Abstract:
A method and system is provided in which an electric automotive charging station connects to the host computer system using un-dedicated network resource contained within the electric vehicle to be charged enabling un-supervised (non-networked) deployment of said charging stations.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefited of our earlier filled provisional application titled: Method and process of administrating recharging of electric vehicles using low cost charge stations filed on Oct. 9, 2009 and filled provisional application titled: Method and Process of billing for goods leveraging a single connection action filed on Oct. 9, 2009. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of data communication, authentication and billing as it relates to the cost of power used to re-charge Electrical Vehicles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method, apparatus, and system providing for the means to bind billing information from the consumer to the vendor of Electric Vehicle charging services without a pre-established permanent communications method from the Charge Station or dependence on financial institutions credit card or debit card services. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    As electrical vehicles enter mass production there is a desire to conveniently extend operating range. Today, this range is extended by employment of a hybrid self-contained, gas fueled, motor-generating set. As battery technology increases storage capacity, the need for self-contained power generation decreases. This increases the operating range of the electric only operating mode. This extended range will have the effect of changing the operating mindset to that similar to gas fueled in that the deployment of ubiquitous electrical charging stations extends the vehicle operation thus becoming un-tethered from its home base. The key to extended range operation is the convenient use of Charging Stations that are both simple to manufacture and low cost to maintain and deploy. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a circuit arrangement which includes a central processor. The central processor includes flash memory that contains a unique private key in accordance with a-symmetrical encryption methods used to decrypt and verify trusted messages, a Wire-Line radio used to send and receive messages to and thru a connected electric vehicle, a display panel used to indicate status. 
         [0005]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a circuit arrangement which includes a switch that connects utility power to the connected electric vehicle. 
         [0006]    In accordance with an additional aspect of the invention, there is provided a circuit arrangement which includes a current measurement device which reports the amount of power delivered to the connected electrical vehicle. 
         [0007]    In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a method is provided for controlling with a central processor, the operation of the Wire-Line radio, the operation of the switch, the messages to and from the Electric Vehicle, the messages thru the Electric Vehicle to an authentication method by means of a wireless radio. 
         [0008]    The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment, or every implementation, of the present invention. This is the purpose of the figures and the detailed description which follow. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1 . Is a functional diagram of the Electric Vehicle charging system consistent with the principles of the present invention and shown coupled to an external power source. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2 . Is a functional block diagram of a portion of the circuit board in the Electric Vehicle of  FIG. 1   
           [0012]      FIG. 3 . Is a functional block diagram of a portion of the circuit board in the Charging Station of  FIG. 1   
           [0013]      FIG. 4 . Is a functional block illustrating the connection between the Change Station and Electric Vehicle. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5 . Is a functional block illustrating the connection between the Electric Vehicle and Authorization Server. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6 . Is a functional block illustrating the connection between the Change Station and Electric Vehicle and Authorization Server. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7A . and  FIG. 7B . Is a flowchart illustrating the program flow executing on the CPU of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 8A . and  FIG. 8B . Is a flowchart illustrating the program flow executing on the CPU of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 9A . and  FIG. 9B . Is a flowchart illustrating the program flow executing on the Server of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    In the following detailed description numerous specifics are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention may be used without understanding many of these specific details. 
         [0020]    Turning to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a Charging Station  1  consistent with the principles of the present invention. The Charging Station  1  also includes connection to the Electric Grid Utility  2  where the Charging Station receives power to run its internal operation thru connection  3 , and a connection  4  that is used to supply power for re-charging the internal battery of the Electric Vehicle  5 . 
         [0021]    In another specific embodiment, the Electrical Vehicle  5 , consistent with the principles of the present invention includes a Wireless Communication Device  6  that is used to transmit and receive information with the Radio Network Controller  7  which is connected to the Ethernet Cloud thru cable  8  to a Computer Server Installation  11  thru cable  10 . 
         [0022]    As will be apparent from the description herein, in one aspect of the invention provides a manner of interfacing the Charging Station  1  to the Computer Server Installation  11 . Another aspect of the invention provides a manner of interfacing the Charging Station  1  to the Electric Vehicle  5 . Each of these aspects will be discussed in greater detail herein. However, it should be appreciated that each aspect of the invention may be implemented separate of the other in specific embodiments of the invention. 
         [0023]    Specific embodiments which implement this aspect of the invention generally operate by utilizing multiple processing elements interfaced to each other using multiple communication radios utilizing a-symmetrical public key encryption algorithms to encrypt all data which travel over the public access communication channels. Enabling Public Key Infrastructure uses Public Key Certificates issued by a Certificate Authority that establishes the chain of trust between the Charge Station and the Electric Vehicle which is administrated by the Authentication Server which contains the Certificate Authority. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  illustrates a specific embodiment of the Circuit Board  13  in greater detail. As shown in the figure, a Circuit Board  14  in the Electrical Vehicle  5  includes a circuit arraignment shown in the form of a Micro Processor Unit  15  internally coupled to Flash re-programmable ROM  16  and RAM  18  over an internal Address and Data Bus  17 . Secure System includes Secure Memory  20 , Program Flash Memory  19  are coupled to Micro Processor  15  over Address and Data Bus  21 . Other memory mapped devices such as a Cell Radio  22  used to communicate to a wireless Cellular Network, Wire-Line radio  23  used to communicate to a directly attached Charge Station, Can-Bus interface  24  used to communicate to the internal Electric Vehicle network are all coupled to the Micro Controller  15  over Address and Data Bus  21 . The Tamper Switch  25  is included to protect the Circuit Board  13  from un-authorized physical access of the Circuit Board  13  by means of a pressure sensitive cover arrangement, such that the internal Battery  26  will supply current to the micro controller thru Power Manager  27  which will cause the Micro Processor to enter a safe operating mode which will erase the private ID that is used to encrypt all information within the circuit board  14 . 
         [0025]    Cell Radio  22  is coupled to an antenna  6  thru connection  28  to support Cellular Communication, Wire-Line radio  23  is coupled to Charge Cable  4  thru connection  29  to support Charge Communication, Can-Bus  24  is connected to Electric Vehicle&#39;s  5  internal Can-Bus network thru connection  30 , Power Management  27  is connect to the Electric Vehicle&#39;s DC power source thru connection  31 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  illustrates a specific embodiment of the Circuit Board  12  in greater detail. As shown in the figure, a Circuit Board  32  in the Charging Station  1  includes a circuit arraignment shown in the form of a micro processor unit  33  internally coupled to Flash re-programmable RAM and ROM  34  over an internal Address and Data Bus  35 . Secure System includes Secure Memory  36 , Program Flash Memory  37  are coupled to micro processor  33  over Address and Data Bus  41 . Other memory mapped devices such as a Wire-Line radio  38  used to communicate to a directly attached Electrical Vehicle  5 , Current Meter  39  used to measure the power flowing to the Electric Vehicle thru  4 , Switch  40  used to connect Utility Power  4  to Electric Vehicle  5 . 
         [0027]    General operation of the Charge Station is illustrated in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6  from circuit arrangement detailed in  FIG. 3 , and from the Electric Vehicle circuit arrangement detailed in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  Authentication flow detailed in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , Initial query for connection is asserted creating the secure tunnel  142  between the Charge Station  1  and Electric Vehicle  5  using industry established PKI secure tunneling methods. Authentication of the EV-ROAM certificate from the Electric Vehicle sent via  143  occurs within Charge Station  1  using information contained from the Authentication Server certificate  145 . Once the Charge Station verifies the Certificate from the Electric Vehicle  5 , Power is released via connection  4  which is used to charge the Electric Vehicle. The physical representation of tunnel  143  may comprise of a wireless or wired radio. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , while the Secure Tunnel  142  exists, two independent communication channels are opened to the Electric Vehicle, one In Bound  149  the other Out Bound  150 . The In Bound communication channel supplies periodic Update information  148  from the Authorization Server. The out Bound Communication Channel is used to report Status  147  of current and past charge events as well as operation health status  146 . Traffic for both of these channels is covered from the Electric Vehicle. This aspect represents the first part of a two part method of maintaining the Charge Station using a secure store-forwarding messaging. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , periodically, the Electric Vehicle will contact the Authentication Server for reporting a Charge Event, or for Maintenance Updates. An Initial query for connection is asserted creating the Secure Tunnel  151  using industry established PKI secure tunneling between the Electric Vehicle and the Authentication Server. Once a Secure Tunnel is established, the Authorization Server service  156  can update the EV-ROAM EV Certificate  144  on the Electric Vehicle by message  152 . 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , while the Secure Tunnel  151  exists, two independent communication channels are opened to the Electric Vehicle, one In Bound  154  the other Out Bound  155 . The In Bound communication channel supplies periodic Update Information  148  from the Authorization Server  157  to a Charge Station. The out Bound Communication Channel is used to except Status  147  of current and past charge events as well as operation health status  146  from a Charge Station. Traffic for both of these channels is covered from the Electric Vehicle. This aspect represents the second part of a two part method of Charge Station maintenance using a secure store-forwarding messaging. 
         [0032]    As an addition aspect of the invention, referring to  FIG. 6 , the Electric Vehicle can act as a real-time communication conduit between the Authentication Server and Charge Station. In this case a second secure tunnel  158  is opened within secure tunnel  142  and secure tunnel  151 . Messages  159  are used to transfer information between the Charge Station and Authorization Server such as Billing and Maintenance Updates without the Electric Vehicle incepting the traffic. 
         [0033]    The following flowcharts provide additional detail. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 7A  (Charge Station Flow), Initial query for connection  42  is asserted True when a positive response is received from Electric Vehicle,  43  ( FIG. 8A ) in response to detecting a wire-line connect query. After a basic wire-line connection is established between the Electric Vehicle and Charge Station, The Charge Station sends out a request for secure connection  44  to the Electric Vehicle by sending its Public Key ID to the Electric Vehicle  45  ( FIG. 8A ). The Electric Vehicle generates a Session Key which is covered by Charge Station Public key  46  ( FIG. 8A) and 47  ( FIG. 8A ) and sends a response to the Charge Station  48 . The Charge Station upon receiving a response from the Electric Vehicle sends an ID request to the Electric Vehicle covered by the Session Key, otherwise errors out to  50 . 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 7A  (Charge Station Flow),  51  a secure tunnel request is asserted by the Charge Station. The requested is processed in the Electric Vehicle, Secure Connection valid  52  ( FIG. 8A ), at tunnel query  53  ( FIG. 8A ). This query begins a wireless communication connection  54  ( FIG. 8A ) using a GPRS radio  22  ( FIG. 2 ) to establish a connection to the internet  55  ( FIG. 8A ). Upon successful connection  56  ( FIG. 8A ), an Internet routing handle is sent to the Charge Station  57 . The Charge Station receiving an Internet Routing Handle, generates a communication request to an Authentication Server. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 9A , the incoming communication request  60 , for Charge Station is validated and responds with its ID number for its Public Key  58 . 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 7A , the Charge Station generates an Internet Session Key and covers this and its ID with the Authentication Server&#39;s Public Key which is sent to the Authentication Server  59 . The Authentication Server checks for a Valid Charge Station ID  61  ( FIG. 9A ) and sends back a positive response  62  ( FIG. 9A ) establishing the secure communication session between the Charge Station  65  and the Authentication Server. The Authentication Server verifies the current revision status if the Charge Station  63  ( FIG. 9A ) and sends an update to the Charge Station  64  ( FIG. 9A ) if needed. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 7A ,  66  The Charge Station sends the EV ID to the Authentication Server covered by the Internet Session Key with a Charge Event request and KW Limit. This query is detected referring to  FIG. 9B ,  67 . The Authentication Server verifies the EV ID&#39;s Billing Status  68 ,  69  and responds with an Accepted Message  70  or Denied Message  71 . 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 7A ,  64 , the Charge Station sends any off-line billing history to the Authentication Server for processing and stores any updates received from the Authentication Server  72 . 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 7A ,  73  the Charge Station processes the acceptance by sending a debit for a 1 KW  77  to the Authentication Server  74  ( FIG. 9B ),  75  ( FIG. 9B ),  76  ( FIG. 9B ). The Charge Station closes the current switch  77  and  40  ( FIG. 3 ), connecting Utility Power to the Electric Vehicle thru connection  4  ( FIG. 3 ) until 1 KW is measured on meter  39  ( FIG. 3 ). Once the 1 KW of charge is consumed  79 , another update request for 1 KW,  77  is send to the Authentication Server. 
         [0041]    This method of sending periodic updates to the Authentication Server while a charge event is taking place covers surprise disconnect  80 , which resets the Charge Station to initial state  81 . The Charge Station always sends a debit to the server prior to delivering the charge to the Electric Vehicle; otherwise all communication to the Authentication Server is lost at the instant the Electric Vehicle disconnects from the Charge Station. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 8B ,  82  demonstrates the notification method for a completed battery charge event while connected to a Change Station  83 , once the battery controller notifies the Electric Vehicle circuit arrangement  14  ( FIG. 3 ) using the CAN-BUS connection  30  ( FIG. 2 ), a charge complete message  85  is generated and sent using the Wire-Line Radio  23  ( FIG. 2 ) via connection  29  ( FIG. 2 ) which is coupled to cable  4  ( FIG. 3 ) to the Charge Station where it&#39;s received  86 . The final debit amount for the power consumed is sent to the Authentication Server  87  ( FIG. 4B ) and to the Electric Vehicle  88  ( FIG. 4B ) using the appropriate session keys. After the Electric Vehicle sends a charge complete message  85 , it will send a Disconnection message to the Charge Station  89  ( FIG. 4B ) upon which the Charge Station sends a Disconnect Tunnel message  90  ( FIG. 4B ) to the Authentication Server  91  ( FIG. 9A ) which disconnects it session  92  ( FIG. 9A ) with the Charge Station. The Charge Station also terminates the Secure Channel to the Electric Vehicle message  90  ( FIG. 4B ) and returns to idle state waiting for the next connection. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 7A ,  57  or  65 , If the wireless connection was not available, a no-connect message is sent to the Charge Station which causes the Charge Station to access the Electric Vehicle per-arranged credit line  59 . 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 8A , A pre-determined credit balance is stored within secure memory on  13  ( FIG. 2 ) within the Electric Vehicle is processed  93  and returned to the Charge Station  94 . 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIG. 4B , the Charge Station verifies there is a positive balance  95 , and issues a 1 KW debit message to the Electric Vehicle  98  and also stored it the Charge Station History Log  101 . The message is processed in the Electric Vehicle  99  ( FIG. 8A ) and stored in its history log  100  ( FIG. 8A ) for future Authentication Server sync. The Charge Station begins a Charge Event  102  and cycles thru  103 ,  104 , and back to  59  to request new balance from the Electric Vehicle until either the Batteries are charged or the balance in the Electric Vehicle is depleted. 
         [0046]    In another aspect of the invention, whenever the Electric Vehicle Credit Balance is below the initial value and the history log is present due to an “Off Line” charge event referring to  FIG. 8B   105 , the Electric Vehicle will send an update for Billing at a later time when the Wireless Communication is in range  106 , using the Wireless Radio  6  ( FIG. 1 ) to open a communication channel to Authentication Server  107 . A secure Communication request is made  108  and processed at the Authentication Server  109  ( FIG. 9B ), and is resolved at  110  ( FIG. 9B) &amp; 111 , where the Billing Debit and Billing Credit is exchanged. Once the Credit is issued to the Electric Vehicle a Clear Log command is send to the Electric Vehicle  112  ( FIG. 9B ). A disconnect command from the issued from the Electric Vehicle  113 . 
         [0047]    In an additional aspect of the invention, referring to  FIG. 7A , whenever the Charge Station has a history log from an “Off Line” Charge Event, this Debit message is sent to the Authentication Server once a secure communication channel is established  114 . This log is resolved  115  ( FIG. 9B) &amp; 116  ( FIG. 9B ) with the Electric Vehicle Credit Balance when the Electric Vehicle establishes communication session at a later time. Alternatively, if the Electric Vehicle had already cleared the History with the Authentication Server, prior the Charge Station contact, the history log is also cleared  117  ( FIG. 9B ). 
         [0048]    Program updates and Public Key updates may be remotely enabled every time a secure communication session is established between the EV and the Authentication Server that is independent of a Charging Event. Periodically the EV will contact the Authentication Server to check for updates referring to  FIG. 8B   118 .  119  enables the Wireless Radio  6  ( FIG. 1 ) to open a communication channel to Authentication Server  120 ,  130  ( FIG. 9A ),  121  &amp;  131  ( FIG. 9A ). If an update is available  132  ( FIG. 9A ) the update is pushed to the Electric Vehicle,  133  ( FIG. 9A ) which is scheduled to be processed  124  and a disconnect command is issued  125 . The Update is processed at  126 . Also if a Charge Station Update is available based on the location history of the Electric Vehicle, a Charge Station update package is downloaded which will be pushed to the Charge Station at a later time  124  when a package is present  122  ( FIG. 8A ) and sent to the charge station  123  ( FIG. 8A ). 
         [0049]    To insure an Electric Vehicle can be charge at any time, as an aspect of the invention, referring to  FIG. 8B , the connection to a Charge Station  127  is independent to the Wire-line method herein. IF a connection is established and current is available  128 , the battery controller  129  will charge the battery as a separate path to the Authentication method described herein. 
         [0050]    To indicate the cost per kilowatt of power based on Time of day and day of the week or any arbitrary future date and or time, a rate schedule can be loaded into the Charge Station  1  ( FIG. 1 ) by previously described methods based on its ID number using the program update method contained herein. This information can be used to display the cost of charging based on time and date which can be changed when ever an Electric Vehicle connects to it.