Vehicle Charging Database Updates via Car2X Status Messages

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for updating charging station databases in vehicles are laborious and inefficient, as they often require manual entry and do not account for real-time updates from charging infrastructure that may not be connected to the internet.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing Cooperative Awareness Messages (CAM) and Car2X interfaces to automatically update a vehicle's charging device database by sending request messages and receiving status messages from nearby charging stations, allowing real-time database updates without requiring constant network connectivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual entry methods are used to update charging station databases, then database accuracy can be maintained, but the labor intensity and time consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedatabase accuracyVSAvoidtime consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables charging stations to automatically transmit their own status information (availability, power output, pricing) to vehicles without human intervention. The vehicle's database updates itself by receiving messages from charging stations, eliminating manual data entry while maintaining accuracy through direct source data transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle continuously receives status messages from charging stations and automatically updates its database based on this feedback. This real-time feedback mechanism ensures the database remains accurate and current without requiring manual verification or entry, resolving the contradiction between accuracy and time consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of information

If charging stations are required to be connected to the internet for database updates, then real-time data can be obtained, but the system complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereal-time data availabilityVSAvoidnetwork connectivity requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle itself acts as an intermediary that directly receives status messages from charging stations via short-range communication. This eliminates the need for charging stations to be connected to the internet or central servers, as the vehicle collects data directly from the source through simplified wireless communication protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the database update function from the charging station and places it in the vehicle. The vehicle now performs the data collection and storage functions locally, removing the requirement for charging stations to have internet connectivity or complex network infrastructure, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining real-time data availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If comprehensive database updates are performed frequently, then data accuracy improves, but the energy consumption and processing load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs database updates periodically based on received status messages from charging stations rather than continuously. The vehicle updates its database when triggered by incoming messages, which occurs periodically as vehicles pass by charging stations, thereby reducing energy consumption and processing load compared to continuous updates while maintaining data accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4099182B1Method for establishing and updating a database for charging devices and motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP4099182B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for creating and updating a database (DB) for charging devices (4), wherein the database (DB) is stored in a motor vehicle (1) or can be retrieved by the motor vehicle (1), wherein the motor vehicle (1) sends out request messages (7), wherein a charging device (4) receives the request message (7) and sends out a status message (8), wherein the status message (8) contains at least the location of the charging device (4), wherein the motor vehicle (1) receives the status message (8) and compares it with the database (DB), wherein the charging device (4) is entered into the database (DB) with its location if it was not previously entered in the database (DB), and a motor vehicle (1).