Method and electronic computing device for providing power system usage information to a provider - Patents.com

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for providing usage information (10) of an electric power system (12) to a provider (14) of the electric power system (12) by an electronic computing device (16), the method comprising the steps of capturing an input of the provider (14), the input defining a geometric map (18) in the electric power system (12), determining at least one power consumption (20) of a plurality of vehicles (22a, 22b) within the geometric map (18) in a time frame, providing at least one time stamp (24) for the at least one power consumption (20), and forwarding the at least one power consumption (20) with the at least one time stamp (24) for the defined geometric map (18) to the provider (14) as usage information (10). Further, the present invention relates to a computer program product and an electronic computing device (16).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automobiles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for providing power system usage information to a power system provider by an electronic computing device, as well as a corresponding computer program product and a corresponding electronic computing device. [Background technology]

[0002] Electricity system providers did not consider mobility when installing the grid infrastructure. As a result, planning and investment for the development and improvement of charging infrastructure can be difficult. Furthermore, safety issues can arise due to grid infrastructure not having the capacity to provide enough energy and power for local charging demand. To protect the supply of energy, power and charging, providers need to be able to monitor and predict the charging demand of at least partially electric vehicles, e.g., hybrid vehicles or fully electric vehicles.

[0003] US Patent Publication No. 2010 / 0133963 discloses a cloud system configured to perform method operations for communicating with a connected vehicle of a user having a user account on the cloud system. One exemplary method includes receiving a signal from an electric vehicle associated with the user account. The electric vehicle signal is received in response to the electric vehicle being parked on a charging pad of a charging unit, the charging unit being one of a plurality of charging units disposed at various geographic locations. The method includes transmitting an instruction to the charging unit to enable initiation of charge transfer to a battery of the electric vehicle upon confirmation by the cloud system that the user account of the electric vehicle is enabled for automatic charging when parked on the charging pad of the charging unit. The method includes receiving data from the charging unit indicative of an interruption of charge transfer by the charging pad in response to detecting that the electric vehicle is no longer parked on the charging pad.

[0004] US Patent No. 5,399,633 discloses an apparatus and system for managing the monitoring of traffic density in relation to flow speeds of spatial locations. The system includes various mobile and / or fixed transmit / receive communication devices utilizing authenticated communication devices equipped with Avics iChipsets located in multiple vehicles to communicate with fixed and / or mobile hub communication devices and / or other authenticated communication devices strategically located in and / or along one or more roads, and to communicate with a server channel networked to a central server. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] US Patent No. 01714955 (B2) [Patent Document 2] US Patent Application Publication No. 20160379486(A1) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method, a computer program product and an electronic computing device, which allows a power system provider to have further information regarding the planning of a power system map. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The object is achieved by a method, a computer program product and an electronic computing device according to the independent claims. Advantageous configurations are given in the dependent claims.

[0008] One aspect of the invention relates to a method for providing usage information of an electric power system by an electronic computing device to a provider of the electric power system. An input of the provider is captured, the input defining a geometric map in the electric power system. At least one power consumption of a plurality of vehicles is determined in a time frame within the geometric map. At least one time stamp is provided for the at least one power consumption. The at least one power consumption is transferred as usage information to the provider together with the at least one time stamp for the geometric map. The usage information can be transferred in a form such that no conclusions can be drawn about the identity or origin of the information. This can be achieved by transferring the usage information anonymously from the vehicles and / or by anonymizing the usage information at the provider. Alternatively or additionally, the usage information can be transferred from the respective vehicles without a vehicle identification number or with an anonymized vehicle identification number.

[0009] This has the advantage that electric utilities and grid operators need original equipment manufacturer (OEM) charging pattern data to save costs for electric infrastructure improvements, and providers can invest only where improvements are needed in the grid map.

[0010] In addition, electric utilities, which may be providers, grid operators, and charging station manufacturers, need OEM data to expand public / commercial charging station infrastructure. For vehicle owners, charging service incentives from utilities, such as wall boxes and / or low energy tariffs, improve because infrastructure and charging power improve. Furthermore, charging service incentives from utilities, such as wall boxes and / or low energy tariffs, can provide better charging power and better station coverage according to the power system usage information. This can solve the problem of excessively high costs for updating power system infrastructure and support providers in strategic placement of charging infrastructure stations.

[0011] Thus, by providing data such as, but not limited to, battery state of charge data with time stamps and aggregated vehicle locations, providers can plan and improve their infrastructure more efficiently. Additionally, providers may offer new features and services to vehicle owners or users, such as charging service incentives and battery energy usage optimization. By utilizing OEM charging data, utilities, grid operators, and charging infrastructure providers can monitor, track, and predict charging patterns. These organizations need to provide infrastructure economically and prevent energy shortages or blackouts in the grid. Additionally, by monitoring at least partially electrified vehicles that have been parked and not charged for a period of time, utilities, grid operators, and charging station providers can expand charging infrastructure to new locations.

[0012] According to one embodiment, at least one power consumption is aggregated according to a respective power consumption of each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles. In particular, the vehicles may be electric vehicles. The vehicles may be at least partially electric, such as hybrid vehicles. The energy consumption is then aggregated by adding up the power consumption of each vehicle in a geometric map.

[0013] In another embodiment, each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles is anonymized before transferring usage information to the provider. In particular, the vehicle identification number (VIN) is not transferred to the electronic computing device, and in particular to the provider. Thus, the energy consumption of each vehicle is anonymized, which allows for higher data protection of each vehicle and thus each owner of each vehicle.

[0014] According to another embodiment, the time frame is predefined by the provider. For example, the time frame can be a specific point in time, for example 12 o'clock, or the time frame can be, for example, a period of 30 minutes. Thus, the provider can set the format of the time frame and determine the power consumption in this time frame. Thus, the provider can receive individual usage information to plan future investments.

[0015] According to another embodiment, the theoretically possible amount of energy that can be charged to the cars in the geometric map is transferred to the provider, so that the provider can monitor whether there is enough energy in the geometric map or whether the current energy consumption is close to the possible amount of energy, and therefore the provider can invest in improvements in the geometric map.

[0016] According to another embodiment, the theoretically possible average power and / or maximum power according to the charging mode in the geometric map is further transferred to the provider. For example, the charging mode may be AC ​​load or DC load. The provider can then monitor whether new investments should be made in AC charging or DC charging.

[0017] According to another embodiment, a forecast of future power consumption is determined by an electronic computing device, which forecast is additionally forwarded to the provider. The provider can monitor the future forecast and know, for example, whether the power consumption is simply dependent on the current situation on a particular day, or whether the power consumption is an average power consumption over a longer period of time. The provider can thus determine whether there are further investments to be made.

[0018] Further, the prediction is determined according to future weather and / or date and / or time frame and / or navigation paths of multiple vehicles on a geometric map. Thus, the provider obtains valuable usage information that is highly useful for better planning the provider's investments.

[0019] In particular, the method is a computer implemented method. Therefore, another aspect of the invention relates to a computer program product comprising program code means for performing the method according to the aforementioned aspect. Furthermore, the invention relates to a computer readable storage medium comprising a computer program product.

[0020] Another aspect of the invention relates to an electronic computing device for providing power system usage information to a power system provider, the electronic computing device including at least a computer program product according to the aforementioned aspect, the electronic computing device being configured to execute a method according to the aforementioned aspect. In particular, the method is executed by the electronic computing device.

[0021] The electronic computing device includes, for example, a processor and circuitry, such as an integrated circuit, for performing the methods.

[0022] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and from the drawings. The features and combinations of features described above and described in the following description of the drawings and / or illustrated only in the drawings can be used not only in the respective indicated combinations, but also in any other combination or alone, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0023] The novel features and characteristics of the present disclosure are set forth in the independent claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to like features and components. Some embodiments of systems and / or methods according to embodiments of the present subject matter will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0024] Each diagram illustrates: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic flow diagram according to one embodiment of the method. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is another schematic flow diagram according to another embodiment of the present method. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] In the figures, identical elements or elements having identical functions are designated by the same reference numbers.

[0027] The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any embodiment or implementation of the inventive subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0028] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. It is to be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but rather the disclosure is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.

[0029] The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations of these terms are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a setup, apparatus or method that includes a list of components or steps may include not only those components or steps, but also other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or apparatus or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by "comprises" or "comprise" does not, without more constraints, preclude the presence of other or additional elements in the system or method.

[0030] In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the present disclosure may be practiced. The embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the following description should not be construed in a limiting sense.

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a schematic flow diagram according to an embodiment of a method for providing usage information 10 of a power system 12 by an electronic computing device 16 to a provider 14 of the power system 12. In a first step S1, the input of the provider 14 is captured, whereby the input defines a geometric map 18 in the power system 12. The provider 14, which may for example be a so-called third party, provides the map 18 or location data, for example polygons around points of interest. This is particularly done in the first step S1. In a second step S2, at least one power consumption 20 of a plurality of vehicles 22a, 22b in the geometric map 18 is determined in a time frame. In a third step S3, at least one time stamp 24 for the at least one power consumption 20 is particularly provided to the electronic computing device 16. The at least one power consumption 20 with the at least one time stamp 24 relative to the defined geometric map 18 is transferred to the provider 14 as usage information 10 in a fourth step S4.

[0032] 1 further illustrates that, according to one embodiment, at least one electricity consumption 20 is aggregated according to a respective electricity consumption of each vehicle 22a, 22b of the plurality of vehicles 22a, 22b. Furthermore, each vehicle 22a, 22b of the plurality of vehicles 22a, 22b is anonymized before forwarding the usage information 10 to the provider 14. The time frame may be predefined by the provider 14.

[0033] According to another embodiment, the theoretically possible amount of energy that could be charged to the plurality of vehicles 22a, 22b in the geometrical map 18 is further transferred to the provider 14. Furthermore, the theoretically possible average and / or maximum power depending on the charging mode in the geometrical map 18 is further transferred to the provider 14.

[0034] The energy usage pattern, which may for example be power consumption 20, is an API response per use case per time bucket, which may for example be a time bucket of 30 minutes. A time bucket corresponds to a time frame. In a first use case, in which the provider 14 can save costs, the clustered range numbers of the vehicles 22a, 22b are transferred in a second step S2, and the individual vehicle identification numbers (VINs) are not transferred to the provider 14. The amount of energy charged, for example in kilowatt-hours, is transferred to the electronic computing device 16. Furthermore, the level or mode of the average power and / or maximum power, in particular in kilowatt-hours of AC / DC power, is transferred to the electronic computing device 16 in the second step S2. In particular, in the second step S2, data for each geometric map 18, for example data for each polygon, is calculated. In a third step S3, data has been calculated for each polygon in a time frame, which may for example be a time bucket of 30 minutes. In a fourth step S4, the usage information 10 is returned to the provider 14 for the requested time frame.

[0035] According to a first use case, the provider 14 may be interested in updating or improving the power system 12, for example with transformers, inverters or converters, power plants, charging stations, parking places, store parking lots, public transport spaces or other power system or charging infrastructure elements. For this geometrical map 18, the power consumption 20 is calculated and the aggregated data is shared with the provider 14. According to the first use case, for example, the predicted charging capacity or need based on navigation information depends on the availability of the expected charging behavior for the next day or on multiple days at the same time. Thus, according to another embodiment, a prediction of the future power consumption 20 is determined by the electronic computing device 16, which prediction is additionally forwarded to the provider 14. The prediction may be determined depending on the future weather and / or date and / or time frame in the geometrical map 18 and / or the navigation path of the multiple vehicles 22a, 22b.

[0036] According to a second use case, in which the provider 14 may plan a strategic placement of charging infrastructure elements, in a second step S2, the clustered range numbers of the vehicles 22a, 22b that do not have individual vehicle identification numbers are transferred to the electronic computing device 16. Furthermore, the possible amount of energy that could be charged in kilowatt-hours is also transferred to the electronic computing device 16. Furthermore, the theoretically possible average and / or maximum power levels or modes in AC / DC kilowatt-hours are transferred to the electronic computing device 16. In particular, in a first step S1, the geometrical map 18, in particular the polygonal data, is provided by the provider 14. In a second step S2, the power consumption 20 is calculated or determined for each geometrical map 18. In a third step S3, the data is calculated for each polygon in a time frame. In a fourth step S4, the usage information 10 is returned to the provider 14 for a request in a time frame 24.

[0037] Fig. 2 shows another flow diagram according to an embodiment of the method according to the invention. In a fifth step S5, the users of the vehicles 22a, 22b consent to a data log on their power consumption 20. In a sixth step S6, the raw energy data, e.g. the state of charge of the batteries of the vehicles 22a, 22b, the location of the vehicles 22a, 22b and the vehicle identification number, are transmitted to an electronic computing device 16, which may be, for example, a back-end. In a seventh step S7, the power consumption 20 is determined across a number of vehicles 22a, 22b and the data is anonymized. In an eighth step S8, the aggregated data, denoted as usage information 10, is shared with the provider 14. In a ninth step S9, strategic improvements of existing infrastructure elements and the installation of new grid infrastructure can be planned.

Claims

1. 1. A method for providing usage information (10) of an electric power system (12) to a provider (14) of the electric power system (12) by an electronic computing device (16), the method comprising: capturing inputs from the provider (14), the inputs defining a geometric map (18) in the power system (12); determining an electrical power consumption (20) of at least one of a plurality of vehicles (22a, 22b) within said geometric map (18) over a time frame; providing at least one time stamp (24) for said at least one power consumption (20); and transferring said at least one power consumption (20) with said at least one time stamp (24) relative to said defined geometric map (18) to said provider (14) as said usage information (10).

2. 2. The method of claim 1, characterized in that the at least one electricity consumption (20) is compiled according to a respective electricity consumption (20) of each vehicle (22a, 22b) of the plurality of vehicles (22a, 22b).

3. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each vehicle (22a, 22b) of the plurality of vehicles (22a, 22b) is anonymized before transferring the usage information (10) to the provider (14).

4. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the time frame is predefined by the provider (14).

5. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the possible amounts of energy that can be charged to the plurality of vehicles (22a, 22b) in the geometric map (18) are transferred to the provider (14).

6. 3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the geometrical map the possible average power and / or maximum power depending on the charging mode is transferred to the provider.

7. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a forecast of future power consumption (20) is determined by the electronic computing device (16), said forecast being additionally forwarded to the provider (14).

8. 8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the prediction is determined depending on the future weather and / or the date and / or the time frame and / or the navigation paths of the plurality of vehicles (22a, 22b) in the geometric map (18).

9. A computer program product comprising program code means for carrying out the method according to claim 1 or 2.

10. 10. An electronic computing device (16) for providing usage information (10) of an electric power system (12) to a provider (14) of the electric power system (12), the electronic computing device including at least the computer program product of claim 9, the electronic computing device (16) being configured to perform the method.

Images