Information processing device and information processing method

Abstract

To improve the technology for supplying power to energy storage devices. [Solution] The information processing device 20 includes a control unit 23 that, when it detects that the charger 50 has been connected to the energy storage device 10, transmits predetermined information to a first external device 30A which is connected to the charger 50 and is among one or more external devices 30 operating in the power supply area where the energy storage device 10 is located. After receiving charge from the charger 50 based on the predetermined information, the control unit 23 stores the charge information transmitted from the first external device 30A when the charger 50 has been received, and transmits request information created using the stored charge information to either the first external device 30A or the second external device 30B, among one or more external devices 30.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a technique for supplying power to a power storage device has been known. For example, in Patent Document 1, in response to incentive points based on the predicted amount of surplus power of a generator and the amount of surplus power absorbed by an energy storage device (power storage device), an application for the amount of surplus power absorbed from a consumer who receives power supply to the power storage device is accepted, and a power distribution plan is determined for each power storage device. A technique is disclosed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, according to Patent Document 1, consumers need to apply one by one and set purchase conditions in advance. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the technique of supplying power to the power storage device.

[0005] In view of such circumstances, an object of the present disclosure is to improve the technique of supplying power to the power storage device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An information processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is an information processing device mounted on a battery storage device, which, when it detects that a charger has been connected to the battery storage device, acquires location information of the battery storage device determined by a GPS sensor mounted on the battery storage device, identifies a power supply area where the battery storage device is located based on the acquired location information, transmits predetermined information to a first external device which is communicably connected to the charger among one or more external devices operating in the identified supply area, stores the charging information transmitted from the first external device when the charger has received the charge based on the predetermined information, and transmits request information created using the stored charging information to the first external device or a second external device among the one or more external devices.

[0007] An information processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is an information processing device mounted on a battery, which, when it detects that a charger has been connected to the battery, transmits predetermined information to a first external device which is communicably connected to the charger, among one or more external devices operating in the power supply area where the battery is located; after receiving charge from the charger based on the predetermined information, stores the charge information transmitted from the first external device at the time of receiving the charge; and transmits request information created using the stored charge information to the first external device or the second external device, among the one or more external devices.

[0008] An information processing method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is an information processing method performed by an information processing device mounted on a power storage body, which includes: detecting that a charger has been connected to the power storage body, transmitting predetermined information to a first external device which is communicably connected to the charger, among one or more external devices operating in the power supply area where the power storage body is located; storing charging information transmitted from the first external device after receiving charging from the charger based on the predetermined information; creating request information using the stored charging information; and transmitting the created request information to the first external device or a second external device, among the one or more external devices. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the technology for supplying power to an energy storage device is improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration example of a system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a flowchart showing the operation of an information processing device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below. <Overview of Embodiments> Referring to Figure 1, an overview of System 1 according to an embodiment of this disclosure will be described. System 1 comprises a battery storage unit 10, an information processing device 20, one or more external devices 30, a grid 40, and a charger 50. The battery storage unit 10, the information processing device 20, and one or more external devices 30 are communicably connected to a network 2, including, for example, the Internet and a mobile communication network. Electricity produced by a power generator 41 within the grid 40 is supplied to the battery storage unit 10 and the charger 50 via a transmission line 3 through a power transmission and distribution company 42. The charger 50 and the battery storage unit 10 are connected by a charging cable 4.

[0012] The energy storage device 10 is, for example, a rechargeable vehicle such as a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) or PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), or a battery installed in a home, business, public facility, etc., but is not limited to these.

[0013] The information processing device 20 is a computer mounted on the energy storage unit 10. The information processing device 20 can communicate with the energy storage unit 10 and one or more external devices 30 via the network 2.

[0014] One or more external devices 30 are computers operated by one or more operators that operate a power supply business in the power supply area where the energy storage unit 10 is located. Each of the one or more external devices 30 is able to communicate with the information processing device 20 and other external devices 30 via the network 2. In this disclosure, one or more external devices 30 include (i) a first external device 30A that is communicatively connected to a charger 50 connected to the energy storage unit 10, and (ii) a second external device 30B operated by a retail electricity business operator 43 that supplies power to the charger 50 (charging business operator 51).

[0015] System 40 refers to the entire facility that handles everything from electricity production to supply. The operators of System 40 are classified into (i) the power generation division (hereinafter referred to as power generation operators 41) that operates power generation facilities (power plants), (ii) the transmission and distribution division (hereinafter referred to as transmission and distribution operators 42) that operates transmission and distribution facilities and supplies electricity to consumers, and (iii) the retail division (hereinafter included in retail electricity operators 43) that sets rate menus and handles various procedures and can be considered the point of contact with consumers.

[0016] The charger 50 is a standard charger or a fast charger installed at a charging station for BEVs and PHEVs. The charger 50 is connected to the first external device 30A in a communication manner.

[0017] (Configuration of the energy storage device) As shown in Figure 1, the energy storage unit 10 comprises a communication unit 11, an energy storage unit 12, a memory unit 13, a measurement unit 14, and a control unit 15.

[0018] The communication unit 11 includes one or more communication interfaces connected to the network 2. These communication interfaces may, but are not limited to, mobile communication standards such as 4G (4th Generation) or 5G (5th Generation). In this embodiment, the energy storage unit 10 communicates with the information processing device 20 via the communication unit 11 and the network 2.

[0019] The power storage unit 12 includes, for example, a storage battery 12A mounted on a rechargeable vehicle such as a BEV or PHEV, or a storage battery 12A installed in a home, business, public facility, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0020] The measurement unit 14 includes, for example, a GPS sensor 14A that receives radio waves from GPS satellites and measures the position information of the location where the power storage body 10 is located. However, it is not limited to the GPS sensor, and it may include a sensor corresponding to any satellite positioning system.

[0021] The control unit 15 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The control unit 23 controls the operation of the entire power storage body 10.

[0022] (Configuration of the information processing device) As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing device 20 includes a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a control unit 23.

[0023] The communication unit 21 includes one or more communication interfaces connected to the network 2. The communication interface corresponds to, for example, a mobile communication standard, a wired LAN (Local Area Network) standard, or a wireless LAN standard, but is not limited thereto and may correspond to any communication standard. The information processing device 20 communicates with the power storage body 10 and one or more external devices 30 via the communication unit 21 and the network 2.

[0024] The storage unit 22 includes one or more memories. Each memory included in the storage unit 22 may function as, for example, a main memory, an auxiliary memory, or a cache memory. The storage unit 22 stores any information used in the operation of the information processing device 20. For example, the storage unit 22 may store system programs, application programs, databases, a list of IP addresses of external devices 30 operated by one or more operators in each power supply area, the rechargeable capacity of the battery 12A, desired charging conditions, the amount of renewable energy-derived charge in the total charge of the battery 12A during a predetermined period, the power supply configuration of the total charge, and the power supply configuration of the grid 40.

[0025] The control unit 23 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The control unit 23 controls the operation of the entire information processing device 20.

[0026] (Configuration of external devices) As shown in Figure 1, the external device 30 includes a communication unit 31, a storage unit 32, and a control unit 33.

[0027] The communication unit 31 includes one or more communication interfaces connected to the network 2. These communication interfaces may support, for example, mobile communication standards, wired LAN standards, or wireless LAN standards, but may also support any communication standard. External devices 30 communicate with the information processing device 20 and other external devices 30 via the communication unit 31 and the network 2.

[0028] (System structure) As shown in Figure 1, the grid 40 is operated by a power generation company 41, a transmission and distribution company 42, and a retail electricity company 43.

[0029] Power generation operator 41 operates power generation facilities 411 that utilize fossil fuels and power generation facilities 412 that utilize renewable energy. Power generation facilities 411 that utilize fossil fuels are, for example, power plants that perform thermal power generation using fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas. Power generation facilities 412 that utilize renewable energy are power generation facilities that perform green power generation using solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass, wave, or tidal power.

[0030] The power transmission and distribution operator 42 operates power facilities such as transmission lines 3, substations, and distribution lines. The power transmission and distribution operator 42 supplies the electricity generated by the power generation operator 41 to the energy storage unit 10 and the charger 50, etc.

[0031] In this disclosure, the retail electricity provider 43 is defined as a business that provides retail electricity to consumers using the transmission lines 3 of the transmission and distribution provider 42, and includes the retail division of the grid 40.

[0032] (Configuration of charging facilities) In this disclosure, the charger 50 is connected to a first external device 30A in a communicative manner. The charger 50 charges the energy storage unit 10 with power supplied by a retail electricity provider 43.

[0033] (Operation flow of the information processing device) Referring to Figure 2, the operation of the information processing device 20 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0034] S101: The control unit 23 detects that the charger 50 has been connected to the energy storage unit 10.

[0035] The control unit 15 of the energy storage unit 10 notifies the control unit 23 via the network 2 that the charger 50 has been connected to the charging port for charging the battery 12A.

[0036] S102: The control unit 23 acquires the position information of the energy storage unit 10.

[0037] The control unit 15 of the energy storage unit 10 transmits the location information of the energy storage unit 10, which has been determined by the GPS sensor 14A mounted on the energy storage unit 10, to the control unit 23 via the network 2.

[0038] S103: The control unit 23 transmits predetermined information to a first external device 30A, which is connected to the charger 50 in a communicative manner, among one or more external devices 30 operating in the power supply area P where the energy storage unit 10 is located.

[0039] In this disclosure, one or more external devices 30 are computers operated by one or more businesses that operate electricity supply businesses in the electricity supply area P. One or more businesses are, but are not limited to, (i) an aggregator 5 which is an intermediate business that bundles the supply and demand balance of electricity in the supply area P, (ii) a power generation business 41, a transmission and distribution business 42, and a retail electricity business 43 which are businesses that operate the grid 40, and (iii) a charging business 51 which provides charging services using a charger 50.

[0040] First, the control unit 23 identifies the supply area P where the energy storage unit 10 is located based on the location information measured by the GPS sensor 14A. Next, the control unit 23 searches the list of IP addresses of external devices 30 operated by one or more businesses operating in the supply area P, which is stored in the memory unit 22. Then, the control unit 23 transmits predetermined information to the IP address of the first external device 30A that was found.

[0041] The predetermined information includes the rechargeable capacity of the battery 12A installed in the energy storage unit 10, the location information of the energy storage unit 10, the connection status between the energy storage unit 10 and the charger 50, and the desired charging conditions. The control unit 23 reads the rechargeable capacity of the battery 12A and the desired charging conditions stored in the memory unit 22, and transmits this information, along with the location information of the energy storage unit 10 and the connection status information of the energy storage unit 10 and the charger 50, which are determined by the GPS sensor 14A, to the first external device 30A.

[0042] The desired charging conditions include one or more of the following: the desired time of day for charging, the desired source of the charging power, the desired amount of charge, the desired charge rate of the 12A battery, the desired unit price for charging, and the desired charging fee. The source of the charging power refers to whether the charging power is derived from fossil fuels or renewable energy. The charge rate of the 12A battery refers to the ratio of the amount of charge to the rated full charge capacity of the 12A battery provided in the energy storage unit 10.

[0043] S104: The control unit 23 receives a notification from the first external device 30A that it has accepted the charging request conditions included in the predetermined information.

[0044] S105: The energy storage unit 10 receives charge X from the charger 50 based on predetermined information.

[0045] S106: The control unit 23 receives charging information transmitted from the first external device 30A when charging X is received.

[0046] S107: The control unit 23 stores the charging information when charging X is received in the storage unit 22.

[0047] Charging information refers to information such as the amount of renewable energy-derived electricity supplied when charging X was received, and the power source composition. Power source composition refers to information that specifies the ratio of renewable energy-derived electricity (generation amount) and fossil fuel-derived electricity (generation amount) produced in grid 40.

[0048] S108: The control unit 23 creates request information using the charging information stored in the memory unit 22.

[0049] The requested information is one or more of the following: (i) the ratio of renewable energy-derived charge to the total charge stored in the energy storage device 10 during a specified period; (ii) the ratio of fossil fuel-derived energy-derived charge to the total charge stored in the energy storage device 10 during a specified period; (iii) the amount of renewable energy-derived charge stored in the energy storage device 10 during a specified period; (iv) the power source composition of the total charge; (v) the amount of renewable energy-derived charge to the charge received when charge X is received; and (vi) the power source composition of the charge received when charge X is received. The specified period is, for example, one month prior to the date the requested information is created, but is not limited to this. The power source composition is the ratio of renewable energy-derived charge to fossil fuel-derived charge.

[0050] The control unit 23 reads from the memory unit 22 the (i) amount of charge derived from renewable energy as a percentage of the total charge during a predetermined period, and (ii) the power supply configuration of the total charge.

[0051] S109: The control unit 23 transmits the created request information to one or more external devices 30, specifically to the first external device 30A or the second external device 30B.

[0052] The first external device 30A is an external device 30 operated by the charging company 51 and connected to the charger 50 in a communicative manner. In contrast, the second external device 30B is an external device 30 other than the first external device 30A among one or more external devices 30. In this disclosure, the second external device 30B is, for example, an external device 30 operated by a retail electricity company 43 that supplies power to the charger 50 (charging company 51), as shown in Figure 1. However, the second external device 30B may be an external device 30 operated by an aggregator 5, a power generation company 41, or a power transmission and distribution company 42.

[0053] In the example shown in Figure 1, the external device 30 that is communicatively connected to the charger 50 is designated as the first external device 30A. In addition, the external device 30 operated by the retail electricity provider 43 that supplies power to the charger 50 via the power transmission line 3 is designated as the second external device 30B.

[0054] S110: The control unit 23 receives an offer from the first external device 30A or the second external device 30B, which includes one or more of the following, depending on the amount of charge in the energy storage unit 10 that originates from renewable energy: a discount on the charging fee for charge X, a discount on the monthly electricity payment, and the awarding of incentive points.

[0055] Request information is information such as the amount of renewable energy received, which is transmitted to an external device 30 operated by the power supplier in order to "request" an incentive. The first external device 30A or the second external device 30B receives the request information and determines the incentive to be distributed to the energy storage device 10. The energy storage device 10 is given either a discount equal to the incentive amount from the charging fee for charge X, or an incentive based on the request information.

[0056] In this way, consumers who own the energy storage device 10 can simply connect the energy storage device 10 to the charger 50, and charging based on predetermined information will be completed, and they will receive incentives according to the amount of renewable energy-derived electricity they use. On the other hand, power suppliers can reduce power loss by distributing surplus power to the rechargeable energy storage device 10.

[0057] As described above, when the information processing device 20 according to this embodiment detects that the charger 50 has been connected to the energy storage device 10, it transmits predetermined information to a first external device 30A, which is connected to the charger 50 and is one or more external devices 30 operating in the power supply area where the energy storage device 10 is located. After receiving charge from the charger 50 based on the predetermined information, it stores the charge information transmitted from the first external device 30A at the time of receiving charge, and transmits request information created using the stored charge information to either the first external device 30A or the second external device 30B, one or more external devices 30. With this configuration, when the energy storage device 10 is connected to the charger 50, the information processing device 20 starts transmitting and receiving information with the external devices 30 and creates request information using the received charge information. Therefore, it is no longer necessary for the consumer who owns the energy storage device 10 to create request information in advance. Thus, the technology for supplying power to the energy storage device is improved in that the effort required to create request information is reduced.

[0058] While this disclosure has been described based on the drawings and embodiments, it should be noted that those skilled in the art may make various modifications and alterations based on this disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and alterations are within the scope of this disclosure. For example, the functions included in each component or step can be rearranged in a logically consistent manner, and multiple components or steps can be combined into one or divided.

[0059] Furthermore, it is also possible to implement an embodiment in which a general-purpose computer functions as the information processing device 20 according to the above embodiment. Specifically, a program describing the processing content that realizes each function of the information processing device 20 according to the above embodiment is stored in the memory of the general-purpose computer, and the processor reads and executes the program. Therefore, this disclosure can also be implemented as a program that can be executed by a processor, or as a non-temporary computer-readable medium that stores said program. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0060] 1 System 2 Network 3. Power transmission lines 4 charging cables 5 Aggregators 10 Energy storage 11, 21, 31 Communications Department 12 Energy Storage Unit 12A storage battery 13,22,32 Storage section 14 Measurement Unit 14A GPS sensor 15,23,33 Control Unit 20 Information Processing Devices 30 External equipment 30A First external device 30B Second external device 40 systems (power system) 41 Power Generation Companies 42 Power transmission and distribution operators 43 Retail electricity providers 50 charger 51 Charging operators 411 Power generation facilities that utilize fossil fuels 412 Renewable energy power generation facilities

Claims

1. An information processing device mounted on a battery storage device, Information processing device comprising: a control unit that, upon detecting that a charger has been connected to the energy storage device, acquires location information of the energy storage device determined by a GPS sensor mounted on the energy storage device, identifies a power supply area where the energy storage device is located based on the acquired location information, transmits predetermined information to a first external device which is communicatively connected to the charger among one or more external devices operating in the identified supply area, stores the charging information transmitted from the first external device after receiving a charge based on the predetermined information, and transmits request information created using the stored charging information to the first external device or a second external device among the one or more external devices.

2. An information processing device mounted on a battery storage device, An information processing device comprising a control unit that, upon detecting that a charger has been connected to the energy storage device, transmits predetermined information to a first external device which is communicatively connected to the charger, among one or more external devices operating in the power supply area where the energy storage device is located; stores the charging information transmitted from the first external device after receiving a charge based on the predetermined information from the charger; and transmits request information created using the stored charging information to the first external device or a second external device, among the one or more external devices.

3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, The predetermined information includes the rechargeable capacity of the battery installed in the energy storage unit, the location information of the energy storage unit, the connection status between the energy storage unit and the charger, and the desired charging conditions. The aforementioned charging preference conditions are one or more of the following: the desired time period for charging, the desired source of charging power, the desired amount of charge, the desired charge level of the storage battery, the desired unit price for charging, and the desired charging fee, in the information processing device.

4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, An information processing device wherein the requested information is one or more of the following: the ratio of the amount of energy derived from renewable energy to the total amount of energy charged to the energy storage device during a predetermined period; the ratio of the amount of energy derived from fossil fuels to the total amount of energy charged to the energy storage device during the predetermined period; the amount of energy derived from renewable energy to the energy storage device during the predetermined period; the power source configuration of the total amount of energy charged; the amount of energy derived from renewable energy to the amount of energy charged when the energy was received; and the power source configuration of the amount of energy charged when the energy was received.

5. An information processing apparatus according to claim 4, The control unit is an information processing device that receives from the first external device or the second external device an offer of one or more of the following, depending on the amount of charge stored in the energy storage unit that originates from renewable energy: a discount on charging charges, a discount on monthly electricity payments, and the awarding of incentive points.

6. An information processing method performed by an information processing device mounted on a battery storage device, When it is detected that a charger has been connected to the energy storage unit, predetermined information is transmitted to a first external device, which is connected to the charger in a communicative manner, among one or more external devices operating in the power supply area where the energy storage unit is located. After receiving a charge from the charger based on the predetermined information, the charging information transmitted from the first external device at the time of the charge is stored. Creating request information using the stored charging information, The created request information is transmitted to the first external device or the second external device among the one or more external devices. Information processing methods, including those mentioned above.

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