EV Charger Session Tracking Under Discontinuous Internet Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of maintaining accurate EV charging session data and communication in environments with discontinuous internet connectivity, particularly in locations like underground parking structures, due to incomplete session data recording and loss of critical charging information.
Innovation Solution
A processor-implemented method and system that enables EV charging sessions by storing session information locally on the charger device, including initial and updated energy meter readings, and transferring this data to user devices even in the absence of continuous internet connectivity, ensuring complete session data is available and transmitted to the cloud service once connectivity is restored.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If EV chargers rely on internet connectivity to manage sessions and communicate with cloud-based services, then cloud-based session management and data transmission are enabled, but discontinuous internet connectivity at charging locations prevents seamless communication and leads to incomplete session data
Solution Approach 1:
The charger device performs preliminary actions by storing session data locally in its memory before internet connectivity is restored. This includes capturing user authentication data, energy meter readings, and session identification information during the charging session, ensuring data is preserved even when cloud communication is unavailable.
Solution Approach 2:
The charger device's local memory acts as an intermediary storage medium between the user device and the cloud service. It temporarily holds session data when cloud communication is interrupted, bridging the gap between local charging operations and remote cloud-based session management, and enabling data synchronization once connectivity is restored.
2Ease of operation
If users disconnect vehicles prematurely or fail to follow standard termination process, then charging sessions can be ended quickly, but session data becomes incomplete or lost and energy usage cannot be accurately tracked
Solution Approach 1:
The charger device captures and stores session data at preliminary intervals during the charging session, including initial user authentication information, energy meter readings at regular intervals, and session identification data. This ensures that even if a user disconnects prematurely without following the termination process, the data already captured in memory remains intact and can be synchronized later.
Solution Approach 2:
The charger device autonomously manages session data storage and preservation without requiring user intervention for data capture. It automatically records energy meter readings, maintains session identification information, and preserves data in its memory, enabling the system to handle premature disconnections without losing critical charging information.
3Loss of information
If session data is stored and transferred between user devices, then data availability is improved across devices, but data transmission overhead and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The charger device extracts and stores essential session data elements in its memory, including user authentication information, session identification data, and energy meter readings. This extracted data can then be transferred to user devices or synchronized with the cloud service, separating the critical data elements from the complete charging session context and enabling efficient data availability across devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A processor-implemented method includes (i) authenticating a first user at an EV charger application on the first user device, where the application stores authentication data received via the internet, (ii) initiating a first charging session at a charger device with session information data packet including assigning a session identifier and transmitting a user identifier from the first user device via wireless communication, (iii) storing (a) an initial reading of an energy meter and (b) updated readings throughout the session, (iv) terminating the session and storing the final updated reading as part of the completed session information, (v) transferring the completed session information from the charger device to the second user device upon initiating a second session, (vi) upon detecting internet connectivity, transmitting the session information to a cloud service.