Paid EV Parking Charging Assignment Using Transaction Identifiers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing paid parking facilities for electric vehicles face challenges in precisely assigning a vehicle to a specific power charging point, as existing user identification methods, such as RFID tags and license plates, are not selective enough to determine the exact charging point used during a parking process.

Innovation Solution

A method that involves generating a transaction identifier after receiving user-related data, which is then used to initialize and assign a power charging process to a specific power charging point, allowing for precise billing of both parking and electricity fees without the need for physical parking media, by transmitting this identifier to the power charging device and linking it to the parking process through an evaluation device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If RFID tags or license plates are used for user identification, then user identification is achieved, but precise assignment to a specific charging point is not possible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging point assignment precisionVSAvoididentification system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The identification system is segmented into multiple components: RFID tags for user identification, license plate recognition for vehicle identification, and transaction identifiers for charging point assignment. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill a specific function, achieving precise charging point assignment without requiring a single complex identification system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A transaction identifier is introduced as an intermediary element that links the user/vehicle identification (via RFID or license plate) with the specific charging point assignment. This intermediary enables precise tracking of which user used which charging point without requiring direct identification between users and charging points

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a transaction identifier system is implemented, then precise charging point assignment and joint billing are achieved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebilling accuracyVSAvoiddata management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transaction identifier serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a unique key for charging point assignment, a link between parking and charging processes, and a basis for joint billing calculation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate tracking systems while improving reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges the parking process management and charging process management into a unified evaluation device that processes both data streams. By combining these functions and using the transaction identifier as a common link, the system achieves accurate joint billing without requiring completely separate systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3819875B1Method for operating a parking device for which a charge is due
Publication Date: 2024.05.15 SCHEIDT & BACHMANN GMBH
  • EP3819875B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3819875B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3819875B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating a paid parking facility (1), in particular a parking facility (1) for at least partially electric vehicles (13) which has a plurality of charging points (5, 6, 7), comprising the following steps: - when a vehicle (13) enters the parking facility (1), a first data record (30) is received by an evaluation unit (20), wherein the first data record (30) comprises an identifier (31) identifying a user of the parking facility (1), an identifier (32) of the entry (9) of the parking facility (1), and a first timestamp (33); - when the vehicle (13) exits the parking facility (1), a second data record (34) is received by the evaluation unit (20), wherein the second data record (34) comprises the identifier (31) identifying the user of the parking facility (1), an identifier (35) of the exit (10) of the parking facility (1), and a second timestamp (36).- Transmission of user-related data to the evaluation unit (20) by the user, - Generation of a transaction identifier (44) by the evaluation unit (20) and sending the transaction identifier (44) to the user, - Initiation of an electricity charging process at an electricity charging point (6, 7, 8) by transmitting the transaction identifier (44) to a user interface (40) of an electricity charging unit (5) providing the electricity charging point (6, 7, 8), - Receipt of a third data record (43) from the electricity charging unit (5) providing the electricity charging point (6, 7, 8) by the evaluation unit (20), wherein the third data record (43) comprises the transaction identifier (44), an identifier (45) of the electricity charging point (6, 7, 8) and a third timestamp (46), - Receipt of a fourth data record (50) from the electricity charging unit providing the electricity charging point (6, 7, 8) (5) by the evaluation device (20), wherein the fourth data set (50) is the identifier (45) of the charging point (6, 7,8) and a fourth timestamp (51) and - in an evaluation process, the received data records (30, 34, 43, 50) are evaluated by the evaluation device (20), whereby a parking process of the vehicle (13) is determined using the first and second data records (30, 34) and a charging process is determined using the third and fourth data records (43, 50), and wherein the charging process is assigned to the parking process using the transaction identifier (44).