POWER MANAGEMENT DEVICE, POWER SUPPLY DEVICE, POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM, POWER MANAGEMENT METHOD, AND POWER SUPPLY METHOD

There is provided a power management device including a storage unit configured to hold a correspondence relationship between first identification information held by a power supply target and second identification information held by a user in advance, and a power management unit configured to issue a power supply instruction to a power supply device that supplies power to the power supply target based on the correspondence relationship between the first identification information and the second identification information.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present technology will be described with reference to the appended drawings. However, the present technology is not merely limited to the following embodiment. Also, description will be given in the following order.

[1-1. Configuration of power supply system]

[1.2. Process in power supply system]

<2. First application example of power supply system>

<3. Second application example of power supply system>

1-1. Configuration of Power Supply System

FIG. 1is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the power supply system100including a power supply device120and a power management device160according to an embodiment of the present technology. The power supply system100includes a power supply target110, the power supply device120, an identifier (ID) medium130, an ID acquisition device140, a terminal device150, and the power management device160.

The power supply target110receives the supply of power from the power supply device120. An example of the power supply target110is electric equipment, an electric vehicle (EV), a home appliance, or the like having a battery. As the battery, any one capable of performing charging and discharging such as a lithium ion secondary battery, a lithium ion polymer secondary battery, or a nickel hydride battery may be adopted.

The power supply target110has ID1as identification information. ID1corresponds to first identification information in the claims. ID1, for example, is written to an integrated chip (IC) chip provided in the power supply target110, and is a model number, a serial number, or the like of equipment, a battery, and a device serving as the power supply target110. However, as long as ID1is unique to each power supply target110, an arbitrary character string or the like may be used instead of the model number and the serial number.

Also, when there are a plurality of power supply targets110, for example, different ID1such as ID1a,ID1b,and ID1cis assigned to an individual battery, equipment, and a device.

The power supply device120supplies power to the power supply target110. A bold line connected between the power supply device120and the power supply target110illustrated inFIG. 1represents a power line for power supply.

Here, a configuration of the power supply device120will be described with reference toFIG. 2. The power supply device120includes a communication unit121, an information acquisition unit122, an inquiry unit123, a power supply unit124, and the like.

The communication unit121, for example, is a network interface for communicating with the terminal device150and the power supply device120via a network such as the Internet or a dedicated line based on a predetermined protocol. A communication scheme may be any one of wired communication, communication using a wireless local area network (LAN), wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), a third generation (3G) network, or a fourth generation (4G) network, and the like.

The information acquisition unit122acquires ID1that is identification information of the power supply target110connected to the power supply device120. The information acquisition unit122, for example, is an authentication type outlet. In the authentication type outlet, there are a non-contact IC card type, a power line superimposition communication type, and the like.

The non-contact IC card type is a scheme using an information reading mechanism in a non-contact IC card. A reader/writer for IC reading/writing is provided in an outlet of the power supply device120, and an IC chip to which ID1is written is embedded in a plug of a battery or an outlet of equipment or a device equipped with the battery. Thereby, when the plug of the battery is inserted into the outlet of the power supply device120, the IC chip and the reader/writer is in proximity so that communication is possible and ID1is readable.

The power line superimposition communication scheme is a scheme of reading ID1written to the IC chip provided in the battery or equipment provided with the battery through a high frequency signal of the reader/writer superimposed on a power line for power supply.

In the present technology, any scheme described above may be adopted. In addition, any scheme having a mechanism capable of reading information when an outlet for charging is connected may be adopted in addition to the above-described two schemes.

The inquiry unit123inquires the power management device160about whether power supply to the power supply target110having ID1acquired by the information acquisition unit122is possible via the communication unit121. The inquiry unit123, for example, iteratively inquires the power management device160at a predetermined time interval such as an interval of several minutes until the power supply to the power supply target110is started or until a connection between the power supply target110and the power supply device120is disconnected without power supply. A frequency of the inquiry may be predetermined or arbitrarily set by a business operator or the like who operates the power supply system100.

The power supply unit124is configured to include a rectifying circuit, a charging circuit, a charging terminal, and the like, and performs a charge operation on the power supply target110. For example, the rectifying circuit generates direct current (DC) power by rectifying alternating current (AC) power, and the charging circuit supplies the DC power supplied from the rectifying circuit to the power supply target110via a power supply terminal of the authentication type outlet.

It is only necessary that the power supply unit124integrally constitute the authentication type outlet along with the information acquisition unit122. Thereby, it is possible to acquire ID1from the power supply target110and supply power to the power supply target110by merely connecting the authentication type outlet to the power supply target110. Also, as the power supply, power supply using non-contact power feeding technology by transmitting power without a metal contact point, a connector, or the like as well as wired power supply by a connection of a terminal may be performed. The non-contact power feeding is power transmission technology using wireless power feeding, non-contact power transfer, or electromagnetic induction also referred to as non-contact power transmission or the like.

The description will now return to the power supply system100ofFIG. 1. The ID medium130is a medium having ID2, which is identification information. ID2corresponds to second identification information in the claims. As the ID medium130, for example, there is a credit card, a membership card of a video rental shop, a medical care card of a medical institution, or the like possessed by a user. In addition, information regarding the user himself/herself such as a user name, a character string arbitrarily determined by the user, or the like may be ID2.

The ID acquisition device140acquires ID2. For example, when ID2is related to a credit card, a membership card of a video rental shop, a medical care card of a medical institution, or the like, the ID acquisition device140is a card reader. In addition, when ID2is a character string such as a user name, the ID acquisition device140serves as the terminal device150or the like that receives an input of the character string. The ID acquisition device140is connected to the power management device160via a network or the like, and transmits the acquired ID2to the power management device160.

The terminal device150is used by the user. For example, the terminal device150is a personal computer, a notebook computer, a portable telephone, a smart phone, or the like. The terminal device150is connected to the power management device160via a network or the like. The terminal device150transmits information indicating that ID1and ID2are associated to the power management device160. For example, the information indicating that ID1and ID2are associated is created by the user.

The power management device160is a server device or the like that performs a power management process according to an embodiment of the present technology.FIG. 3is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the power management device160. The power management device160includes a communication unit161, a storage unit162, and a power management unit163.

The communication unit161, for example, is a network interface for communicating with the terminal device150and the power supply device120via a network such as the Internet or a dedicated line based on a predetermined protocol. A communication scheme may be any one of wired communication, communication using a wireless LAN, Wi-Fi, a 3G network, or a 4G network, and the like.

The storage unit162is a storage medium including a hard disk, a flash memory, or the like. The storage unit162functions as an ID database in which an association relationship between ID1and ID2is stored and held. Upon receiving information transmitted from the terminal device150indicating a relationship in which ID1and ID2are associated, the power management device160stores the association relationship between ID1and ID2in the storage unit162based on the information.

The power management unit163, for example, includes a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and the like, and is a processing unit configured to perform a power management process according to an embodiment of the present technology by executing a predetermined program.

Upon receiving ID2transmitted from the ID acquisition device140, the power management unit163grants the right to charge to ID2and records information indicating the right grant on the storage unit162.

In addition, when there is an inquiry of whether power supply to the power supply target110having ID1is possible from the power supply device120, the power management unit163refers to the storage unit162and checks whether the right to charge is granted to ID2associated with ID1. Accordingly, when the right to charge is granted to ID2associated with ID1, a power supply instruction for the power supply target110is provided to the power supply device120. On the other hand, when the right to use power is not granted to ID2associated with ID1, an instruction indicating that power supply is not performed is issued to the power supply device120.

The power supply system100is configured as described above.

1-2. Process in Power Supply System

Next, the process in the power supply system100will be described.FIG. 4is a diagram illustrating a process to be performed in the power supply system100. First, in step1, information indicating ID1and ID2associated with ID1is transmitted from the terminal device150to the power management device160. This, for example, is performed when the user operates the terminal device150. Accordingly, in step2, the power management device160registers that ID1and ID2are associated in its own storage unit162.

Next, when the power supply target110is connected to the power supply device120, the information acquisition unit122of the power supply device120such as the authentication type outlet acquires ID1held by the power supply target110in step3. Accordingly, in step4, an inquiry of whether the acquired ID1is an ID for which power supply is possible is issued to the power management device160under the process of the inquiry unit123of the power supply device120. Also, the inquiry of the power supply device120is continuously iterated at a predetermined time interval until the power supply to the power supply target110is started or until a connection between the power supply device120and the power supply target110is disconnected without power supply.

For the inquiry from the power supply device120, the power management device160transmits a response of power supply permission/rejection to the power supply device120in step5. When there is an inquiry from the power supply device120, the power management unit163of the power management device160checks whether the right to use power is granted to ID2associated with ID1that is an inquiry target. Accordingly, when the right to use power is not granted to ID2, the power management device160transmits a response indicating that power supply is not possible to the power supply device120. This response is performed every time there is an inquiry from the power supply device120. The response indicating that the power supply is not possible is made until the right to charge is granted to ID2.

Thereafter, in step6, the ID acquisition device140acquires ID2from the ID medium130. This, for example, is performed when the user shops using a credit card230and a card reader or the like reads a card number of the credit card230if the card number of the credit card230functions as ID2. Accordingly, in step S7, ID2acquired by the ID acquisition device140transmits the acquired ID2to the power management device160.

Next, in step8, the power management unit163of the power management device160grants the right to use power to the received ID2, and records its contents on the storage unit162. This, for example, indicates that only a user shopping with the credit card230is permitted to use the power.

Accordingly, after there is an inquiry from the power supply device120after the right to use the power has been granted to ID2in step S8, the power management device160makes a response indicating that the power can be supplied to the power supply target as illustrated in step S9.

When there is an inquiry from the power supply device120as described above, the power management unit163of the power management device160checks whether the right to use the power is granted to ID2associated with ID1that is an inquiry target. Therefore, when an inquiry for permission/rejection of the power supply from the power supply device120is issued to the power management device160after the right to charge has been granted to ID2in step9, the power management device160issues a response indicating that the power supply is possible to the power supply device120.

Accordingly, in step10, the power supply unit124of the power supply device120supplies the power to the power supply target110.

As described above, according to the present technology, it is possible to easily construct a system that supplies power only to a user satisfying a predetermined condition. In addition, for example, it is possible to manage the use of power by an ID even when a position at which ID2is acquired is separated from the power supply device120configured to supply power. Thereby, it is possible to provide various services using the right to use electricity without limitations on a position, a distance, and the like.

2. First Application Example of Power Supply System

An example of a service using the power supply system will be described as an application example of the power supply system with reference toFIG. 5. In the power supply system200in the service, a power supply target is designated as an EV or a battery vehicle (the EV and the battery vehicle are collectively referred to as an EV210in the following description).

The EV210includes a battery configured to store power and is a vehicle that runs on a power driving force conversion device using the power stored in the battery. The EV210includes an outlet for charging the battery. This outlet can be connected to a plug of an EV charging stand220, thereby charging the battery. The EV210has ID1. For example, an IC chip may be mounted on the EV210and ID1may be written to the IC chip.

The EV charging stand220corresponds to the power supply device120described with reference toFIG. 1, and supplies power for charging to the battery of the EV210. The EV charging stand220includes an authentication type outlet. As described above, in the authentication type outlet, there are a non-contact IC card type, a power line superimposition communication type, and the like. Thereby, the EV charging stand220reads ID1held by the connected EV210. The EV charging stand220, for example, is provided in a parking lot of a shop or the like.

The credit card230, for example, is possessed by the user who uses the EV210, and a number of the credit card230functions as ID2. As described above, it is desirable to assign ID2to one capable of being easily carried by the user.

The register240is a device used for fee payment or the like such as a cash register that includes a card reader configured to read ID2in the credit card230. The register240, for example, is provided within the shop. The register240transmits the read ID2to a data center260over a network or the like.

Like the example described with reference toFIG. 1, the terminal device150, for example, is a personal computer, a notebook computer, a portable telephone, a smart phone, or the like. The terminal device150transmits information indicating that ID1and ID2are associated to the data center260. For example, the information indicating that ID1and ID2are associated is created by the user.

The data center260has the same configuration as the power management device160inFIG. 1, and performs a power management process. The data center260communicates with the terminal device150and the EV charging stand220based on a predetermined protocol. A communication scheme may be any one of wired communication, communication using a wireless LAN, Wi-Fi, a 3G network, or a 4G network, and the like.

Upon receiving information indicating that ID1and ID2are associated from the terminal device150, the data center260records the received information on its own storage unit. In addition, upon receiving ID2transmitted from the register240, the data center260grants the right to use power to ID2, and also records that ID2has the right to use the power on the storage unit. Accordingly, a response of permission/rejection of the power supply is issued for an inquiry of whether the power can be used with ID1from the power supply device120.

When the user makes payment for shopping with the credit card230in the shop in the power supply system200, the register240acquires ID2. ID2is transmitted from the register240to the data center260. Then, in the data center260, the right to use power is granted to ID2. Accordingly, when the EV charging stand220inquires the data center260about permission/rejection of the power supply of ID1of the EV210and the right to use the power is granted to ID2, a response indicating that the power supply is possible is issued to the EV charging stand220. Accordingly, the EV charging stand220supplies power to the EV210and hence the EV210is charged.

As described above, according to the present technology, for example, it is possible to provide a service for permitting only a user who has shopped with the credit card in the shop to charge the EV using the charging stand.

3. Second Application Example of Power Supply System

Next, the second application example of the present technology will be described.FIG. 6is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the power supply system300in the application example. Because configurations other than a credit card company310are substantially the same as those inFIG. 5, description thereof is omitted. The credit card company310is a business operator who performs issuance, management, payment, accounting, and the like for the credit card230. In this application example, the user uses the EV210, goes to a shop, and shops in the shop and a parking ticket is issued to the user according to the shopping in the shop.

Also, it is assumed that the EV charging stand220can supply power to the EV210and recognize a parking time of the EV210using a parking card, a sensor that senses the presence/absence of parking of the EV210, or the like.

FIG. 7is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a process in the application example of the power supply system300. First, in step S201, the user transmits information indicating ID1and ID2associated with ID1to the data center260using the terminal device150. Next, in step S202, the data center260records that the received ID1and ID2are associated on its own storage unit162.

Next, in step S203, the user goes to the shop using the EV210and connects the EV210to the EV charging stand220. Accordingly, in step S204, the EV charging stand220reads ID1of the EV210using an authentication type outlet, and transmits ID1to the data center260.

Next, in step S205, the EV charging stand220starts power supply (charging) for the EV210. Next, in step S206, the user uses the credit card230, which functions as ID2, in the shop.

Next, in step S207, the credit card company310is requested to pay money used with the credit card230of the user from the shop via the register240. Next, in step S208, a parking ticket for verifying the right for parking and a charging ticket for verifying the right to charge are issued for ID1associated with ID2.

Accordingly, when the EV210is fully charged or charged to a predetermined amount, charging of the EV210using the EV charging stand220ends in step S209. Next, in step S210, the EV charging stand220notifies the data center260of ID1, a parking time, and a charging amount of the EV210performing charging.

Accordingly, in step S211, the data center260does not request the credit card company310to pay a fee when the received ID1of the EV210is ID1for which the parking ticket and the charging ticket have been issued.

Next, a process in which a parking ticket or a charging ticket is not issued in a state in which payment is not made in the shop, that is, in a state in which the user does not shop therein, will be described with reference to the flowchart ofFIG. 8. Also, because steps S201to S205, step S209, and step S210are substantially the same as in the flowchart ofFIG. 7, description thereof is omitted. Because the user does not shop in the shop in the flowchart ofFIG. 8, the process from step S206to step S208inFIG. 7is not performed.

Because the parking ticket or the charging ticket is not issued from the data center260to the EV210in the flowchart ofFIG. 8, the data center260requests the credit card company310to pay a parking fee or a charging fee based on ID1received in step S210in step S301.

As described above, according to the present technology, it is possible to construct a system capable of easily granting and referring to the “right to use electricity.” Further, it is possible to develop various services associated with the right to use the electricity.

For example, it is possible to provide a service for enabling only a user using facilities to which equipment using electricity such as charging is attached to use the electricity, a service for enabling only a user paying an electricity fee to use electricity, a service for enabling only a user performing membership registration to use electricity, and the like.

4. Modified Examples

Although the embodiment of the present technology has been specifically described above, the present technology is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made based on a technical idea of the present technology.

In the above-described embodiment, the case in which the credit card possessed by the user functions as ID2and the power supply target is an EV has been described. However, one functioning as ID2is not limited to the credit card, and the power supply target is not limited to the EV. It is possible to implement various services by applying others.

For example, as a service to be provided in the facilities, a service for enabling only a user performing membership registration to use electricity can be implemented. When the membership registration is performed, a member ID is designated as ID2, the right to use the electricity is granted to ID2, and an association relationship of ID1of electric equipment serving as the power supply target110to be used by a member is registered in ID2. The registration, for example, is performed by a server of an enterprise that provides the service. The facility includes a power supply device having an authentication type outlet and the authentication type outlet can read ID1of the electric equipment in a connection state.

Accordingly, when the user connects the electric equipment to the authentication type outlet, the authentication type outlet reads ID1of the electric equipment, and the power supply device inquires a server or the like about whether the electric equipment having ID1can use electricity. Accordingly, when ID2associated with ID1has the right to use the electricity, power is supplied to the electric equipment by determining that the electric equipment having ID1can use electricity.

(1) A power management device including:

a storage unit configured to hold a correspondence relationship between first identification information held by a power supply target and second identification information held by a user in advance; and

a power management unit configured to issue a power supply instruction to a power supply device that supplies power to the power supply target based on the correspondence relationship between the first identification information and the second identification information.

(2) The power management device according to (1), wherein the power management unit issues the power supply instruction by referring to the correspondence relationship between the first identification information and the second identification information in response to an inquiry of power supply permission/rejection for the power supply target issued from the power supply device.

(3) The power management device according to (1) or (2), wherein the power management unit grants a right to use power to the second identification information and issues the power supply instruction so that the power is supplied to the power supply target having the first identification information associated with the second identification information to which the right to use the power has been granted.

(4) The power management device according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the first identification information and the second identification information are associated by the user in advance.

(5) The power management device according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the second identification information is assigned to belongings of the user.

(6) The power management device according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the second identification information is information regarding the user.

(7) A power supply device including:

an information acquisition unit configured to acquire first identification information held by a power supply target;

an inquiry unit configured to issue an inquiry of permission/rejection of power supply for the power supply target to a power management device based on the first identification information; and

a power supply unit configured to supply power to the power supply target according to a power supply instruction from the power management device in response to the inquiry.

(8) The power supply device according to (7), wherein the information acquisition unit acquires the first identification information using RFID over power line technology.

(9) The power supply device according to (7) or (8), wherein the information acquisition unit is integrated with the power supply unit.

(10) The power supply device according to any one of (7) to (9), wherein the power supply unit supplies the power to the power supply target using non-contact power feeding.

(11) A power supply system including:

a power management device; and

a power supply device,

wherein the power management device includesa storage unit configured to hold a correspondence relationship between first identification information held by a power supply target and second identification information held by a user in advance, anda power management unit configured to issue a power supply instruction to the power supply device that supplies power to the power supply target based on the correspondence relationship between the first identification information and the second identification information, and

wherein the power supply device includesan information acquisition unit configured to acquire the first identification information held by the power supply target,an inquiry unit configured to issue an inquiry of permission/rejection of power supply for the power supply target to the power management device based on the first identification information, anda power supply unit configured to supply power to the power supply target according to the power supply instruction from the power management device in response to the inquiry.

(12) A power management method including:

holding a correspondence relationship between first identification information held by a power supply target and second identification information held by a user in advance; and

issuing a power supply instruction to a power supply device that supplies power to the power supply target based on the correspondence relationship between the first identification information and the second identification information.

(13) A power supply method including:

acquiring first identification information held by a power supply target;

issuing an inquiry of permission/rejection of power supply for the power supply target to a power management device based on the first identification information; and

supplying power to the power supply target according to a power supply instruction from the power management device in response to the inquiry.

The present disclosure contains subject matter related to that disclosed in Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2012-152888 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Jul. 6, 2012, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.