DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to Electric Vehicle (EV) charging terminals and more particularly, to a system and a method of controlling user access to an EV charging terminal.

BACKGROUND

Electrical Vehicles have gained widespread popularity in the last few years and significant growth and development are still being witnessed in their realm. As is already known, such EVs are required to be frequently charged, for example, at charging terminals for continuous operation. At a charging terminal, a user is required to plug the EV into a charging terminal and pay for the services thereafter. In particular, the user may connect to the charging terminal through a communication device. The user is then authenticated and registered for being able to avail the facilities of the charging terminal. The user can access the functionalities of the charging terminal only through an application installed in a communication device.

Further, each charging terminal is assigned an administrator having the rights and privileges to control user access to the charging terminal, for example, through the application installed in his/her communication device. The communication device may connect with the charging terminal over short range networks. Owing to the short range of connectivity, the administrator is required to be in the vicinity of the charging terminal for connecting with the charging terminal and exercising its administrator rights to supervise the usage of the charging terminal.

Figure 1 illustrates an environment 100 depicting controlling of user access of an EV charging terminal 102, according to an existing technique. In the illustrated example, one administrator “A” and four users B, C, D, and E are registered with the charging terminal 102. The administrator A is accessing the functionalities of the charging terminal 102 through an application installed in a communication device 104. The application is connected with the EV charging terminal 102 over a Bluetooth Low Energy network.

In the illustrated embodiment, the user B is not to be allowed to charge his/her vehicle at the charging terminal 102, for example, due to non-payment of pending dues. The administrator has the right to block the usage of the charging terminal 102 by the user B, for example, by blocking connectivity of a communication device of the user B to the charging terminal 102. However, the administrator can block the user B from using the charging terminal 102 only while being in the vicinity of the charging terminal 102. This basically limits the movement of the administrator to the vicinity of the charging terminal 102, when the charging terminal 102 is in operation, for example, to ensure that the charging terminal 102 is not being used without authorisation. This causes significant inconvenience to the administrator. Also, owing to no control over user access to the charging terminal 102 when the administrator is not around, the security of the charging terminal 102 is also compromised.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the invention.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a system for controlling user access to an Electric Vehicle (EV) charging terminal is disclosed. The system includes a receiving module adapted to receive a request from a communication device of an administrator to assign temporary admin rights to at least one of registered users of the EV charging terminal. The request is accompanied by at least one assignment condition. The system includes an assigning module in communication with the receiving module and adapted to assign the temporary admin rights to the at least one user. The temporary admin rights are applicable till the at least one assignment condition is met.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of controlling user access to an EV charging terminal is disclosed. The method includes receiving, by a receiving module, a request from a communication device of an administrator to assign temporary admin rights to at least one of registered users of the EV charging terminal. The request is accompanied by at least one assignment condition. The method includes assigning, by an assigning module, the temporary admin rights to the at least one user through a respective communication device. The temporary admin rights are applicable till the at least one assignment condition is met.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, an EV charging terminal includes an actuating switch adapted to be operated for activating the EV charging terminal and a system of controlling user access to the EV charging terminal. The system includes a receiving module adapted to receive a request from a communication device of an administrator to assign temporary admin rights to at least one of registered users of the EV charging terminal. The request is accompanied by at least one assignment condition. The system includes an assigning module in communication with the receiving module and adapted to assign the temporary admin rights to the at least one user through a respective communication device. The temporary admin rights are applicable till the at least one assignment condition is met.

To further clarify the advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates an environment depicting controlling of user access of an Electric Vehicle (EV) charging terminal, according to an existing technique;
Figure 2 illustrates an environment depicting controlling of user access of an EV charging terminal, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of a system for controlling the user access to the EV charging terminal, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 4 illustrates a schematic view depicting controlling of the user access to the EV charging terminal, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 5 illustrates a schematic view depicting controlling of the user access to the EV charging terminal, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 6 illustrates a flow chart depicting a method of controlling the user access to the EV charging terminal, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have been necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

For example, the term “some” as used herein may be understood as “none” or “one” or “more than one” or “all.” Therefore, the terms “none,” “one,” “more than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would fall under the definition of “some.” It should be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and therefore, should not be construed to limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the present disclosure in any way.

For example, any terms used herein such as, “includes,” “comprises,” “has,” “consists,” and similar grammatical variants do not specify an exact limitation or restriction, and certainly do not exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated. Further, such terms must not be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated, for example, by using the limiting language including, but not limited to, “must comprise” or “needs to include.”

Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, it may still be referred to as “one or more features” or “one or more elements” or “at least one feature” or “at least one element.” Furthermore, the use of the terms “one or more” or “at least one” feature or element do not preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language including, but not limited to, “there needs to be one or more...” or “one or more element is required.”

Unless otherwise defined, all terms and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person ordinarily skilled in the art.

Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements of the present disclosure. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of explaining one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the proposed disclosure fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility, and non-obviousness.

Use of the phrases and/or terms including, but not limited to, “a first embodiment,” “a further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “other embodiments,” “further embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”, “additional embodiment” or other variants thereof do not necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or in the context of more than one embodiment, or in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features and/or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.

Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should not necessarily be taken as limiting factors to the proposed disclosure.

For the sake of clarity, the first digit of a reference numeral of each component of the present disclosure is indicative of the Figure number, in which the corresponding component is shown. For example, reference numerals starting with digit “1” are shown at least in Figure 1. Similarly, reference numerals starting with digit “2” are shown at least in Figure 2.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 2 illustrates an environment 200 depicting controlling of user access of an EV charging terminal 202, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For the sake of readability, the EV charging terminal 202 may hereinafter interchangeably be referred to as the charging terminal 202. In an embodiment, the charging terminal 202 is a standalone unit and is therefore not connected to any cloud server or a backend server for performing the functionalities.

Further, the charging terminal 202 may include, but is not limited to, an actuating switch (not shown) adapted to be operated for activating the charging terminal 202 and a system 204 of controlling user access to the charging terminal 202. Constructional and operational details of the system 204 are explained at least in the description of Figure 3. The actuating switch may include, but is not limited to, a push-type button and a slider tab, which may be operated by the user or the administrator for activating the charging terminal 202.

The charging terminal 202 may also include an application 206 installed in a communication device 208 of an administrator and a communication device 210 of a user. Therefore, the administrator and the user may access the functionalities of the charging terminal 202 through the application 206 installed in their respective communication devices 208, 210. The administrator and the user may require respective unique credentials for logging into the application 206 for accessing the charging terminal 202. In an embodiment, rights and privileges of the administrator for accessing the EV charging terminal 202 may be more than of the user.

In an embodiment, at the time of first starting up of the charging terminal 202, the first user connecting to the charging terminal 202 may be assigned the rights of the administrator. Therefore, the first user is the administrator and would have the rights to add further users to the system 204.

For the sake of simplicity, one user and the associated communication device 210 are illustrated in Figure 2. However, as would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, the number of users may vary depending on requirements of usage the charging terminal 202. Accordingly, in other embodiments, the number of administrators may also vary, for example, based on the number of users, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In an example, the charging terminal 202 may have one administrator and four users.

In an embodiment, the charging terminal 102 may be adapted to register one communication device of the administrator and four communication devices of four users. In other embodiments, the number of devices that can be registered with the charging terminal 102 may vary depending on the requirement, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Further, the charging terminal 202 may have a unique serial number ID associated with it, which may be used by the communication devices 208, 210 for connecting with the charging terminal 202. In an embodiment, the communication devices 208, 210 may communicate with the charging terminal 202 over a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) network. In other embodiments, the communication devices 208, 210 may communicate with the charging terminal 202 over any other wired or wireless network, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the communication devices 208, 210 may communicate with the charging terminal 202 over a cellular network or Wi-Fi.

The charging terminal 202 may also include a power socket 212 adapted to receive a charging cable connected to a charging port of the EV for charging the EV.

Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of the system 204 for controlling the user access to the charging terminal 202, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The system 204 may include, but is not limited to, a processor 302, memory 304, modules 306, and data 308. The modules 306 and the memory 304 may be coupled to the processor 302.

The processor 302 can be a single processing unit or several units, all of which could include multiple computing units. The processor 302 may be implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, state machines, logic circuitries, and/or any devices that manipulate signals based on operational instructions. Among other capabilities, the processor 302 is configured to fetch and execute computer-readable instructions and data stored in the memory 304.

The memory 304 may include any non-transitory computer-readable medium known in the art including, for example, volatile memory, such as static random access memory (SRAM) and dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and/or non-volatile memory, such as read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable ROM, flash memories, hard disks, optical disks, and magnetic tapes.

The modules 306, amongst other things, include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., which perform particular tasks or implement data types. The modules 306 may also be implemented as, signal processor(s), state machine(s), logic circuitries, and/or any other device or component that manipulate signals based on operational instructions.

Further, the modules 306 can be implemented in hardware, instructions executed by a processing unit, or by a combination thereof. The processing unit can comprise a computer, a processor, such as the processor 302, a state machine, a logic array, or any other suitable devices capable of processing instructions. The processing unit can be a general-purpose processor which executes instructions to cause the general-purpose processor to perform the required tasks or, the processing unit can be dedicated to performing the required functions. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the modules 306 may be machine-readable instructions (software) which, when executed by a processor/processing unit, perform any of the described functionalities.

In an embodiment, the modules 306 may include a receiving module 310, an assigning module 312, and a terminating module 314. The receiving module 310, the assigning module 312, and the terminating module 314 may be in communication with each other. The data 308 serves, amongst other things, as a repository for storing data processed, received, and generated by one or more of the modules 306.

The receiving module 310 may be adapted to receive a request from the communication device 208 of the administrator to assign temporary admin rights to at least one of registered users of the charging terminal 202. In an example, the request may be received when the administrator is not in the vicinity of the charging terminal 202 and therefore could not connect with the charging terminal 202 for exercising the associated rights. Therefore, the administrator may wish to temporarily assign admin rights to a user for performing a particular task. The request may be accompanied by at least one assignment condition.

In an embodiment, the assignment condition may be a predefined time duration allotted for exercising the temporary admin rights by the at least one user. For example, the assignment condition may be that a user A would be provided with the temporary admin rights for only 20 minutes. In another embodiment, the assignment condition may be completion of at least one predefined task to be performed by the at least one user while exercising the temporary admin rights. For example, the assignment condition may be that the charging terminal 202 is switched OFF.

The receiving module 310 may be in communication with the assigning module 312. The assigning module 312 may be adapted to assign the temporary admin rights to the at least one user. The temporary admin rights are applicable till the at least one assignment condition is met. Therefore, the temporary admin rights would cease to be applicable as soon as the assignment condition is met.

Particularly, once the temporary admin rights are assigned to the at least one user, the receiving module 310 may be adapted to receive a connection request from the at least one user for accessing the charging terminal 202 to exercise the temporary admin rights. Once connected, the at least one user may be allowed to exercise the temporary admin rights. The assigning module 312 and the receiving module 310 may be in communication with the terminating module 314.

The terminating module 314 may be adapted to terminate the temporary admin rights of the at least one user once the at least one assignment condition is met. For example, as soon as the user performs the particular task while exercising the temporary admin rights, the system 204 terminates the temporary admin rights of the user. Similarly, in case the assignment condition is the predefined duration of time of allocation of the temporary admin rights to the user, the system 204 terminates the temporary admin rights of the user after the time duration is over.

In an embodiment, the assigning module 312 may assign the temporary admin rights to one of the registered users, based on the request from the administrator. Figure 4 illustrates a schematic view depicting controlling of the user access to the charging terminal 202, according to the present embodiment. As illustrated, the objective is to restrict a user B from charging from the charging terminal 202, for example, due to non-payment of pending dues. The administrator is not in the vicinity of the charging terminal 202 and therefore, cannot connect with the charging terminal 202 for controlling the associated operations. Therefore, the administrator may request the system 204 to temporarily assign admin rights to one of users C, D, and E, based on their distance from the charging terminal 202.

For example, the administrator may assign temporary admin rights to the user C because the user C is closest to the charging terminal 202. The assignment condition in this case may be the performance of the task of blocking the access of the user B to the charging terminal 202 so that the user B cannot charge the vehicle from the charging terminal 202. In particular, the access of the user account of the user B in the application 206 to connect with the system 204 may be blocked.

Therefore, once the user C exercises the temporary admin rights to block the user account of the user B and as soon as the user account is blocked, the temporary admin rights of the user C cease to be applicable.

In another embodiment, the assigning module 312 may assign the temporary admin rights to a plurality of users, based on the request from the administrator. Figure 5 illustrates a schematic view depicting controlling of the user access to the charging terminal 202, according to the present embodiment of the present disclosure. In the present embodiment, the terminating module 314 may be adapted to terminate the temporary admin rights of the plurality of users, when the at least one assignment condition is met by one of the plurality of users. Therefore, as soon as one of the users performs the task, the temporary admin rights assigned to the multiple users would cease to operate. This embodiment may be applicable, say, in cases where data relating to distance of the users from the charging terminal 202 is not available with the administrator.

Figure 6 illustrates a flow chart depicting a method 600 of controlling the user access to the charging terminal 202, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method 600 may be a computer-implemented method executed, for example, by the processor 302. For the sake of brevity, constructional and operational features of the charging apparatus that are already explained in the description of Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, and Figure 5 are not explained in detail in the description of Figure 6.

At a block 602, the method 600 includes receiving the request from the communication device 208 of the administrator to assign the temporary admin rights to at least one of the registered users of the charging terminal 202. The request is accompanied by the at least one assignment condition. In an embodiment, the receiving module 310 may receive the request from the communication device 208.

At a block 604, the method 600 includes assigning the temporary admin rights to the at least one user through the respective communication device 210. The temporary admin rights may be applicable till the at least one assignment condition is met. In an embodiment, the assigning module 312 may assign the temporary admin rights to the at least one user.

In an embodiment, the method 600 may include receiving the connection request from the at least one user for accessing the charging terminal 202 to exercise the temporary admin rights. In such an embodiment, the method 600 may include terminating the temporary admin rights of the at least one user once the at least one assignment condition is met.

In an embodiment, the method 600 may include assigning the temporary admin rights to the plurality of users. In such an embodiment, the method 600 may include terminating the temporary admin rights of the plurality of users, when the at least one assignment condition is met by one of the plurality of users.

As would be gathered, the charging terminal 202, the system 204, and the method 600 of the present disclosure offer a comprehensive approach for controlling user access to the charging terminal 202. First of all, since the charging terminal 202 is a standalone unit, the functionalities of the charging terminal 202 as explained above can be availed without relying on any cloud server. This would lead to ease of access to data relating to the usage of the charging terminal 202. Moreover, additional cost associated with operational and maintenance of the cloud server is eliminated. Similarly, any inconvenience associated with connection of the charging terminal 202 with the cloud server is also eliminated.

Further, the system 204 allows the administrator to assign the admin rights to one or more users for a temporary duration. The admin rights can be temporarily assigned for performing a particular task or for a predefined time duration, which could be set as the assignment condition at the time of assigning the temporary admin rights. The temporary admin rights cease to operate as soon as the assignment condition is met.

This eliminates the limitation on the administrator to be in the vicinity of the charging terminal 202 for controlling the operation of the charging terminal 202. Even when the administrator is far away from the charging terminal 202, any admin operation can be performed by temporarily assigning the admin rights to one or more users. Therefore, the charging terminal 202, the system 204, and the method 600 of the present disclosure is cost-effective, operation-effective, secure in operation, and offer significant convenience to the administrator and the users.

While specific language has been used to describe the present subject matter, any limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. ,CLAIMS:1. A system (204) for controlling user access to an Electric Vehicle (EV) charging terminal (202), the system (202) comprising:
a receiving module (310) adapted to receive a request from a communication device (208) of an administrator to assign temporary admin rights to at least one of registered users of the EV charging terminal (202), wherein the request is accompanied by at least one assignment condition; and
an assigning module (312) in communication with the receiving module (310) and adapted to assign the temporary admin rights to the at least one user, wherein the temporary admin rights are applicable till the at least one assignment condition is met.

2. The system (204) as claimed in claim 1, comprising:
the receiving module (310) adapted to receive a connection request from the at least one user for accessing the EV charging terminal (202) to exercise the temporary admin rights; and
a terminating module (314) in communication with the assigning module (312) and the receiving module (310) and adapted to terminate the temporary admin rights of the at least one user once the at least one assignment condition is met.

3. The system (204) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one assignment condition comprising a predefined time duration allotted for exercising the temporary admin rights by the at least one user.

4. The system (204) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one assignment condition comprising completion of at least one predefined task to be performed by the at least one user while exercising the temporary admin rights.

5. The system (204) as claimed in claim 1, comprising:
the assigning module (312) adapted to assign the temporary admin rights to a plurality of users; and
the terminating module (314) adapted to terminate the temporary admin rights of the plurality of users, when the at least one assignment condition is met by one of the plurality of users.

6. A method (600) of controlling user access to an Electric Vehicle (EV) charging terminal (202), the method comprising:
receiving, by a receiving module (310), a request from a communication device (208) of an administrator to assign temporary admin rights to at least one of registered users of the EV charging terminal (202), wherein the request is accompanied by at least one assignment condition; and
assigning, by an assigning module (312), the temporary admin rights to the at least one user through a respective communication device (210), wherein the temporary admin rights are applicable till the at least one assignment condition is met.

7. The method (600) as claimed in claim 6, comprising:
receiving, by the receiving module (310), a connection request from the at least one user for accessing the EV charging terminal (202) to exercise the temporary admin rights; and
terminating, by a terminating module (314), the temporary admin rights of the at least one user once the at least one assignment condition is met.

8. The method (600) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one assignment condition comprising a predefined time duration allotted for exercising the temporary admin rights to the at least one user.

9. The method (600) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one assignment condition comprising completion of at least one predefined task to be performed by the at least one user while exercising the temporary admin rights.

10. The method (600) as claimed in claim 6, comprising:
assigning, by the assigning module (312), the temporary admin rights to a plurality of users; and
terminating, by the terminating module (314), the temporary admin rights of the plurality of users, when the at least one assignment condition is met by one of the plurality of users.

11. An Electric Vehicle (EV) charging terminal (202) comprising:
an actuating switch adapted to be operated for activating the EV charging terminal (202); and
a system (204) of controlling user access to the EV charging terminal (202), the system (204) comprising:
a receiving module (310) adapted to receive a request from a communication device (208) of an administrator to assign temporary admin rights to at least one of registered users of the EV charging terminal (202), wherein the request is accompanied by at least one assignment condition; and
an assigning module (312) in communication with the receiving module (310) and adapted to assign the temporary admin rights to the at least one user through a respective communication device (210), wherein the temporary admin rights are applicable till the at least one assignment condition is met.

12. The EV charging terminal (202) as claimed in claim 11, comprising an application (206) adapted to be installed in the communication device (208) of the administrator and the communication device (210) of the at least one user, wherein functionalities of the system (204) are accessed through the application.

13. The EV charging terminal (202) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the application (206) is connected with the system (204) over one of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), cellular network, and Wi-Fi.

14. The EV charging terminal (202) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the EV charging terminal (202) is a standalone unit.