Charging device, charging management server, and charging method

A charging management server comprising:

• a communication module configured to receive a plurality of pieces of beacon information from a charging device;
• a storage configured to store locations of a plurality of beacons corresponding to identification (ID) information of the plurality of beacons, respectively;
• and
• a controller configured to identify the identification (ID) information and receive signal strength indication (RSSI) information of the plurality of beacons based on the received plurality of pieces of beacon information, obtain a location of the charging device based on the identification (ID) information and the receive signal strength indication (RSSI) information of the plurality of beacons, determine whether the charging device is located within a predetermined radius from a charging outlet based on the obtained location of the charging device and a predetermined location of the charging outlet, and when it is determined that the charging device is located within the predetermined radius from the charging outlet, and control the communication module to send a charging authorization signal to the charging device.

A charging method comprising:

• receiving beacon signals from a plurality of beacons;
• obtaining a plurality of pieces of identification (ID) information and receive signal strength indication (RSSI) information from the beacon signals;
• sending identification (ID) information and the received signal strength indication (RSSI) information included in the beacon signals to a charging management server of a charging device;
• charging, by a controller, a vehicle connected to a charging connector when a charging authorization signal is received, by the controller, from the charging management server;
• and
• sending, by the controller, information related to an amount of power used for charging the vehicle to the charging management server,
• wherein the charging authorization signal is a signal received from the charging management server when it is determined by the charging management server that a location of the charging device is within a predetermined radius from a power source, and
• wherein the location of the charging device is obtained by the identification (ID) information and the received signal strength indication (RSSI) information included in the received beacon signals.