FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for running a provider device for supplying a good, comprising the following steps: a) transmitting provider-device identity data from the provider device to a mobile device by means of short-range communications technology; b) sending the provider-device identity data and user identity data to a central computer platform by means of the mobile device using long-range communications technology; c) generating an activation code by the central computer platform and sending the activation code to the mobile device; d) transmitting

- the activation code

- and, at least then if not contained in the activation code, information on the user identity data from the mobile device to the provider device; e) activating supply of the good after a positive validation of at least the received activation code by the provider device.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a provider device and a system, respectively, designed for carrying out a method according to the present invention. STATE OF THE ART

Many governments and municipalities are fostering the move from combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles through purchase subsidies and improved communal electric charging infrastructure. However, since state-of-the-art charging stations are relatively expensive, cheap alternatives could greatly help in achieving a widespread availability of public, communal and commercial charging infrastructure.

There is a general preference for charging vehicles using normal household power outlets (typically from 110 V to 400 V, particularly to 230 V) since privately owned vehicles can usually be plugged in overnight. This form of (slow) charging is also better for battery longevity and cheaper than the fast-charging stations currently available. Besides that, widely available fast charging facilities would provide an insurmountable challenge for electricity providers as the peak load on their supply network would increase dramatically - especially the so called 'last-mile'. The power supply networks are largely out-dated and not designed for high peak loads of this kind.

The problem with offering household power outlets in communal areas like public parking buildings, work-place car parks, shopping malls, airport parking, motorway service parking and even apartment building parking, is that it is not possible to ascribe the cost of the electricity consumed to the owner of the vehicle without additional identification, activation, metering and cost-settlement infrastructure. This infrastructure is usually built into each charging station or group of charging stations and makes these very expensive.

A cheaper alternative seems feasible through utilizing the consumer's own mobile device and its intelligence and communications technology on the one hand and, on the other hand, smart power sockets that are known per se and include electrical metering, in order to avoid the need of expensive hardware.

From DE 102016 111 420 A1 a smart socket device is known, which must have a direct connection to its central computer platform via mobile telephone connection (including SIM card) or WIFI-internet connection which involves substantial device costs or connection infrastructure.

DE 102017210724 A1 discloses a system with a smart socket which does not rely on a direct connection to its central computer platform, but therefore it only enables a predetermined level of consumption. This system is unable to provide the exact amount of electrical energy required while also charging a price relative to the amount of electricity consumed, since communication is only guaranteed at the time of activation of the smart socket.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION

It is the objective of the present invention to provide a method and a system for running a provider device, like a smart socket, enabling supply of a certain good, like electricity, that overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages. Particularly, hardware requirements shall be kept low while an accurate settlement of costs shall be guaranteed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in a method for running a provider device for supplying a good, comprising the following steps: a) transmitting provider-device identity data from the provider device to a mobile device by means of short-range communications technology; b) sending information on the provider-device identity data and user identity data to a central computer platform by means of the mobile device using long-range communications technology; c) generating an activation code by the central computer platform and sending the activation code to the mobile device; d) transmitting

- the activation code

- and, at least then if not contained in the activation code, information on the user identity data from the mobile device to the provider device; e) activating supply of the good after a positive validation of at least the received activation code by the provider device; according to the invention it is provided that the following steps are carried out: f) metering the consumption of the good until deactivation of the supply and generating consumption data, the consumption data comprising information on the metered consumption, on the provider-device identity data, and on the user identity data; gl) transmitting the consumption data from the provider device to the mobile device and sending the consumption data from the mobile device to the central computer platform; g2) sending a data acknowledgement from the central computer platform to the mobile device and transmitting the data acknowledgement from the mobile device to the provider device; h) if any one of steps gl) to g2) cannot be carried out and/or the provider device does not receive the data acknowledgement, then the consumption data is transmitted to a further mobile device in the course of step a) of a next run of the method, wherein said further mobile device is used as mobile device in said next run. Naturally, additional communication steps, particularly so- called handshaking steps, can be provided as necessary.

The method and the provider device, respectively, is not necessarily restricted to supplying electricity, but can be designed for supplying practically any good, like fuel, water, milk, cereals, granules, etc. Smart devices for supplying those goods are known as such. Depending on the good, the good can be supplied to a consumer's/user's machine/device or the consumer/user in person. For example, the provider device can be a smart socket for supplying electricity to a user's device to be charged, wherein the device can be e.g. an electric vehicle or an appliance, and wherein the device has a plug which can be plugged into the smart socket for realising an electrical connection.

The method according to the present invention can be realised using corresponding software which can be run on a computer, i.e. the method can be a computer-implemented method.

Accordingly, the mobile device can be, e.g. a smartphone, a tablet, a notebook, a laptop etc., on which said software can be run, wherein the software can be in form of an app, for example .

Since for the communication between the provider device and the mobile device only short-range communications technology is used, communication capabilities of and hardware requirements for the provider device can be kept at a minimum. The mobile device, on the other hand is usually equipped with long-range communications technology allowing for long-range communication with the central computer platform, wherein the central computer platform can typically be reached via the internet .

Step b) can be considered an activation request. With "information on the provider-device identity data" any data is meant that allows the identification of the actual provider device, i.e. said data can be identical with the received provider-device identity data, said data can include the received provider-device identity data or said data can be derived from the received provider-device identity data.

The user identity data allows the identification of the user registered at the central computer platform. Preferably, the user identity data is stored on the mobile device, but could also be inquired by the mobile device from another data base.

The "information on the user identity data" can be identical with the user identity data, can include the user identity data or can be derived from the user identity data. Hence, also the information on the user identity data allows the identification of the user registered at the central computer platform, at least indirectly.

At least the activation code, which typically contains information on the user identity data, is used by the provider device for the validation process. Embodiments where both the activation code (containing or not containing information on the user identity data) and the separate information on the user identity data are used in the validation process are also possible .

Usually, metering is done by the provider device, wherein smart provider devices capable of metering are known as such for different goods. For example, smart sockets capable of measuring the electric power consumption are commercially available .

Deactivation of the supply can be triggered in different ways, for example by transmitting a deactivation command from the mobile device to the provider device or by a physical interruption of the supply. In case of supplying electricity by means of a smart socket, said interruption could be realised by pulling a plug of the device to be charged out of the smart socket.

Sending the consumption data to the central computer platform enables accurate settlement of the consumed good, since said settlement can at least be initiated. However, the execution of the settlement does not have to be an integral part of the central computer platform.

In a preferred embodiment the central computer platform can perform cost settlement between a provider account and a user's account substantially by integrating with payment service providers or payment gateways and the like, effectively debiting the user with a price for the amount consumed, plus a mark-up and/or fee and crediting the provider with the cost of the consumption plus a mark-up and/or provider fee. A part of the mark-up and/or fee can be retained by the platform. Alternatively, the platform can delegate settlement and other supporting functions to a 3rd party, for example a park-share app/platform or an electricity provider, but still charge a fee for its services

Usually, when the mobile device is used to deactivate a provider session, it conveys a separate message with the consumption data from the provider device, to which the central computer platform responds, e.g. by initiating settlement, and sends then the data acknowledgement back to the mobile device which transmits the data acknowledgement to the provider device. However, according to the present invention a communication channel via the user's mobile device (e.g. smartphone) is enabled for sending the accurate consumption data at the end of the consumption session (a run of the method) to the central computer platform, even if the same mobile device is not used to end the session. Any unsent session data will be sent the next time a connection is established - by the next user (in the course of the next run of the method).

If the user fails to use their phone to end the supply session and/or send the consumption data, then the consumption data will typically be retained in a provider device memory until the next user brings their phone into range of the provider device and the method according to the present invention is initiated. For example, said initiation can be done automatically, e.g. with the provider device continuously broadcasting its provider-device identity data, or via several handshaking steps for establishing a (data) connection between the provider device and the mobile device (using the short- range communications technology), wherein the (next) user deliberately starts the initiation via the mobile device. The consumption data is then transmitted along with the provider- device identity data as part of the new sequence (step a) of the next run of the method). The negligent user could in this case, pay an extra fee to encourage correct deactivation with their smartphone.

The consumption data is sent to the central computer platform, an acknowledgement that the data was correctly received (i.e. the data acknowledgment) is also transmitted back to the provider device before the consumption data typically is deleted from the provider device memory. Without confirmation, no new consumption sessions will be started, and the consumption data will be re-transmitted on each communication.

In case of an app running on the mobile device embodiments are conceivable where the app would provide additional functionality. For example, it could allow the user to create their account on the central computer platform, to store an account ID and the user identity data, respectively, on the mobile device, and to view all details of this account including transaction history and payments, but also the geographical location of registered sockets. It could, for example, also allow the owner of the provider device (e.g. of the smart socket) to register the provider device on the central computer platform with its ID, and the provider-device identity data, respectively, and to create a provider account and add this provider device to it. In this example, a user of the app can be both provider and consumer and manage both accounts and any number of provider devices with the same app.

Analogously, embodiments are conceivable where the central computer platform provides additional functionality. For example, it could create and maintain accounts for consumers and providers with their provider devices (e.g. sockets). The smartphone app or a webpage could act as the user-interface for these functions. It could create account IDs for the provider and consumer accounts and send these to the mobile device (e.g. smartphone) to be stored by the app for use in further communications. It could store the socket IDs in their provider's account record to be used in the validation of activation requests.

As detailed above, the content of the next activation request message can include the consumption data from the previous provider session of the provider device, which the central computer platform can use to at least initiate settlement of the costs. In this case, the platform can send a data acknowledgement in the response message along with the activation code for the new session. However, a separate data acknowledgement is not necessary - the receipt of an activation code alone in this case, can also serve as a settlement confirmation. Hence, in a preferred embodiment of the method according to the present invention, it is provided that if the consumption data is transmitted to the further mobile device in the course of step a) of the next run, then the activation code, which is received by the provider device in the next run, is treated by the provider device as data acknowledgement of a previous run of the method and the consumption data of the previous run is not transmitted anymore by the provider device.

As mentioned above, the consumption data of the previous run can then be deleted from an internal memory of the provider device.

According to the above, in a preferred embodiment of the method according to the present invention, it is provided that a smart socket is used as provider device for supplying electricity. Particularly, such smart sockets can be used for charging electric vehicles, i.e. particularly the batteries of electric cars, of electric motorcycles or of electric bicycles. Due to the low hardware requirements concerning communication capabilities (only short-range communication is necessary), a very low-cost e-charging network with accurate and practical cost settlement can be realised.

Particularly, the provider device can be a smart (electric power) socket operating at normal household power levels (e.g., 230V or 110V or 400V), but can also be a socket offering power levels required for fast charging of electric vehicles. A smart socket is 'smart' because it has a programmable micro-processor which controls all its functions. Typically, the socket is electrically connected via a charging cable to an electric vehicle to be charged. The design of the socket's electrical contacts and the socket's shape is dependent on the standards of the country that the socket is to be used in. These are the same standards that govern the shape and connections of charging cables that electric vehicles are equipped with in those countries. The socket is equally able to accept and supply power to other electrical appliances with a compatible plug.

Today, mobile devices like smartphones or tablets are equipped with appropriate long-range communications technology. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment of the method according to the present invention, it is provided that the long-range communications technology used for communication between the mobile device and the central computer platform is a WLAN or a mobile communication network.

Analogously, smart devices like smart sockets as well as mobile devices like smartphones or tablets are equipped with appropriate short-range communications technology.

Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment of the method according to the present invention, it is provided that the short-range communications technology used for communication between the mobile device and the provider device is Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, or Near-Field Communication.

Accordingly, embodiments are conceivable, where the mobile device is substantially a smartphone equipped with a short- range communications technology like NFC or BLE to talk to a smart (electric power) socket and with an internet data connection to talk to the central computer platform. The smartphone could run an application/app that particularly performs a socket activation sequence (particularly step b)) and previous-consumption-data-transfer if data exists (particularly step h), when instructed to and brought into range by the consumer (user of the phone). It could also perform the deactivation and consumption-data-transfer- sequence (particularly steps gl) and g2)) when it is instructed to and brought into range again by the consumer when they want to end the charging session.

In order to guarantee a secure communication, in a preferred embodiment of the method according to the present invention, it is provided that communication between the central computer platform and the provider device is end-to-end encrypted. Appropriate end-to-end encryption (E2EE) methods are known per se. This means that at least some, preferably all, data communicated between the provider device and the central computer platform (i.e. from the provider device to the central computer platform and vice versa) is end-to-end encrypted, so that the mobile device cannot manipulate said data. Said data can comprise, e.g. the provider-device identity data and/or the activation code.

Usage of E2EE between the provider device and the central computer platform safeguards against misuse and fraud. This encryption is implemented to encode the data and codes exchanged by the provider device and central computer platform to ensure that interception and replication or synthesis of messages by a nefarious mobile device application will not lead to activation of the provider device or false consumption data to be used for settlement.

In the course of the E2EE communication, the platform responds to activation request messages by decrypting encoded content and checking the validity of provider device IDs and consumer IDs against its database of registered provider devices and consumers before creating and encrypting an activation code which can contain these IDs and other data (e.g., a session ID) and sending this in a response message.

According to the above, a provider device for supplying a good is provided, wherein according to the present invention the provider device is designed at least for carrying out steps a), e), and h), and preferably step f), of a method according to the present invention as well as for transmittal of consumption data from the provider device to a mobile device. The transmittal of consumption data from the provider device to a mobile device corresponds to the part of step gl) which is carried out by the provider device. The ability to carry out step h) is essential for guaranteeing an accurate settlement of costs even in cases where the user fails to use their phone to end the supply session and/or send the consumption data as described above in detail.

As mentioned above, metering, and preferably also generating the consumption data, is usually done by the provider device, wherein smart provider devices capable of doing so are known as such for different goods, e.g. for electricity. However, embodiments are conceivable with metering and/or generating the consumption data not being integrated into the provider device, but with the provider device working together with at least one device dedicated to metering and/or generating the consumption data.

Preferably, the provider device is designed for detecting a termination of the supply session, wherein the termination can be an interruption caused by the user.

As mentioned above, the provider device can be a smart (electric power) socket.

Accordingly, embodiments are conceivable, where the smart socket is able to detect when the charging cable or appliance plug is physically removed from it and thus the supply session is terminated. This enables the socket to switch its power off and close the consumer's consumption session, thus preventing the next consumer from plugging in and continuing the previous session .

For the sake of completeness it is noted that, naturally, detection of a plug which is plugged into the smart socket can also be possible.

Typically, when the consumption session is closed, the consumption data can be stored by the smart socket until the consumer brings their mobile device (e.g. smartphone) in range again to allow the consumption data to be transmitted from the smart socket to the mobile device, which further sends the consumption data to the central computer platform.

According to the above, a system according to the present invention is provided, the system comprising a provider device according to the present invention as well as the mobile device, and a central computer platform, wherein the system is designed for carrying out a method according to the present invention .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

The invention will be explained in closer detail by reference to a preferred embodiment, with

Fig. 1 showing a schematic flow diagram concerning an activation of a provider device, which is a smart (electric power) socket in the illustrated embodiment of the method according to the present invention

Fig. 2 showing a schematic flow diagram concerning a deactivation of the provider device using a mobile device

Fig. 3 showing a schematic flow diagram concerning a deactivation of the provider device by removing a plug out of the smart socket

Fig. 4 showing a schematic flow diagram concerning another activation of the provider device in a next run of the method whereby consumption data from a previous run is also transmitted

WAYS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In Fig. 1 an embodiment of a system according to the present invention is illustrated, the system comprising a provider device PD in the form of a smart (electric power) socket, a mobile device MD1 in the form of a smartphone, and a central computer platform CCP, wherein the system is designed for carrying out a method according to the present invention for running the provider device for supplying electricity.

Said method comprises the following steps that are illustrated in Fig. 1: a) transmitting provider-device identity data PD-ID from the provider device PD to the mobile device MD1 by means of short- range communications technology like Bluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy; b) sending the provider-device identity data PD-ID and user identity data MD-ID to the central computer platform CCP by means of the mobile device MD1 using long-range communications technology like a mobile communication network; c) generating an activation code ACCD by the central computer platform CCP and sending the activation code ACCD to the mobile device MD1; d) transmitting the activation code ACCD from the mobile device (MD1) to the provider device (PD), wherein the activation code ACCD contains information on the user identity data MD-ID, preferably the user identity data MD-ID itself; e) activation ON (cf. the on-off-symbol in Fig. 1) of the provider device PD for supplying of electricity after a positive validation of the received activation code ACCD by the provider device PD.

After the activation ON the battery of a device, e.g. of an electric vehicle, is charged and electricity is consumed, cf. consumption CON, once the device is electrically connected to the provider device PD by plugging a plug of the device into the provider device / smart socket PD, cf. Fig. 2. Naturally, the plug can be inserted into the provider device also before the activation ON.

The consumption CON of the electricity is metered by the provider device PD until deactivation.

Generally, the method according to the present invention further comprises the following steps: f) metering the consumption of the good until deactivation of the supply and generating consumption data CONDAT, the consumption data CONDAT comprising information on the metered consumption, on the provider-device identity data PD-ID, and on the user identity data MD-ID; gl) transmitting the consumption data CONDAT from the provider device PD to the mobile device MD1 and sending the consumption data CONDAT from the mobile device MD1 to the central computer platform CCP; g2) sending a data acknowledgement ACK from the central computer platform CCP to the mobile device MD1 and transmitting the data acknowledgement ACK from the mobile device MD1 to the provider device PD; h) if any one of steps gl) to g2) cannot be carried out and/or the provider device PD does not receive the data acknowledgement ACK, then the consumption data CONDAT is transmitted to a further mobile device MD2 in the course of step a) of a next run of the method, wherein said further mobile device MD2 is used as mobile device in said next run.

Fig. 2 depicts a situation after deactivation using the mobile device MD1:

- The mobile device MD1 sends a deactivation command DEAC to the provider device PD on request by the consumer/user.

- The provider device PD ceases its provider function, which means deactivation OFF (cf. the on-off-symbol in Fig. 2) of the supply of electricity, and returns the consumption data CONDAT for the session/run to the mobile device MD1. - The mobile device MD1 sends the consumption data CONDAT to the central computer platform CCP.

- The central computer platform CCP performs cost settlement STL and, since the consumption data CONDAT was processed, returns the data acknowledgement ACK to the mobile device MD1.

- The mobile device MD1 forwards the data acknowledgement ACK to the provider device PD which deletes the consumption data CONDAT from its memory.

Fig. 3 depicts a situation after deactivation due to interruption of the charging by removal of the plug:

- The provider device PD detects that the consumption session has been terminated by the consumer by removal RMV of the (electric power) plug.

- The provider device PD ceases its provider function, which means deactivation OFF (cf. the on-off-symbol in Fig. 3) of the supply of electricity, and performs storage the consumption data STCONDAT for later retrieval of the consumption data CONDAT.

Fig. 4 depicts a situation where the previous consumption data is transmitted in a next session (the next run of the method):

- The provider device PD sends its provider-device identity data PD-ID plus consumption data MD1 CONDAT from the previous consumption session (comprising also information on the user identity data MD-ID of the previous session), to the further mobile device MD2 of the next user/consumer using short-range communications technology.

- The further mobile device MD2 sends the provider-device identity data PD-ID and its own user identity data MD2-ID plus the previous consumption data MD1 CONDAT to the central computer platform CCP.

- The central computer platform CCP performs cost settlement STL with the previous consumption data MD1 CONDAT and generates an activation code ACCD based on the provider-device identity data PD-ID and the user identity data MD2-ID and sends it to the mobile device MD2. This activation code ACCD also acts as the data acknowledgement ACK of the previous consumption data MD1 CONDAT.

- The mobile device MD2 transmits the activation code ACCD to the provider device PD, which (after positive validation of the activation code) switches into the active state ON (cf. the on-off-symbol in Fig. 4) and allows consumption CON. The provider device PD also deletes the previous consumption data MD1 CONDAT from its memory. In the shown embodiment all shown communication steps are encrypted, wherein an end-to-end encryption between the central computer platform CCP and the provider device PD is realised .

List of reference signs

PD Provider device / smart socket

MD1 Mobile device

MD2 Further mobile device CCP Central computer platform

ACCD Activation code

ON Activation of the provider device

CON Consumption

CONDAT Consumption data DEAC Deactivation command

OFF Deactivation of the provider device

ACK Data acknowledgement

RMV Removal

STCONDAT Storage of consumption data STL Settlement

PD-ID Provider-device identity data

MD-ID User identity data

MD1 CONDAT Consumption data of a previous session / run

MD2-ID User identity data of a next session / run