EP3224962A1

EP3224962A1 - Charging device and method for operating a charging device

Info

Publication number: EP3224962A1
Application number: EP15790888.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rüdiger NITZ
Original assignee: Nitz engineering GmbH
Current assignee: Nitz engineering GmbH
Priority date: 2014-11-24
Filing date: 2015-10-30
Publication date: 2017-10-04
Also published as: WO2016083072A1; DE102014117180B3; US20170331319A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a charging device (20) for charging a power storage unit of a mobile terminal (10), wherein the charging device (20) comprises a power transmission device for transmitting electrical power to the mobile terminal (10), an electronic charger (23) coupled to the power transmission module for controlling the power transmission, and a data transmission module (22) coupled to the electronic charger (23) for transmitting data between the charging device (20) and the mobile terminal (10). The invention further relates to an correspondingly designed method and to an correspondingly designed mobile terminal.

Description

Charging device and method for operating a charging device Field of the invention

The invention relates to a charging device for charging an energy store of a mobile terminal and to a method for operating a charging device according to the invention or a method for charging an energy store of a mobile terminal.

Background of the invention

In the prior art, charging devices for charging an energy storage device of a mobile terminal, such as a smartphone, are known. Such charging devices are plugged into a socket and coupled to the terminal to be charged. Thus, the terminal can be charged. However, it is not possible to control the charging time, which would be desirable, for example, in public or publicly accessible facilities to allow other people to access the outlet.

For example, a bar or library may provide multiple such charging devices to allow guests to charge their mobile phones, tablets, or laptops. It is either not possible or not practicable to monitor the individual charging processes or the individual charging times. This ultimately also prevents the provider of the charging devices can charge a time-dependent charge for a charge. In addition, wireless charging devices for mobile terminals are known in the prior art. Here, the mobile terminal only has to be placed near the charging device to start a charging process. However, providing such wireless charging devices poses the same problems as providing wired charging devices. Again, it is not practical to monitor the individual load times, so that a time-dependent charge for a charge can not be charged.

The charging of a lump-sum charging fee regardless of the charging time is also impractical because it would prefer longer charging times to shorter charging times.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide solutions which at least partially avoid the disadvantages known from the prior art.

Inventive Solution According to the invention, this object is achieved with a charging device, with a method for charging a mobile terminal, with a mobile terminal, as well as with a computer program product according to the independent claims. Advantageous developments and refinements of the invention are specified in the respective dependent claims.

Accordingly, a charging device is provided for charging an energy store of a mobile terminal, wherein the charging device

a power transmission device for transmitting electrical energy to the mobile terminal,

a charge electronics coupled to the energy transfer device for controlling the energy transfer, and a data transfer module coupled to the charging electronics for transferring data between the charging device and the mobile terminal. The charging device is adapted to transmit a unique identifier of the charging device, preferably via the data transmission module, to the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal can then control the charging process as a function of the identifier of the charging device. It is advantageous that with the charging electronics, for example, the duration of the energy transfer can be controlled. With the data transmitted between the charging device and the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal can transmit to the charging device data that can be made available for controlling the energy transfer of the charging electronics. For example, the mobile terminal of the charging device can announce a charging time. Alternatively, the mobile terminal of the charging device signal the beginning and end of the charging process, in particular in dependence on the unique identifier of the charging device. The charging device may be adapted to receive a charging indicator, preferably via the data transmission module from the mobile terminal, wherein the charging indicator indicates whether the energy storage of the mobile terminal is loaded. The charging device can also be adapted to terminate the transmission of electrical energy to the mobile terminal if the charging indicator indicates that the energy store of the mobile terminal is not being charged. Thereby, it can be prevented that the charging device provides electric power for charging another mobile terminal when the currently loaded terminal is removed from the charging device. However, it is advantageous if the charging indicator indicates so long that the energy storage device of the mobile terminal is loaded, as long as a predetermined content, in particular advertising, is displayed on the mobile terminal. Becomes the predetermined content is no longer displayed on the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal can notify the charging device with the aid of the charging indicator that the mobile terminal is no longer being charged or that the charging device no longer has to provide any electrical energy for charging the mobile terminal , Thus, the charging process can be made dependent on the data displayed on the mobile terminal, such as advertising.

The charging device can be adapted to receive a unique identifier of the mobile terminal, preferably via the data transmission module. The unique identifier of the mobile terminal can be transmitted together with the charging indicator. With the help of the unique identifier of the mobile terminal and the unique identifier of the charging device, the mobile terminal and the charging device can go through an initialization before the start of the charging in which the two identifiers are exchanged (handshake). During the charging process, the charging device may then check (if the unique identifier of the mobile terminal is transmitted together with the charging indicator) whether, for example, the charging indicator is transmitted from an authorized terminal. This avoids that, after the authorized terminal has moved away from the charging device, another mobile terminal can be charged if the initialization has not previously been carried out for this further mobile terminal.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention

the energy transmission device comprises a primary coil for inductive transmission of electrical energy to the mobile terminal,

- The primary coil is coupled to the charging electronics, for controlling the inductive energy transfer, and

- The data transmission module for wireless transmission of data between the charging device and the mobile terminal is configured.

The advantage here is that both the charging of the energy storage device of a mobile terminal and the data required to control the energy transfer can be transmitted wirelessly between the charging device and the mobile terminal.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention

the charging electronics or the data transmission module has a timer with which a duration of the energy transmission can be determined, the charging device being adapted to transmit electrical energy to the mobile terminal for the specified duration, and the information about the duration being transmitted via the data transmission module of FIG the mobile terminal is transferable to the charging device, and / or

The charging electronics or the data transfer module has a decryption module with which cryptographically encrypted data received by the data transfer module can be decrypted. Also provided is a method for charging an energy store of a mobile terminal using a charging device according to the invention, wherein

the mobile terminal receives a unique identifier of the charging device from the charging device via a data transmission module,

- The mobile terminal brings predetermined data to a display device of the mobile terminal for display, and

- The mobile terminal via the data transmission module an activation message (token) transmits to the charging device as soon as the predetermined data are displayed on the display device of the terminal, wherein the activation message causes the charging device to transfer electrical energy from the charging device to the mobile terminal ,

The charging of the energy storage of the mobile terminal can thus be made dependent on whether the predetermined data are displayed on the mobile terminal. This data may include advertising, so that the owner of the charging device may, for example, offer a free charging of a terminal, provided that the advertisement is displayed on the terminal. It is advantageous if the data displayed on a display device of the terminal are dependent on the accepted unique identifier of the charging device. This allows different data to be displayed when charging at different charging devices.

It is advantageous if

the mobile terminal transmits the received unique identifier of the charging device to a server system in order to initiate a release process on the server system,

- The mobile terminal receives the activation message from the server system after a successful release process.

The activation message may include the data to be displayed on the display device of the terminal.

Alternatively or additionally, the activation message may include information about the duration for which electrical energy is to be transmitted from the charging device to the mobile terminal, wherein the transmission of electrical energy from the charging device to the mobile terminal is activated for the duration indicated in the activation message ,

It is advantageous here that the release of a charging process is performed by a server device which is coupled to the mobile terminal, wherein the mobile terminal can activate the charging process. This avoids having to provide the loader with a data transfer device to communicate with the server device. The design effort of the charger can be kept so low. In addition, the owner of the charging device incurs no telecommunication costs, such as mobile radio costs, since the communication with the server device, for example via the mobile Internet, is handled by the mobile terminal. In an advantageous embodiment, the mobile terminal transmits a charging indicator to the charging device.

In this case, the charging indicator can indicate whether the energy store of the mobile terminal device is being charged, wherein the charging device terminates the transmission of electrical energy to the mobile terminal if the charging indicator indicates that the energy store of the mobile terminal is not or no longer being charged. For example, the charging for a specific terminal may be terminated when that terminal leaves the charging device. This avoids that another terminal, such as an unauthorized terminal, can be charged.

Alternatively or additionally, the charging indicator may indicate whether the predetermined data is displayed on the display device of the mobile terminal, wherein the charging device terminates the transmission of electrical energy to the mobile terminal when the charging indicator indicates that the predetermined data is not or no longer displayed , Thus, the charging process can be maintained as long as long as the predetermined data, such as an advertisement, are displayed on the mobile terminal.

It is advantageous here if the charging indicator is transmitted together with the unique identifier of the charging device and / or together with a unique identifier of the mobile terminal. It can thus be determined whether the charging indicator is transmitted from an authorized terminal to the charging device.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the release process comprises a payment process with which the duration of the transmission of electrical energy from the charging device to the mobile terminal is billed, the duration to be billed

- is transmitted from the mobile terminal to the server system, or

- is assigned to the unique identifier of the charging device, or - Is determined from a payment amount that is transmitted from the mobile terminal to the server system.

It is advantageous if the release process comprises a step in which the activation message is generated and transmitted to the mobile terminal, wherein the activation message is the

- transmitted to the server system, or

- assigned to the unique identifier, or

- determined from the payment amount

Duration includes.

The activation message may include the unique identifier of the charging device. This prevents, for example, that with an activation message, another charging device for the power transmission can be activated.

In one embodiment of the invention, the activation message can be cryptographically encrypted. Advantageously, the cryptographic keys for encrypting and decrypting the activation message are known only to the server device or the charging device, wherein in an even more advantageous embodiment of the invention each charging device is assigned a different key pair, so that a cryptographically encrypted activation message actually only from that charging device is decipherable, for which the activation message is intended.

The activation of the transmission of electrical energy from the charging device to the mobile terminal, in particular for the duration indicated in the activation message, may include:

the activation message is transmitted from the mobile terminal to the charging device via the data transmission module,

in the charging device, the timer (timer) is initialized according to the duration specified in the activation message, - The transmission of electrical energy from the charger to the mobile terminal is started, and

- After the expiration of the transmission of electrical energy is stopped. The timer controls the duration of the energy transfer. For example, if the timer reaches a value corresponding to the duration indicated in the activation message, the power transmission may be terminated.

It is advantageous if the charging device can decrypt the transmitted activation message, so that cryptographically encrypted activation messages can be used.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention

- The unique identifier and / or the activation message wirelessly between see the charging device and the mobile terminal transmitted, and / or

- The electrical energy is transmitted inductively from the charger to the mobile terminal.

In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, in addition to the unique identifier of the charging device, a unique identifier of the mobile terminal can also be transmitted to the server system. This unique identifier of the mobile terminal may be, for example, the mobile number of the mobile terminal. As a result, a charging process can be billed, for example, via the mobile phone bill of the owner of the mobile terminal. Of course, a charge can also be processed via other payment methods, such as PayPal, credit card or in-app purchases. This can be advantageous if the user of the mobile terminal wants to continue the charging process if the predetermined data, such as an advertisement, are no longer displayed on the mobile terminal. The invention further provides a mobile terminal, which is adapted to charge its energy store, in particular accumulator, according to the method according to the invention. It is advantageous if the mobile terminal has a secondary coil of an inductive energy transmission device and a data transmission module for wireless data transmission between the mobile terminal and a charging device, in particular a charging device according to the invention. The energy transfer between the mobile terminal and the charging device can be handled according to the so-called Ql standard (inductive energy transfer). The data transmission modules of the mobile terminal and of the charging device may comprise NFC data transmission modules, Bluetooth data transmission modules, WLAN data transmission modules or other transmission modules suitable for short-range data transmission.

Further provided is a computer program product, in particular a mobile application, which can be loaded into the internal memory of a terminal, in particular a mobile terminal, and which comprises program sections with which the method according to the invention is executed when the computer program product is executed on the terminal.

The computer program product may, for example, comprise a so-called app, which can be loaded via a mobile communication network from a server device to the mobile terminal and executed there.

In a further aspect of the invention, a furniture panel is provided, which has a recess or a through hole, wherein in the recess or in the through hole a charging device according to the invention can be arranged or is arranged. This furniture, such as desks, bar tables or the like can be provided with an integrated charging device or with an integratable charging device to allow charging of an energy storage device of a mobile terminal.

Brief description of the figures

Details and features, in particular advantageous embodiment and further developments of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings. 1 shows a charging device according to the invention with a mobile terminal arranged relative to the charging device;

FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of a charging device according to the invention; FIG.

3 shows a system overview with a charging device according to the invention, a mobile terminal according to the invention and a server device for clarifying the method according to the invention for charging an energy store of the mobile terminal;

4 shows a first variant of a method according to the invention;

5 shows a second variant of a method according to the invention;

6 shows a method in which the charging device according to the invention and the mobile terminal according to the invention are used to handle a product order;

7 shows a flow chart of a method for updating a database within the inventive method for charging an energy store of a mobile terminal; 8 is a flowchart of a method for cleaning up a database used in a method for charging an energy store of a mobile terminal according to the invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the method according to FIG. 4; FIG. and

10 shows a further variant of the method according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

Fig. 1 shows a charging device according to the invention and arranged on the charging device according to the invention mobile terminal.

The charging device 20 is arranged here in a recess 6 of a furniture panel 5, wherein the recess 6 is provided on the underside of the furniture panel 5. The recess is preferably dimensioned such that the loading device 20 can be arranged substantially in a form-fitting manner in the recess 6 and fixed there. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the charging device 20 has a cylindrical housing, so that the recess 6 can be made particularly simple by means of a cylindrical bore. The charging device 20 has an energy transfer device, which is designed here as a primary coil 21 of an inductive energy transfer device. Furthermore, the charging device 20 has a charging electronics 23 with which the energy transfer, in particular the inductive energy transfer, can be controlled. Furthermore, the charging device 20 has a data transmission module 22, with which a data exchange between the charging device 20 and a mobile terminal can be handled.

To control the energy transfer, the charging electronics 23 is coupled to the primary coil 21. Furthermore, the charging electronics 23 is coupled to the data transmission module 22, so that data received from the data transmission module 22 can be made available to the charging electronics 23. With these data, the charging electronics 23 can be instructed, for example, to carry out a charging process in a specific manner. For example, the data may include information about how long a load may last for a particular terminal. In an advantageous embodiment, the data transmission module 22 is designed as an NFC module (near-field communication). However, other short-range data transmission modules or data transmission protocols can also be used.

The charging device 20 furthermore has a power supply cable 25 with which the charging device 20 can be connected to a power supply. Alternatively, the charger 20 may also have its own power supply, such as an accumulator, integrated.

In yet another alternative embodiment of the invention, in the furniture panel 5, a power supply module 26, for example an accumulator, be integrated, which can be coupled to the charging device 20. Preferably, the power supply module 26 is detachably arranged on or in the furniture panel, so that the power supply module can be easily and quickly replaced if necessary.

The mobile terminal 10 according to the invention has a secondary coil 11 of an inductive energy transmission device. With a corresponding arrangement of the mobile terminal 10 relative to the charging device 20, an energy transfer between the primary coil 21 of the charging device 20 and the secondary coil 11 of the mobile terminal 10 can be handled.

Furthermore, the mobile terminal 10 has a data transmission module 12, which in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is designed as an NFC module. Via the data transmission module 12, the mobile terminal 10 can transmit data to the charging device 20 or receive data from the charging device 20. For example, the mobile terminal 10 may transmit data to the charging device 20 that includes information about how long a charging process should last. In the charging device 20, a plurality of different types of data transmission modules 22 may be provided, so that mobile terminals can be charged with different data transmission modules 12 according to the charging method according to the invention.

In Fig. 1, a system is shown, in which the energy transfer from the charging device 20 to the mobile terminal 10 on an inductive basis according to the QI standard and in which the data exchange between the charging device 20 and the mobile terminal 10 is wireless. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the energy transfer but also wired and the data exchange can be done wirelessly. In yet another alternative embodiment of the invention, both the energy transfer and the data exchange can be wired. The system according to the invention has the advantage that an energy transmission for charging an energy store of the mobile terminal is only started when the mobile terminal 10 via the data transmission modules 12, 22 corresponding data of the charging device 20 is available, which are successfully evaluated by the charging device 20 have to.

For example, the mobile terminal 10 may provide the charging device 20 with data that includes information about how long a charging process may take. In addition, the mobile terminal 10 of the charging device can transmit data comprising a unique identifier of the charging device, so that the charging device only starts a power transmission when the transmitted unique identifier matches the unique identifier of the charging device. As a result, it can be ensured, for example, that a mobile terminal can only be charged at certain charging devices. Alternatively or additionally, the mobile terminal 10 can also transmit a unique identifier of the mobile terminal to the charging device 20. The charging device 20 can then be designed such that it only transfers energy then starts when the received unique identifier of the mobile terminal 10 meets one or more predetermined criteria. A criterion here may be that the received unique identifier of the mobile terminal must be stored in a memory device of the charging device 20. If the accepted unique identifier of the mobile terminal is not stored in the memory device, an energy transmission can be prevented. This can be provided, for example, that at a certain charging device only certain selected mobile devices can be charged.

Storing a unique identifier of a mobile terminal 10 in a memory device of the charging device 20 may also be provided in an alternative embodiment of the invention to continue a charging process after an interruption of the charging process. For example, if the owner of a mobile device purchased an hour of charging time and the charging process is interrupted before the charge time has been purchased, the charging process can continue at a later time, so that an existing charge time balance is not lost. For this purpose, the charging device 20 stores the unique identifier of the mobile terminal together with the remaining charging time. However, this presupposes that the charging process for this mobile terminal is continued at the same charging device.

In an alternative embodiment of the charging method according to the invention, it may be provided that the charging process can also be continued at another charging device, for example at another charging device which belongs to a group of charging devices to which the charging device originally belongs has been. For this purpose, it is advantageous if the remaining charging time is stored together with a identifier identifying a group of charging devices in the mobile terminal or alternatively on a server device which can be coupled to the mobile terminal. The charging device 20 then has to check the identification of a group of charging devices identifier before resumption of charging and can if successful, resume charging for the remaining charge time. The mobile terminal 10 has to provide the other charging device 20 with only this identifier identifying a group of charging devices and the remaining charging time via the data transfer modules 12, 22.

2 shows an alternative embodiment of a charging device 20 according to the invention. The charging device 20 is arranged here in a through hole 7 of a furniture panel 5 so that the charging device 20 is visible on the upper side of the furniture panel 5. In the embodiment shown here, the charging device 20 has a cover plate 27, which has a slightly larger diameter than the through hole 7. The further embodiment and functionality of the charging device 20 shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to the configuration or functionality of the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1 described charging device 20th

3 shows a system overview with a mobile terminal 10 according to the invention, a charging device 20 according to the invention and a server system 40.

The mobile terminal 10 is coupled or coupled via a communication network 30, such as the mobile Internet with the server system 40. The server system 40 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 comprises a payment system 41 and a release system 42, which may be provided by a physical server or may be formed by two different servers coupled via a communication network.

The mobile terminal 10, which may be for example a smartphone, a tablet computer, a notebook or another mobile terminal, has a secondary coil 11 of an inductive charging device and a data transmission module 12. The data transmission module can be adapted, for example, for wireless data transmission. Preferably, the data transmission module 12 is an NFC module, a Bluetooth module, in particular a BLE module (Bluetooth low-energy) or a WLAN module. Furthermore, the mobile terminal 10 has an application program 13 which is stored in a memory of the mobile terminal 10 and can be executed on the mobile terminal. The application program 13 can be designed as a so-called app. Furthermore, the application program 13 is adapted to communicate with the data transmission module 12 or to control the data transmission module 12. Via the data transmission module 12, the application program 13 can receive data or send data, in particular, to the charging device 20.

Furthermore, the mobile terminal 10 has a communication interface to establish a data connection to the server system 40. The communication interface can be for example a mobile radio interface. Alternatively, the communication interface can also be designed as a WLAN interface. Via the communication interface, the mobile terminal 10 can transmit data to the server system 40 and receive data from the server system 40.

In Fig. 3 of the charging device 20, the charging electronics 23 and the data transmission module 22 are shown. The primary coil of the charging device 20, which is coupled to the charging electronics 23, is not shown in FIG.

The data transmission module 22 can be designed here as a wireless data transmission module. Preferably, the data transmission module 22 is an NFC module, a Bluetooth module, a BLE module and / or a WLAN module. The provision of different data transmission modules 22 has the advantage that mobile terminals 10 with different data transmission modules 12 can communicate with the charging device 20.

The energy transfer is handled between the primary coil 21 of the charging device 20, not shown in FIG. 3, and the secondary coil 11 of the mobile terminal 10. The data transmission takes place between the data transmission module 12 of the mobile terminal and the data transmission module 22 of the charging device 20. Both the power transmission and the data transmission is preferably wireless. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the power transmission can also be wired and the data transmission can be wireless. In yet another alternative of the invention, both the power transmission and the data transmission can be wired. The charging electronics 23 also has a timer 23a (timer), with which a maximum charging time or a remaining charging time can be controlled. That is to say, the timer 23a specifies to the charging electronics 23 how long a charging process may last in total. The timer 23 a can be implemented both as hardware and as software in the charging electronics 23.

The data transmission module 22 of the charging device 20 can also have a decryption module 22a, with which data received and encrypted by the mobile terminal 10 can be decrypted. In addition, an encryption module can also be provided in order to encrypt data to be transmitted to the terminal 10. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, however, it is provided that the decryption module 22a and optionally an encryption module are integrated into the charging electronics 23. As a result, special adaptations of the data transmission module 22 are avoided, so that standard data transmission modules can be used.

In a charging process according to the invention, the mobile terminal 10 is arranged relative to the charging device 20 so that the secondary coil 11 of the terminal 10 is relative to the primary coil 21 of the charging device 20, that between the two coils inductive energy transfer can be handled. With such an arrangement of the two coils relative to each other, it is also ensured that a data transmission can be processed between the two data transmission modules 12, 22. According to the invention, it is provided that an energy transfer for charging an energy store of the terminal 10 is only started when the energy transfer is released.

To enable the energy transmission, it is provided that the mobile terminal 10 requests such a release from the server system 40. The requesting of the release and the subsequent release of the energy transfer is handled by means of the application program 13 of the mobile terminal 10. After starting the application program 13, the user of the mobile terminal 10 by means of a user input in the application program 13 request a charging process. After such a request, a unique identifier of the charging device 20 is first transmitted via the data transmission modules 12, 22 from the charging device 20 to the mobile terminal 10. The mobile terminal 10 transmits this unique identifier to the server system 40. In addition, the mobile terminal 10 can also transmit information about a desired charging time to the server system 40.

The server system 40 processes the received unique identifier and, where appropriate, the information about a desired charging time and generates therefrom an activation message (token), which is transmitted via the communication network 30 to the mobile terminal 10. This request message contains data with which the loading process can be enabled or started. It is advantageous if the request message includes information about a maximum charging time of the charging process. It is also advantageous if the request message also includes the unique identifier of the charging device 20. This ensures that the request messages can only be used for the charging device identified with the unique identifier in order to release the charging process. It is particularly advantageous if the request message is cryptographically encrypted. After receiving the request message, this is optionally processed by the application program 13 of the mobile terminal 10 and then transmitted to the charging device 20. The charging device 20 may optionally decrypt the request message (with the decryption module 22a) if the request message has been encrypted. From the optionally decrypted request message, the charging device 20 can take the information about the maximum charging time of the charging process and thus set or initialize the timer 23 a. Following this, the inductive charging process can be started, wherein the charging process is limited to the charging duration specified in the request message. After the end of the charging time or after expiration of the timer 23 a, the charging process is automatically terminated.

Before starting the charging process, the charging device 20 can also check whether a specified in the request message unique identifier matches the unique identifier of the charging device. If these two identifiers do not match, the charging device 20 can refuse to start the energy transmission.

As noted above, the system may be adapted to continue an aborted charge on the same charger 20 or on another charger 20. For this purpose, it may be advantageous if a plurality of associated charging devices (for example all charging devices in a bar or all charging devices in a library) are additionally identified on the basis of a further unique identifier (group identifier). Based on the group ID, which is transmitted to the charging device, the charging device can then determine whether the specified in the request message unique identifier of the charging device 20 belongs to a group of charging devices.

Alternatively, the group membership may also be tested by the charging device 20 storing all unique identifiers of the charging devices associated with a group of charging devices. Alternatively, this group information may also be stored in the server system 40.

For the resumption of the charging process, it is provided that the mobile terminal 10 in turn transmits a request message to the charging device 20, wherein in the request message instead of the maximum charging time, the remaining charging time is specified. The remaining charging time can be stored, for example, in the mobile terminal. Alternatively, the remaining loading time together with the unique identifier of the loading device 20 or together with the unique group identifier can be stored in the server system 40.

The remaining charging time can be determined after an interruption of the charging process by the mobile terminal or by the application program 13, for example, by the application program 13 monitoring the charging process. Due to the monitoring of the charging process, the mobile terminal can determine the already expired charging time. The maximum charging time minus the calculated already expired charging time then gives the remaining charge time for a resumed charging.

The resumption of a charging process for the remaining charging time has the advantage that when a purchase of a certain charging time after an interruption of the charging process, the remaining charging time does not expire.

It should be noted that the loading devices belonging to a group do not necessarily have to be arranged geographically close to one another. For example, an airline may group all of the charging facilities provided in its business lounges at different airports into a group of charging facilities so that charging may begin at one airport and continue at another airport. The server system 40 comprises a payment system 41 and a release system 42. After receiving the unique identifier and optionally the maximum desired loading time, the payment system 41 may charge a charge for charging from the owner of the mobile terminal 10. This can be done, for example, via a credit card stored in the system, via PayPal, via direct debit or via a so-called in-app purchase. After successful payment, the information about the successful payment and possibly an associated loading time can be given to the release system 42, which generates the above-described request message and transmits it to the mobile terminal 10.

The server system 40 may also store the received unique identifier along with the date and time of receipt in a database or update the date and time for a unique identifier already stored in the database. With such an updated database of unique identifiers, for example, heuristics can be used to determine whether certain charging devices are still being actively used. If, for example, the last use of a charging device 20 for a charging process is already more than three months ago, it can be assumed that the charging device no longer exists. This loading device or the associated unique identifier can then be removed from the database.

It is advantageous if, together with the unique identifier, a geographical location of the associated charging device 20 is also stored. The geographic location of the loader 20 may be communicated to the server system 40 along with the unique identifier. This makes it possible, for example, to create a map in which the geographical positions of the available charging devices are displayed. Together with the group identifier, it is also possible to display all charging devices belonging to a group of charging devices in the map. The geographic location may be provided by, for example, a GPS module of the mobile terminal. For example, the mobile terminal may transmit the geographic location along with the unique identifier of the charging device.

4 shows a first embodiment of a method according to the invention for charging an energy store of a mobile terminal.

In a step Sl, a unique identifier UID of the charging device is transmitted from the charging device to the terminal.

In the subsequent step S2, the received unique identifier UID is transmitted to the server system or to the payment system. Together with the unique identifier UID, a desired loading time and / or a unique identifier of the mobile terminal can also be transmitted to the payment system. The unique identifier of the mobile terminal may be, for example, the mobile number. Upon transmission of the data in step S2, a payment or a payment transaction is initiated at the server system. After receiving the data transmitted in step S2, the payment is processed in step S3. For example, a monetary value can be calculated for the desired loading time, which is collected from an account of the owner of the terminal. Alternatively, the monetary value can be debited from a credit card. In yet another alternative, the monetary value can be paid as part of a so-called in-app purchase. When transmitting the mobile number of the mobile terminal billing can also be done via the mobile bill of the mobile operator.

After the payment has been processed successfully, the loading process can be started. For this purpose, according to the method shown in FIG. 4, in a step S4, the unique identifier of the charging device and the paid charging time are transmitted to the release system. The release system can be in one Step S7 optionally updates the database, as described in more detail with reference to FIG. Furthermore, the release system generates an activation message (token) and sends it in step S9 to the mobile terminal. The activation message generated in step S8 includes at least the paid charging time.

Instead of the desired loading time, information about a monetary amount can also be transmitted to the payment system in step S2, which can then collect this payment amount accordingly. The payment system and / or the release system can then determine a corresponding charging duration for the amount of money paid, which is then inserted into the activation message.

The user of the terminal can thus decide whether to book a certain charging time by specifying the charging time or stating a monetary amount. The activation message generated by the release system may be encrypted prior to being transmitted to the terminal.

Upon receipt of the activation message, the terminal may transmit them to the charging device in step S10.

In a subsequent step Si l the activation message can be decrypted, if the activation message has been transmitted encrypted. Further, in step S i, the timer of the charger is initialized, i. the charging duration specified in the activation message is communicated to the charging device or the charging electronics. Subsequently, the charging process can be started in step S11.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the activation message also contains the unique identifier UID of the charging device. Thus, the charging device can determine whether the activation message is intended for it. In the next step S12, the charging process is carried out, wherein the charging process is maintained until the charging duration indicated in the activation message is reached. After the charging time has been reached, the charging process is ended in step S13.

According to the invention, it may be provided to make the charging device known to the server system or the release system before step S1. For this purpose, in a step SO, the unique identifier UID and possibly the current code of the charging device can be made known to the release system. The release system may then update the database in step SO.1, as described in more detail with respect to FIG. 7.

5 shows a further embodiment of the method according to the invention for charging an energy store of the mobile terminal. Steps SO to S3 and S7 to S13 correspond to steps SO to S3 and S7 to S 13 of the method shown in FIG. 4, respectively.

In the method shown in FIG. 5, after step S3, the unique identifier UID of the charging device and the paid charging duration are transmitted from the server system or from the payment system to the terminal in a step S5. In a subsequent step S6, the terminal transmits the unique identifier UID and the information about the paid charging time to the release system, which then, as described with reference to FIG. 4, continues the method in step S8.

The method described in FIG. 5 has the advantage that no communication takes place between the payment system and the release system, which simplifies the server-side implementation of the method. 6 shows a sequence diagram of a further method which can be carried out with a charging device according to the invention and with a terminal according to the invention. In a step S1, a unique identifier UID of the charging device is likewise transmitted to the mobile terminal here. The charging device may in this case be a stationary charging device which is integrated in a table of a restaurant. After the mobile terminal has been placed on the charging device and the unique identifier UID has been transmitted to the terminal, the user of the terminal can select at the terminal or in the application program 13 a number of products, such as food and drinks. The information about the selected products and the unique identifier UID of the charging device can then be transmitted in a step S2 to a payment system, where in a step S3, the payment of the selected products is handled. After successful payment, the unique identifier UID of the charging device and the information about the paid products are transmitted to the terminal in a step S5. Subsequently, in a step S6, the terminal transmits the unique identifier of the charging device and the information about the paid products to the release system. Alternatively, in step S5, the unique identifier of the charging device and the information about the paid products can also be transmitted directly to the release system, so that the step S6 can be omitted.

Subsequently, in step S14, the products are transmitted to the user of the terminal, i. the selected and paid food and drinks are brought to the table, where the charging device with the unique identifier UID is integrated.

In contrast to the method shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, in FIG. 6, not a loading period is booked and paid, but with the system according to the invention Products are ordered and paid, the supplier is known because of the unique identifier UID of the charging device, where the products are to be delivered. The method shown in FIG. 6 can also be used, for example, to pay for a product to be purchased at a vending machine, such as a vending machine. The mobile terminal according to the invention is arranged relative to the machine so that a data transmission between the data transmission module of the machine and the data transmission module of the mobile terminal is possible. In step S l, the unique identifier UID of the machine is then transmitted to the mobile terminal. The steps S2 to S5 are executed according to the process flow shown in FIG.

Instead of the steps S6 and S14 shown in FIG. 6, an activation message is transmitted from the terminal to the machine after the step S5. This activation message contains information about which product (s) was paid in the previous steps. The machine evaluates the activation message and releases the products specified in the activation message for output. It is advantageous here that the automat itself does not require any communication connection to a payment system. On the basis of the unique identifier UID of the machine, the payment system can assign the payment made directly to the operator of the machine.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart for the steps SO, S0.1 and S7 of the methods shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

First, the server system or the release system accepts a unique identifier UID of the charging device and a geocode of the charging device. Subsequently, it is checked whether the received unique identifier UID is already stored in the database. Unless the unique identifier is stored in the database, the unique identifier UID is added to the database along with the geocode. Otherwise, it is checked for the received unique identifier UID whether the received geocode corresponds to the stored geocode.

If the received geocode does not match the stored geocode, the geocode is updated to the unique identifier UID stored in the database. Otherwise, the update process ends. After adding the unique identifier and the geocode to the database or after updating the geocode belonging to a unique identifier UID or also in the event that the geocode corresponds to the stored geocode, the current access to the unique identifier UID is stored in the database ie the date and time of the current access to this unique identifier UID is stored. This additional information can be used to check whether the database contains unique identifiers for charging devices that have not been used for a certain period of time. In a final step, a map can be updated to show the locations of all the loaders stored in the database.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart for clearing a database in which information about the charging devices is stored. This procedure can be carried out at regular intervals, for example once a month, for example, to remove information about presumably no longer existing charging devices from the database and thus from the map. First, the current date Dl is determined in a first step. For each loader stored in the database, the last access D2 (ie the date of last access) to the corresponding record is determined. If the last access to the record of the charging device a predetermined period δ lied back, the record can be deleted to this charger. Otherwise the record in the database remains unchanged.

After completing this check for all loaders stored in the database, the map may be updated as necessary.

9 shows a flow chart of the method according to the invention. The procedure itself corresponds essentially to the method shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

By means of the present invention, for example, a charging process for charging a mobile terminal at a charging device can be billed without the charging device having to set up a communication connection to the Internet, for example via a mobile radio connection. It is only necessary that the charging device 20 has a short-range data transmission module 22 in order to establish a direct data connection to the mobile terminal. The design complexity of the charging device 20 can be kept so low. However, the invention can also be implemented with non-mobile terminals, such as a stationary computer or the like.

The system according to the invention can also be used for the operation of other devices where a certain time can be acquired, e.g. to use the facility for the purchased duration.

For example, for a vacuum cleaner on a car wash a certain useful life can be purchased. In this case, the terminal receives the unique identifier of the vacuum cleaner device and transmits to the payment system the unique identifier and the desired service life, which the user can enter in the application program of the terminal. The payment system transmits to the terminal an activation message containing information about the paid service life. The terminal transmits these Activation message of the vacuum cleaner, which then takes the service life of the activation message and activates the vacuum cleaner for this period of use. After activation of the vacuum cleaner, the mobile terminal can be removed again from the vacuum cleaner. By transmitting the unique identifier UID, the payment system can assign the payment directly to the operator of the vacuum cleaner. In addition, it is avoided that the vacuum cleaner must be equipped with a cash box, which reduces the risk of vandalism. In a further application example according to the invention, instead of a time or duration, a specific monetary credit can also be acquired. For example, a user of the terminal according to the invention can purchase a credit for a gaming machine. The unique identifier UID of the gaming machine is transmitted to the mobile terminal. Together with the credit to be acquired, the unique identifier is transferred to the payment system. The payment system makes the payment and generates an activation message. The activation message then contains information about the paid or purchased credit. The activation message is then transmitted to the mobile terminal, which in turn transmits the activation message to the gaming machine. The slot machine extracts from the activation message the credit purchased and provides this credit to the player to "gamble" ready.

According to the invention, the system can be used for the operation of a wide variety of devices that require the operation to acquire a useful life or the payment of a sum of money.

10 shows a further variant of the method according to the invention, in which a service life is not purchased or in which the charging process does not have to be paid, but in which the charging process is made dependent on the display of specific data on the mobile terminal. In a first step SO, the user of the terminal, for example a smartphone, starts a software application, for example an APP. The APP then establishes a communication link to a charging device, such as via Bluetooth or NFC. About this communication connection, the terminal can make known in the context of an initialization to the charging device.

In a further step S1, the charging device transmits a unique identifier UID of the charging device to the mobile terminal. In the further, optional steps S2 and S3, this unique identifier UID is transmitted to the server system and data is transmitted to the mobile terminal by the server system. The server system may select data to be transmitted to the terminal based on the received unique identifier UID. The data can be assigned on the server system to the identifier UID. The content of the transferred can thus be dependent on the charging device. For example, the data for one charging device may include advertising, while for another charging device, it may include a menu.

Alternatively, if steps S2 and S3 are not performed, the data may be provided by the APP itself or by the loader. If the data is provided by the APP, the APP can select specific data based on the transmitted identifier UID. If the data is provided by the charging device, this data can be transmitted together with identifier UID to the terminal.

The data thus provided at the terminal are displayed at the terminal at step S4. For example, in the aforementioned APP advertising can be displayed. Once the data is displayed on the terminal, the mobile terminal or APP causes the charger to start charging. The user of the terminal in this case brings the terminal in sufficient proximity to Charging device, when the charging device is about adapted to perform an energy transfer on an inductive basis. The terminal or the APP then transmits a token or an activation message to the charging device in the step S5, with which the charging device is signaled that it can start the charging process, which finally happens in the step S6.

During the charging process (loop), the charging device checks whether the charging process can be continued or should continue. For this purpose, the mobile terminal transmits a charging indicator to the charging device in step S7.

In one embodiment of the invention, the charging indicator indicates whether the energy store of the mobile terminal is being charged. If so, loading continues in the S9. Otherwise, if the energy store of the mobile terminal is not or no longer charged, the charging device terminates the transmission of electrical energy to the mobile terminal (step S10). The terminal is no longer loaded, for example, when the terminal is too far away from the charger or when the accumulator of the terminal is fully charged. This prevents another terminal from being able to continue charging.

The indication as to whether the energy store of the mobile terminal is charged in the charging indicator has the advantage, when using a charging device which operates on an inductive basis, that no complicated distance measurements have to be carried out between the charging device and the terminal in order to ensure that a legitimate terminal is actually loaded.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the charging indicator indicates whether the data (eg the advertisement) is displayed on the display device of the mobile terminal. If the data is no longer displayed, the transmission of electrical energy to the mobile terminal is terminated. For example, the data may no longer be displayed if the APP displaying the ad has ended or is running in the background so that the ad will not is more visible. This ensures that the charging process is actually continued only as long as the data is displayed on the terminal to be loaded. If the data is not or no longer displayed, the charging device terminates the energy transfer in step S 10.

The charging indicator can be transmitted continuously or cyclically to the charging device. In one embodiment, the charging device can request the transmission of the charging indicator from the terminal if required.

It is advantageous if the loading indicator is transmitted together with the unique identifier UID of the charging device and / or together with a unique identifier of the mobile terminal. If the unique identifier of the mobile terminal is transmitted together with the charging indicator, it can be ensured that only a legitimate terminal is loaded when the terminal has to make itself known to the charging device in the context of the above-mentioned initialization.

reference numeral

5 furniture board

6 recess in the furniture panel 5 (e.g., at the bottom)

7 through hole in the furniture panel 5

10 mobile terminal (e.g., smartphone)

11 secondary coil of the mobile terminal 10

12 Data transmission module of mobile terminal 10 (e.g., NFC module)

13 application program

20 charging device

21 primary coil of the charging device 20th

22 Data transfer module of charging device 20 (e.g., NFC module)

22a decryption module

23 charging electronics

23 a timer

25 power supply cable of the charging device 20

26 Energy storage of the charging device 20 (e.g., accumulator) 27 Cover plate of the charging device 20

30 communication network (e.g., mobile Internet)

40 server system

41 payment system

42 release system

[SO] to [S 14] process steps

UID unique identifier of the loading device (Unique Identifier)

DB database

δ time difference

Claims

claims

Charging device (20) for charging an energy store of a mobile terminal (10), wherein the charging device (20)

an energy transmission device for transmitting electrical energy to the mobile terminal (10),

- A coupled to the energy transfer device charging electronics (23) for controlling the energy transfer, and

a data transfer module (22) coupled to the charging electronics (23) for transferring data between the charging device (20) and the mobile terminal (10),

includes,

wherein the charging device is adapted to transmit a unique identifier (UID) of the charging device (20), preferably via the data transmission module to the mobile terminal (10).

Charging device according to the preceding claim, wherein the charging device is adapted to receive a charging indicator, preferably via the data transmission module from the mobile terminal (10), wherein the charging indicator indicates whether the energy storage of the mobile terminal is charged, and wherein the charging device is adapted, stop the transmission of electrical energy to the mobile terminal (10) when the charging indicator indicates that the energy storage of the mobile terminal is not being charged. Charging device according to the preceding claim, wherein the charging indicator indicates so long that the energy storage of the mobile terminal is loaded as long as a predetermined content, in particular advertising, is displayed on the mobile terminal.

Charging device according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the charging device is adapted to receive a unique identifier (MID) of the mobile terminal (10), preferably via the data transmission module.

Charging device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein

- The energy transfer device comprises a primary coil (21) for inductive transmission of electrical energy to the mobile terminal (10),

- The primary coil (21) is coupled to the charging electronics (23), for controlling the inductive energy transfer, and

- The data transmission module (22) for wireless transmission of data between the charging device (20) and the mobile terminal (10) is configured.

Charging device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein

- The charging electronics (23) or the data transmission module (22) has a timer (23a), with a duration of energy transfer can be determined, wherein the charging device (20) is adapted for the specified duration of electrical energy to the mobile terminal (10) and wherein the information about the duration via the data transmission module (22) from the mobile terminal (10) to the charging device (20) is transferable, and / or - The charging electronics (23) or the data transmission module (22) comprises a decryption module (22a), with the data transmission module (22) received cryptographically encrypted data can be decrypted.

A method of charging an energy store of a mobile terminal (10) using a charging device (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein

- The mobile terminal (10) via a data transmission module (12) receives a unique identifier (UID) of the charging device (20) from the charging device (Sl),

- The mobile terminal (10) brings predetermined data to a display device of the terminal (10) for display, and

- The mobile terminal (10) via the data transmission module (12) an activation message (token) to the charging device (20) transmits as soon as the predetermined data on the display device of the terminal (10) are displayed, with the activation message, the charging device ( 20) is caused to transfer electrical energy from the charging device (20) to the mobile terminal (10).

Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the data displayed on a display device of the terminal (10) are dependent on the received unique identifier of the charging device (20).

Method according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein

- The mobile terminal (10) the received unique identifier (UID) of the charging device (20) to a server system (40) transmitted (S2) to initiate a release process on the server system, and

- The mobile terminal (10) after a successful release process from the server system (40) receives the activation message (S9).

10. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the activation message comprises the data to be displayed on the display device of the terminal (10).

11. The method according to any of the preceding claims 7 to 10, wherein the activation message comprises information about the duration for which electrical energy is to be transmitted from the charging device (20) to the mobile terminal (10), and for which indicated in the activation message Duration of the transmission of electrical energy from the charging device (20) to the mobile terminal (10) is activated.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the mobile terminal transmits a charging indicator to the charging device.

13. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the charging indicator indicates whether the energy storage of the mobile terminal (10) is loaded, and wherein the charging device stops the transmission of electrical energy to the mobile terminal (10) when the charging indicator indicates that the Energy storage of the mobile terminal is not or no longer charged.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the charging indicator indicates whether the predetermined data is displayed on the display device of the mobile terminal (10), and wherein the charging device terminates the transmission of electrical energy to the mobile terminal (10) when the Loading indicator indicates that the predetermined data is not displayed or no longer displayed. Method according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the charging indicator is transmitted together with the unique identifier (UID) of the charging device (20) and / or together with a unique identifier (MID) of the mobile terminal (10).

Method according to one of claims 9 to 15, wherein the release process comprises a payment process (S3), with which the duration of the transmission of electrical energy from the charging device (20) to the mobile terminal (10) is billed, the billable duration

- Is transmitted from the mobile terminal (10) to the server system (40), or

- the unique identifier (UID) of the charging device (20) is assigned, or

- Is determined from a payment amount, which is transmitted from the mobile terminal (10) to the server system (40).

Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the releasing process comprises a step (S8) in which the activation message is generated and transmitted to the mobile terminal (10) (S9), the activation message being the

- transmitted to the server system (40), or

- assigned to the unique identifier (UID), or

- determined from the payment amount

Duration includes.

Method according to one of claims 7 to 17, wherein the activation message comprises the unique identifier (UID) of the charging device (20) and / or wherein the activation message is cryptographically encrypted. The method of any one of claims 7 to 18, wherein activating transmission of electrical energy from the charging device (20) to the mobile terminal (10) comprises:

the activation message is transmitted from the mobile terminal (10) to the charging device (20) via the data transfer module (12) (S10),

in the charging device (20), a timer (23a) is initialized according to the duration specified in the activation message (Si l),

- The transmission (S12) of the electrical energy from the charging device (20) to the mobile terminal (10) is started (Si l), and

- After the end of the period, the transmission of electrical energy is terminated (S13).

Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the loading device (20) decrypts the transmitted activation message.

A method according to any one of claims 7 to 20, wherein

- The unique identifier (UID) and / or the activation message wirelessly between the charging device (20) and the mobile terminal (10) are transmitted, and / or

- The electrical energy is transmitted inductively from the charging device (20) to the mobile terminal (10).

Mobile terminal (10), which is adapted to charge its energy storage, in particular accumulator, according to the method according to one of claims 7 to 21.

23. Mobile terminal according to the preceding claim, comprising a secondary coil (11) of an inductive power transmission device and a data transmission module (12) for wireless data transmission between the mobile terminal (10) and a charging device (20), in particular according to one of claims 1 or 6.

Computer program product (13), in particular mobile application, which can be loaded into the internal memory of a terminal (10), in particular a mobile terminal, and which comprises program sections with which the method according to one of claims 7 to 21 is executed when the computer program product the terminal is brought to execution.

Furniture panel (5), comprising a recess (6) or a through hole (7), wherein in the recess (6) or in the through hole (7) a charging device (20) according to one of claims 1 to 6 is arranged.