Description:Complete Specification:
The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

Field of the invention:
[0001] The present invention relates to a device and method for managing allocation of charging station in a parking infrastructure.

Background of the invention:
[0002] Currently the parking lots or spaces are not managed optimally for Electric Vehicles. Since installation and maintenance cost of charging station is high, the parking facilities do not have charging station for each parking slot, instead few number of parking slots are installed with charging station. Alternatively, the few number of charging stations are installed in a common area within the parking facilities. Now, if number of vehicles needing charging are more but fewer charging station are available, then the one charging first needs to vacate the space for next vehicle. The vacating does not happen at the right time. Sometimes the next vehicle waits for 100% charging of the previous vehicle where it could have been fine with lesser charge percentage, in which case the next vehicle could have used the charging station.

[0003] According to state of the art DE102019219807, a method for the optimized use of electric charging stations is disclosed. The present invention relates to a process for optimized use of electrical charging stations for battery electrically driven motor vehicles with a parking area, wherein the first battery electrically driven motor vehicles with a boost demand a first position to a charging port on the parking area driving and a charging operation is performed, and wherein the second battery electrically driven motor vehicles with boost demand a second position without charging port on the parking area, wherein the first battery electrically driven motor vehicles after the completion of the charging process, the first position of the parking area and a free second position in the parking area without charge port automated driving and the second battery electrically driven motor vehicles with boost demand from the second position to the first position at the parking spot a free parking area with a charge port automated driving and a charging operation is performed.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings:
[0004] An embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings,
[0005] Fig. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a device to manage allotment of charging station in a parking infrastructure, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0006] Fig. 2 illustrates a method for managing allotment of charging station in a parking infrastructure, according to the present invention, and
[0007] Fig. 3 illustrates a method for allocating the charging station under medium and high load, according to the present invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments:
[0008] Fig. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a device to manage allotment of charging station in a parking infrastructure, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device 102 comprises a communication interface 104 to a network 108 in connection with a controller 106. The controller 106 configured to receive a charging request for at least one Electric Vehicle (EV) 110 over the network 108, characterized in that, the controller 106 configured to determine a traffic load for charging in the parking infrastructure 112 based on the existing charging requests, and manage allotment of a charging station 118 based on the charging request and the determined traffic load to charge a battery of the EV 110. The term traffic load of charging corresponds to number of requests received from the EVs 110 for charging in the charging infrastructure 112.

[0009] According to the present invention, the parking infrastructure 112 corresponds to at least parking facility having plurality of parking spaces for EVs 110, comprising two-wheelers such as motorcycles or scooters, three-wheelers such as auto-rickshaws, four-wheelers such as cars, and the like. The parking facility may have parking system installed to detect parking availability/ slot occupancy, cameras, and equal or fewer number of charging stations 118 than the parking slots. Further, the parking infrastructure 112 may comprise connectivity, Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) based entry/exit control mechanism, with automated control gate or boom barrier etc., slot sensors, all connected through a local network. Further, the charging request is received automatically from the EV 110 if the parking system in the parking infrastructure 112 is automated and digitized or is a smart parking infrastructure 112. The EV 110 sends the charging request when the SOC (State of Charge) of the battery of the EV 110 is lower than a set threshold or less than the required to reach a next destination on a planned trip. Alternatively, the user or owner of the EVs 110 triggers/raises the charging request using an application installed in a communication apparatuses such as smartphone or the smart infotainment device of the EV 110.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the device 102 is a server or cloud based computing unit comprising the communication interface 104 and having the controller 106. The controller 106 is provided with necessary signal detection, acquisition, and processing circuits. The controller 106 is the control unit which comprises input/output interfaces having pins or ports, a memory element (not shown) such as Random Access Memory (RAM) and/or Read Only Memory (ROM), Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) and a Digital-to-Analog Convertor (DAC), clocks, timers, counters and at least one processor (capable of implementing machine learning) connected with each other and to other components through communication bus channels. The memory element is pre-stored with logics or instructions or programs or applications or modules/models and/or threshold/safe limit values/ranges, which is/are accessed by the at least one processor as per the defined routines. The internal components of the controller 106 or the device 102 are not explained for being state of the art, and the same must not be understood in a limiting manner. The communication interface 104 enables communication through wireless or wired means such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), 3G, 4G, 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, serial networks, Controller Area Network (CAN), and the like. The controller 106 is implementable in the form of System-in-Package (SiP) or System-on-Chip or any other known types. Examples of controller 106 are but not limited to microprocessor, microcomputer, microcontroller, and the like.

[0011] In the Fig. 1, a cloud device 102 is shown which comprises the controller 106 which is interfaced with the network 108, such as wireless, through the communication interface 104. In an example, the parking infrastructure 112 comprises plurality of parking spaces but with first parking slot 114 and a second parking slot 116 having charging station 118. In a second example, all the parking spaces/slots of the parking infrastructure 112 are provided with the charging stations 118.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the controller 106 is configured to determine the traffic load of charging requests to be any one of a low load, a medium load and a high load based on existing charging requests. The controller 106 determines the low load when number of EVs 110 with charging requests is less than or equal to a total free charging station 118 available in the parking infrastructure 112. The controller 106 determines medium load when no charging stations 118 are available, i.e. all charging stations 118 are occupied, and the number of EVs 110 waiting for charging stations 118 is less than x% (for example 15%) of total number of available charging stations 118 in the parking infrastructure 112. The controller 106 determines the high load when no charging stations 118 are available, i.e. all the charging stations 118 are occupied, and the number of EVs 110 waiting for charging stations 118 is more than x% but less than y% (for example, more that 15% but less than 31%) of total number of available charging stations 118 in the parking infrastructure 112.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the charging request comprises a query to find available charging stations 118, a State of Charge (SOC) of battery of the EV 110 and a park-out time (parking duration). In accordance to another embodiment of the present invention, the management by the device 102 also comprises prioritization and optimization of charging the EVs 110 based on the SOC of the battery and park-out time. In another embodiment of the present invention, the EV 110 is triggered to be driven to the allotted charging station 118 in at least one of an automated mode such as an Automated Valet Parking (AVP) feature and manual mode such as manually driven by the owner. The AVP is either performed independently by the EV 110 or the parking system of the parking infrastructure 112 using vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2X) communication or both.

[0014] According to the present invention, the charging of the EVs 110 is either wireless using induction coupling based technologies or wired technologies. In case of wired technologies, the connection between a charging port of the EV 110 and the charging station 118 is automated either from the side of the EV 110 or the charging station 118 or both.

[0015] In accordance to an embodiment of the present invention, the device 100 to manage allotment of charging station 118 in the parking infrastructure 112 is provided. The EVs 110 are either driven in an automated manner using AVP or manually driven to the parking slot for charging. In case of manually driven EVs 110, a dedicated valet/attendant is present in the parking infrastructure 112. The valet is informed or notified about the movement of the EVs 110 as per the allotted sequence by the device 102 through the parking infrastructure 112.

[0016] In accordance to an embodiment of the present invention, the device 102 is provided for parking infrastructure 112 which is specific for EVs 110 with AVP feature. The parking infrastructure 112 either offers fully automated operation where the EVs 110 are driven to charging slots using AVP feature and automatically connected to the charging station through retractable/foldable connectors or wireless charging. In another embodiment, the device 102 is provided for parking infrastructure 112 where EVs 110 are either driven using AVP but the charging connections are done by an attendant or the EVs 110 are driven using manually to the charging stations 118 as per the notifications sent by the device 102. In still another embodiment, the device 102 is specific for the EVs 110 for AVP feature or combination of EVs 110 with AVP and without AVP in the same parking infrastructure 112.

[0017] According to the present invention, a working of the device 102 is explained. Consider a user plans to watch a movie in a theater. The theater owner provides parking infrastructure 112 with state-of-art facilities. The user drives the EV 110 with SOC at 50%. The user either parks the EV 110 in the reserved/allotted parking slot and then sends the charging requests through the smartphone, or the EV 110 itself communicates with the parking infrastructure 112 through V2X communication and informs the device 102 of the need of charging. Alternatively, the user leaves the EV 110 at a drop-off point, and the AVP feature either independently or using the parking infrastructure 112 navigates and parks the EV 110 in the parking slot with or without the charging station 118. In the meantime, the user visits the theater to watch the movie. The charging request which is triggered by either the EV 110 or the user, comprises the expected parking duration and the SOC of the battery of the EV 110 at the minimum. Other required vehicle data may also be read such as owner details, number plate, etc. Based on the other EVs 110 parked in the parking infrastructure 112, the device 102 determines the traffic load for charging. If the equal number of EVs 110 and charging stations 118 are present, then the EVs 110 are charged without any delay. In case the EVs 110 are parked in some other parking slot without charging station 118, then the AVP feature is used to drive the EV 110 to the dedicated parking slot with charging station 118 and then the charging is initiated.

[0018] In case the device 102 determines the traffic load to be medium or high, then the EVs 110 with least SOC may be prioritized. The charging station 118 which is occupied by other EV 110 is vacated using the respective AVP feature, and the user’s EV 110 is parked in the vacated parking slot for charging and then driven back to original parking location after sufficient/required charging. This is just an example and not to be understood in limiting manner. In another case, the charging request is straight away rejected when the traffic load is already determined to be at high load. The user are kept informed about the charging start, waiting time, etc., on their smartphone over the communication network 108.

[0019] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a parking system with charging management is provided. The parking system comprises the device 102 with the controller 106 connected to at least one network 108 through the communication interface 104. The controller 106 configured to receive charging request from the EV 110, characterized in that, the controller 106 configured to determine the traffic load of charging in the parking infrastructure 112, and allot the charging station 118 to the EV 110 based on the charging request and the traffic load of charging. The controller 106 then initiates charging of the EV 110 followed by managing the charging of other EVs 110 in the parking infrastructure 112 which requires charging. The parking system is applicable for EVs 110 with or without the AVP feature.

[0020] Fig. 2 illustrates a method for managing allotment of charging station in a parking infrastructure, according to the present invention. The method comprises plurality of steps, of which a step 202 comprises receiving, by the controller 106 connected to the network 108 through the communication interface 104, the charging request for the Electric Vehicle (EV) 110. The method is characterized by a step 204 which comprises determining, by the controller 106, the traffic load for charging at the parking infrastructure 112 based on existing charging requests. A step 206 comprises managing allotment, by the controller 106, the charging station 118 based on the charging requests and the determined traffic load. The method further comprises charging the EV 110.

[0021] According to the present invention, the method comprises determining the traffic load to be any one of the low load, the medium load and the high load based on existing charging requests in the parking infrastructure 112. The method comprises determining the traffic as the low load when number of EVs 110 with charging requests is less than or equal to the total free charging station 118 available in the parking infrastructure 112. The method of determining the traffic as medium load when no charging stations 118 are free for charging, and number of EVs 110 waiting for charging is less than x% (example 15%) of total number of available charging stations 118 in the parking infrastructure 112. The method comprises the traffic as the high load when no charging stations 118 are free for charging and the number of EVs 110 waiting for charging is more than x% (example 15%) but less than y% (example 31%) of total number of available charging station 118 in the parking infrastructure 112. A step 208 denotes the steps when low traffic is determined. A step 210 denotes the steps when medium traffic is determined. A step 212 denotes that the steps when heavy traffic load is determined. The step 208 comprises allotting the available charging station 118 to the EV 110 for which the charging request is received. The values of x% and y% are changeable/configurable as per requirement.

[0022] According to the present invention, the charging request comprises the query for available charging station 118, the SOC of the battery and park-out time (or parking duration). The parking duration may also be derived automatically based on the regularity or usage history of the user to the parking space. The method of managing the allotment also comprises prioritizing and optimizing charging of the EVs 110 based on the SOC and the park-out time. Further, the method comprises driving the EV 110 to the charging station 118 in at least one of the automated mode such as an Automated Valet Parking (AVP) feature and manual mode such as manually driving the EV 110.

[0023] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the device 102 is configured to continuously monitor the incoming traffic of charging requests in the smart parking infrastructure 112 and to modify a state machine and the decision accordingly. The traffic load is classified into the low load, medium load, and high load. In case, the smart parking infrastructure 112 comprises few parking slots with charging station 118 and all the charging stations 118 are already in use and the smart parking infrastructure 112 has received multiple charging request from users for AVP parking and car charging, then in that case the device 102 intelligently decides which EV 110 should be allotted the parking space with charging station 118 first, once its free, and communicate to the users the approximate delay time when the charging station 118 will be allotted. There are different parameters that are considered while allotting the charging station 118. One of the parameters is the SOC of the battery or battery charge of the EV 110, another parameter is the traffic load at the parking infrastructure 112 and the park-out time are considered while allotting charging station 118. The device 102 communicates with the EV 110, which has been prioritized, using the smart parking infrastructure 112, the estimated time to complete charging so that this data (wait time) communicated to the owners of EVs 110 who are in queue for charging. In case of low load, the device 102 and the method comprises allotting the charging station 118 directly and notifying the user/owner. In case of medium traffic condition, the present invention considers both battery status as well as the duration of parking to decide of allotment of charging station 118. In case of high traffic condition, the device 102 and method first checks if the traffic load is more than x% of number of charging stations 118 available, if it exceeds, then for any new charging request, the device 102 and method directly intimates charging not possible. If not, then both battery status as well as the duration of park-in is considered to decide of allotment of charging station 118.

[0024] Fig. 3 illustrates a method for allocating the charging station under medium and high load, according to the present invention. At first the method as per medium load is discussed. At a step 302, it is determined by the controller 106 that the traffic load is the medium load or high load. If more than high load is detected, then step 320 is performed which comprises informing the user of non-availability of the charging station 118. If medium load or high load is detected, then the method continues to step 304. The device 102 determines the details from the charging request such as the SOC of the battery of the EV 110 and the parking duration. The step 304 comprises checking SOC of the battery against the threshold SOC. If actual SOC is less (or lower) than a set threshold SOC, then a step 306 is executed, else (i.e. higher) a step 308 is executed. For example, low SOC indicates battery charge less than or equal to 20% and high SOC indicates battery charge more than 20%. The step 306 comprises checking duration of parking with set threshold duration. If the parking duration is short, then a step 310 is executed, and if the parking duration is long then a step 312 is executed. For example, the short parking duration is less than or equal to 30 minutes and long parking duration is more than 30 minutes. The step 310 comprises waiting for p1% (example 10%) of remaining parking time and then going to a step 314. The step 312 comprises waiting for p2% (example 30%) of remaining parking time and then executing 316.

[0025] The step 308 comprises checking parking duration against the set threshold duration. If the parking duration is long, then a step 318 is executed, and if the parking duration is short, then step 320 is executed. The step 320 comprises notifying the user that charging cannot be done due to non-availability of free charging station 118. The step 320 is followed by step 330 which is end of the process/method. The step 318 comprises waiting for p3% (example 50%) of remaining parking time and execute the step 316. The values of p1%, p2% and p3% are changeable/configurable as per the requirement. The step 316 comprises checking parking duration of the EV 110 expiring in threshold time (example 40 minutes). If yes, then the step 320 is executed, and the user is notified. If No, then step 314 is executed. The step 314 comprises checking if the charging station 118 is free. If yes, then a step 322 is executed which comprises allotting the charging station 118 to the EV 110. If No, then the step 320 is executed to inform the user about non-availability of charging station 118. The step 322 is followed by a step 324 which comprises notifying user about starting of the charging. Further, the method comprises a step 326 for checking if the battery of the EV 110 has charged more than p4% (example 90%). If yes, then the charging is stopped as indicated by step 330 and the charging station is allotted to a next EV 110, if available. If no, then a step 328 is performed which comprises charging of the same EV 110 is continued until the maximum charging (as per the defined threshold). The examples provided above is just for understanding and explanation and the present invention is not limited to by the same.

[0026] According to the present invention, the device 102 and the method addresses the issue related to traffic load on the parking infrastructure 112 when more EVs 110 are requesting/waiting for charging. The present invention discloses solution for handling the traffic load efficiently through the device 102 and addresses the complex situation arising due to heavy traffic load (number of requests for charging the EV 110). The device 102 and method clearly defines the rules based on the number of charging stations 118 which are free and the number of EVs 110 waiting for the charging stations 118. Further, the allotment of charging station 118 is done based on the current charging information of the EV 110 and the corresponding park-out time. Also if the number of charging station 118 is less than the number of request for charging the EV 110 then all the EVs 110 are not charged 100% but based on the criteria described by device 102 and method. The method is also scalable. The driver is also notified to their communication apparatuses once the charging station 118 is connected to the EV 110 and once charging is completed up to the predefined percentage. According to the present invention, the device 102 and method uses various parameters such as park-out time, charging available in the EV 110 (i.e. SOC of the battery), number of EVs 110 already in queue, i.e. the traffic load, etc., for estimating the wait time for the EV 110 requesting for charging. The same information is provided to the user immediately upon receiving a request for charging. The device 102 is configured to transition from one EV 110 to another EV 110 depending on the traffic load. The device 102 and method utilizes AVP feature.

[0027] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the device 102 is configured to perform re-prioritization of the charging station 118 allotment based on the charging request and the traffic load. For example, in the first case if an electric vehicle A arrived before electric vehicle B in the parking infrastructure 112. The total parking time for Vehicle A is 4hours but for Vehicle B is just 1hr, in this case Vehicle B would be prioritized first. In the second case if the available battery charge for vehicle A is high (scalable, but 50% or above can be considered) and for vehicle B is 10%, in this case Vehicle B would be prioritized first. The present invention addresses the situation where the traffic load is above the certain limit. In that case no new request would be accepted and the same would be communicated to the user immediately. Also the same data is provided over the communication network 108 so that various users can check it before reaching to a parking infrastructure 112. Even the information related to free charge stations 118 and estimated wait time is also hosted over the communication network 108 which helps the user in making decision.

[0028] According to the present invention, the device 102 and method enables allotment of charging station 118 based on battery charge of the EV 110. The EV 110 is either pure EV or plug-in hybrid vehicle. Each EV 110 comprises AVP feature and communicate battery status and the estimated park-out time to smart parking infrastructure 112. The device 102 continuously monitors the traffic (occupancy/availability of free charging station 118 and no. of request for charging station 118) at the parking infrastructure 112. Based on availability of free charging stations 118 and traffic load of charging requests, the device 102 decides if the EV 110 needs to be allotted the park space with charging station 118 on priority. The device 102 has the ability to switch between low, medium, and high load traffic conditions and alter the decision-making strategies accordingly.

[0029] According to the present invention, efficient and proper utilization of the charging station 118 is achieved. The device 102 and method continuously monitors the number of requests for charging as traffic load. The present invention enables prioritizing the allotment of charging station 118 when charging stations 118 are occupied. The parameters considered while allotting the charging station 118 are the traffic load at the parking infrastructure 112, the battery status of the EV 110 and the estimated park-out time. The estimated wait time for charging station 118 allotment is provided in case the charging stations 118 are occupied.

[0030] It should be understood that the embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.
, Claims:We claim:
1. A device (102) to manage allotment of charging station (118) in a parking infrastructure (112), said device (102) comprises a communication interface (104) to a network (108) in connection with a controller (106), said controller (106) configured to:
receive a charging request for at least one Electric Vehicle (EV) (110) through said network (108), characterized in that,
determine a traffic load for charging in said parking infrastructure (112) based on the existing charging requests, and
manage allotment of a charging station (118) based on said charging request and said determined traffic load to charge said EV (110).

2. The device (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controller (106) configured to determine said traffic load to be any one of low load, medium load and a high load based on existing charging requests, wherein said low load is determined when number of EVs (110) with charging requests is less than or equal to a total free charging stations (118) available in said parking infrastructure (112), said medium load is determined when no charging stations (118) are free, and number of EVs (110) waiting for charging is less than x% of total number of available charging stations (118) in said parking infrastructure (112), wherein said high load is determined when no charging stations (118) are free and number of EVs (110) waiting for charging is more than said x% but less than y% of total number of available charging stations (118) in said parking infrastructure (112).

3. The device (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said charging request comprises a query to find free charging stations (118) , a State of Charge (SOC) of battery and a park-out time.

4. The device (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said management comprises prioritization and optimization of charging said EVs (110) based on said SOC and park-out time.

5. The device (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said EV (110) is triggered to be driven to said allotted charging station (118) in at least one of an automated mode such as an Automated Valet Parking (AVP) feature and manual mode.

6. A method for managing allotment of charging station (118) in a parking infrastructure (112), said method comprising the steps of:
receiving, by a device (102) connected to a network (108), a charging request for an Electric Vehicle (EV) (110), characterized by,
determining, by said device (102), a traffic load for charging station (118) at said parking infrastructure (112) based on existing charging requests, and
managing allotment, by said device (102), charging station (118) based on said charging request and said determined traffic load and charging said EV (110).

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 comprises determining said traffic load to be any one of a low load, a medium load and a high load based on existing charging requests in said parking infrastructure (112), wherein said low load is determined when number of EVs (110) with charging requests is less than or equal to a total free charging stations (118) available in said parking infrastructure (112), said medium load is determined when no charging stations (118) are free, and number of EVs (110) waiting for charging is less than x% of total number of available charging stations (118) in said parking infrastructure (112), wherein said high load is determined when no charging stations (118) are free and number of EVs (110) waiting for charging is more than said x% but less than y% of available charging stations (118) in said parking infrastructure (112).

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said charging request comprises a query for free charging station (118), a State of Charge (SOC) of battery and park-out time.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said managing also comprises prioritizing and optimizing charging of said EVs (110) based on said SOC and park-out time.

10. The method as claimed in claim 6 comprises driving said EV (110) to said charging station (118) in at least one of an automated mode such as an Automated Valet Parking (AVP) feature and manual mode.