when executed by the processor 308, perform the method according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring additionally to Figure 2, in an arrangement as in Figure 1 or similar, there will be a number of different items and types of data available, which can be used to assess queuing status at each and / or all of the charging locations. For instance, for a given vehicle charging location 21 (of which there may be only one, or more than one, indicated by the dotted outlines for additional locations 21), there may be various data items available. In this embodiment, there is information available from the vehicles 25 (via their communications capabilities), such as how many vehicles are in a queue for the charging site(s) at the location, and a battery charge status 26 for each vehicle. Again, there may only be a single vehicle 25, with additional vehicles indicated by dotted outlines. Alternatively, the number of vehicles may be assessed or tallied by infrastructure of the charging site or charging location. The battery charge status may include, for example, an indication of whether the battery is almost full or empty or the like, or an indication of a percentage of charge remaining in the battery. Other types of data may also be collected for assessment by the system; for example, a proportion or fraction of charging sites occupied by vehicles may be obtainable (for instance, where a number of vehicles queuing for the charging location is zero). Indicators for relative capacity of the charging location may be obtained; some locations may contain a large number of charging sites and therefore a large queue will not necessarily imply a long wait time at the station. A number of vehicles queuing weighted or referenced to location size / number of sites may be obtained. Battery charge status may be obtained for vehicles in the queue; this may indicate a length of time to charge each of these vehicles. In addition or alternatively, battery charge status may be obtained for vehicles at the charging sites; this may indicate how much time remains before the charging site is vacated by the vehicle. Battery charge status or other data obtained may indicate the size, type, capacity, charge rate and the like of the vehicle and / or vehicle battery; these factorswill affect the assessment of total charging and / or waiting time. The charging locations themselves may also have communications infrastructure able to collect and / or transmit data from or relating to the charging sites and / or the vehicles. Communications by the charging sites, vehicles, and / or charging locations may take any format capable of receipt and collection for processing, and in embodiments of the invention are provided as part of a V2X or vehicle-to-everything network. In such an example, data indicating or representing for instance the number of vehicles in the queue for charging sites at the one or more charging locations, along with the battery charge status of the vehicles, can be received at a processing environment 28, and processed to produce queue status result data 29. This queue status result data may include a wait time for the one or more charging locations. The data from charging locations may be used to estimate charging times required for each of the vehicles queuing (and / or remaining charging times for vehicles already charging), and use these to compute a composite wait time for each and / or all locations (i.e. an amount of time before a charging site will be available for a new vehicle arriving at that / each charging location). The result data may be, for example, an indication of which charging locations have which combinations of vehicles waiting with respective charge status that will imply a long wait at the charging location for a vehicle and / or user using the assessment system; the system will in an embodiment produce an estimate of which of the locations has a lowest wait time, for example taking into account the current vehicle charge status. In an embodiment, the status may be used to provide an estimate of an optimal charging location for a requesting vehicle, given a distance (or projected travel time) of the requesting vehicle relative to the charging location(s). For instance, a total time may be computed including the wait time(s) and an estimated time for the requesting vehicle to reach the location; a shorter wait time at a charging location further from a requesting vehicle may not be optimal if a closer location has a slightly longer wait time. In embodiments, vehicle charging location data is gathered continuously, and may be processed to determine queue status continuously, or repeatedly at intervals, in order to keep queue status result data up to date. In embodiments, vehicles not already arrived at charging locations may be in communication with one or more communications networks used by the system. In this case, such vehicles (for example a vehicle 700 of Figure 7) using a system such as that described herein are permitted in embodiments of the invention to indicate a charging location that will be visited by the vehicle; in an embodiment, this may be a location selected by or with the help of a system according to embodiments of the invention indicating queuing status. In embodiments, vehicles can also indicate their battery charge status, for example by a repeating or constant update of such status to the system. Once such an indication has been made by a vehicle, this data can be used in calculating queue status for the charging locations. For example, a number of vehicles queuing at a charging location may include a vehicle which has not yet arrived at the location, but has indicated either that it will soon arrive, or an intention to use that location. Of course, the calculation can remove this vehicle from consideration if the vehicle does not visit the location within a predetermined time period. Data for processing queue result data can also be updated if a vehicle leaves a queue at a charging location, therefore removing the implied wait for that vehicle to charge. Other types of data may be collected, transmitted and / or processed by the system. For example, once a vehicle requesting a charging location recommendation has visited the location and completed a charge, a charge amount used can be obtained, and a request for user transaction data relating to the charge amount can be made by the system; in this way, transaction data for the vehicle user relating to the incurred charge can be processed automatically. With reference to Figure 3, there is illustrated components of a system 320 for determining queue status for vehicle charging locations, according to an embodiment of the invention. The system 320 comprises one or more controllers 330. The system 320 is configured to receive vehicle charging location data 303 from the vehicle charging locations, vehicles, and / or charging sites as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 above, via the communications link 302, and determine a queue status result. If implemented in a vehicle, the system 320 may then output a control signal 311 to control a user interface or other vehicle component. The system 320 as illustrated in Figure 3 comprises one controller 330, although it will be appreciated that this is merely illustrative. The controller 330 comprises a processor or processing means 308 and memory or data storage means, such as a data store 310. The processing means 308 may be one or more electronic processing devices which operably execute(s) computer-readable instructions. The memory means 310 may be one or more memory devices. The memory means 310 is electrically coupled to the processing means 308. The memory means 310 is configured to store instructions, and the processing means 308 is configured to access the memory means 310 and execute the instructions stored thereon. The controller 330 comprises an input means 305a and an output means 305b. The input means 305a may comprise an electrical input of the controller 330. The output means 305b may comprise an electrical output of the controller 330. The input 305a is arranged to receive an input signal 305a from the antenna 304. This input signal is a carrier for the vehicle charging location data collected as described above, which is indicative of numbers of vehicles, battery status of vehicles and the like. The output 305b is configured to output a transmission signal to the antenna, for example (in the case of a server rather than a vehicle controller) a signal as a carrier for queue status result data. The output 311 (in the case of a vehicle controller) is arranged to output a queue status signal indicative of a wait time, for display to a user or for controlling vehicle features using such data. In embodiments, the system comprises a transceiver system 304, 306. In an embodiment, the transceiver system comprises a receiving component 306 incorporated in the controller 330, having input 305a and output 305b. The transceiver system also comprises an antenna device 304. In other embodiments, the transceiver system may be provided outside the controller and / or by different systems and components known to the art. The antenna 304 is configured to establish a communication link with communication devices or sources 302. In embodiments, the communication link may be a X2V or V2X or everything-to-vehicle / vehicle-to-everything communication link, for instance communication with a local, regional or global communications network, with local infrastructure, with (other) vehicles, or the like. This may be mediated by telecommunications, satellite, local area network communications devices or the like. The receiver 306 is configured to receive signals from the antenna and convert them or process them to produce the data supplied via the communication source, such as vehicle charging location data. This receiver may have separate typical filter, amplification and demodulation components; in embodiments, the receiver functions can be provided by software defined radio (SDR). The receiver is configured to communicate with the processing means 308, so that the processor can process data from the receiver, and with the memory means 310 so that received data can be stored. It is notable that in embodiments, the system of 320 is implemented as a standalone and / or networked server as part of a system in communication with both vehicles and vehicle charging locations, for instance as part of a V2X network. In this embodiment, the input data received will be the vehicle charging location data, and the processing will be done at a controller 330 as part of the server. The queue status data output will then be transmitted via the transceiver 304, 306 and the communications link 302 to vehicles, for example to provide a requesting vehicle with data to estimate wait times and / or provide a recommended or optimised vehicle charging location. In other embodiments, the system of 320 is implemented in the vehicle itself. In this embodiment, the input data received will again be the vehicle charging location data, and the processing will be done at a vehicle controller 330. The queue status data output 311 will be passed to other vehicle components 312, such as other controllers for optimising vehicle navigation, or to user interfaces. The wider system 300 of Figure 3 includes systems or components 312, which communicate with the controller 330 and / or the system 320. In embodiments in which the system 320 is implemented in the vehicle, these may include vehicle control units, user interfaces and the like. These are features, components and systems used by the vehicle or its users to perform operations of the vehicle, rather than of the system for determining queue status 320. The systems or components 312 may comprise components which receive and / or process the queue data from the system 320, for example to provide further functions for the vehicle, or to display or communicate results, estimates or recommendations to a vehicle user, via a user interface or display. In embodiments in which the system is implemented in a server, the additional systems or components 312 may not be required. The processor(s), memory means, receiver and other electronic devices noted above with reference to Figure 3 may include one or more of logic arrays, memories, analogue circuits, digital circuits, software, firmware and processors. The hardware and firmware components of the computing devices may include various specialized units, circuits, software and interfaces for providing the functionality and features described herein. The processor(s) may be or include one or more microprocessors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs) and programmable logic arrays (PLAs). Memories may be or include RAM, ROM, and may include firmware, such as static data or fixed instructions, BIOS, system functions, configuration data, and other routines used during the operation of the devices. Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of a system for determining queue status for vehicle charging locations, according to an embodiment of the invention. A vehicle 401 is illustrated in a location with various roadways, and with vehicle charging locations 402 and 404, each having communications capability 403. There is a local area communications network which comprises network communications installations 406 -these may for example be telecommunications masts being used by the V2X network to transmit signals between vehicles, locations and other infrastructure. As can be seen, the locations and vehicles are equipped with communications capabilities, as described above. In this and other embodiments, in collecting data from charging locations, or in processing data for a given user or requesting vehicle, selections may be used from a set of charging locations, and the data processed for the remaining set only. For example, a charging location of those available in an area may be removed from calculation or processing by a vehicle or user, for instance because the location is not a preferred location for the user, or because it is too far from a destination for the user or with reference to a current vehicle battery charge status. For a user, such alterations can be made using a user interface 312, for example by selection / de-selection of locations, by setting parameters or filters, or for instance by setting a boundary for locations, those outside the boundary being excluded. In embodiments, a weighting may be applied to the wait time and / or queue result computation; for instance, the locations’ relative distance to a vehicle location may be given relative weighting by distance, for example in addition to or instead of calculation of an optimal location including a distance (and implied travel time). De-selection of charging locations may also be automated, by removing those which are too far for the requesting vehicle to travel on the current charge available in the vehicle battery. Figures 5a and 5b show flow charts showing steps of methods for determining queue status for vehicle charging locations, according to embodiments of the invention. In embodiments, steps are undertaken and data processed from vehicles waiting in queues at charging locations as well as vehicles connected at charging sites at the locations. Figure 5b illustrates a particular embodiment of a method, and Figure 5a illustrates details of methods according to embodiments. These Figures can also be viewed with reference to Figure 6, representing an embodiment of an overall system for determining queue status. For example, in an embodiment, the database server 674 of Figure 6 may be a server 501 as in Figure 5a, performing steps such as in Figure 5b. In alternative embodiments, the steps of Figure 5b may be performed at other locations, such as in a transceiver and processing environment of a vehicle, or at distributed locations. As before, vehicles referred to with reference to Figures 5a, 5b and 6 may be vehicles such as vehicle 700 of Figure 7. Referring initially to Figure 5b, this particular embodiment comprises receiving 560, for one or more vehicle charging locations, each of the one or more vehicle charging locations having one or more charging sites, vehicle charging location data indicating: a number of vehicles in a queue for the charging sites of the one or more vehicle charging locations; and battery charge status for vehicles at the one or more vehicle charging locations. The location data may also indicate the number of vehicles charging or connected at charging sites. The number of vehicles in the queue for charging sites for the one or more vehicle charging locations includes at least one vehicle outside the vehicle charging location, from which data has been received indicating that the vehicle is proceeding to join the queue at the vehicle charging location. Vehicle charging location data indicating a proportion of the one or more charging sites that are occupied by one of the vehicles is then received 562. Battery charge status is received 564 both / either: for vehicles occupying charging sites at the one or more vehicle charging locations; and / or for vehicles in the queue at the one or more vehicle charging locations. At 566, for each vehicle in a vehicle charging location queue, a vehicle required charge time is estimated (time required at one of the charging sites to charge the vehicle) and the vehicle required charge times are used to estimate a total required charge time to charge all of the vehicles in the queue. In embodiments, required charge time for each vehicle (i.e. a vehicle required charge time) is estimated as a time required to charge the vehicle to a predetermined proportion of battery charge or capacity; for example, it may be that a vehicle can be deemed sufficiently or fully charged at 80% or 90% of battery capacity, rather than at 100%. At 568, the vehicle charging location data is processed to determine the queue status for the one or more vehicle charging locations; and, in dependence on the queue status, output queue status result data for the vehicle charging locations. The queue status result data comprises an estimate of a queue wait time. At 570, an indication of the vehicle charging location which has a lowest value for queue wait time is output. Finally, at 572, for a vehicle requesting the lowest wait time indication, data indicating distance from vehicle charging locations for the requesting vehicle is received; and the distance data and the determined vehicle charging location queue wait times are used to output an indication of an optimal vehicle charging location for the requesting vehicle. In detail for a specific embodiment, with reference to Figure 5a, the system receives at a server 501 a variety of inputs over the network, in this case a V2X network: an indication 502 that at least one vehicle being driven requires charging; vehicle information 520 such as a VIN or other register number for the vehicle, preregistered to the service provided by the system (vehicle information besides register number may include vehicle type, batter type, battery capacity, battery charge rate and the like); details 504 from the charging site(s) or charging bays at vehicle charging locations of the battery status of those vehicles; numbers 506 of vehicles in the queues at the charging locations; charging location site or bay numbers and vehicle ID tokens 508 (each vehicle after arriving at a charging location having been assigned a numbered charging site / bay and ID token); and any other required information 512, such as charging location details / locations, total number of sites / bays, number connected, number available, charge times remaining for vehicles connected atsites / bays, and the like. A connection 551 is also provided via the internet to a transaction records provider 510 for processing transaction data. The method in this specific embodiment has the following steps. At 532 a number of nearby charging locations based on current charge and charging location distance from the vehicle on the road are identified. A determination is made at 534 whether any such charging locations are within range of the vehicle; if not, step 532 is repeated. If so, at 536 a wait time based on a number of vehicles connected to sites / bays at locations (and how much time they have left to charge), a number of vehicles waiting the queue, and if sites / bays are available, is calculated. At 538, it is determined whether there is a charging location with a lowest wait time -if so, this is logged at 540 as the suggested charging location. If not (for example if the determination of lowest wait time was for some reason inconclusive, or delayed / timed out, or if two charging locations had the same or sufficiently similar wait time), step 536 is repeated. The suggested charging location details are then suggested 552 to the vehicle's user. Figure 6 shows a schematic representation of a system 606 for determining queue status for vehicle charging locations, according to an embodiment of the invention. At a vehicle location 610, vehicles 612 on the road collect 616 battery status and location (for instance, GPS coordinates, whether near any charging locations) for the vehicle, and send these details and the vehicle VIN ID to the network 672 via a V2N communication link. In the meantime, vehicle charging locations 620, 630, 640 collect data as described above: status of batteries of vehicles at charging sites 622, 632, 642 at the location (while charging); status of batteries of vehicles queueing at the location 624, 634, 644 (having been assigned a numbered charging site / bay and ID token); registered users in the queue 626, 636, 646; and the like. These can be seen in detail at location 650; a vehicle 652 is disposed in the charging site 654 and connected to the charging device. A camera device 656 is provided for reading the vehicle number plate or the like; additionally, the car token ID can be transmitted from the vehicle transceiver 657 to the charging site via transceiver 658. A transceiver of the vehicle communicates 657 data to the V2N, for example GPS location, charge status, time remaining to charge the vehicle, vehicle details, VIN and the like. The charging device communicates 658 data to the V2N such as: VIN and other details of the vehicle in the charging site, GPS location, charging status, charging site and location details; charging site / bay ID. The charging device 658 and vehicle transceiver 657 communication is via V2X / V2I. These communications can be both / either to a 5 wider area V2N network, and / or to a local V2X server 659, which then transmits the data to a database server 674. Data from all the charging locations 620, 630, 640, 650 and from the vehicles on the road (610) is collected by this V2N database server 674. This server can inter alia be connected to a transaction service provider server 10 678 via a transaction user checking service 676. Figure 7 illustrates a vehicle 700 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle 700 comprises components 702 and 704 of a control system 100 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3; for example here the vehicle comprises an antenna 704, and a system 702 comprising components such as those shown in the 15 controller 330 of Figure 3. Other arrangements of these or similar components are possible in order to facilitate the features of the invention as described above. It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A control system for determining a queue status for vehicle charging locations, the control system comprising one or more processors collectively configured to:receive, for one or more vehicle charging locations, each of the one or more vehicle charging locations having one or more charging sites, vehicle charging location data indicating:a number of vehicles in a queue for the charging sites of the one or more vehicle charging locations;battery charge status for vehicles at the one or more vehicle charging locations;process the vehicle charging location data to determine the queue status for the one or more vehicle charging locations; andin dependence on the queue status, output queue status result data for the vehicle charging locations.

2. A control system according to Claim 1, wherein the charging location data further indicates a proportion of the one or more charging sites that are occupied by one of the vehicles.

3. A control system according to any preceding claim, wherein the processors are configured to receive battery charge status: for vehicles occupying charging sites at the one or more vehicle charging locations; and / or for vehicles in the queue at the one or more vehicle charging locations.

4. A control system according to any preceding claim, wherein the queue status result data comprises an estimate of a queue wait time.

5. A control system according to Claim 4, wherein the processors are configured to process the vehicle charging location data to:for each vehicle in a vehicle charging location queue, estimate a vehicle required charge time which is a time required at one of the charging sites to charge the vehicle; andusing the vehicle required charge times, estimate a total required charge time to charge all of the vehicles in the queue.

6. A control system according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more vehicle charging locations is a plurality of vehicle charging locations, and wherein the processors are configured to output an indication of the vehicle charging location which has a lowest value for queue wait time.

7. A control system according to Claim 6, wherein the processors are configured to: receive, for a vehicle requesting the indication of the vehicle charging location which has the lowest value for queue wait time, data indicating distance from vehicle charging locations for the requesting vehicle; anduse the data indicating distance and the determined vehicle charging location queue wait times to output an indication of an optimal vehicle charging location for the requesting vehicle.8 . A control system according to Claim 4, wherein the processors are configured to:receive estimates of queue wait time for vehicle charging locations;receive for a requesting vehicle data indicating distance from vehicle charging locations;use the data indicating distance and the estimated vehicle charging location queue wait times to select one of the vehicle charging locations; andoutput for the requesting vehicle the selected vehicle charging location.

9. A control system according to any preceding claim, wherein the number of vehicles in the queue for charging sites for the one or more vehicle charging locations includes at least one vehicle outside the vehicle charging location, from which data has been received indicating that the vehicle is proceeding to join the queue at the vehicle charging location.

10. A control system according to any preceding claim, wherein the vehicle charging location data is transmitted by one or more of: a vehicle charging location transmitter; a charging site transmitter; a vehicle transmitter.

11. A control system according to any preceding claim, wherein the vehicle location data indicating battery charge status for vehicles comprises data indicating one or more of: a vehicle type; a battery type; a battery capacity; a battery charge rate.

12. A system comprising the control system of any preceding claim and a transceiver for: receiving the vehicle charging location data; and transmitting the queue status result data.

13. A vehicle comprising the system of Claim 12 or the control system of Claims 1 - 11.

14. A method for determining a queue status for vehicle charging locations, the method comprising: receiving, for one or more vehicle charging locations, each of the one or more vehicle charging locations having one or more charging sites, vehicle charging location data indicating:a number of vehicles in a queue for the charging sites of the one or more vehicle charging locations;battery charge status for vehicles at the one or more vehicle charging locations;determining from the vehicle charging location data the queue status for the one or more vehicle charging locations; and in dependence on the queue status, outputting queue status result data for the vehicle charging locations.

15. Computer readable instructions which, when executed by a computer, are arranged to perform a method according to Claim 14.16

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