NL1039857C2 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DRAWING A UTILITY DEVICE. - Google Patents

Description

System and method for debiting a utility

Field of the invention 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. A further object of the present invention consists of a method of providing a consumer with a utility as well as a method of adapting a tapping point of a utility to a tapping point for a mobile consumer.

State of the art 15 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 van or caravan, managers 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 coupled 1039857 2 in a manner analogous to the provision of gasoline or purchase and store diesel fuel, electrical energy. For charging the purchased electrical energy, these charging stations are then provided with the necessary measuring and calculating 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, it is possible to make this network of charging points less dense and at the same time provide a very flexible charging possibility for electric cars.

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

Summary of the invention 3

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 object 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 connector, and wherein the connecting element or the connector comprises a meter of the amount of 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.

4

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 electrical 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.

The present invention further relates to a method for providing a consumer with a utility. The method comprises the following steps: providing a tapping point, wherein the tapping point comprises means in which data are stored that allow identifying this tapping point and providing a connecting element, the connecting element comprising at least one connector. The connecting element or the connector comprises a meter of the amount of utility supplied or supplied by the consumer, an identification module suitable for identifying the branch point and a communication module.

The present invention also relates to a method for adapting a branch point of a utility to a branch point for a mobile consumer. The method consists of applying to the branching point means in which data are stored that allow identifying this branching point and registering the branching point in a central register.

5

The said means may comprise a sticker.

The sticker can consist of a self-destructive and adhesive vignette

Brief description of the drawings 5

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

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

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Detailed description of the drawings

In the present description and the subsequent claims the following definitions are used: - the supplier: the person or firm who supplies a consumer with a utility (water, gas, electrical energy); 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 firm who takes 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, for example, be a tap, a socket, 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 in the supply of electrical energy to other mobile or semi-mobile consumers, such as, for example, in the installation of special events, fairs, at construction sites, etc. Furthermore, the invention can also be applied in 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 7 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 branch point and the data regarding 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 forwards data concerning the identity of the consumer or the identity of the connecting element to the exchange server; this data is present in the element 4. The communication between the connecting element / communication module (3) and the central server can make use of, for example, GPRS or PLC (Power Line Communication), but other communication possibilities can also be applied.

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 which is 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 the 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 which 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 tapping points in the parking lot of a company. be suitable 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 that indicates the amount of electrical energy used by the supplier) can be clearly identified. The vignette or sticker may also include a visual indication concerning the organization that organizes the settlement and / or the organization that supplies 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 (eg said server) and lets 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.

9

With the cable and the adapted connector 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 connector (representative of the consumer) to a central server, preferably via an internet connection, wireless or over a network (WAN, LAN, etc.). With the aid 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 connector 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 connector 23, designed as an adapter; 25 - 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 connector and c) between the connector and the car with the batteries; 10 - the server 25 with the database of the measurement results of the energy used 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 connector, 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 connector. 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 connector, but use can also be made of the position-determining provision 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 connector) 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.

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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 freely distribute the product (the connecting element) in the market, eg 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, inter alia (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 the adapter contains functions that make fraud (almost) impossible by completely protecting it against burglary (tampering) This burglary protection can be done by physical means (for example a housing that is sturdy and cannot be easily opened), by adding electronic and / or software components.

Secure OTA-Over the air update 25 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, in function of the needs of the market. This can be done over-the-air via the mobile internet or other 12 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.

5 Integrity of the cable

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

Secure transaction 10 These functions ensure that the transactions can proceed securely. 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.

15 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 25 (central server). The use of copy components can be avoided.

Secure communication 13

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.

5 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 10 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 not modified by third parties.

When 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 which determines whether the cable and / or the connector are entitled to purchase electrical energy. In this case, the supply of electrical energy only takes place if this authentication module determines that the cable and / or connector 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, it is recorded per account with which meters of third parties (= suppliers) a connection has been made. These meters are identified, for example, 14 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.

5 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.

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

Account Delivered Location ID meter Supplier energy suppliers Price / kWh (or kJ) 1001 3600 kJ Location A EAN- 0.22 € number of the

supplier A

1001 7000 kJ Place B EAN - € 0.33 number of the

supplier B

c. The settlement service itself is a third party service (eg PINGPING http://www.pingping.be/, Minitix 15 https: //www.rabobank.nl/particulieren/producten/betalen/betalen_vi aintemet / minitix).

d. Managing the infrastructure (connecting elements and 15 vignettes): Updating new firmware, service applications, ... over the air

e. Organize the call and service center.

f. The database of the parameters that are required for each connecting element to work safely and an intelligent decision function that determine 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 10 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 certain time and place, consists of parameters set by the parties involved. This database can include: a) specific data about the tapping point such as the value of the nominal voltage supplied by the tapping point, the maximum current that can be taken at the 16 tapping point, the number of phases (e.g. two phases, three phases) present on the branch point, the unit price of the energy supplied, the location of the branch point, etc.

b) specific data about 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 used, etc.

c) specific data concern the “smart grid” within a certain environment such as the number of tapping points that are in use at a certain 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 certain environment (where this maximum load can vary over time) etc.

15 This database can be organized as follows:

Consumer account Supplier account Smart Grid parameters

Max price when loading Energy price Max. load in a street

Max charge only Max. power to be supplied Price time / energy

Can also provide energy Proof of conformity

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 fast charge, etc .; 5 He can also indicate, for example, that he is prepared 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 16 A.

10 The smart grid operator for a certain region can indicate the maximum rating in a certain street, where if several loads happen simultaneously, 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 15 comprises an intelligent decision machine which, 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 state of charge of the battery etc ...

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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 itself with the conditions that voltage, current and / or price are acceptable and the net still allows this charging). Via a logic circuit or via an algorithm it is then possible to deduce from such a combination of data to which branch point the consumer can connect. 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 25 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 stated in the above description as belonging to one particular embodiment may also belong to another embodiment.

1039857

Claims (18)

A system for supplying 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 connector, the connecting element or the connector comprising: 10. 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. 15 The system of claim 1 wherein said means comprises a chip. 3. The system of claim 2 wherein the chip is mounted on a sticker. The system of claim 3 wherein the sticker consists of a self-destructive and adhesive vignette. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the system further comprises safety means. 1039857 "\ 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. 5 The system of any one of the preceding claims wherein the connecting element further comprises a satellite based position determining element. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system further comprises a central server (25) and wherein the communication module exchanges data with the central server. 9. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the central server comprises means for settling the amount of purchased or supplied amount of utility. 10. 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. 11. 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 according to any of the preceding claims wherein the utility supply consists of water and wherein the connecting element 5 consists of a water pipe. 14. Method for providing a consumer with a utility, the method comprising the steps of: - providing a branch point, the branch point comprising means in which data are stored that allow identification of this branch point; - to provide a connecting element, wherein the connecting element comprises at least one connector; - wherein the connecting element or the connector comprises: 15. 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. 20 15. Method for adapting a branching point of a utility to a branching point for a mobile consumer, the method comprising: - arranging on the branching point means in which data are stored that allow identifying this branching point; - registering the branch point in a central register. The method of claim 15, wherein said means comprises a sticker. 17. Method according to claim 16, wherein the sticker consists of a self-destructive and adhesive vignette. Method for charging an electric vehicle at a branch point, the branch point being adapted according to one of the preceding claims 15-17. 10 1039857