Offline EV Charger Authentication Using Encrypted Digital Tokens
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing electric vehicle charging infrastructure faces challenges in providing secure and efficient charging solutions, particularly in environments without a network connection, leading to latency, data loss, and increased installation costs due to reliance on unreliable networks and limited access to internet connections.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a secure electric vehicle charging system that utilizes a low power short range point-to-point communication system, such as NFC, for authentication and data transfer between EV chargers and mobile devices, enabling encrypted access credentials and local data storage for charging sessions, allowing for secure and efficient charging sessions without the need for a network connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network connection is used for authentication and data transfer, then charging session can be established, but latency increases and data loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the authentication and data transfer functions from the network-dependent communication channel and implements them through a direct point-to-point communication system between the mobile device and EV charger. This removes the network intermediary that causes latency and potential data loss, allowing authentication credentials and charging session data to be exchanged directly without network delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a low power short range communication system as a new intermediary channel between the mobile device and EV charger. This alternative communication path bypasses the unreliable network infrastructure, providing a direct connection that reduces latency and improves reliability for authentication and data transfer operations.
2Ease of manufacture
If network connection is required for EV charger operation, then centralized control is achieved, but installation costs increase and location flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the EV charging system into independent units where each EV charger can autonomously perform authentication and data transfer through direct point-to-point communication with mobile devices. This segmentation removes the mandatory requirement for network connection at each charger location, enabling installation in remote areas without network infrastructure and reducing overall installation costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The EV charger is designed to self-authenticate and self-manage charging sessions through direct communication with the mobile device, without requiring continuous network connectivity or centralized cloud intervention. The charger can independently verify authentication credentials and manage the charging session, providing location flexibility and reducing installation infrastructure requirements.
3Reliability
If encrypted access credentials are transmitted over network, then security is maintained, but data loss and latency occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the authentication credential transmission from the network channel and relocates it to a direct point-to-point communication channel between the mobile device and EV charger. This extraction eliminates the network intermediaries that cause data loss and latency, ensuring that encrypted access credentials are transmitted reliably and quickly through a dedicated communication path.
Data Source
AI summary
A secure electric vehicle (EV) charger and system incorporating thereof is provided. One embodiment includes an EV charger. The EV charger includes a processor, a low power short range point-to-point communication system, and a memory containing an authentication software application. The processor is configured by the authentication software application to receive an authentication request from a mobile device via the low power short range point-to-point communication system, send encrypted EV charger access credentials to the mobile device, receive a digital token from the mobile device, verify the digital token, and initiate a charging session based upon a command contained within the digital token. The digital token may be encrypted using a public key and may be self-authenticating without use of an internet connection thus enabling secure charging without the presence of an internet connection.