System and method for updating charge station information
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorRobert M. Uyeki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for updating a charge station database including information about charge station location and/or characteristic by determining and verifying charge station location and characteristics after a vehicle connects to a charging station. The vehicle determines (probes) the charge station location based upon the location of the vehicle while connected to the charging station. This location information is transmitted by the vehicle to a central database.
Claims15
A system for identifying charge station characteristics comprising:
- a vehicle including:
- a connector for coupling the vehicle to a charge station, the connector configured to receive a first signal from the charge station;
- a battery for receiving the first signal through the connector to increase energy stored by the battery;
- a charge station information device to determine:
- a location based upon a location of the vehicle when the connector is coupled to the charge station;
- a charging outlet connection type indicating compatibility of the charge station with the vehicle connector;
- an availability of the charge station;
- and
- a transmission device for transmitting charge station information.
A method for identifying charge station characteristics comprising the steps of:
- coupling a vehicle to a charge station via a connector, the connector configured to receive a first signal from the charge station;
- determining characteristics of the charge station when the connector is coupled to the charge station, the characteristics including:
- a location of the charge station based upon a vehicle location when the connector is coupled to the charge station, a charging outlet connection type indicating compatibility of the charge station with the vehicle connector, and an availability of the charge station;
- and
- transmitting, by the vehicle, the charge station characteristic.
A method for updating a database of charge station characteristics comprising:
- receiving a transmission from a vehicle coupled to a charge station, the transmission including a characteristic of the charge station comprising a location of the charge station based upon a location of the vehicle when the connector is coupled to the charge station, a charging outlet connection type indicating compatibility of the charge station with the vehicle connector and an availability of the charge station;
- determining whether a pre-existing record in the database exists for the charging station;
- updating the location, the charging outlet connection type and the availability using the received transmission upon determining that the charging station is recorded in the database;
- and
- adding a record that includes the charging station location, the charging outlet connection type and the availability using the received transmission upon determining that the charging station is not recorded in the database.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.