Patent Description:
<CIT> (<CIT>) describes a server that controls charge and discharge of electric power between an electrified vehicle and a charge-discharge station that are connected to each other. Power demand in a power grid is leveled through the charge and discharge.

<CIT> shows a method of operating an electric vehicle charging station ("EVCS") or electric vehicle supply equipment ("EVSE"), comprising, with computing hardware at the EVCS or EVSE, receiving an indication at the EVCS or EVSE of a parking space at which a user of the EVCS or EVSE desires to park; determining if the parking space indicated by the user is associated with an electric vehicle charging port; and if the parking space indicated by the user is associated with an electric vehicle charging port, determining whether the user is authorized to use the EVCS or EVSE; and if the user is authorized to use the EVCS or EVSE, controlling a charging operation that provides an electric charge via the electric vehicle charging port; and if the parking space indicated by the user is not associated with an electric vehicle charging port, determining whether the user is authorized to use the parking space not associated with the electric vehicle charging port, and providing the user with an indication that the user is authorized to use the parking space not associated with the electric vehicle charging port.

<CIT> shows a server according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

Generally, for the purpose of leveling power demand in a power grid or other purposes, it is desired to facilitate charge and discharge (power control) with an electrified vehicle. There is room for improvement in that the server of <CIT> is not considered to facilitate charge and discharge with an electrified vehicle.

The disclosure provides a server, a system, and a method capable of facilitating power control (charge and discharge) with an electrified vehicle.

A first aspect of the disclosure relates to the server of claim <NUM>.

With the server according to the first aspect of the disclosure, when the electrified vehicle accedes to a request to perform the power control as described above, a program command to reduce display of advertisements on the terminal as compared to when the electrified vehicle does not accede to the request to perform the power control is generated. Here, since display of advertisements with the terminal is reduced, stress of a user due to the advertisements is reduced when the user uses the Internet service with the terminal. Thus, the user of the electrified vehicle can be caused to actively perform the power control. As a result, it is possible to facilitate the power control with the electrified vehicle.

With a function to increase a degree to which distribution of the advertisements is reduced as a degree of contribution of the power control with the electrified vehicle increases, a user of the electrified vehicle further actively performs the power control, it is possible to further facilitate the power control with the electrified vehicle.

Furthermore, with a function to increase a degree to which distribution of the advertisements is reduced as a request to adjust demand and supply of electric power in at least one of a time period and a region in which the power control is performed increases, the power control in at least one of a time period and a region in which there is a strong request to adjust demand and supply of electric power is facilitated, it is possible to easily satisfy the request to adjust demand and supply of electric power.

Increasing a degree to which the distribution of advertisements is reduced as a percentage of regenerated energy in electric power stored in the electrified vehicle that performs the power control increases allows facilitating the power control using regenerated energy.

In the server according to the first aspect, the control unit may be configured to reduce the distribution of advertisements in a time period or a period set by the user. With this configuration, the user is able to reduce advertisements at selected timing. As a result, it is possible to improve the convenience of the control to reduce advertisements for the user.

A second aspect of the disclosure relates to the system of claim <NUM>.

With the system according to the second aspect of the disclosure, when the electrified vehicle accedes to a request to perform the power control as described above, a program command to reduce display of advertisements on the terminal as compared to when the electrified vehicle does not accede to the request to perform the power control is generated. Thus, it is possible to provide the system capable of facilitating the power control with the electrified vehicle.

A third aspect of the disclosure relates to the method of claim <NUM>.

With the method according to the third aspect of the disclosure, when the electrified vehicle accedes to a request to perform the power control as described above, display of advertisements on the terminal is reduced as compared to when the electrified vehicle does not accede to the request to perform the power control. Thus, it is possible to provide the method capable of facilitating the power control with the electrified vehicle.

According to the aspects of the disclosure, it is possible to facilitate the power control (charge and discharge) with the electrified vehicle.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference signs denote the same or corresponding portions in the drawings, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

<FIG> is a diagram that shows the configuration of a system <NUM> according to the embodiment of the disclosure. The system <NUM> includes a server <NUM>, a system management server <NUM>, a distribution management server <NUM>, an electric power system PG, an electrified vehicle <NUM>, and an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) <NUM>. The server <NUM> is an example of a server and a first server according to the disclosure. The distribution management server <NUM> is an example of a second server according to the disclosure.

The electric power system PG is a power grid constructed of a power plant (not shown) and a power collection system (not shown). In the embodiment, a power company serves as both a power generation operator and a power transmission and distribution operator. The power company corresponds to a general power transmission and distribution operator and maintains and manages the electric power system PG. The power company corresponds to a manager of the electric power system PG.

The system management server <NUM> manages demand and supply of electric power in the electric power system PG (power grid). The system management server <NUM> belongs to the power company. The system management server <NUM> sends a request to adjust power demand of the electric power system PG (demand and supply adjustment request) to the server <NUM> based on generated electric power and consumed electric power of power adjustment resources that the system management server <NUM> manages. Specifically, the system management server <NUM> sends a request to increase or reduce power demand as compared to during normal times to the server <NUM> when generated electric power or consumed electric power of the power adjustment resources is expected to be greater (or greater at current point in time) than normal times.

The server <NUM> is a server that an aggregator manages. The aggregator is an electric power supplier that binds a plurality of power adjustment resources in a region, a predetermined facility, or the like and provides an energy management service. The server <NUM> manages power control (described later).

The server <NUM> makes a request of the electrified vehicle <NUM> to perform power control as one of manners to increase or reduce the power demand of the electric power system PG. Power control is control including power supply to the electric power system PG (external power supply) and charge from the electric power system PG (external charging). The server <NUM> sends a request signal to make the request of the electrified vehicle <NUM>, to the electrified vehicle <NUM> or a mobile terminal 11a or the like owned by a user <NUM> of the electrified vehicle <NUM>.

Power control is performed between the electrified vehicle <NUM> and the electric power system PG via the EVSE <NUM>. Examples of the electrified vehicle <NUM> include a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), a battery electric vehicle (BEV), and a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). The electrified vehicle <NUM> includes a vehicle mount terminal such as a car navigation system 10a. The electrified vehicle <NUM> may be configured to be capable of only one of external power supply and external charging. The electrified vehicle <NUM> may include a data communication module (DCM) or may include a communication I/F that supports a fifth generation mobile communication system (<NUM>).

The mobile terminal 11a is an example of a terminal according to the disclosure. The car navigation system 10a is another example of the terminal according to the disclosure. Hereinafter, the mobile terminal 11a and the car navigation system 10a are referred to as terminals <NUM> when not distinguished from each other.

The EVSE <NUM> means a vehicle power supply equipment. The electrified vehicle <NUM> is configured to be electrically connectable with the EVSE <NUM>. When, for example, a charging cable <NUM> connected to the EVSE <NUM> is connected to an inlet of the electrified vehicle <NUM>, electric power is allowed to be exchanged between the EVSE <NUM> and the electrified vehicle <NUM>.

The server <NUM> is configured to manage information on a plurality of electrified vehicles <NUM> registered (hereinafter, also referred to as vehicle information), information on users registered (hereinafter, also referred to as user information), and information on EVSEs <NUM> registered (hereinafter, also referred to as EVSE information). The user information, the vehicle information, and the EVSE information are identified with identification information (ID) and stored in a memory <NUM> (described later).

A user ID is identification information for identifying a user and also functions as information (terminal ID) that identifies a mobile terminal 11a carried by the user. The server <NUM> is configured to save information received from mobile terminals 11a user ID by user ID. The user information includes the communication address of a mobile terminal 11a carried by a user, and a vehicle ID of an electrified vehicle <NUM> that belongs to the user.

A vehicle ID is identification information for identifying an electrified vehicle <NUM>. The vehicle ID may be a license plate or may be a vehicle identification number (VIN). The vehicle information includes an activity schedule of each electrified vehicle <NUM>.

An EVSE-ID is identification information for identifying an EVSE <NUM>. The EVSE information includes the communication address of each EVSE <NUM> and a state of an electrified vehicle <NUM> connected to the EVSE <NUM>. The EVSE information also includes information indicating a combination of an electrified vehicle <NUM> and an EVSE <NUM> connected to each other (for example, a combination of an EVSE-ID and a vehicle ID).

The distribution management server <NUM> manages a service to distribute a video available to be viewed on the terminal <NUM> of the user <NUM> of the electrified vehicle <NUM>. The distribution management server <NUM> manages distribution of advertisements in the video. A video distribution service is an example of an Internet service according to the disclosure.

The server <NUM> includes a processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, and a communication unit <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is an example of a control unit according to the disclosure. The communication unit <NUM> is an example of an acquisition unit according to the disclosure.

The memory <NUM> stores not only a program to be run on the processor <NUM> but also information to be used by the program (for example, maps, mathematical expressions, and various parameters). The communication unit <NUM> includes various communication I/Fs. The processor <NUM> controls the communication unit <NUM>. Specifically, the processor <NUM> communicates with the system management server <NUM>, the DCM (or the mobile terminal 11a) of the electrified vehicle <NUM>, the EVSE <NUM>, and the distribution management server <NUM> through the communication unit <NUM>.

The communication unit <NUM> acquires information on power control with the electrified vehicle <NUM>. Specifically, the communication unit <NUM> acquires information on the amount of charge or discharge, a charge or discharge time, a time period in which charge or discharge is performed, and the like between the electrified vehicle <NUM> and the EVSE <NUM>, subjected to power control.

The processor <NUM> controls display during use of a video distribution service with the terminal <NUM> of the user <NUM>.

Here, it is desired for an existing system to facilitate power control with an electrified vehicle. In the present embodiment, the processor <NUM> is configured to, when the electrified vehicle <NUM> accedes to a request to perform power control, generate a program command to reduce display of advertisements on the terminal <NUM> as compared to when the electrified vehicle <NUM> does not accede to the request to perform the power control. The program command is sent from the server <NUM> to the distribution management server <NUM>.

Thus, as shown in <FIG>, a frequency at which an advertisement is displayed on the terminal <NUM> of the user <NUM> who accedes to a request to perform power control is set so as to be lower than a frequency at which an advertisement is displayed on the terminal <NUM> of the user <NUM> who does not accede to a request to perform power control (see the comparative example of <FIG>). As a specific example to reduce advertisements, the length of each advertisement may be shortened, and the percentage of advertisements allowed to be skipped may be increased. In the example shown in <FIG>, in the terminal <NUM> of the user <NUM> who accedes to a request to perform power control, each of an advertisement to be displayed at the beginning of a video (main part) during normal times (comparative example) and an advertisement to be displayed in the middle of a video (main part) during normal times is omitted (controlled to be not displayed).

The processor <NUM> is configured to increase a degree to which distribution of advertisements is reduced as a degree of contribution of power control with the electrified vehicle <NUM> increases. The degree of contribution is determined by the processor <NUM> based on the level of a request to adjust demand and supply of electric power, the amount of charge or discharge (or a charge or discharge time) in power control, the percentage of regenerated energy in the electrified vehicle <NUM>, and the like (described later).

As shown in <FIG>, the processor <NUM> is configured to increase a degree to which distribution of advertisements is reduced as a request to adjust demand and supply of electric power in a time period and a region in which power control with the electrified vehicle <NUM> is performed increases. A state where a request to adjust demand and supply of electric power is high means a state where the electric power of the electric power system PG is tight, a state where there is a lot of redundant electric power in the electric power system PG, or the like. The processor <NUM> determines the level of a request to adjust demand and supply of electric power based on information sent from the system management server <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the processor <NUM> is configured to increase a degree to which distribution of advertisements is reduced as the amount of charge or discharge in power control with the electrified vehicle <NUM> increases (or a charge or discharge time extends). Specifically, the processor <NUM> is configured to, when there is redundant electric power in the electric power system PG, increase a degree to which distribution of advertisements is reduced as the amount of charge in power control increases (or a charge time extends). The processor <NUM> is configured to, when electric power in the electric power system PG is short, increase a degree to which distribution of advertisements is reduced as the amount of discharge in power control increases (or a discharge time extends).

As shown in <FIG>, the processor <NUM> is configured to increase a degree to which distribution of advertisements is reduced as the percentage of regenerated energy in electric power stored in the electrified vehicle <NUM> that performs power control increases. The processor <NUM> acquires information on the amount of regenerated energy in electric power exchanged in power control between the electrified vehicle <NUM> and the EVSE <NUM>. The server <NUM> (processor <NUM>) calculates the percentage of regenerated energy in the electrified vehicle <NUM> based on information on the amount of regenerated energy. The server <NUM> stores the calculated percentage of regenerated energy in the memory <NUM>.

The processor <NUM> may change the degree depending on the type of regenerated energy. For example, energy generated by solar power generation may have a higher degree of contribution to a degree to which distribution of advertisements is reduced than energy generated by wind power generation.

A degree to which distribution of advertisements is reduced may be changed in three or more steps based on at least one of the level of a request to adjust demand and supply of electric power, the magnitude of the amount of charge or discharge (the length of a charge or discharge time) performed by the electrified vehicle <NUM>, and the level of the percentage of regenerated energy in the electrified vehicle <NUM>.

The processor <NUM> reduces distribution of advertisements during a time period or a period set by the user. In other words, the user of the electrified vehicle <NUM> is able to determine a time period or a period during which a program based on a program command sent to the distribution management server <NUM> is applied. A time period or a period during which the program is applied may be divided into multiple time periods or multiple periods.

The server <NUM> (processor <NUM>) manages a time during which advertisements are reduced by using the program (hereinafter, referred to as a reduction available time). Specifically, the processor <NUM> determines a reduction available time based on the degree of contribution in power control. The reduction available time may be a constant value regardless of the degree of contribution.

The processor <NUM> acquires information on the length of time in which a reduction of advertisements is applied (hereinafter, referred to as a reduction execution time). The processor <NUM> is configured to, when the reduction execution time becomes equal to the reduction available time, eliminate the effect of advertisement reduction through the program.

Next, a method of reducing advertisements with the system <NUM> including the server <NUM> will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of <FIG>.

In step S1, the system management server <NUM> sends a request to adjust demand and supply of electric power to the server <NUM> (communication unit <NUM>). The system management server <NUM> sends the request to adjust demand and supply to the server <NUM> based on generated electric power and consumed electric power of power adjustment resources that the system management server <NUM> manages.

In step S2, the server <NUM> (processor <NUM>) makes a request of the user of the electrified vehicle <NUM> for power control (external charging or external power supply) based on the demand and supply adjustment request received in step S1. The server <NUM> may directly send a signal inquiring for making a request for power control to the electrified vehicle <NUM> or may send the signal to the mobile terminal 11a of the user <NUM>.

In step S3, it is assumed that the user <NUM> sends, to the server <NUM>, an intension to accede (an intension to join power control) to the request for power control, made in step S2.

In step S4, the electrified vehicle <NUM> starts power control corresponding to the request for power control, made in step S2, by electrically connecting with the EVSE <NUM>.

In step S5, the server <NUM> evaluates the degree of contribution of the power control performed in step S4. An evaluation method for the degree of contribution of power control is as described above, so the detailed description will not be repeated.

In step S6, the server <NUM> generates a program command to reduce display of advertisements on the terminal <NUM>.

In step S7, the server <NUM> determines an application available time of a program (the reduction available time) based on the program command generated in step S6. The processor <NUM> determines a reduction available time based on the level of the degree of contribution of the power control, calculated in step S5. The processor <NUM> may extend the reduction available time as the degree of contribution increases. The process of step S7 may be performed before the process of step S6.

In step S8, the server <NUM> sends the program command generated in step S6 to the distribution management server <NUM> through the communication unit <NUM>. In step S8, the processor <NUM> may provide the fact that the program command is generated and information on the reduction available time to the electrified vehicle <NUM> (user <NUM>). The program command may include information on the reduction available time.

In step S9, the user <NUM> of the electrified vehicle <NUM> sets a time period or a period during which the program is applied. For example, the user may be able to set the time period or the period by inputting the time period or the period on an input screen displayed on the terminal <NUM>. In this case, the processor <NUM> may perform control to display the input screen on the terminal <NUM>.

In step S10, the distribution management server <NUM> distributes, to the terminal <NUM>, a video in which advertisements are reduced and to which the program is applied.

In step S11, the server <NUM> determines whether a time (reduction execution time) during which the program is applied is shorter than the reduction available time determined in step S7. When the reduction execution time is shorter than the reduction available time (Yes in S11), the process of step S11 is repeated. When the reduction execution time is equal to the reduction available time (No in S11), the process proceeds to step S12.

In step S12, the server <NUM> sends a command to terminate a reduction of advertisements, performed by the program, to the distribution management server <NUM>.

In step S13, the distribution management server <NUM> distributes, to the terminal <NUM>, a normal video in which advertisements are not reduced.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the processor <NUM> is configured to, when the electrified vehicle <NUM> accedes to a request to perform power control, generate a program command to reduce display of advertisements on the terminal <NUM> as compared to when the electrified vehicle <NUM> does not accede to the request to perform the power control. Thus, it is possible to facilitate the user <NUM> intended to reduce display of advertisements to perform power control.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a degree to which distribution of advertisements is reduced increases as a degree of contribution of power control increases has been described; however, the disclosure is not limited thereto. Regardless of the degree of contribution of power control, the degree for a user who performs power control (who accedes to a request to perform power control) may be constant.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which distribution of advertisements is reduced during a time period or a period set by the user <NUM> has been described; however, the disclosure is not limited thereto. A time period or a period during which distribution of advertisements is reduced may be determined by the server <NUM>.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a degree to which distribution of advertisements is reduced increases as a request to adjust demand and supply of electric power in a time period or a region in which the power control is performed increases has been described; however, the disclosure is not limited thereto. A degree to which distribution of advertisements is reduced may be increased as a request to adjust demand and supply of electric power in any one of a time period and a region in which power control is performed increases.

Claim 1:
A server (<NUM>) comprising:
an acquisition unit (<NUM>) configured to acquire information on power control including at least one of power supply from an electrified vehicle (<NUM>) to an electric power system (PG) and charge from the electric power system (PG) to the electrified vehicle (<NUM>); and
a control unit (<NUM>) configured to control display during use of an Internet service with a terminal (<NUM>) owned by a user (<NUM>) of the electrified vehicle (<NUM>), wherein
the control unit (<NUM>) is configured to generate a program command to reduce display of advertisements on the terminal (<NUM>) from a distribution of advertisements from a distribution management server,
characterized in that
the control unit (<NUM>) is configured to generate the program command when the electric vehicle (<NUM>) accedes to a request sent from the server (<NUM>) to perform power control as compared to when the electrified vehicle (<NUM>) does not accede to the request to perform the power control, and via the program command, to increase a degree to which the distribution of advertisements is reduced as a level of a request to adjust demand and supply of electric power in at least one of a time period and a region in which the power control is performed increases; and as a degree of contribution of the power control with the electrified vehicle (<NUM>) increases.