EV Charging Station Remote Payment via Optical Code Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for a reliable method to perform remote payment and billing transactions associated with electric vehicle charging stations, as existing systems lack efficient and secure solutions for user authentication and transaction processing.

Innovation Solution

A system that uses a computing device to decode a graphic bit pattern code displayed at the charging station, verifying the station's legitimacy and user identity, and initiating charging and billing processes through a server, which manages charge accounts and generates billing information based on transaction data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If remote payment and billing transactions are implemented for electric vehicle charging stations, then transaction processing efficiency and security are improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction processing reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A server acts as an intermediary between the charging station and the user's computing device. The server receives the station identifier from the computing device, determines whether the charging station is legitimate, and provides signals to initiate charging. This intermediary architecture improves transaction processing reliability while managing system complexity through centralized coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual payment and authentication processes with automated electronic transactions. The computing device optically captures and decodes the station identifier, and the server automatically processes billing transactions, eliminating the need for manual intervention and improving both efficiency and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If automated charging initiation based on station verification is implemented, then charging process efficiency is improved, but measurement and detection difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging process efficiencyVSAvoidstation legitimacy verification difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The charging station displays a visual code (graphic bit pattern) that serves as a copy or representation of its identity. The computing device optically captures this visual code and decodes it to obtain the station identifier. This copying approach simplifies the verification process while maintaining security, as the visual code can be easily captured and transmitted electronically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual verification of station legitimacy with automated optical coding and decoding. The computing device captures the visual code and the server processes the station identifier automatically, eliminating the need for manual verification and improving both efficiency and ease of detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If optical code decoding is used for station identification, then user authentication ease is improved, but device requirements complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser authentication easeVSAvoiddevice requirements complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The computing device performs multiple functions: it optically captures the visual code, decodes the station identifier, communicates with the server, and processes authentication. By consolidating these functions into a single device, the patent improves ease of operation while managing device requirements complexity through multi-functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables secure and efficient remote payment and billing for electric vehicle charging, ensuring legitimate transactions and accurate billing by verifying station and user identities, and automating the charging process.

Implementation Method 1

the code includes a graphic bit pattern that is configured to be decoded based on an optically captured representation of the code

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical capture: Photography

Data Source

PatentUS9704145B2System and method for remote payment for an electric vehicle charging station

Publication Date: 2017.07.11 BLINK SUB II LLC

AI summary

A system and method is provided for billing transactions associated with an electric vehicle charging station (EVCS). A server may receive a station identifier associated with the EVCS from a computing device. The station identifier may be retrieved by decoding a code at the computing device. The code may include a graphic bit pattern that is configured to be decoded based on an optically captured representation of the code. The server may determine whether the EVCS is legitimate based on the station identifier. The server may provide a signal to the EVCS to initiate charging of a vehicle plugged into the EVCS in response to a determination that the EVCS is legitimate.