DE102020202403A1 - Method and system for authorizing a charging process for a vehicle at a charging station - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for authorizing a charging process of a vehicle (EV) at a charging station (CS), the vehicle (EV) being connected to the charging station (CS) via a charging cable for charging its electrical energy storage device, wherein: a) from the Charging column (CS) a charging column identification (CID) assigned to it is transmitted to the vehicle (EV) via a first communication path (CP1), the first communication path (CP1) being based on local communication in the vicinity of the vehicle (EV) and the charging column (CS) based; b) triggered by the vehicle (EV) a user authorization (UCR) for a user account that is assigned to the vehicle (EV) and the charging station identification (CID) via a second communication path (CP2) to a separate control unit (AE), the operation of which is decoupled from the charging station (CS), the second communication path (CP2) based on local wireless communication in the vicinity of the vehicle (EV) and the charging station (CS); c) triggered by the control unit (AE) the user authorization (UCR) is verified and, if the verification is successful, a start command (SRQ) to start the charging process from the control unit (AE) to the charging station (CID) is transmitted via a third communication path (CP3), the third communication path (CP3) being based on local communication in the vicinity of the vehicle (EV) and the charging station (CS).

Description

The invention relates to a method and a system for authorizing a charging process of a vehicle at a charging station.

It is known from the prior art to authorize the charging process of an electrically drivable vehicle at a charging column based on the verification of credentials. For this it is necessary that the functionalities of conventional charging stations are expanded so that they can process credentials. For example, the document shows WO 2018/188819 A1 an authorization of a charging process of a vehicle, in which a vehicle-side credentials is received in a corresponding control device of the charging station.

The object of the invention is to create a method for authorizing a vehicle at a charging station that can be used in combination with many types of currently available charging stations.

This problem is solved by the independent patent claims. Developments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

The method according to the invention is used to authorize a charging process for a vehicle at a charging column, the vehicle being connected to the charging column via a charging cable for charging its electrical energy storage device. In the context of the method according to the invention, steps a) to c) explained below are carried out.

In step a) the charging column transmits a charging column identification assigned to it to the vehicle via a first communication path. This first communication path is based on local communication around the vehicle and the charging station. Such local communication is to be understood as communication in the vicinity of the vehicle and the charging station that does not use a remote backend via a cellular network or the Internet. The surroundings of the motor vehicle and the charging column are preferably an area with a maximum distance of 100 m and preferably a maximum of 50 m both from the vehicle and from the charging column. The local communication can be wireless or wired. Based on the local communication, it is thus ensured that the vehicle can recognize that the charging station identification comes from the charging station to which the vehicle is connected via the charging cable. In the case of wired communication, this is possible, for example, by measuring the level of the signal. With wireless communication by locating the transmitting signal.

The local wireless communication defined below has the same properties as the local communication just described with the only difference that it is always wireless. The wireless communication is preferably a local radio communication with the aid of radio waves. If necessary, however, the local wireless communication can also be based on other technologies, such as electromagnetic induction or NFC (NFC = Near Field Communication).

In step b) of the method according to the invention, the vehicle triggers a user credential for a user account assigned to the vehicle, and the charging column identification is transmitted to a separate control unit via a second communication path. The second communication path is based on local wireless communication in the area around the vehicle and the charging station. The separate control unit is designed in such a way that its operation is decoupled from the charging station. In other words, the software and hardware of the control unit work independently of the charging station. Nonetheless, the control unit and charging station are connected in terms of communication technology. The control unit preferably forms a separate device with its own housing, which can be set up in the vicinity of a corresponding charging column or attached to a corresponding charging column in order to enable the method according to the invention to be carried out.

In step c) of the method according to the invention, the control unit verifies the user credentials, and in the event of a successful verification, a start command to start the charging process is transmitted from the control unit to the charging station via a third communication path that is connected to (wired or possibly also wireless) local communication in the vicinity of the vehicle and the charging station. If necessary, a confirmation of the start of the charging process can also be sent back from the charging station to the control unit via the third communication path.

A user authorization certificate or the vehicle authorization certificate mentioned below are to be understood as digital data to which an authorization is coupled that can be checked or verified using a suitable authentication method. Such an authorization verification can be, for example, a signature or a token signed with a signature, the signature via a corresponding public key can be verified.

The method according to the invention is characterized in that the processing of a charging column identification in combination with a separate control unit enables universal use of the method for different types of charging columns without the corresponding charging column having to be adapted separately.

The charging column identification transmitted within the scope of the method according to the invention can be designed in any way. In one variant, a so-called EVSE identification according to the ISO 15118 standard is used. Nevertheless, the identification can possibly also be a MAC address of the charging station. In order to transmit the start command to the charging station in step c), the same identification can optionally be used that was also transmitted in step a). Nonetheless, there is also the option of addressing the charging column for the transmission of the start command via a different identification, in which case an assignment table for assigning the original charging column identification to this other identification is stored.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the information transmitted in step b) (i.e. the corresponding information tuple) from the user authorization and charging column identification is signed and has a predetermined period of validity (e.g. 30 sec). Modifications in this tuple are recognized on the basis of the signature of the information tuple.

In a further variant, after the start of the charging process, an assignment of the user credentials to the started charging process is stored, triggered by the control unit, this storage preferably taking place in the control unit or in the vehicle or in the mobile terminal described below. If a user who is assigned a corresponding user credentials then initiates the transmission of a control command to stop or modify the charging process (e.g. adapting the charging power), a check is made to determine whether the criterion that the assigned user credentials to the user is met is met Corresponds to proof of authorization that was successfully verified in step c), with the control command being transmitted to the charging station via the third communication path when this criterion is met, whereupon the charging station stops or modifies the charging process.

In a further preferred variant, after the start of the charging process, a charging process authorization certificate assigned to the started charging process is stored triggered by the control unit, this storage preferably taking place in the control unit or in the vehicle or in the mobile terminal described below. If a user then initiates the transmission of a control command to stop or modify the charging process, it is checked whether the criterion is met that the user can provide a charging process credentials that correspond to the stored charging process credentials, with the The control command is transmitted to the charging station via the third communication path, whereupon the charging station stops or modifies the charging process. Preferably, the stored charging process authorization can be triggered by the user to whom the user authorization successfully verified in step c) is assigned to one or more transferred to other users. With this embodiment of the invention it can be achieved that users who do not have the user credentials successfully verified in step c) can terminate or modify the loading process that has been started.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the control unit can be used to authorize vehicles at several different charging stations. In this case, the control unit is assigned a plurality of charging columns with corresponding assigned charging column identifications, the control unit in step c) selecting that charging column for transmitting the start command that transmitted the charging column identification in step a).

In a further, particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the user authorization certificate is stored in the vehicle, the vehicle transmitting the user authorization certificate together with the charging station identification via the second communication path to the control unit in step b). This achieves a particularly simple implementation of the authorization according to the invention.

In a modified embodiment of the method according to the invention, a mobile terminal is involved in the authorization. The mobile terminal is a device that can be worn by a user, such as a mobile phone. In step b), the vehicle transmits a vehicle authorization and the charging station identification to the mobile terminal via a fourth communication path that is based on local wireless communication in the vicinity of the vehicle and the charging station. In the context of step b), the mobile terminal then verifies the vehicle authorization verification, in the case of a successful verification of the user authorization, which is stored in this embodiment in the mobile terminal, is transmitted to the control unit via the second communication path. With this variant of the invention, a mobile terminal is included in the authorization of the charging process in a simple manner.

In a further variant of the method according to the invention that is easy to implement, in step c) the control unit itself verifies the user authorization verification. In a modified variant, the verification of the user authorization is carried out via a backend. For this purpose, in step c) the control unit transmits an authentication request containing the user authorization to a backend which verifies the user authorization. Communication via the backend does not represent local communication. In the event that the backend successfully verifies the user authorization, an authentication confirmation is also transmitted to the control unit in step c), which then transmits the start command to the charging station via the third communication path .

In the embodiment of the invention just described, the control unit represents a proxy / “man-in-the-middle” that mediates between the charging station and the backend. In other words, the control unit behaves towards the backend like a charging column that wants to authenticate itself with an authentication request, whereas the control unit behaves towards the charging column like a backend that issues a start command to the charging column to start the charging process.

In a particularly preferred variant of the embodiment just described, the authentication request and the authentication confirmation as well as the start command are transmitted in accordance with the OCPP protocol (OCPP = Open Charge Point Protocol), which is known per se.

In a further, particularly preferred embodiment, the first communication path between the charging column and the vehicle is based on PLC communication (PLC = Power Line Communication) which is known per se and which takes place via the charging cable. Thus, in this variant, the charging cable not only has the function of power transmission, but also the function of data transmission. The PLC communication is preferably a communication according to the ISO 15118 standard.

In a further preferred embodiment, the second communication path and / or the fourth communication path, which are wireless, are based on WLAN, 5G or Bluetooth. In particular, e.g. the Bluetooth low energy beaconing or the Bluetooth profile BLE GATT can be used.

In a further preferred embodiment, the second communication path does not require a receiving address of the control unit to transmit the user authorization and the charging station identification. Alternatively and in addition, the fourth communication path for transmitting the vehicle authorization and the charging station identification can also not require a receiving address of the mobile terminal. In other words, in this variant, the data are transmitted to the control unit or the mobile terminal in the manner of a broadcast.

In addition to the method described above, the invention relates to a system for authorizing a charging process of a vehicle at a charging station, the vehicle being connected to the charging station via a charging cable for charging its electrical energy storage device. The system is set up to carry out the method according to the invention or one or more preferred variants of the method according to the invention. In other words, the components that are used in the method according to the invention or in preferred variants of this method are part of the system.

The invention also relates to a control unit for a system for authorizing a charging process, the control unit being set up to work as a control unit in the method according to the invention or in one or more preferred variants of the method according to the invention. In other words, the control unit contains means via which the corresponding method steps are implemented, which are carried out by the control unit in the method according to the invention or in one or more preferred variants of this method.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying figures.

• 1 bis 4 schematische Darstellungen von vier Ausführungsformen des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens.

Show it:

• 1 to 4th schematic representations of four embodiments of the method according to the invention.

1 shows a first variant of the method according to the invention. In this case, an authorization of a charging process of an electric vehicle EV at a charging column CS is carried out with the aid of a control unit AE (AE = Authentication Execution Unit). In the scenario of the 1 as well as in the others 2 to 4th is the electric vehicle EV via a (not shown) charging cable to the Charging column CS connected to charge the vehicle's electrical energy storage device via electrical current that is provided by the charging column CS via the charging cable.

As part of the authorization of the charging process, a charging column identification CID is first transmitted to the vehicle EV via a first communication path CP1. The communication path CP1 is based on PLC communication in accordance with the ISO 15118 standard, which takes place via the charging cable. In the variant described here, the charging station identification CID is an EVSE identification in accordance with the ISO 15118 standard. Nonetheless, the identification can also be a MAC address of the charging station, for example.

After receipt of the charging station identification CID, this identification is assigned to a user account in the vehicle EV, to which a user assigned to the vehicle belongs. This assignment is required for billing the costs of the charging process, which is carried out via the user account.

A user credentials UCR, which is, for example, a signed token, is also assigned to the user account. This user authorization certificate is transmitted together with the charging station identification CID to the control unit AE via the communication path CP2. A local radio network, e.g. based on WLAN or Bluetooth, is used for the communication path CP2. The control unit AE is a unit whose operation is independent of the charging station. The unit is preferably provided in a separate housing. The control unit AE is attached to the charging column or positioned in the vicinity of the charging column in order to enable the authorization described here. It is not necessary to intervene in the hardware or software of the charging station.

After receiving the user authorization certificate UCR and the charging station identification CID via the communication path CP2, the control unit AE verifies the user authorization certificate (e.g. by checking a signature). Upon successful verification of the user authorization, the control unit AE transmits a start command SRQ to the charging station CS via a third communication path CP3, which then starts the charging process and also optionally returns a confirmation SRP to the control unit via the third communication path to start the charging process. The third communication path can be configured differently depending on the configuration of the method according to the invention. For example, the communication can take place via the communication path CP3 by means of a wired connection between the control unit AE and the charging station CS. A local radio network can also be used here for communication.

As part of the transmission of the start command SRQ, for example, the charging column identification CID can be used directly to address the charging column CS. Nevertheless, another unique identification of the charging column can also be used, in which case an association between the other identification and the charging column identification is stored in the control unit.

In the embodiment of 1 the control unit AE is only used for authorization at a single charging station CS. Nevertheless, there is also the possibility that the control unit AE is used for authorization at several charging stations, as in 2 is indicated.

2 shows a variant in which the control unit AE is analogous to 1 can carry out an authorization of the vehicle EV at the charging station CS. In addition, the control unit AE can also carry out an authorization for another charging station CS 'at which another vehicle EV' is charged in the same way. The process of this authorization corresponds to the process of authorization for the vehicle EV at the charging station CS. In other words, the charging column identification CID 'of the charging column CS' is first transmitted from the charging column CS 'to the vehicle EV' via a first communication path CP1 'based on PLC communication. The vehicle EV 'then transmits a corresponding user authorization certificate UCR' together with the charging station identification CID 'to the control unit AE via a second communication path CP2' based on a local radio network. If the user authorization UCR 'is successfully verified in the control unit AE, a start command SRQ' is transmitted to the charging station CS 'via a third communication path CP3', which can be wired or wireless. The charging column then starts the charging process and sends a start confirmation SRP 'back to the control unit AE via the third communication path CP3.

3 shows a modified variant of an authorization method according to the invention. This procedure differs from the procedure of the 1 essentially in the fact that a mobile terminal MD is also involved in the authorization.

First, in the process of 3 In analogy to 1 Via the first communication path CP1, the charging station identification CID to the Vehicle EV transmitted. However, the user authorization for the user account assigned to the vehicle is now not stored in the vehicle. This proof of authorization is stored in the mobile terminal device MD. Instead of transmitting a user authorization, the vehicle EV sends a vehicle authorization VCR together with the charging station identification CID to the mobile via a fourth communication path CP4, which is a communication path in a local radio network in the same way as the second communication path CP2 Terminal MD, which then verifies the vehicle authorization VCR.

The vehicle identification of the vehicle EV is known to the terminal MD. Furthermore, the user authorization certificate UCR is stored in the terminal for a corresponding user account to which a user assigned to the vehicle belongs. In the mobile terminal MD, the charging station identification CID received from the vehicle and the vehicle identification are assigned to the user account. This assignment is required for billing the costs of the charging process, which is carried out via the user account.

To verify the vehicle authorization VCR, the terminal MD uses the user authorization UCR or, alternatively, a public key with which a signature of the vehicle authorization can be checked. If the verification is successful, the 1 The user credentials UCR together with the vehicle identification CID are transmitted to the control unit AE via the second communication path CP2. In contrast to 1 However, this information is now sent by the mobile terminal MD and not by the vehicle EV.

Then run in the process of 3 the same steps as in the procedure of 1 from. In other words, the user authorization UCR is verified in the control unit AE and, if the verification is successful, a start command SRQ is transmitted to the charging station CS via the third communication path CP3. The charging column then starts the charging process and then returns a corresponding confirmation SRP about this start to the control unit AE.

4th FIG. 4 shows a modification of the method of FIG 3 . The only difference between the method of 4th and the procedure of 3 consists in the verification of the user authorization UCR not being carried out by the control unit AE itself, but by a backend BC. The remaining transmissions via the corresponding communication paths CP1 to CP4 correspond to 3 and are therefore not described again.

In the process of 4th the verification of the user credentials UCR is triggered by the control unit AE in that an authentication request ARQ is transmitted to the backend BE. The authentication request ARQ contains the user credentials UCR, which is then verified by the backend BE. An authentication confirmation ARP is only sent back to the control unit AE by the backend BE if the verification is successful. After receiving this confirmation, the charging process is started by transmitting a start command SRQ from the control unit AE to the charging column CS, this start being confirmed by a confirmation SRP, as already described above.

In the embodiment of 4th the control unit takes on the function of a proxy that mediates between a backend BE and the charging station CS. The known standard OPCC is preferably used for the transmission of the commands or messages ARQ, ARP, SRQ and SRP.

The embodiments of the invention described above have a number of advantages. In particular, the authorization of a charging process for a vehicle at a charging column is made possible without the charging column having to process corresponding credentials. This is achieved in that the charging station identification is transmitted to the vehicle and corresponding credentials are processed with the interposition of a separate control unit.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• WO 2018/188819 A1 [0002]

Claims (15)

Method for authorizing a charging process for a vehicle (EV) at a charging station (CS), the vehicle (EV) being connected to the charging station (CS) via a charging cable for charging its electrical energy storage device, wherein: a) a charging column identification (CID) assigned to it is transmitted from the charging column (CS) to the vehicle (EV) via a first communication path (CP1), the first communication path (CP1) being based on local communication in the vicinity of the vehicle (EV ) and the charging station (CS) based; b) triggered by the vehicle (EV) a user authorization (UCR) for a user account that is assigned to the vehicle (EV) and the charging station identification (CID) via a second communication path (CP2) to a separate control unit ( AE) are transmitted, the operation of which is decoupled from the charging column (CS), the second communication path (CP2) being based on local wireless communication in the vicinity of the vehicle (EV) and the charging column (CS); c) triggered by the control unit (AE) the user authorization (UCR) is verified and, if the verification is successful, a start command (SRQ) to start the charging process from the control unit (AE) to the charging station (CID) via a third communication path (CP3) is transmitted, the third communication path (CP3) based on local communication in the area around the vehicle (EV) and the charging station (CS). Procedure according to Claim 1 , wherein the information transmitted in step b) from user authorization (UCR) and charging station identification (CID) is signed and has a predefined period of validity. Procedure according to Claim 1 or 2 , after the start of the loading process, an assignment of the user credentials (UCR) to the started loading process triggered by the control unit (AE) is stored, with the transmission of a control command in the event that a user who is assigned a corresponding user credentials initiated to stop or to modify the loading process, it is checked whether the criterion is met that the assigned user credentials corresponds to the user credentials (UCR) that was successfully verified in step c), and if this criterion is met, the control command via the third communication path (CP3) is transmitted to the charging station (CS), whereupon the charging station (CS) stops or modifies the charging process. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein after the start of the charging process, a charging process authorization certificate assigned to the started charging process is stored, triggered by the control unit (AE), in the event that a user initiates the transmission of a control command to stop or modify the charging process , it is checked whether the criterion is met that the user can provide a charging process authorization which corresponds to the stored charging process authorization, with the control command being transmitted via the third communication path (CP3) to the charging station (CS) if this criterion is fulfilled , whereupon the charging station (CS) stops or modifies the charging process, preferably exercising the stored charging process credentials triggered by the user to whom the user credentials successfully verified in step c) is assigned to one or more other users can be carried. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (AE) is assigned a plurality of charging columns (CS) with corresponding assigned charging column identifications (CID) and the control unit (AE) is assigned that charging column (CS) for transmitting the start command (SRQ) in step c) ) selects which the charging station identification (CID) transmitted in step a). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the user authorization (UCR) is stored in the vehicle (EV) and the vehicle (EV) in step b) the user authorization (UCR) together with the charging station identification (CID) via the second communication path (CP2) to the control unit (AE). Method according to one of the Claims 1 to 5 , wherein in step b) - the vehicle (EV) transmits a vehicle authorization (VCR) and the charging station identification (CID) to a mobile terminal (MD) via a fourth communication path (CP4), the fourth communication path (CP4) based on local wireless communication around the vehicle (EV) and the charging station (CS); - The mobile terminal (MD) verifies the vehicle authorization (VCR) and, if the verification is successful, transmits the user authorization (USR) stored in the mobile terminal (MD) to the control unit (AE) via the second communication path (CP2). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (AE) verifies the user authorization verification (UCR) in step c). Method according to one of the Claims 1 to 7th wherein in step c) - the control unit (AE) transmits an authentication request (ARQ) containing the user credentials (UCR) to a backend (BE) which verifies the user credentials (UCR); - Upon successful verification of the user authorization (UCR), the backend (BE) transmits an authentication confirmation (ARP) to the control unit (AE), which then transmits the start command (SRQ) to the charging station (CS) via the third communication path (CP3) . Procedure according to Claim 9 , the authentication request (ARQ) and the authentication confirmation (ARP) as well as the start command (SRQ) are transmitted according to the OCPP protocol (OCPP = Open Charge Point Protocol). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first communication path (CP1) is based on PLC communication via the charging cable. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second communication path (CP2) and / or the fourth communication path (CP4) are based on WLAN, 5G or Bluetooth. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second communication path (CP2) for the transmission of the user authorization (UCR) and the charging station identification (CID) does not require a receiving address of the control unit (AE) and / or the fourth communication path (CP4) for the transmission the vehicle authorization certificate (VCR) and the charging station identification (CID) do not require the receiving address of the mobile device (MD). System for authorizing a charging process of a vehicle (EV) at a charging station (CS), the vehicle being connected to the charging station (CS) via a charging cable (CC) for charging its electrical energy storage device, the system for carrying out a method according to one of the preceding claims is configured. Control unit for a system for authorizing a charging process, the control unit (AE) being set up to act as a control unit (AR) in a method according to one of the Claims 1 to 13th to work.

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