Secure Energy Transfer Between Mobile Units Using Backend Authentication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy transfer systems for mobile units, such as electric vehicles, face challenges in handling tariffs, taxes, and fraud prevention when charging at arbitrary power sockets, particularly in managing energy consumption and billing across different energy providers.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a first and second unit, each with a subscription to a backend platform, equipped with meters, control boxes, and communication means, where authentication and energy transfer data are managed through a power line or wireless communication, enabling secure and tariffed energy transfer, including backfeeding, and consumption clearing between platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If energy transfer is enabled between mobile units at arbitrary power sockets, then energy transfer capability and user convenience are improved, but fraud risk and billing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces backend platforms as intermediary systems that mediate between energy providers and mobile units. These platforms handle authentication, authorization, and billing operations, preventing fraud by verifying identities and managing energy transfers through controlled interfaces rather than direct peer-to-peer connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where meters continuously measure energy consumption and communicate this data back to control boxes and backend platforms. This enables real-time monitoring and verification of energy transfers, allowing the system to detect and prevent fraudulent activities while maintaining accurate billing records.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple backend platforms from different energy providers are involved, then system versatility and user choice are improved, but system complexity and coordination difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs backend platforms with universal interfaces and standardized communication protocols that enable them to work with multiple energy providers and different types of mobile units. This multi-functionality allows the system to accommodate various providers while maintaining consistent operation through common authentication and billing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Backend platforms serve as intermediary layers between different energy providers and mobile units, abstracting the complexity of multi-provider coordination. They handle provider-specific protocols and transformations internally while presenting a unified interface to end users, thereby simplifying system coordination despite involving multiple providers.
3Reliability
If authentication procedures are implemented between units, then security and fraud prevention are improved, but transfer time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary authentication procedures where user identities and device credentials are verified before energy transfer begins. By performing authentication in advance and storing verification results, the system ensures security while minimizing the time required during actual energy transfer operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication system enables self-service capabilities where mobile units automatically present their credentials and receive authorization without requiring manual intervention. This automated authentication process reduces both the time required and the operational complexity compared to manual verification methods.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for transferring energy between first and second units with first and second meters and subscriptions to first and second backend platforms, as well as a first unit for supporting such energy transfer, where the backend platforms execute an authentication procedure and a switch is unbarred by the first control box upon successful execution of the authentication procedure. A second control box sends an amount of the transferred energy measured by the second meter to the first control box energy consumption data is sent to the backend platforms, and a consumption clearing procedure is executed between the first and the second units at the backend platforms by means of the received energy consumption data.