Patent US10899235

Systems and methods for electric vehicle charging and user interface therefor
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US10899235

1. A system for managing electric vehicle (EV) charging comprising: (7) (16)

an EV charging station and a user device in communication with a server computer;

wherein the EV charging station comprises a revenue grade electric meter configured for network-based communication with an EV;

wherein the EV charging station is operable to communicate via network-based communication to the user device and/or the EV an amount of electric power consumed by the EV and/or a cost of the amount of electric power consumed by the EV;

wherein the server computer is operable to collect data from the EV charging station and the user device;

wherein the server computer is in network communication with the user device via an application program on the user device, wherein the application program comprises an interactive graphical user interface (GUI);

wherein the user device is in communication with the EV, wherein the EV includes an EV profile;

wherein the user device including an interactive interface is operable for displaying information related to the EV charging station, collecting EV profile data, and operable for receiving inputs via the interactive GUI, wherein the inputs are automatically associated with the user profile;

wherein the information related to the EV charging station includes an EV charging station profile, the EV charging station profile including real-time or near real-time energy consumption patterns, wherein the real-time or near real-time energy consumption patterns indicate opportunities for up selling, down selling, and/or cross selling;

wherein the information related to the EV charging station further includes data from the EV charging station which indicates that the EV charging station is inefficient, defective, and/or requires updating to meet current standards;

wherein the user profile includes user profile data comprised of user information and geodetic information, wherein the geodetic information includes an EV location identifier and a location identifier for the user device location identifier, and wherein the user information includes a unique user identifier, an EV identifier, user financial account information, historical data including data relating to EV charging, EV location, EV mileage, EV status, EV systems, transactions relating to EV activities, and transactions relating to EV and/or non-EV activities, and combinations thereof;

wherein the EV profile data comprises the make, the model, and/or the year of the EV, odometer information, time from last charge, an amount of charge required, location-based information including Global Positioning System (GPS) location, GPS programming for travel route, home base of operation, and service information, and combinations thereof;

wherein the server computer is operable to collect the user profile data and the EV profile data;

wherein the server computer is operable to determine an EV charging destination based on the user profile data, the EV profile data, and the EV charging station;

wherein the server computer is operable to determine advertising information for a merchant associated with or proximal to the EV charging destination based on the user profile data; and

wherein the interactive GUI is operable to display the advertising information;

and wherein the GUI automatically provides the price at the EV charging station for charging an EV per unit or for charging an EV for a total charge.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user device is a smartphone, a tablet computer, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a mobile communication device, a mobile phone, a cell phone, a laptop computer, a netbook, a terminal, or any other computing device suitable for network connection with the server computer or a cloud-based computing system. (0)

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the interactive GUI interface automatically provides information about the EV charging station within a predetermined proximity of the location of the user device, including the location of the EV charging station within the predetermined proximity of the location of the user device, the availability of the EV charging station within the predetermined proximity of the location of the user device for a predetermined period of time, and/or combinations thereof. (0)

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the inputs include a reservation for charging an EV at the EV charging station, a reservation for an Internet access point associated with the EV charging station, a reservation for air conditioning associated with the EV charging station, a reservation for television service associated with the EV charging station, a reservation for cab power associated with the EV charging station, a reservation for EV monitoring associated with the EV charging station, a reservation for security systems associated with the EV charging station, and/or combinations thereof, wherein the reservations are for a predetermined period of time. (0)

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the merchant is charged for the marketing and/or advertising information displayed about the merchant on the interactive interface GUI. (0)

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the server computer is operable to process the user profile data, the EV profile data, and data from the EV charging station and provide for financial settlement of electric power consumed, marketing and advertising information about merchants associated with or proximal to the EV charging station, and/or non-EV activities. (0)

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the user device is operable to receive and display a message including a location of a closest EV charging terminal and a corresponding rate of charging via the interactive GUI. (0)

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the EV is operable to opt-in of an EV profile in response to real-time changes in price of electric power. (0)

6. A system for electric vehicle (EV) charging comprising: (6) (5)

an EV charging terminal configured for network-based communication with a user device and an EV, wherein the EV charging terminal includes a revenue grade electric meter, a plug and/or adaptor for removable connection to the EV, and an identification scheme including a user profile and/or an EV profile, wherein the EV charging terminal is in network-based communication with a server computer, wherein the EV charging terminal is associated with a revenue grade electric meter and a charging profile, wherein the charging profile is comprised of geodetic information at the time of initiating a charge and/or initiating a reservation for EV charging and real-time or near real-time energy consumption patterns, wherein the EV charging terminal functions as a grid element within an electric power grid;

wherein the user device is in network communication with the server computer via an application program provided by the server computer, wherein the application program comprises an interactive graphical user interface (GUI);

wherein the user profile associated with the at least one user device comprises user information including a unique user identifier, an EV identifier, user financial account information, historical data including data relating to EV charging, EV location, EV mileage, EV status, EV systems, transactions relating to EV activities, and transactions relating to non-EV activities;

wherein the server computer is operable to determine advertising information for a merchant associated with or proximal to the EV charging terminal based on the user profile; and

wherein the interactive GUI is operable to display the advertising information; wherein the EV charging terminal includes a marketing database for delivering marketing messages, analytics, and advertisements to a user and/or the user device including marketing and advertising information about merchants associated with or proximal to the EV charging terminal.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the EV profile includes the make, the model, and/or the year of the EV, odometer information, the time from last charge, an amount of charge required, location-based information including GPS location, GPS programming for travel route, home base of operation, and/or service information, and combinations thereof. (0)

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the EV charging terminal further includes an indicator light, wherein the indicator light is positioned near the top of the EV charging terminal and is operable to include branding, indicate a status of the EV charging terminal, and/or indicate EV charging terminal violations. (0)

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the EV charging terminal is operable to accept a reservation for charging the EV for a predetermined period of time. (3) (0)

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the reservation further includes a reservation for a parking space, air conditioning, television service, cab power, EV monitoring, security systems, and/or combinations thereof for a predetermined period of time. (0)

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the EV or the user device includes a location-based indicator, wherein the EV charging terminal is operable to communicate with the location-based indicator, and upon determining that the location-based indicator is within a predetermined distance of the EV charging terminal, the EV, the EV charging terminal, and/or the user device is operable to emit a confirmation indicating that the EV is at the reserved EV charging terminal. (1) (0)

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the EV charging terminal is operable to send an auto-ticketing and/or an auto-towing notification to the user, wherein the auto- ticketing notification and/or the auto-towing notification is sent to the user upon expiration of the predetermined period of time and/or in response to a reservation violation including a reserved spot being occupied by an EV other than an EV which placed the reservation. (1) (0)

15. The system of claim 6, wherein the EV charging terminal is operable to communicate via network-based communication to the user device and/or the EV an amount of electric power consumed by the EV and/or a cost of the amount of electric power consumed by the at least one EV with the user device and/or the EV. (0)

27. The system of claim 6, wherein electric power for the EV charging terminal is provided by an off-grid power source including a diesel fuel generator, a back-up generator, and/or renewable power. (0)

30. The system of claim 6, wherein the GUI automatically provides a price for charging an EV per unit or a price for charging an EV for a total charge at the EV charging terminal. (0)

16. A method of electric vehicle (EV) charging comprising the steps of: (4) (4)

a user device initiating an EV charging transaction at an EV charging terminal configured for network-based communication with the user device and/or an EV and including a revenue grade electric meter, wherein the initiation includes the EV charging terminal matching geodetic information with a consumer profile and/or an EV profile, wherein the user device is in network communication with a server computer via an interactive graphical user interface (GUI), wherein the consumer profile comprises a unique user identifier, an EV identifier, user financial account information, historical data including data relating to EV charging, EV location, EV mileage, EV status, EV systems, transactions relating to EV activities, and transactions relating to non-EV activities;

the EV charging terminal providing an amount of electric power to the EV upon initiation of the EV charging transaction;

the user paying for device performing the EV charging transaction from the user device with the EV charging terminal, wherein the user device is associated with the consumer profile and/or the EV profile; and

the user device receiving marketing messages, analytics, and advertisements including marketing and advertising information about merchants associated with or proximal to the EV charging terminal and displaying advertising information for a merchant associated with or proximal to the EV charging terminal based on the customer profile via the interactive GUI.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the consumer profile and/or the EV profile includes payment information, the payment information including an electronic bank account, a credit card account, a debit card account, a prepaid account, and combinations thereof, the method further comprising the step of the user authorizing payment using the payment information before and/or during paying for the EV charging transaction. (0)

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of the user making a reservation for the EV charging terminal for a predetermined period of time prior to the user initiating the EV charging transaction. (3) (0)

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the reservation includes reserving a parking space associated with the EV charging terminal for a predetermined period of time. (0)

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the reservation includes reserving access to an Internet access point, air conditioning, television service, cab power, EV monitoring, security systems, and/or combinations thereof for a predetermined period of time. (0)

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the EV or the user device includes a location-based indicator, wherein the EV charging terminal is operable to communicate with the location-based indicator, further comprising the steps of: (1) (2)

23. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of the EV charging terminal communicating via network-based communication an amount of electric power consumed by the EV and/or a cost of the amount of electric power consumed by the EV with the user device and the EV. (0)

24. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of sending an auto- ticketing and/or an auto-towing notification to the user, wherein the auto-ticketing notification and/or the auto-towing notification is sent to the user upon expiration of the predetermined period of time and/or in response to a reservation violation including a reserved spot being occupied by an EV other than an EV which placed the reservation. (1) (0)

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Patent US10899235

Systems and methods for electric vehicle charging and user interface therefor

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