BE1020290A5 - SYSTEM FOR DRAWING A UTILITY DEVICE. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system that allows a mobile or a semi-mobile consumer to purchase a utility (e.g. water, gas, electricity) from a supplier in a simple and efficient manner. The invention also offers each consumer a location independence that allows him to purchase a utility (electrical energy, gas, water) from his own or another provider.

Description

System for harvesting a utility

The object of this invention is to provide a system that allows a mobile or semi-mobile consumer to purchase a utility (e.g. water, gas, electricity) from a supplier in a simple and efficient manner.

STATE OF THE ART

Increased mobility has reinforced the need to provide consumers at different locations with one or more of the traditional utilities: water and / or electricity and / or gas. As examples of such a consumer, reference may be made to a contractor of construction works or other public works, a trader who is in different markets, the user of a boat or yacht mooring in different places, the user of a camper or caravan, operators of fairground attractions, etc.

A special case is the users of electric vehicles; for these consumers there is a need to provide charging points in many places where the batteries of these vehicles can be charged. In analogy with the known dispensing columns for gasoline or diesel, it has therefore already been started to install different charging stations, the so-called charging stations, to which the vehicles can be connected in a manner analogous to the dispensing of gasoline or diesel fuel, to purchase and store electrical energy. For charging the purchased electrical energy, these charging stations are then provided with the necessary measuring and calculation elements that allow the consumer to pay in cash or by means of a payment or customer card.

The published patent application US 2010/0039062 (GONG-EN GU et al.) Describes a loading station that has a number of loading places. An intelligent meter installed in the charging station identifies each of the vehicles connected to the charging points and measures the energy supplied to each of the vehicles. Furthermore, the intelligent meter determines all the data that is needed to be able to pay for the energy supplied.

The disadvantage of such charging points consists of a relatively important investment per charging point and limited flexibility. This disadvantage becomes even greater if one takes into account the fact that the energy capacity of the used batteries is much more limited than the energy capacity of gasoline or diesel fuel and the resulting limited scope of electric vehicles. It therefore seems inevitable that a very dense network of charging points should be established. By making use of the present invention, this network of charging stations can be made less dense and at the same time provided with a very flexible charging possibility for electric cars.

But in other situations too there is a need for a flexible system to give a consumer the possibility to use a certain utility.

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an efficient and flexible system that allows mobile or semi-mobile units to have a dense network of utilities with which these units can use one or more utilities.

This goal is achieved by a system suitable for providing a consumer with a utility; the system comprises a branch point provided with means in which data are stored that allow identification of this branch point; the system further comprises a connecting element, provided with at least one connecter, and wherein the connecting element or the connecter comprises a meter of the amount of the utility supplied or supplied by the consumer, an identification module suitable for identifying the branch point and a communication module . According to an embodiment, the said means comprise a chip. According to another embodiment, the chip is arranged on a sticker. According to an embodiment, the sticker consists of a self-destructive and adhesive vignette.

According to a further embodiment the system comprises safety means. According to a further embodiment, the tapping point comprises an authentication module which determines that the connecting element is entitled to purchase or supply the utility to the tapping point.

According to yet a further embodiment, the connecting element further comprises a satellite-based position determination.

According to yet a further embodiment, the system further comprises a central server, wherein the communication module with the central server exchanges data.

According to yet a further embodiment, the central server comprises means for settling the amount purchased or the amount of utility supplied.

According to yet a further embodiment, the central server comprises a memory in which specific data concerning the branch point and / or the consumer and / or a "smart grid" are stored.

According to yet a further embodiment, the utility supply consists of electrical energy and the connecting element comprises an electric cable.

According to yet a further embodiment, the utility supply consists of gas and the connecting element comprises a gas pipe.

According to yet a further embodiment, the utility supply consists of water and the connecting element comprises a water pipe.

It is further noted that the object of the invention can also be achieved by the different embodiments per se or by any combination of the different embodiments.

The present invention also relates to the methods intended to use one of the systems defined above.

DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows a general diagram of the cable or the connecter provided at the consumer;

Figure 2 shows a possible implementation of the invention in the case of a charging of an electric car.

In the present description and the subsequent claims, the following definitions are used: - the supplier: the person or firm that supplies a utility (water, gas, electrical energy) to a consumer; in addition, this person or firm can generate the utility itself or obtain it from a third party via a distribution network; - the consumer: the person or company who purchases a utility from a supplier; this consumer can be mobile or semi-mobile (with a provisional location or berth) and the utility can be consumed or stored on site; - the tapping point: the element that is made available by the supplier for supplying the utility; depending on the utility, the tapping point may be, for example, a tap, a power outlet, etc .; - "smart grid": an (electrical) distribution network that comprises means that can control the flow of a utility through the network, taking into account the total consumption and / or consumption of this current within a certain area.

Generally speaking, the connecting element between the branch point of the utility on the one hand and the installation of the consumer on the other is an essential part of the present invention. This connecting element comprises an identification module (1), a measuring module (2) and a communication module (3) so that it is possible to speak of a "smart" connecting element. Furthermore, the connecting element is also provided with an element (4) which comprises data which allow identification of this connecting element or the consumer.

In the following description, the invention is described as applied to an electric vehicle; however, as explained above, the invention is not limited to use with electric vehicles; the invention can also be applied to the supply of electrical energy to other mobile or semi-mobile consumers, such as, for example, the installation of special events, fairs, at construction sites, etc. Furthermore, the invention can also be applied to the delivery of other utilities such as water or gas.

In the case of the supply of electrical energy, the connecting element may comprise an electrical cable and a modified connector. This connector can be fixedly connected to the cable or be implemented as an adapter (adapter) between the cable itself and the tapping point. According to a first embodiment, the connecting element comprises an identification module (1) which reads out and stores the data concerning the branch point. This reading is preferably done by using, for example, NFC (Near Field Communication) technology that allows reading of information from tags, payment cards and vignettes. The connecting element further comprises a measuring module (2) which, in the case of the supply of electrical energy, comprises an energy meter. This energy meter measures the amount of energy supplied via the tapping point and taken by the consumer, and stores the result of the measurement. A communication module (3) forwards the data regarding the identity of the tapping point and the data concerning the amount of electrical energy supplied to a central server (25). This is preferably done via an internet connection. The communication can take place immediately after delivery or also at other specific times, for example once a day, once a week, etc. At the same time, the communication module also transmits data concerning the identity of the consumer or the identity of the connection element to the central server ; this data is present in the element 4. The communication between the connection element / communication module (3) and the central server can use, for example, GPRS or PLC (Power Line Communication), but other communication options can also be used.

The data regarding the tapping point can, for example, be stored in a (passive) identification element which is arranged internally or externally on the tapping point itself. In the case of the supply of electrical energy, this identification element can preferably consist of a chip arranged on a self-destructive and adhesive vignette (sticker). By "self-destructive" it is understood that, once applied at the branching point, the vignette can no longer be removed from the branching point without rendering the vignette and the chip unusable. Such vignettes, without a chip, however, are known per se from motor traffic where they are used as proof that tolls for motorways were paid. An example of vignette with chip is further described in US 2010/0117834. According to an embodiment, such a vignette is applied to the socket (= branch point) itself that is released for supplying electrical energy. According to this embodiment, it is very easy to convert an existing socket into a socket that is also suitable for charging electric cars. It is sufficient to affix the vignette to the socket, preferably on the front of the socket, which is provided with the necessary holes for inserting a plug. By using such vignettes and the NFC read-out technique, different sockets, each possibly with a different identification vignette, can also be placed at a relatively close distance from each other, which makes it possible, for example, to install several branch points on the parking lot of a company that are suitable are for charging electric cars. It is also conceivable to provide one or more sockets of a box with a multiple socket with a sticker. For sockets that belong to the same supplier, the data on the chip of the sticker may or may not differ from socket to socket. It is important that with this data at least the supplier who owns or operates the sockets (or the meter indicating the amount of electrical energy used by the supplier) can be clearly identified. The vignette or sticker may also include a visual indication of the organization that organizes the settlement and / or the organization that provides the utility.

When using this embodiment, the charging of an electric car is done by a simple process. Beforehand, the supplier places a vignette on a power outlet and registers as an energy supplier at a central location (for example, the server mentioned) and lets him know at what price he wants to supply energy (A default price is also possible). The placement of the vignette can of course be done by any other party on condition that registration follows afterwards.

With the cable and the adapted connecter, a connection is made between the car to be charged and the socket. The identity of the socket is read out and the amount of electrical energy taken is measured. The communication module sends the necessary data: amount of purchased electrical energy, identity of the socket (representative of the supplier), identity of the cable and / or connecter (representative of the consumer) to a central server, preferably via an internet connection , wireless or over a network (WAN, LAN, etc.). With the help of this data the purchased electrical energy can then be settled. This settlement can be done directly between the supplier and the consumer. It is also possible to do the settlement between the consumer and, for example, his own provider. In this case, the amount of electrical energy purchased is deducted from the supplier.

The cable or connecter can be realized in various embodiments; they allow energy to be consumed on the consumer's own account, regardless of the location.

FIG. 2 shows a possible concrete realization of the invention in the case of an electric car. It should be noted that in this figure the scale of the various components (building supplier / socket / vignette / smart connector / server / etc) does not match. The following elements can be distinguished in the figure: - the supplier 21 ("Host party"); - sockets 22 for taking the charging current; - the smart connecter 23, designed as an adapter; - the car 24 with the batteries to be charged; - the different energy flows ("Energy flow") a) between the network and the supplier, b) between the supplier and the connecter and c) between the connecter and the car with the batteries; - the server 25 with the database of the measurement results of the energy taken and the various accounts (supplier account, consumer account, etc.)

This location independence that is offered to every consumer is a renewal in the electricity market. Now every consumer is tied to his own meter and this is his only point of contact with the network. By using the cable and connecter, every user can simply charge via their own electricity bill, wherever they are.

An option is to add a satellite-based positioning component (5), eg GPS, to the cable and / or the connecter. This makes it possible to provide the consumer with information about the place where the electrical energy was supplied and / or to provide the consumer with information about where branch points are present. This position-determining component can be an additional component that is integrated in the cable or connecter, but use can also be made of the position-determining device that is already present in the vehicle.

The system can furthermore be provided with safety means (security component); these resources ensure the integrity of the meter (both in terms of HW and SW), data generated and transactions. For example, one could consider making a payment service possible via the meter so that payment cards or loyalty cards can be accepted via the NFC interface.

There is also the possibility of reading the data only at certain moments and forwarding it to the central server. The measured values are stored in the connecting element (the cable and / or the connecter) and this data is kept tamper evident and resistant. The security component can also be used for authentication and identification, and as a privacy supporting component.

The security means can provide the assurance that the complete service provided by the system can proceed safely, assuming that the cable / connector is in the possession of the user and that no direct control is possible through a third body. Furthermore, the aim is to distribute the product (the connecting element) freely in the market, for example through consumer distribution. The safety functions must also offer certainty over the entire lifecycle of the product, starting from production, deployment, use and end of age. Various security functions can be identified, among other things (not exhaustively):

Tamper evidence:

The cable and / or the adapter contains functions that can show that someone has attempted to cheat the product or service. These functions can partly be present in the cable or also at the level of the back-end server. They can be based on hardware and physical implementation, or use smart software and or correlation techniques on the data generated.

Tamper resistance.

The cable and / or adapter contains functions that make fraud (almost) impossible by completely safeguarding it against burglary (tampering). This burglary protection can be achieved by physical means (for example a housing that is sturdy and cannot be easily opened), by add electronic and / or software components.

Secure OTA-Over the air update

The cable and / or adapter, in combination with the management function of the server, will update (update) data, parameters, firmware, applications and service components at regular intervals, depending on the needs of the market. This can happen over-the-air via the mobile internet or other communication methods. However, it is necessary to determine that this update is secure and that, for example, it cannot be initiated by a third party, or that fraud can be committed during the update. Furthermore, the updates must be authentic.

Cable integrity

These functions ensure that the meter hardware, Armware, application and service components remain authentic at all times and can be identified as such.

Secure transaction

These functions ensure that transactions can proceed safely. For example, the function - what you see is what you pay - must be guaranteed at all times.

Furthermore, no fraud may occur at any time or place during the transaction.

By transaction we mean being able to set up the data for the settlement service and being able to prove that the service went well (proof of confirmation).

Mutual authentication

This concerns functions in which the various system components of the service trust each other when they come into contact with each other.

For example, when a cable reads a vignette, it is important to prove that the vignette and the cable do indeed belong to the same service. Does the cable trust the vignette? Does the vignette trust the cable? Identically it is about the trust between cable and back end service (central server). The use of copy components can be avoided.

Secure communication

The data (data, firmware update, applications and service components) that are exchanged between server and cable cannot be changed by third parties during communication. Typically these functions include encryption and hashing methodologies.

Secure deployment

Functions that guarantee the integrity and authenticity of the cable during the physical logistics process that the product undergoes between production and ultimately being available to the end customer.

Secure de-operation

At the end of the product's age, for example, when the cable is thrown away, there are a number of functions that prevent components, and sub-components, or the cable as a whole from returning to the service circuit, whether modified or not by third parties.

If there is a sufficient relationship of trust between supplier and consumer, for example an employer and his employees, authentication of the connection element is not necessary. However, it is always possible to provide an authentication module at the tapping point that determines whether the cable and / or the connecter are entitled to purchase electrical energy. In this case the delivery of electrical energy only takes place if this authentication module determines that the cable and / or connecter are entitled to purchase. Furthermore, the system can also comprise a service component, which comprises a number of central tasks. The meter data (supplied by module 2) is exchanged with the central server (the internet back end). An account is associated with each connection element and the data for each account (Cable or adapter) is stored in the central server. In addition, account is kept for each account with which meters of third parties (= suppliers) a connection has been made. These meters are, for example, identified by the code assigned by the energy distributor (for Belgium, for example, the EAN code). This allows a settlement to be passed on to a payment service. They must then debit the owners of the meters concerned.

In principle, the service component can be traced back to a number of main services a. Managing and registering the accounts (CRM customer relationship management) b. Managing the data that makes the settlement possible.

The following table gives an example for connection element with identity 1001:

c. The settlement service itself is a third party service (eg PINGPING http://www.pingping.be/, Minitix https://www.rabobank.nl/particulieren/producten/betalen/betalen_vi a_intemet / minitix).

d. Managing the infrastructure (connecting elements and vignettes): Updating new Armware, service applications, ... over the air

e. Organize the call and service center.

f. The database of the parameters needed to make each connection element work safely and an intelligent decision function that determines the cable's setting parameters based on this data (see below).

g. The data push function to other servers based on the information present in these databases. For example, the data can be used for telematics services that optimally guide the car to the closest, or cheapest, (or other requirements) charging point.

h. Data mining and integrity checks.

These tamper-proof functions (see security) ensure that fraud can be detected, i. Certificate generation and distribution

These functions ensure the independent deployment of the service components (vignettes and cables) in the field. They are required for the mutual authenticity (see security) functions.

I.v.m. the intelligent decision function mentioned under f) above can still be provided in a special database. This database of parameters, which control an intelligent decision function that calculates set parameters to safely load the cable at a specific time and place, consists of parameters set by the parties involved. This database can include: a) specific data about the branch point such as the value of the nominal voltage supplied by the branch point, the maximum current that can be taken at the branch point, the number of feses (e.g. two phases, three phases) present on the branch point branch point, the unit price of the energy supplied, the location of the branch point, etc.

(b) specific data concerning the consumer such as the voltage that can be taken by the consumer, the current that can be taken by the consumer, the number of phases of the current taken by the consumer, the maximum price that the consumer wants to pay for the energy consumption, etc.

c) specific data concerns the “smart grid” within a certain environment such as the number of tapping points that are in use at a given moment in that particular environment and / or which tapping points can be used within a certain environment, the maximum load for the tapping points within a specific environment (where this maximum load can vary over time), etc.

This database can be organized as follows:

This database can in principle contain default values, but the parties involved (The consumer, the supplier who makes the energy available, and the smart grid operator who distributes the energy in a certain region) can feed these with self-defined values for the parameters.

The user will, for example, want to determine that the cable does not charge, if the price is too high, or that the cable must always charge on a fest charge, etc.

He can also indicate, for example, that he is willing to supply energy from the battery (under specific conditions) etc ..

The supplier displays his price, but can also indicate, for example, that he has an inspection certificate for his installation. He can indicate that the tapping point can only deliver 16A.

The smart grid operator for a certain region can indicate the maximum rating in a certain street, where if there are several charges at the same time, each cable is assigned a maximum, or he wants to display the price for a certain time ... etc ...

When the cable is activated, it contacts the server. The server contains an intelligent decision machine that, using these database parameters, determines a number of setting parameters for the cable. The cable receives these values and will behave as such and therefore "safely" and charge optimally for that specific situation.

The presence of this data in the central server, as well as the knowledge of the vignettes issued, make it possible to offer a ‘distribution service; data that can be used by, for example, an intelligent telematics service to guide cars to specific loading positions (tapping points / Vignettes). This guidance can depend on the driver's driving behavior, the chosen road, the charge status of the battery etc ...

By combining a number of these data, it can be determined whether the consumer will draw energy from a given branch point.

This can happen in different ways.

One possibility is to combine some data under a) with some data under b) in a logic circuit that can start charging at the tapping point. The following conditions are examples of simple logic operations that make it possible to start charging: - the nominal voltage of the tapping point corresponds to the voltage of the consumer; - the current that can be absorbed by the consumer is smaller than the maximum current of the tapping point; the price of the energy supplied is acceptable to the consumer.

A combination of the data under a) and / or the data under b) with the data under c) is also possible (for example: at which branch point in the environment can the consumer charge himself with the conditions that voltage, current and / or price acceptable and where the network still allows this charging). Via a logic circuit or via an algorithm, a combination of data can then be used to deduce which branch point the consumer can connect to. Charging can also be started in this way.

The data under a), b) and c) can for instance be stored in a central server, preferably the server 25. Also some data (for example some data concerning the consumer) can be stored in a memory within the cable / connector.

Various embodiments of the invention have been described above with the use of electric cars. As already indicated, the invention is also applicable for supplying electrical energy in other circumstances (construction sites, fairs, events and markets, boats and yachts, etc.) and also for supplying other utilities such as gas and water. It is then of course necessary to make the necessary obvious adjustments, for example the electric cable becomes a water or gas hose and the tapping point becomes a tap.

The invention also offers each consumer a location independence that allows him to purchase a utility (electrical energy, gas, water) from his own or another provider. This is an important advantage over the current situation where every consumer is tied to his own meter which is his only point of contact with his provider.

Finally, it is to be noted that the individual features listed in the above description as belonging to one particular embodiment may also belong to another embodiment.

Claims (12)

A system for providing a consumer with a utility, the system comprising: - a branch point, provided with means in which data are stored that enable identification of this branch point; - a connecting element, provided with at least one connecter, the connecting element or the connecter comprising: = a meter (2) of the amount of the utility supplied or supplied by the consumer; = an identification module (1) suitable for identifying the branch point; : a communication module, characterized in that said means comprise a self-destructive and adhesive vignette provided with a chip. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein the system further comprises safety means. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tapping point comprises an authentication module which determines that the connecting element is entitled to purchase the utility from the tapping point. The system of any one of the preceding claims wherein the connecting element further comprises a satellite based position determining element. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the system further comprises a central server (25) and wherein the communication module exchanges data with the central server. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the central server comprises means for settling the amount of purchased or supplied amount of utility. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the central server comprises a memory in which specific data concerning the branch point and / or the consumer and / or a "smart grid" are stored. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the utility supply consists of electrical energy and the connecting element comprises an electrical cable. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the utility supply consists of gas and wherein the connecting element consists of a gas pipe. The system of any one of the preceding claims wherein the utility supply consists of water and wherein the connecting element. Method for adapting an existing tapping point from a utility to a tapping point for a mobile consumer, the method comprising: - applying to the tapping point means in which data are stored that allow identification of this tapping point; - registering the branch point in a central register, characterized in that said means consist of a self-destructive and adhesive vignette on which a chip is arranged. A method for charging an electric vehicle at a branch point, the branch point being adapted according to the method of claim 11.