EV Charging Payment Terminal with Tamper-Proof Signed Billing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Public electric vehicle charging stations are vulnerable to attacks and manipulation, particularly through the payment device, where data recorded or generated can be accessed unauthorizedly, compromising the security and accuracy of energy billing.
Innovation Solution
A charging station design that includes a control device, electricity meter, payment device, signature device, and communication device, where the payment device generates an identification code, and the signature device digitally signs this code along with additional information elements, ensuring secure transmission to a central unit, protected by seals, signal varnish, and electromagnetic shielding to prevent unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the payment device is designed as a credit card terminal that reads credit card data during payment transactions, then payment functionality is enabled, but the payment device or output interface becomes a point of attack for criminals to intercept credit card data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sensitive payment data processing from the payment device itself. The identification code is generated in the payment device but immediately transmitted to the signature device for digital signing, separating the data generation function from the data processing function to minimize exposure time and attack surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the signature device as an intermediary between the payment device and the central unit. The identification code passes through this secure intermediary that adds digital signatures, creating a trusted transmission path that prevents unauthorized access and interception.
2Productivity
If the identification code is transmitted from the payment device to the central unit, then billing data can be processed, but the transmission path becomes vulnerable to unauthorized and unnoticed access by third parties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by digitally signing the identification code in advance within the signature device before transmission to the central unit. This pre-secured data package maintains its integrity throughout transmission, allowing efficient processing while ensuring reliability through preemptive cryptographic protection.
Data Source
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AI summary
A charging station (10) for electric vehicles (20) is disclosed, comprising: a control device (12) configured to control the charging process of an electric vehicle (20) connected to the charging station (10) with electrical energy; an electricity meter (14) configured to determine a meter reading relating to the quantity of energy supplied to the electric vehicle (20) by the charging station (10) during the charging process; a payment device (16) configured to pay for the quantity of energy supplied to the electric vehicle (20) by the charging station (10) and to issue an identification identifier; a signature device (18) configured to receive the identification identifier issued by the payment device (16) and additional information elements and to digitally sign the identification identifier; and a communication device (19) configured toto send the digitally signed identification identifier and the digitally signed additional information elements to a central unit (30), wherein the identification identifier is protected from unauthorized and/or unnoticed access by third parties from the time of issue by the payment device (16) until its receipt by the signature device (18).