EV Charging Control Device for Dynamic Consumer Authentication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing electric vehicle charging station payment model is inflexible, as users are charged by the owners of the charging stations, making it difficult to implement alternative payment models where users directly pay electric power companies, requiring a dynamic and safe method to change the correspondence between power meters and consumers.
Innovation Solution
A control device with a detecting unit, communication unit, and control unit that authenticates consumers and dynamically manages power supply and billing by connecting to a communication network, allowing power-supplied devices to receive power only when authenticated and enabling direct billing to the user's contracted electric power company.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the charging station owner is designated as the consumer for power meter measurement, then the power supply system is simple and stable, but the payment model flexibility is reduced and alternative payment models cannot be implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the consumer identification and authentication process by introducing a dedicated consumer identification unit that separates the consumer identity management from the power metering function. This allows the power meter to measure power while the consumer identification unit dynamically assigns the actual consumer, enabling flexible payment models without complicating the core power supply infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic consumer correspondence by allowing the consumer identification information to be changed in real-time based on authentication results. The consumer identification unit can dynamically assign different consumers to the same power meter measurement, enabling flexible payment arrangements where users can directly pay their contracted power companies rather than being charged by charging station owners.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the correspondence between power meters and consumers is fixed, then the system stability is high, but the ability to implement direct user payment to power companies is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication of the power-supplied device before allowing power supply. The consumer identification unit authenticates the device and determines the corresponding consumer in advance, ensuring that only authorized devices can receive power. This preliminary authentication maintains safety and reliability while enabling flexible payment models where the authenticated consumer may differ from the charging station owner.
Solution Approach 2:
The consumer identification unit acts as an intermediary between the power meter and the actual consumer. It receives power measurement information from the power meter and dynamically identifies the corresponding consumer, allowing the system to maintain a stable power supply infrastructure while enabling flexible consumer-payment relationships. This intermediary layer ensures that power is supplied safely to authenticated devices while allowing various payment arrangements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic consumer correspondence is implemented, then alternative payment models become possible, but the system complexity and authentication requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The consumer identification unit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as an authentication mechanism and as a consumer identification system. It can authenticate power-supplied devices and simultaneously determine the corresponding consumer for billing purposes. This universal unit handles multiple functions that would otherwise require separate systems, reducing overall complexity while enabling diverse payment models including direct user payment to power companies.
4Ease of operation
If the charging station owner is always the consumer, then billing is simple, but users cannot directly pay their contracted power companies
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service payment arrangements where users can directly pay their contracted power companies. The consumer identification unit allows users to be identified as the consumer for power measurement, enabling them to receive billing information and make payments directly to their preferred power company. This self-service capability maintains operational simplicity from the user perspective while providing diverse payment model options including direct user-to-power-company payments.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an embodiment, a control device includes a detecting unit, a communication unit, and a control unit. The detecting unit detects that a power-supplied device is connected to a power supply line relaying supply of power. The communication unit receives consumer authentication information including consumer identification information for identifying a consumer from a communication device when it is detected that the power-supplied device is connected to the power supply line, transmits the consumer authentication information to a first server, receives power-supply-availability determination information representing whether supply of power to the power-supplied device is possible or not, from the first server, and transmits power measurement information representing power supplied to the power-supplied device through the power supply line and the consumer identification information to a second server. The control unit supplies power to the power-supplied device when the power-supply-availability determination information represents that supply of power is possible.