Dynamic quick-response codes (QR codes) for electric vehicle (EV) chargers that are used for configuration/commissioning or operation at different points in time
A system comprises an Electric Vehicle (EV) charger with an electronic display screen having an e-ink/e-paper display—a technology that allows displaying information without power and an Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) backend system that receives charging data and sends charging commands based on dynamic load management principles via communication between chargers and central back-end EV charging management systems. The system further comprises a first dynamic Quick-Response code (QR code) representing the EV charger for the purposes of charger commissioning and configuration is presented on the e-ink/e-paper display during a boot time, and during (re-)configuration time whenever the EV charger is placed in a (re-)configuration mode and a second dynamic QR code different from the first dynamic QR code related to the OCPP backend system to which the EV charger is connected is presented on the e-ink/e-paper display during an operational time.
1 . A system comprising:
an Electric Vehicle (EV) charger with an electronic display screen having an e-ink display;
an Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) backend system that receives charging data and sends charging commands based on dynamic load management principles via communication between chargers and central back-end EV charging management systems;
a first dynamic Quick-Response code (QR code) representing the EV charger for the purposes of charger commissioning and configuration is presented on the e-ink display during a boot time, and during (re-)configuration time whenever the EV charger is placed in a (re-)configuration mode; and
a second dynamic QR code different from the first dynamic QR code related to the OCPP backend system to which the EV charger is connected is presented on the e-ink display during an operational time.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein if the e-ink display of the electronic display screen used in the EV charger also called an electronic paper (e-paper) screen, when power is out the first dynamic QR code of the EV charger during commissioning/configuration is displayed on the e-paper screen.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the EV charger displays a variable QR code on the e-paper screen that is used for configuration/commissioning or operation at different points in time.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the EV charger avoids confusion of both an end user as well as a service personnel operating and servicing the EV charger.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first dynamic QR code and the second dynamic QR code are used to identify the EV charger.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the first dynamic QR code and the second dynamic QR code cannot be used to attack a driver trying to charge her/his electric vehicle (EV) as dynamic QR codes have an advantage of being harder to hack via placement of a paper QR code on top.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein one dynamic QR code is created by the OCPP backend system, and another dynamic QR code is created by a platform used to configure the EV charger.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein there are two different states:
a) the EV charger is booting (or powered off, if the charger display is of the e-ink display that allows displaying static information on the electronic display screen when there is no power): in this case the first dynamic QR code with information needed for configuring the EV charger/installing the EV charger is displayed such that an installer would use an installer app on a cellphone, in order to scan the first dynamic QR code and configure the EV charger; and
b) the EV charger is no longer booting, and now is ready for operation (including a possible delay after boot time, to allow installers to configure the EV charger): now the second dynamic QR code displayed is an operational QR code, different, that if scanned by a driver with a phone, will take the driver to a landing page associated with operating the EV charger (paying for a charging session, starting to charger, stopping to charger, etc.).
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first dynamic QR code is equivalent to a charger serial number in a format ABCD1234567890.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the second dynamic QR code is equivalent to a URL (https://OCPPServerURL.com/ABCD1234567890) used by drivers, that allows them to access an operations screen presented by an OCPP server to which the EV charger is connected.
11 . A method comprising:
providing an Electric Vehicle (EV) charger with an electronic display screen having an e-ink display;
providing an Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) backend system that receives charging data and sends charging commands based on dynamic load management principles via communication between chargers and central back-end EV charging management systems;
providing a first dynamic Quick-Response code (QR code) representing the EV charger for the purposes of charger commissioning and configuration is presented on the e-ink display during a boot time, and during (re-)configuration time whenever the EV charger is placed in a (re-)configuration mode; and
providing a second dynamic QR code different from the first dynamic QR code related to the OCPP backend system to which the EV charger is connected is presented on the e-ink display during an operational time.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein if the e-ink display of the electronic display screen used in the EV charger also called an electronic paper (e-paper) screen, when power is out the first dynamic QR code of the EV charger during commissioning/configuration is displayed on the e-paper screen.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the EV charger displays a variable QR code on the e-paper screen that is used for configuration/commissioning or operation at different points in time.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the EV charger avoids confusion of both an end user as well as a service personnel operating and servicing the EV charger.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first dynamic QR code and the second dynamic QR code are used to identify the EV charger.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first dynamic QR code and the second dynamic QR code cannot be used to attack a driver trying to charge her/his electric vehicle (EV) as dynamic QR codes have an advantage of being harder to hack via placement of a paper QR code on top.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein one dynamic QR code is created by the OCPP backend system, and another dynamic QR code is created by a platform used to configure the EV charger.
18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein there are two different states:
a) the EV charger is booting (or powered off, if the charger display is of the e-ink display that allows displaying static information on the electronic display screen when there is no power): in this case the first dynamic QR code with information needed for configuring the EV charger/installing the EV charger is displayed such that an installer would use an installer app on a cellphone, in order to scan the first dynamic QR code and configure the EV charger; and
b) the EV charger is no longer booting, and now is ready for operation (including a possible delay after boot time, to allow installers to configure the EV charger): now the second dynamic QR code displayed is an operational QR code, different, that if scanned by a driver with a phone, will take the driver to a landing page associated with operating the EV charger (paying for a charging session, starting to charger, stopping to charger, etc.).
19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first dynamic QR code is equivalent to a charger serial number in a format ABCD1234567890.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the second dynamic QR code is equivalent to a URL (https://OCPPServerURL.com/ABCD1234567890) used by drivers, that allows them to access an operations screen presented by an OCPP server to which the EV charger is connected.