# US 11,308,746 B2 · Method and apparatus for finding and accessing an access station

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- Number: US 11,308,746 B2
- Document ID: US11308746B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/073,829
- Filed: 2020-10-19
- Published: 2021-02-04
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2010-03-02
- Assignees: Urban Intel, Inc.
- Applicants: Urban Intel, Inc.
- Inventors: Christopher Scott Outwater; William Gibbens Redmann
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11308746B2

## CPC

- G07C 9/27: with central registration
- B60L 53/16: Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
- B60L 53/18: Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
- B60L 53/31: Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
- B60L 53/57: Charging stations without connection to power networks
- B60L 53/65: involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
- B60L 53/665: {Methods related to measuring, billing or payment}
- B60L 53/68: Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
- G06Q 10/02: Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
- G06Q 20/045: {using payment protocols involving tickets}
- G06Q 20/308: {using the Internet of Things}
- G06Q 20/32: using wireless devices
- G06Q 20/3223: {Realising banking transactions through M-devices}
- G06Q 20/3278: {RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices}
- G06Q 20/38215: {Use of certificates or encrypted proofs of transaction rights}
- G06Q 20/3829: {involving key management}
- G06Q 30/06: Buying, selling or leasing transactions
- G06Q 50/06: Energy or water supply
- G07C 9/20: involving the use of a pass
- G07C 9/215: {the system having a variable access-code, e.g. varied as a function of time}
- G07C 9/22: in combination with an identity check of the pass holder
- G07C 9/29: the pass containing active electronic elements, e.g. smartcards
- G07F 5/26: Interlocks, e.g. for locking the doors of compartments other than that to be used
- G07F 15/005: {dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles (electrical charging as such, B60L50/00)}
- H04L 9/3247: {involving digital signatures}
- H04L 9/3263: {involving certificates, e.g. public key certificate [PKC] or attribute certificate [AC]; Public key infrastructure [PKI] arrangements (network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using certificates in a packet data network H04L63/0823)}
- H04L 9/3268: {using certificate validation, registration, distribution or revocation, e.g. certificate revocation list [CRL]}
- H04L 63/0428: {wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload}
- H04L 63/0823: {using certificates (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263)}
- H04L 63/102: {Entity profiles}
- H04W 4/021: Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
- H04W 4/023: {using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds}
- H04W 12/069: using certificates or pre-shared keys
- H04W 12/08: Access security
- B60L 2240/622: by satellite navigation
- B60L 2240/72: Charging station selection relying on external data
- B60L 2240/80: Time limits
- B60L 2250/10: by alarm
- G06Q 2240/00: Transportation facility access, e.g. fares, tolls or parking
- G07C 2209/08: With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
- H04L 63/0442: {wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30)}
- H04L 2209/56: Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
- H04L 2209/80: Wireless
- H04L 2209/84: Vehicles
- H04W 4/40: for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
- Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
- Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
- Y02T 10/72: Electric energy management in electromobility
- Y02T 90/12: Electric charging stations
- Y02T 90/14: Plug-in electric vehicles
- Y02T 90/16: Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
- Y02T 90/167: Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
- Y04S 30/14: Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing
- G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00})
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
- Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS

## Abstract

A method for access control accepts a first data from a first mobile computing device of a first patron. The first data is representative of at least a certificate and represents an authorization for access. The method further provides the access in response to the first data, and makes a record in the first station. The record includes a second data representing the access and an identifying portion of the certificate. The method further provides, after the access, a third data to a second mobile computing device of any patron. The third data is deliverable by the second mobile computing device to the management system and is representative of the record. The method further accepts a fourth data that is representative of at least an acknowledgment of the record, and deletes the record from the first station in response to the fourth data.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for access control comprising:
a) accepting a first data, with a first station comprising a memory, from a first mobile computing device of a first patron, the first data representative of at least a certificate, the certificate created by a management system and representing an authorization for access;
b) providing the access, with the first station, in response to the first data;
c) making a record in the first station, the record comprising a second data representing the access and at least an identifying portion of the certificate;
d) providing, after the access, a third data, by the first station, to a second mobile computing device of any patron, the third data deliverable by the second mobile computing device to the management system, the third data representative of the record;
e) accepting a fourth data, with the first station, the fourth data representative of at least an acknowledgment of the record, the acknowledgment created by the management system and representing receipt by the management system of the third data; and,
f) deleting the record from the first station in response to the fourth data.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein accepting the fourth data is from a third mobile computing device of any patron.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the fourth data comprises a digital signature by the management system and e) accepting the fourth data further comprises validating the signature.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the fourth data comprises an encrypted portion by the management system and e) accepting the fourth data further comprises decrypting the encrypted portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second mobile computing devices is a smart phone.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second mobile computing devices is a dashboard appliance in a vehicle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein a portion of the second data is at least one of a start time, a stop time, an amount drawn, a duration, a door open event, a door closed event, a load shed event, and a billing amount.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first data is further representative of a device address of the first station, the method further comprising:
g) responding to a wireless search for the device address by the first mobile computing device, with a visible indicator associated with the first station.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
g) responding to a wireless search for any station by the first mobile computing device, with a visible indicator associated with the first station.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the third data is further representative of a status of the first station.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first data comprises a digital signature by the management system and a) accepting the first data further comprises validating the signature.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first data comprises an encrypted portion by the management system and a) accepting the first data further comprises decrypting the encrypted portion.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein d) providing the third data is further through a second station and the first station has communication with the second station.

### Claim 14

A first station, for access control, comprising:
a processor having control of an element enablable to provide access;
a communication module connected to the processor to provide communication with mobile computing devices; and,
a memory accessible to the processor, the memory containing executable instructions, which when executed by the processor perform a process of:
a) accepting a first data, through the communication module, from a first mobile computing device of a first patron, the first data representative of at least a certificate, the certificate created by the management system and representing an authorization for the access;
b) enabling the element to provide the access, in response to the first data;
c) making a record in the first station, the record comprising a second data representing the access and at least a portion of the certificate;
d) providing a third data, after the access, through the communication module, to a second mobile computing device of any patron, the third data deliverable by the second mobile computing device to the management system, the third data representative of the record;
e) accepting a fourth data, through the communication module, the fourth data representative of at least an acknowledgment of the record, the acknowledgment created by the management system and representing receipt by the management system of the third data; and,
f) deleting the record from the first station, in response to the fourth data.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The station of claim 14, wherein in e), the accepting is from a third mobile computing device of any patron.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The station of claim 14, wherein the fourth data comprises a digital signature by the management system and e) accepting the fourth data further comprises validating the signature.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The station of claim 14, wherein the fourth data comprises an encrypted portion by the management system and e) accepting the fourth data further comprises decrypting the encrypted portion.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The station of claim 14, wherein the access comprises one of charging, dispensing, activating, and unlocking.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The station of claim 14, wherein the communication module comprises a data transceiver in at least one of an ISM radio band and a 2.4 GHz radio band.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The station of claim 14, wherein a portion of the second data is at least one of a start time, a stop time, an amount drawn, a duration, a door open event, a door closed event, a load shed event, and a billing amount.