Decentralized Charging Station Occupancy Data Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current charging station information systems provide imprecise utilization data, leading to inefficient planning for users and resource wastage, as they rely on central servers and do not account for actual occupancy and available charging point sizes.
Innovation Solution
A decentralized system where charging stations networked in a wired manner exchange and wirelessly transmit identification and occupancy data, including position parameters, directly to vehicles, eliminating the need for a central server and using onboard sensors to determine accurate occupancy and available charging point sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a central server system is used to provide charging station information, then information can be centralized and managed, but information precision and reliability deteriorate due to reliance on rough guide values
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized information system into distributed charging stations that each independently determine and transmit their own occupancy states. Instead of one central server managing all information, each charging station becomes an autonomous information source, improving precision through direct measurement while distributing system complexity across multiple simple nodes.
Solution Approach 2:
Charging stations perform self-measurement of their occupancy states using onboard sensors without requiring central server intervention. Each station independently determines its own status (occupied/unoccupied) and transmits this accurate information directly to vehicles, eliminating the information loss inherent in centralized rough guide values.
2Loss of time
If charging station occupancy data is collected centrally, then data management is simplified, but waiting times increase due to information delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data collection and transmission function from the central server architecture and places it directly at the charging stations. Each station independently determines occupancy and transmits information wirelessly to approaching vehicles, eliminating the intermediate central server step that causes delays. This direct transmission path significantly reduces waiting time for accurate occupancy information.
Solution Approach 2:
Charging stations continuously determine and maintain up-to-date occupancy information using onboard sensors before vehicles arrive. This preliminary measurement and readiness of accurate data ensures that when vehicles approach, immediate precise information is available, eliminating waiting time for data collection and processing.
3Productivity
If rough guide values are provided for charging station utilization, then system simplicity is maintained, but resource efficiency deteriorates due to inefficient planning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where charging stations continuously measure their actual occupancy states using sensors and transmit this real-time information to vehicles. This accurate feedback enables vehicles to make informed charging decisions, plan routes efficiently, and avoid unnecessary trips to occupied stations, thereby improving productivity and reducing energy wastage from failed charging attempts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/centralized data collection system with a sensor-based electronic measurement system at each charging station. Onboard sensors automatically detect occupancy status and transmit this data wirelessly, substituting the inefficient centralized rough estimation mechanism with precise, automated sensor measurement, thereby enabling efficient charging planning and reducing resource wastage.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a charging station information system for dynamically providing information about charging stations wherein each charging station is assigned at least one identification parameter and one position parameter of the assigned charging point wherein at least one charging station is designed to determine the occupancy state of the charging station. Multiple vehicles comprise a first subset equipped with a communication device for wireless communication and a second subset not equipped with a communication device for wireless communication. Multiple charging stations are networked in a wired manner and configured to exchange at least the respective identification parameter and the determined occupancy state as charging-relevant data, and wherein at least one charging station networked in a wired manner is configured to wirelessly transmit the charging-relevant data together with the respective position parameters of the assigned charging points to the first subset of vehicles.