System and method for charging elctric vehicle using bluetooth communication and local certification

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electric vehicle charging system and method through Bluetooth communication and local authentication. The electric vehicle charging system comprises a user terminal capable of communicating with each other, an external charging server, and a charger, wherein the system comprises a user terminal that generates charging request information based on Bluetooth communication with the charger, an external charging server that generates a charging progress control signal based on the charging request information, and a charger that provides power to an electric vehicle based on the charging progress control signal. In a network environment where communication between the external charging server, the user terminal, and the charger is disconnected, the user terminal can transmit the charging request information to the charger via the Bluetooth communication, and the charger can generate the charging progress control signal based on the charging request information.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric vehicle charging system and method using Bluetooth communication and local authentication. Specifically, the present invention relates to an electric vehicle charging system and method capable of implementing Plug and Charge (P&C) using Bluetooth communication even when the network is disconnected. Background Technology

[0003] Recently, due to the depletion of fossil fuels and environmental pollution, interest in electric vehicles that use electric energy instead of fossil fuels has been rising, leading to active research and development in this area.

[0004] Generally, an external charging server and a charger exchange data with each other through server communication (e.g., 4G mobile communication technology, LTE). However, in cases where the network environment is poor, that is, when the network is disconnected, the connection between the server and the charger may not be smooth. In such cases, processes such as user authentication and charging progress are frequently interrupted or do not proceed properly.

[0005] Therefore, there was a need for chargers and charging systems capable of authenticating users and charging electric vehicles even when the network is disconnected.

[0006] In addition, there was also a need for technology that improves the user's charging experience by implementing P&C using Bluetooth communication under such network disconnection situations.

[0007] Furthermore, although there is a need to implement P&C in slow chargers as well, using PLC modems is difficult due to increased costs, so there are currently no chargers with P&C functionality. The problem to be solved

[0009] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an electric vehicle charging system and method through Bluetooth communication and local authentication.

[0010] The method of authenticating a charger through an external charging server and a user terminal app requires that both the external charging server and the user terminal app, and the external charging server and the charger, be connected for charging to proceed without issues; however, if the network environment of either the user terminal or the charger is poor, charging cannot proceed. The present invention aims to minimize the impact of the network environment by allowing the user terminal app and the charger to communicate directly to start charging without going through an external charging server during the charging authentication process.

[0011] Furthermore, as user experience is becoming increasingly important in the electric vehicle charging process, the present invention aims to provide a method for convenient charging by minimizing the necessary steps during charging.

[0012] The objects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned objects and advantages of the present invention may be understood from the following description and will be more clearly understood by the embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, it will be readily apparent that the objects and advantages of the present invention can be realized by the means and combinations thereof set forth in the claims. means of solving the problem

[0014] An electric vehicle charging system according to some embodiments of the present invention comprises a user terminal capable of communicating with each other, an external charging server, and a charger, wherein the system comprises a user terminal that generates charging request information based on Bluetooth communication with the charger, an external charging server that generates a charging progress control signal based on the charging request information, and a charger that provides power to an electric vehicle based on the charging progress control signal, wherein in a network environment where communication between the external charging server, the user terminal, and the charger is disconnected, the user terminal can transmit the charging request information to the charger via the Bluetooth communication, and the charger can generate the charging progress control signal based on the charging request information.

[0015] In addition, the charger may include at least one of a fast charger and a slow charger.

[0016] In addition, the network environment in which communication between the external charging server and the charger is disconnected may include the uncovered range of 3G mobile communication technology, 4G mobile communication technology (Long Term Evolution, LTE), and 5G mobile communication technology.

[0017] Additionally, the charger transmits a Bluetooth signal when the user terminal approaches within a predetermined distance from the charger, and the user terminal can generate the charging request information based on the Bluetooth signal received from the charger.

[0018] Additionally, the Bluetooth signal is a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) signal and includes the charger UUID and charger ID of the charger that transmitted the Bluetooth signal, and the charging request information may include at least one of the charging amount, user authentication information, the charger UUID, and the charger ID.

[0019] Additionally, the charger may include a Bluetooth communication module that communicates with the user terminal using Bluetooth communication, a user authentication module that performs user authentication and generates the charging progress control signal, a charging module that charges the electric vehicle according to the charging progress control signal and generates charging result information, and a local database module that stores the generated charging result information.

[0020] Additionally, the Bluetooth communication module transmits the charging result information stored in the local database module to the user terminal via the Bluetooth communication, and the charger may further include an external charging server communication module that transmits the charging result information stored in the local database module to the external charging server in a network environment where communication between the external charging server and the charger is smooth, and a cleaning module that cleans the charging result information stored in the local database module.

[0021] Additionally, the cleaning module transmits a cleaning signal to the local database module based on at least one of a first control signal received from the user terminal and a second control signal received from the external charging server, wherein the first control signal is generated in response to the Bluetooth communication module transmitting the charging result information to the user terminal, and the second control signal can be generated in response to the external charging server communication module transmitting the charging result information to the external charging server.

[0022] An electric vehicle charging method according to some embodiments of the present invention, in an electric vehicle charging system comprising a user terminal capable of communicating with each other, an external charging server, and a charger, may include the steps of: the charger transmitting a Bluetooth signal to the user terminal in a network environment where communication between the external charging server, the user terminal, and the charger is disconnected; the user terminal generating charging request information based on the received Bluetooth signal and transmitting it to the charger; and the charger providing power to the electric vehicle based on the charging request information to generate charging result information.

[0023] Additionally, the method may further include the steps of: the local database module of the charger storing the generated charging result information; the charger transmitting the generated charging result information to at least one of the user terminal and the external charging server; and the charger cleaning the charging result information stored in the local database module. Effects of the invention

[0025] The electric vehicle charging system of the present invention has a new effect of improving the user's charging experience by implementing P&C even in slow chargers.

[0026] In addition, the electric vehicle charging system of the present invention has the effect of reducing the battery consumption of the user terminal by adopting a form in which the charger sends a Bluetooth signal and the user terminal receives it, rather than the user terminal sending a Bluetooth signal.

[0027] In addition, the electric vehicle charging system of the present invention has the effect of improving the user's charging experience by authenticating the user and starting charging without other user operations, such as opening an application.

[0028] In addition, the electric vehicle charging system of the present invention has a novel effect of improving the user's charging experience by enabling user authentication and electric vehicle charging without a server connection, even when the network environment is poor.

[0029] In addition, the electric vehicle charging system of the present invention has the effect of resolving the problem of insufficient memory capacity of the charger that may occur during the electric vehicle charging process through local authentication via a cleaning process. Furthermore, instead of deleting the stored charging result information at a predetermined interval, the cleaning process is performed only when the data is transmitted to a user terminal or an external charging server for backup, thereby preventing data corruption and damage related to electric vehicle charging.

[0030] In addition to the above, the specific effects of the present invention are described together with the specific details for implementing the invention below. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates an electric vehicle charging system according to some embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a charger according to some embodiments of the present invention. Figure 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating how a user terminal approaches a charger and the charger transmits a Bluetooth signal. Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating user authentication during the electric vehicle charging process when the user operates different vehicles at different times. Figure 5 is a conceptual diagram for schematically explaining the electric vehicle charging process in a second network environment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a charger according to some other embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the process of storing charging result information on a server according to some embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a cleaning signal according to some embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an electric vehicle charging method according to some embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an electric vehicle charging method including a user authentication procedure according to some embodiments of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0033] Terms and words used in this specification and claims shall not be interpreted as being limited to their general or dictionary meanings. In accordance with the principle that an inventor may define the concept of a term or word to best describe their invention, they shall be interpreted in a meaning and concept consistent with the technical spirit of the invention. Furthermore, since the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are merely one embodiment of the invention and do not represent the entire technical spirit of the invention, it should be understood that various equivalents, modifications, and applicable examples capable of replacing them may exist at the time of filing this application.

[0034] The terms first, second, A, B, etc., as used in this specification and claims may be used to describe various components, but said components should not be limited by said terms. These terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be named the second component, and similarly, the second component may be named the first component. The term "and / or" includes a combination of a plurality of related described items or any of a plurality of related described items.

[0035] The terms used in this specification and claims are used merely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, terms such as "comprising" or "having" should be understood as not precluding the existence or addition of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification.

[0036] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.

[0037] Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having meanings consistent with their meanings in the context of the relevant technology, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in this application.

[0038] In addition, each component, process, procedure, or method included in each embodiment of the present invention may be shared within a scope that is not technically contradictory to one another.

[0039] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10, an electric vehicle charging system and method according to several embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0041] FIG. 1 illustrates an electric vehicle charging system according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 1, the electric vehicle charging system (1) may include a user terminal (100) of a user operating an electric vehicle (150), a charger (200), and an external charging server (300).

[0043] The user terminal (100), charger (200), and external charging server (300) can be connected to each other via communication technology and / or a communication network.

[0044] At this time, the communication technology and communication network can perform the role of providing a connection path to enable data transmission and reception between each component of the electric vehicle charging system (1). The communication technology and communication network may include, for example, a wired network or a wireless network.

[0045] Wired networks may include LANs (Local Area Networks), WANs (Wide Area Networks), MANs (Metropolitan Area Networks), ISDNs (Integrated Service Digital Networks), etc., but the embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0046] Wireless networks may include Bluetooth communication, BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) communication, Near Field Communication (NFC), WLAN communication, Zigbee communication, Infrared Data Association (IrDA) communication, WFD (Wi-Fi Direct) communication, UWB (ultra-wideband) communication, Ant+ communication, WIFI communication, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) communication, 3G communication, 4G communication, and 5G communication, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0047] In some examples, the user terminal (100) and the charger (200) can be connected to each other based on Bluetooth communication. In other words, the charger (200) can communicate with the user terminal (100) using Bluetooth technology, rather than communicating with the user's electric vehicle (150). At this time, the Bluetooth communication may be BLE communication, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. Alternatively, the external charging server (300) can be connected to the user terminal (100) and the charger (200) through 3G mobile communication technology, 4G mobile communication technology (LTE), 5G mobile communication technology, etc.

[0048] However, if the charger (200) is placed in a network environment where communication with an external charging server (300), such as an underground parking lot, is unstable, and the user intends to charge the electric vehicle (150) using the charger (200) at that location, the communication connection between the user terminal (100) and the charger (200) with the external charging server (300) may not be smooth.

[0049] The electric vehicle charging system (1) of the present invention is capable of performing user authentication and electric vehicle charging processes in situations where such server communication is unstable. Therefore, the following description assumes that the user terminal (100) and the charger (200) are intermittently disconnected from the communication connection with the external charging server (300).

[0050] Specifically, the explanation assumes a network environment in which the user terminal (100) and the charger (200) have a smooth communication connection with an external charging server (300) as the first network environment, and a network environment in which the communication connection is blocked or disconnected as the second network environment.

[0051] In FIG. 1, to explain the intermittent limitations of such server communication, communication between the user terminal (100) and the charger (200) (e.g., Bluetooth communication) is shown as a solid line, and server communication between the external charging server (300) and the user terminal (100) and server communication between the external charging server (300) and the charger (200) (e.g., LTE communication) is shown as a dotted line.

[0053] The user terminal (100) may include a device for generating charging request information for electric vehicle charging.

[0054] The charging request information may include a charging amount, user authentication information, a charger UUID and charger ID received from the charger (200), etc. The charging amount may be directly entered by the user each time a charge occurs, a specific value set and stored by the user, or a value predetermined by the charging server (300), but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. The user authentication information may include a token issued upon user registration and stored in the charging application (100a), but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0055] For some examples, the user terminal (100) may include a mobile device carried by the user, a desktop computer, a laptop PC, etc., and the mobile device may include a smartphone, a tablet PC, etc., but the embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0056] A charging application (100a) provided by an external charging server (300) may be installed on the user terminal (100).

[0057] In some examples, a charging application (100a) can perform data processing for charging an electric vehicle (150) of a charger (200) in a first network environment.

[0058] For example, a charging application (100a) can generate charging request information and transmit it to an external charging server (300). At this time, the external charging server (300) can generate a charging progress control signal based on the charging request information and transmit it to a charger (200). Subsequently, the charger (200) can provide power to an electric vehicle (150) based on the charging progress control signal and generate charging result information as a result. Subsequently, the charger (200) can transmit the generated charging result information to the charging application (100a) via Bluetooth communication or transmit the generated charging result information to the external charging server (300) via a communication network such as LTE.

[0059] Alternatively, the charging application (100a) can connect to an external charging server (300) and perform membership registration according to the user's operation.

[0060] Alternatively, the charging application (100a) may act as a proxy for transmitting charging result information stored in the charger (200) to an external charging server (300). At this time, the charging application (100a) may temporarily store charging result information received from the charger (200) via Bluetooth communication in a second network environment and then transmit it to the external charging server (300) in a first network environment.

[0061] In some other examples, a charging application (100a) can control the charger (200) to charge the electric vehicle (150) through interaction with the charger (200) in a second network environment.

[0062] First, the charging application (100a) receives a Bluetooth signal from the charger (200) and can generate charging request information based on the received Bluetooth signal.

[0063] In this case, the Bluetooth signal may be a BLE advertising signal, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. Additionally, the Bluetooth signal may include information regarding a charger UUID (Universally Unique Identifier), charger ID, etc., but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0064] The charging application (100a) can be pre-designed to generate charging request information when a BLE advancing signal is received from the charger (200). That is, the charging application (100a) can improve the user's charging experience by minimizing user intervention through the automatic generation of charging request information when a BLE advancing signal is received from the charger (200), without a separate pairing process or user operation.

[0065] Next, the charging application (100a) can transmit the generated charging request information to the charger (200).

[0066] Next, when the charging of the electric vehicle (150) of the charger (200) is completed according to the charging request information, the charging application (100a) can receive charging result information via Bluetooth communication. The charging result information may include the charging start time, the charging end time, the amount of charge charged to the electric vehicle (150), the usage fee corresponding to the amount of charge, the charger UUID and charger ID of the charger (200) that performed the charging, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0067] Subsequently, as described above, the charging application (100a) may also serve as a proxy (froxy) for transmitting charging result information stored in the charger (200) to an external charging server (300).

[0069] The external charging server (300) may refer to the server of an administrator that provided the charging application (100a) and charger (200) installed on the user terminal (100).

[0070] The external charging server (300) can perform data exchange and processing by communicating with the user terminal (100) and the charger (200) in the aforementioned first network environment, that is, in a network environment where server communication is smooth.

[0071] For example, an external charging server (300) can perform membership registration through a charging application (100a) installed on a user terminal (100) in a first network environment.

[0072] At this time, the external charging server (300) can issue a token during the user's registration process, and the issued token can be stored in the charging application (100a) of the user terminal (100) and the database inside the charger (200).

[0073] For example, when a user requests to sign up, the external charging server (300) can check the user data of the user entered in the charging application (100a).

[0074] At this time, the external charging server (300) can verify the user data of the user using a separate identity authentication database, etc. At this time, the user data may include the user's name, resident registration number, address, vehicle number, etc.

[0075] Upon verification, if the user's identity is confirmed, the external charging server (300) may issue and store a unique token for the user in the charging application (100a). Additionally, the issued token may be transmitted to the charger (200) and stored in the database within the charger (200).

[0076] If, upon verification, the user's identity is not confirmed, the external charging server (300) may send a request for correction of the corresponding user data to the charging application (100a).

[0077] In some other examples, an external charging server (300) may receive charging request information from a user terminal (100) in a first network environment, generate a charging progress control signal, and transmit it to a charger (200).

[0078] At this time, the external charging server (300) can perform user authentication using the token included in the charging request information, and when user authentication is completed, it can generate a charging progress control signal and transmit it to the charger (200).

[0079] The charging progress control signal may include a release signal for unlocking the charger (200) and a signal regarding the amount of charge included in the charging request information, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0080] In some other examples, an external charging server (300) can receive and store charging result information from a charging application (100a) and / or a charger (200) after the electric vehicle (150) is fully charged through a charger (200) in a first network environment.

[0081] At this time, when the external charging server (300) receives charging result information from the charging application (100a), it may transmit a confirmation signal to the charging application (100a) indicating that it has received and stored the charging result information. Alternatively, when the external charging server (300) receives charging result information from the charger (200), it may transmit a control signal regarding data cleaning stored in the charger (200). The transmission of the confirmation signal and control signal by the external charging server (300) will be described later.

[0083] The charger (200) may refer to a device that charges the user's electric vehicle (150).

[0084] The charger (200) may include a fast charger, a slow charger, a portable charger, etc., capable of charging an electric vehicle (150). At this time, the charger may be connected to a power supply means, such as a power supply outlet or a power supply tap capable of supplying power.

[0085] The charger (200) can communicate with the user terminal (100) using Bluetooth technology, and can communicate with the external charging server (300) in the first network environment using 3G mobile communication technology, 4G mobile communication technology (LTE), 5G mobile communication technology, etc.

[0086] In some examples, the charger (200) can provide power to the electric vehicle (150) by communicating with the user terminal (100) and the external charging server (300) in the first network environment.

[0087] First, the charger (200) can transmit a Bluetooth signal to the user terminal (100). Subsequently, when the user terminal (100) transmits charging request information to the external charging server (300) and the external charging server (300) transmits a charging progress control signal to the charger (200), the charger (200) can charge the electric vehicle (150) according to the charging progress control signal. Subsequently, the charger (200) can transmit the generated charging result information to the user terminal (100) via Bluetooth communication or provide it to the external charging server (300) via a communication network such as LTE.

[0088] In some other examples, the charger (200) can provide power to the electric vehicle by communicating with the user terminal (100) in a second network environment.

[0089] First, the charger (200) can transmit a Bluetooth signal to the user terminal (100).

[0090] Next, when the charger (200) receives charging request information from the user terminal (100), it can perform user authentication for the user. At this time, the charger (200) can perform user authentication based on the result of comparing the token stored in the internal database with the token included in the charging request information.

[0091] Additionally, the charger (200) can unlock the charging lock so that the user can start charging the electric vehicle (150) when user authentication is complete.

[0092] Subsequently, when charging is completed, the charger (200) generates charging result information and can store the generated charging result information in a database within the charger (200). The stored charging result information can subsequently be shared with the user terminal (100) and / or the external charging server (300), and in response, the charging result information stored in the database within the charger (200) can be cleaned.

[0093] The operation method of the charger (200) will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6.

[0095] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a charger according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0096] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the charger (200) may include a Bluetooth communication module (210), a user authentication module (220), a charging module (230), and a local database module (240).

[0097] The Bluetooth communication module (210) can perform Bluetooth communication with the user terminal (100).

[0098] In some examples, the Bluetooth communication module (210) can transmit a Bluetooth signal (Bluetooth Signal, hereinafter referred to as "BS") to a user terminal (100).

[0099] The Bluetooth signal (BS) may be a BLE signal, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. In this case, the connection mode of the BLE signal may be an advertising mode, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. An advertising mode may refer to a mode that unilaterally sends a signal to all surrounding devices without specifying a particular device.

[0100] In other words, the Bluetooth communication module (210) can transmit a BLE advertising signal to the user terminal (100), but embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0101] At this time, the Bluetooth communication module (210) of the user terminal (100) and the charger (200) is connected through a Bluetooth signal, specifically a BLE advancing signal, thereby having the effect of minimizing the battery usage of the user terminal (100). That is, instead of the user terminal (100) and the charger (200) transmitting Bluetooth signals (BS) to each other, the charger (200) unilaterally transmits a unidirectional Bluetooth signal (BS) to the user terminal (100), thereby reducing the battery usage of the user terminal (100).

[0102] At this time, the Bluetooth signal (BS) may include information regarding the charger UUID and charger ID of the charger (200) as described above, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0103] For example, the Bluetooth communication module (210) can transmit a Bluetooth signal (BS) when the user terminal (100) approaches within a predetermined distance from the charger (200). The process of the Bluetooth communication module (210) transmitting the Bluetooth signal will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 3.

[0105] Figure 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating how a user terminal approaches a charger and the charger transmits a Bluetooth signal.

[0106] Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 illustrates a first user terminal (101), a first electric vehicle (151) corresponding to the first user terminal (101), a second user terminal (102), a second electric vehicle (152) corresponding to the second user terminal (102), and a charger (200).

[0107] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the Bluetooth communication module (210) of the charger (200) can transmit a Bluetooth signal (BS) when a user terminal (101, 102) approaches the Bluetooth signal area (BSR) of the charger (200).

[0108] The Bluetooth signal area (BSR) may include an area within a predetermined distance from the charger (200). In FIG. 3, the Bluetooth signal area (BSR) is shown as a circular area having a predetermined distance (R) from the charger (200), but embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0109] Figure 3 illustrates that the first user terminal (101) and the corresponding first electric vehicle (151) are not included in the Bluetooth signal area (BSR) of the charger (200), while the second user terminal (102) and the corresponding second electric vehicle (152) are included in the Bluetooth signal area (BSR).

[0110] At this time, the Bluetooth communication module (210) of the charger (200) can transmit a Bluetooth signal (BS) to a second user terminal (102) included in the Bluetooth signal area (BSR). The Bluetooth signal (BS) may be a BLE advertising signal as described above and may include the charger UUID and charger ID of the charger (200), but embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. Subsequently, the user terminal (102) can generate charging request information based on the received Bluetooth signal.

[0111] However, the process of the charger (200) transmitting the Bluetooth signal (BS) is not limited to that shown in FIG. 3.

[0112] For example, the Bluetooth communication module (210) of the charger (200) may set a region of interest within the Bluetooth signal range (BSR) and then transmit a Bluetooth signal to the user terminal (100) of the electric vehicle (150) when the electric vehicle (150) enters the region of interest. At this time, the region of interest may be arbitrarily determined within the Bluetooth signal range (BSR) or determined by the manager of the charger (200) and / or the charging server (300). As some examples, the region of interest may be in the shape of a circle, ellipse, polygon (triangle, square, pentagon, etc.), but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0114] Referring again to FIGS. 1 and FIGS. 2, in some other examples, a Bluetooth communication module (210) can receive charge request information (Charge Appeal Information, hereinafter referred to as "CAI") from a user terminal (100).

[0115] At this time, the Bluetooth communication module (210) can receive charging request information (CAI) based on Bluetooth communication.

[0116] As described above, the charging request information (CAI) may include the charging amount, user authentication information, charger UUID, charger ID, etc. The charging amount may be directly entered by the user each time charging occurs, a specific value set and stored by the user, or a value predetermined by an external charging server (300), but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. The user authentication information may include a token issued upon user registration and stored in the charging application (100a), but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0118] The user authentication module (220) can perform user authentication for the user based on charging request information (CAI) in the second network environment.

[0119] For example, the user authentication module (220) may perform user authentication based on the result of comparing a token stored in a database within the charger (200) with a token included in the charging request information. At this time, the token stored in the database within the charger (200) may be received from an external charging server (300) in a first network environment. For instance, the user authentication module (220) may determine that user authentication is complete when the token stored in the database within the charger (200) matches the token included in the charging request information, but embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0120] In some other examples, the user authentication module (220) may perform user authentication based on the validity of the token included in the charge request information (CAI). For instance, the user authentication module (220) may determine that user authentication has not been completed if the token is not included in the charge request information (CAI), if the originality of the token has been compromised, or if the validity period of the token has expired. However, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0121] The user authentication process using the token of the user authentication module (220) will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 4.

[0123] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating user authentication during the electric vehicle charging process when the user operates different vehicles at different times.

[0124] Referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 4 illustrates a user authentication process in the case where the same user charges different vehicles (153a to 153d) through the same user terminal (103) at different points in time (T1 to T4). That is, FIG. 4 illustrates a case where the vehicles (153a to 153d) at each point in time (T1 to T4) are different from each other, but the user terminal (103) of the user operating each vehicle (153a to 153d) is the same.

[0125] Referring to FIG. 4, the user authentication module (220) can perform common user authentication through the authentication of a token (TOK) stored in the user terminal (103) even if the user operates multiple different vehicles.

[0126] Generally, it is common for the same user to carry the same user terminal (103, e.g., smartphone). In this case, when the user is charging while driving a different type of vehicle, the electric vehicle charging system (1) of the present invention can omit or simplify a separate membership registration or authentication procedure.

[0127] In other words, as mentioned above, general electric vehicle charging systems often authenticate users through the electric vehicle itself rather than the user terminal. In this case, there is the inconvenience of having to go through a separate membership registration process for each electric vehicle to charge it.

[0128] However, in the case of the electric vehicle charging system (1) of the present invention, by adopting a method of authenticating a token (TOK) stored in a user terminal rather than authenticating a vehicle, the inconvenience of having to proceed with a separate membership registration procedure for each vehicle can be reduced.

[0130] Referring again to FIGS. 1 and FIGS. 2, the user authentication module (220) can then transmit a charging progress control signal (hereinafter referred to as "CPS") to the charging module (230) when user authentication is complete, and conversely, can transmit a charging non-progress control signal (hereinafter referred to as "NCS") to the charging module (230) when user authentication is not complete.

[0131] For some examples, the charging progress control signal (CPS) may include a release signal for unlocking the charger (200) and a signal regarding the amount of charge included in the charging request information (CAI), but embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. The charging non-progress control signal (NCS) may mean a signal that maintains the locked state of the charging lock device of the charger (200).

[0132] The charging module (230) can provide power to the electric vehicle (150). The charging module (230) is a module that actually charges the electric vehicle (150) and may include detailed components for power supply, such as a connector, a power conversion device, and a converter.

[0133] In some examples, the charging module (230) can charge the electric vehicle (150) when it receives a charging progress control signal (CPS) from the user authentication module (220) in a second network environment.

[0134] In some other examples, the charging module (230) can charge the electric vehicle (150) when it receives a charging progress control signal (CPS) from an external charging server (300) in a first network environment.

[0135] The charging module (230) can generate charging result information (CRI) when charging is completed. As described above, the charging result information (CRI) may include the charging start time, the charging end time, the amount of charge charged to the electric vehicle (150), the usage fee corresponding to the amount of charge, and the charger UUID and charger ID of the charger (200) that performed the charging, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0136] The local database module (240) can store generated charging result information (CRI). The local database module (240) can transmit the charging result information (CRI) to the Bluetooth communication module (210) and / or the external charging server communication module.

[0138] FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram for schematically explaining the electric vehicle charging process in a second network environment. FIG. 5 illustrates the process of supplying power to an electric vehicle (150) in a second network environment.

[0139] First, the charger (200) can transmit a Bluetooth signal (BS) to the charging application (100a) of the user terminal (100) (S01).

[0140] At this time, the Bluetooth signal (BS) may be a BLE advertising signal and may be a signal including information regarding a charger ID and a charger UUID, etc., but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0141] Next, the charging application (100a) of the user terminal (100) can generate charging request information (CAI) and transmit the generated charging request information (CAI) to the charger (200) (S02).

[0142] At this time, the charging request information (CAI) may include the charging amount, user authentication information, etc., as described above. The charging amount may be directly entered by the user each time a charge is made, a specific value set and stored by the user, or a value predetermined by an external charging server (300), but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. The user authentication information may include a token issued upon user registration and stored in the charging application (100a), but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0143] At this time, the charger (200) can perform user authentication based on charging request information (CAI). As some examples, the charger (200) can perform user authentication based on the result of comparing a token stored in a database inside the charger (200) with a token included in the charging request information. When user authentication is completed, the charger (200) can generate a charging progress control signal.

[0144] Next, when a charging progress control signal is generated, the charger (200) can supply power to the electric vehicle (150) (S03).

[0145] Next, the charger (200) can generate charging result information and store the generated charging result information (S04). At this time, the generated charging result information can be stored in a database inside the charger (200). The database inside the charger (200) may include the local database module of FIG. 2.

[0147] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a charger according to some other embodiments of the present invention.

[0148] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, the charger (200) may further include an external charging server communication module (250) and a cleaning module (260) in addition to the Bluetooth communication module (210), user authentication module (220), charging module (230), and local database module (240) described in FIG. 2. The following description excludes redundant content.

[0149] The charging result information (CRI) stored in the local database module (240) can be transmitted to the Bluetooth communication module (210) and / or the external charging server communication module (250).

[0150] At this time, the Bluetooth communication module (210) and the external charging server communication module (250) can share the received charging result information (CRI) with the user terminal (100) and / or the external charging server (300).

[0151] The external charging server communication module (250) can communicate with the external charging server (300) in the first network environment. At this time, the external charging server communication module (250) can perform data exchange with the external charging server (300) using 3G communication, 4G communication, 5G communication, etc. in the first network environment.

[0152] In some examples, the external charging server communication module (250) receives charging result information (CRI) from the local database module (240) and can transmit the received charging result information (CRI) to the external charging server (300) in the first network environment.

[0153] In some other examples, although not illustrated in FIG. 6, the external charging server communication module (250) may receive a charging progress control signal (CPS) from the external charging server (300) in the first network environment and transmit it to the charging module (230).

[0154] As described above, the charging result information (CRI) stored in the local database module (240) can be transmitted to the Bluetooth communication module (210) and / or the external charging server communication module (250), and the Bluetooth communication module (210) and the external charging server communication module (250) can share the received charging result information (CRI) with other components other than the charger (200) in the electric vehicle charging system (1).

[0155] At this time, the Bluetooth communication module (210) and the external charging server communication module (250) can transmit charging result information (CRI) using different communication methods, and the targets to which the charging result information (CRI) is transmitted may be different from each other.

[0156] The following is explained in detail with further reference to FIG. 7.

[0158] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the process of storing charging result information on a server according to some embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 7, communication between a user terminal (100) and a charger (200) (e.g., Bluetooth communication) is shown as a solid line to explain the intermittent limitation of server communication, similar to FIG. 1, and server communication between an external charging server (300) and a user terminal (100) and server communication between an external charging server (300) and a charger (200) are shown as dotted lines.

[0159] Referring to FIG. 7, charging result information (CRI) generated by the charging module (230) can be stored in a local database module (240), and then the local database module (240) can transmit the charging result information (CRI) to a Bluetooth communication module (210) and / or an external charging server communication module (250).

[0160] FIG. 7 illustrates a process in which a local database module (240) transmits charging result information (CRI) to both a Bluetooth communication module (210) and an external charging server communication module (250), but embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. For example, the local database module (240) may transmit charging result information (CRI) to only one of the Bluetooth communication module (210) and the external charging server communication module (250).

[0161] The Bluetooth communication module (210) can transmit the received charging result information (CRI) to the user terminal (100). At this time, the Bluetooth communication module (210) can transmit the charging result information (CRI) to the user terminal (100) based on Bluetooth communication. At this time, the Bluetooth communication may be BLE communication, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0162] The user terminal (100) can transmit charging result information (CRI) received from the Bluetooth communication module (210) to an external charging server (300). At this time, the user terminal (100) can perform the role of a proxy that transmits charging result information (CRI) received from the charger (200) in a second network environment using Bluetooth communication to an external charging server (300) in a first network environment.

[0163] The external charging server communication module (250) can transmit charging result information (CRI) to the external charging server (300) in the first network environment. At this time, the external charging server communication module (250) can transmit the charging result information (CRI) using communication technology such as LTE, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0165] Referring again to FIGS. 1 and FIGS. 6, the cleaning module (260) can clean the charging result information (CRI) stored in the local database module (240).

[0166] In some examples, the cleaning module (260) can clean the charging result information (CRI) stored in the local database module (240) by transmitting a cleaning signal (CS) to the local database module (240).

[0167] At this time, the cleaning module (260) can generate and transmit a cleaning signal (CS) based on a control signal received in response to the transmission of charging result information (CRI) from the Bluetooth communication module (210) and / or the external charging server communication module (250).

[0168] Afterwards, the local database module (240) can delete the corresponding charging result information (CRI) when a cleaning signal (CS) is received.

[0169] Below, the process of generating the cleaning signal (CS) will be explained in more detail with further reference to FIG. 8.

[0171] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a cleaning signal according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0172] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 8, the Bluetooth communication module (210) and the external charging server communication module (250) can share charging result information (CRI) received from the local database module (240) externally, and the cleaning module (260) can receive control signals (RS1, RS2) according to this sharing process. At this time, the control signals (RS1, RS2) can be generated by the user terminal (100) and the external charging server (300), respectively.

[0173] For example, when the Bluetooth communication module (210) receives charging result information (CRI) from the local database module (240) and transmits it to the user terminal (100), the user terminal (100) can generate a first control signal (RS1) and transmit it to the cleaning module (260).

[0174] At this time, the user terminal (100) can transmit the received charging result information (CRI) to the external charging server (300), and after receiving a confirmation signal from the external charging server (300), generate a first control signal (RS1) and transmit it to the cleaning module (260). At this time, the confirmation signal may include a signal indicating that the external charging server (300) has received and stored the charging result information (CRI).

[0175] At this time, the electric vehicle charging system (1) of the present invention has the effect of preventing loss of charging data by performing a cleaning process through a confirmation signal from an external charging server (300).

[0176] Similarly, when the external charging server communication module (250) receives charging result information (CRI) from the local database module (240) and transmits it to the external charging server (300), the external charging server (300) can generate a second control signal (RS2) in response and transmit it to the cleaning module (260).

[0177] Subsequently, the cleaning module (260) can generate a cleaning signal (CS) based on the received first control signal (RS1) and / or second control signal (RS2). The generated cleaning signal (CS) can be transmitted to the local database module (240).

[0178] For some examples, the cleaning signal (CS) may mean a signal that controls the deletion of charging result information (CRI) transmitted to the user terminal (100) via the Bluetooth communication module (210) and / or charging result information (CRI) transmitted to the external charging server (300) via the external charging server communication module (250) from the local database module (240).

[0179] Through this cleaning process, the charger (200) of the present invention has the effect of solving the problem of insufficient memory capacity of the charger that may occur during the electric vehicle charging process through local authentication. In addition, instead of deleting the stored charging result information according to a predetermined period, the cleaning process is performed only when the data is transmitted to a user terminal or an external charging server and backed up, thereby preventing data corruption and damage related to electric vehicle charging.

[0181] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an electric vehicle charging method according to some embodiments of the present invention. The electric vehicle charging method of FIG. 9 can be performed by a user terminal (100), a charger (200), and / or an external charging server (300), which are each components of the electric vehicle charging system (1) of FIG. 1. The following description is brief, excluding redundant content.

[0182] First, the charger can transmit a Bluetooth signal to the user terminal (S100).

[0183] In this case, the Bluetooth signal may be a BLE advertising signal and may be a signal containing information regarding the charger ID, charger UUID, etc. A detailed explanation is omitted.

[0184] Next, the user terminal can transmit charging request information to the charger based on the received Bluetooth signal (S110).

[0185] At this time, the charging request information may include the charging amount, user authentication information, etc. The charging amount may be directly entered by the user each time a charge is made, a specific value set and stored by the user, or a value predetermined by an external charging server, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. The user authentication information may include a token issued upon user registration and stored in the charging application, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0186] Next, the charger can proceed with charging based on charging request information received from the user terminal (S120).

[0187] At this time, the charger can perform user authentication based on the charging request information. As a few examples, the charger can perform user authentication based on the comparison result between the token stored in the charger's internal database and the token included in the charging request information. When user authentication is completed, the charger can generate a charging progress control signal.

[0188] Power can be supplied to the electric vehicle according to the generated charging progress control signal and user operation.

[0189] Next, the charger can generate and store charging result information (S130).

[0190] The charging result information may include the charging start time, the charging end time, the amount charged to the electric vehicle, the usage fee corresponding to the amount charged, the charger UUID and charger ID of the charger that performed the charging, but embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0191] Charging result information can be stored in a database inside the charger. The database inside the charger may include the local database module of FIG. 2.

[0193] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an electric vehicle charging method including a user authentication procedure according to some embodiments of the present invention. The electric vehicle charging method of FIG. 10 may be performed by a user terminal (100), a charger (200), and / or an external charging server (300), which are each component of the electric vehicle charging system (1) of FIG. 1. The following description is brief, excluding redundant content.

[0194] First, the charger can transmit a Bluetooth signal to the user terminal (S100). Next, the user terminal can transmit charging request information to the charger based on the received Bluetooth signal (S110). Next, the charger can proceed with charging based on the charging request information received from the user terminal (S120). Next, the charger can generate and store charging result information (S130).

[0195] Steps (S100 to S130) are described above in FIG. 9 and are omitted here.

[0196] Next, the charger can share the generated charging result information externally (S140).

[0197] As a few examples, the Bluetooth communication module of the charger can receive charging result information from the local database module and transmit it to the user terminal.

[0198] At this time, the Bluetooth communication module can transmit charging result information to a user terminal using Bluetooth communication. The user terminal can transmit the charging result information received from the Bluetooth communication module to an external charging server. At this time, the user terminal can transmit the charging result information to an external charging server in a first network environment, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0199] As another example, the external charging server communication module of the charger can receive charging result information from the local database module and transmit it to the external charging server. In this case, the external charging server communication module can transmit the charging result information to the user terminal using LTE communication, etc.

[0200] Next, the charger can clean the stored charging result information (S150).

[0201] For example, the charger may delete charging result information stored in a local database module in response to charging result information being transmitted to a user terminal and / or an external charging server.

[0202] For example, when a charger transmits charging result information to a user terminal, the user terminal may generate a first control signal and transmit it to the charger. At this time, the user terminal may generate the first control signal after transmitting the received charging result information to an external charging server and receiving a confirmation signal from the external charging server that the charging result information has been received and stored.

[0203] Similarly, when the charger transmits charging result information to an external charging server, the external charging server can generate a second control signal in response and transmit it to the cleaning module.

[0204] The charger can clean the charging result information stored in the charger based on the first control signal and / or the second control signal received in this way.

[0205] The above description is merely an illustrative explanation of the technical concept of the present embodiment, and a person skilled in the art to which the present embodiment belongs would be able to make various modifications and variations within the scope of the essential characteristics of the present embodiment. Accordingly, the present embodiments are intended to explain, not limit, the technical concept of the present embodiment, and the scope of the technical concept of the present embodiment is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the present embodiment shall be interpreted by the claims below, and all technical concepts within an equivalent scope shall be interpreted as being included within the scope of rights of the present embodiment.

Claims

Claim 1 A charger that communicates with a user terminal and an external charging server and provides power to an electric vehicle, wherein the charger charges the electric vehicle in a first network environment where communication between the charger and the external charging server is smooth, or in a second network environment where communication between the user terminal and the external charging server and communication between the charger and the external charging server are both blocked, wherein in the second network environment, the charger charges the electric vehicle based on charging request information received from the user terminal via Bluetooth communication, and when restored to the first network environment, backs up charging result information generated by charging the electric vehicle in the second network environment to the external charging server. Claim 2 In claim 1, the charger comprises at least one of a fast charger and a slow charger. Claim 3 In claim 1, the second network environment comprises a charger in which the charger and the external charging server cannot communicate based on 3G mobile communication technology, 4G mobile communication technology (Long Term Evolution, LTE), and 5G mobile communication technology. Claim 4 In claim 1, the charger transmits a Bluetooth signal when the user terminal approaches within a predetermined distance from the charger, and the user terminal generates charging request information based on the Bluetooth signal received from the charger. Claim 5 The charger according to claim 1 comprises: an external charging server communication module that performs a first data backup by transmitting charging result information generated in the second network environment to the external charging server in the first network environment when restored to the first network environment, and a cleaning module that cleans the charging result information generated in the second network environment according to the control of the external charging server communication module. Claim 6 In claim 5, the charger further comprises: a Bluetooth communication module that communicates with the user terminal using the Bluetooth communication; a user authentication module that performs user authentication and generates a charging progress control signal for charging the electric vehicle; a charging module that charges the electric vehicle according to the charging progress control signal and generates charging result information; and a local database module that stores the generated charging result information. Claim 7 In claim 6, the Bluetooth communication module transmits the charging result information stored in the local database module to the user terminal for a second data backup of the user terminal, wherein the second data backup includes the process of the user terminal transmitting the received charging result information to the external charging server in the first network environment, and the cleaning module cleans the charging result information stored in the local database module. Claim 8 In claim 7, the cleaning module transmits a cleaning signal to the local database module based on at least one of a first control signal received from the user terminal and a second control signal received from the external charging server, wherein the first control signal is generated in response to the Bluetooth communication module transmitting the charging result information to the user terminal, and the second control signal is generated in response to the external charging server communication module transmitting the charging result information to the external charging server.

Images