Network Based Energy Preference Service for Managing Electric Vehicle Charging Preferences

Abstract

A computer manages network based preferences associated with charging transactions for electric vehicles. A network based energy preference service receives a request for a set of preferences for an identified principal having an interest in the charging transaction and associated with a charging transaction for an electric vehicle from a preference requesting service over a network connection. The charging transaction is a transaction associated with at least one of charging the electric vehicle, storing electric power in an electric storage mechanism associated with the electric vehicle, and de-charging the electric vehicle. The network based energy preference service retrieves the set of preferences from a data storage device associated with the preference service. A preference in the set of preferences specifies a parameter of the charging transaction that is to be minimized, maximized, or optimized. A vehicle transaction planner sends the set of preferences to the preference requesting service.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A computer implemented method of managing user preferences associated with charging transactions for electric vehicles on a network based preference service, the computer implemented method comprising:
 receiving, by the network based preference service, a request for a set of preferences for an identified principal associated with a charging transaction for an electric vehicle from a preference requesting service over a network connection, wherein the identified principal is an entity having an interest in the charging transaction for the electric vehicle, and wherein the charging transaction is a transaction associated with at least one of charging the electric vehicle, storing electric power in an electric storage mechanism associated with the electric vehicle, and de-charging the electric vehicle;   retrieving the set of preferences from a plurality of preferences stored in a data storage device associated with the network based preference service, wherein the data storage device is located remotely from the electric vehicle and the preference requesting service, and wherein a preference in the set of preferences specifies a parameter of the charging transaction that is to be minimized, maximized, or optimized; and   sending the set of preferences to the preference requesting service, by the vehicle transaction planner, using the network connection.   
     
     
         13 . The computer implemented method of  claim 12  wherein the preference requesting service is associated with an energy transaction planner that is located on a remote computing device, wherein the remote computing device is located remotely to an energy preference server associated with the network based energy preference service and a client computing device associated with the identified principal. 
     
     
         14 . The computer implemented method of  claim 12  wherein the preference requesting service is a proxy preference service that is located on the electric vehicle. 
     
     
         15 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The computer implemented method of  claim 12  wherein the network based preference service is associated with a preference selection website, and wherein the principal logs onto the preference selection website to select preferences to form the set of preferences, and further comprising:
 registering the principal by the network based energy preference service. 
 
     
     
         22 . The computer implemented method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 responsive to a determination that the principal has previously selected preferences to form current preferences, retrieving the current preferences for the principal and presenting the preferences to the principal; 
 responsive to receiving a selection to enter changes to the preferences by the principal, prompting the principal to enter the changes to the current preferences; 
 receiving the changes to the preferences; and 
 storing the changes to the preferences in the data storage device to form updated preferences for the principal. 
 
     
     
         23 . The computer implemented method of  claim 12  wherein sending the set of preferences further comprises:
 responsive to identifying a temporary preference in the set of preferences, determining whether the temporary preference is valid, wherein the temporary preference is a preference that is only valid for a predetermined period of time or a predetermined number of charging transactions; and 
 responsive to a determination that the temporary preference is valid, including the temporary preference in the set of preferences that is sent to the energy transaction planner in response to the request. 
 
     
     
         24 . The computer implemented method of  claim 12  wherein sending the set of preferences further comprises:
 responsive to identifying a dynamic preference in the set of preferences, prompting the principal to select a preference value for the dynamic preference, wherein the dynamic preference is a preference that requires a selection of a preference value by the principal in real time; 
 receiving a selection of the preference value for the dynamic preference; and 
 including the dynamic preference and the value selected for the dynamic preference in the set of preferences that is sent to the energy transaction planner in response to the request. 
 
     
     
         25 . The computer implemented method of  claim 12  wherein each preference in the set of preferences is associated with an indicator that indicates whether the preference is mandatory or optional, wherein all requirements of a mandatory preference are met during the charging transaction, and wherein the charging transaction is terminated in response to a determination that a mandatory preference is not met. 
     
     
         26 . A computer program product comprising:
 a computer-recordable storage media including computer usable program code for managing user preferences associated with charging transactions for electric vehicles on a network based preference service, the computer program product comprising:   computer usable program code for receiving, by the network based preference service, a request for a set of preferences for an identified principal associated with a charging transaction for an electric vehicle from a preference requesting service over a network connection, wherein the identified principal is an entity having an interest in the charging transaction for the electric vehicle, and wherein the charging transaction is a transaction associated with at least one of charging the electric vehicle, storing electric power in an electric storage mechanism associated with the electric vehicle, and de-charging the electric vehicle;   computer usable program code for retrieving the set of preferences from a plurality of preferences stored in a data storage device associated with the network based preference service, wherein the data storage device is located remotely from the electric vehicle and the preference requesting service, and wherein a preference in the set of preferences specifies a parameter of the charging transaction that is to be minimized, maximized, or optimized; and   computer usable program code for sending the set of preferences to the preference requesting service, by the vehicle transaction planner, using the network connection.   
     
     
         27 . The computer program product of  claim 21  wherein the preference requesting service is associated with an energy transaction planner that is located on a remote computing device, wherein the remote computing device is located remotely to an energy preference server associated with the network based energy preference service and a client computing device associated with the identified principal. 
     
     
         28 . The computer program product of  claim 21  wherein the network based preference service is associated with a preference selection website, and wherein the principal logs onto the preference selection website to select preferences to form the set of preferences, and further comprising:
 computer usable program code for registering the principal by the network based energy preference service. 
 
     
     
         29 . The computer program product of  claim 21  further comprising:
 responsive to a determination that the principal has previously selected preferences to form current preferences, retrieving the current preferences for the principal and presenting the preferences to the principal; 
 responsive to receiving a selection to enter changes to the preferences by the principal, computer usable program code for prompting the principal to enter the changes to the current preferences; 
 computer usable program code for receiving the changes to the preferences; and 
 computer usable program code for storing the changes to the preferences in the data storage device to form updated preferences for the principal. 
 
     
     
         30 . The computer program product of  claim 21  wherein sending the set of preferences further comprises:
 responsive to identifying a temporary preference in the set of preferences, computer usable program code for determining whether the temporary preference is valid, wherein the temporary preference is a preference that is only valid for a predetermined period of time or a predetermined number of charging transactions; and 
 responsive to a determination that the temporary preference is valid, computer usable program code for including the temporary preference in the set of preferences that is sent to the energy transaction planner in response to the request. 
 
     
     
         31 . The computer program product of  claim 26  wherein sending the set of preferences further comprises:
 responsive to identifying a dynamic preference in the set of preferences, computer usable program code for prompting the principal to select a preference value for the dynamic preference, wherein the dynamic preference is a preference that requires a selection of a preference value by the principal in real time; 
 computer usable program code for receiving a selection of the preference value for the dynamic preference; and 
 computer usable program code for including the dynamic preference and the value selected for the dynamic preference in the set of preferences that is sent to the energy transaction planner in response to the request. 
 
     
     
         32 . The computer program product of  claim 26  wherein each preference in the set of preferences is associated with an indicator that indicates whether the preference is mandatory or optional, wherein all requirements of a mandatory preference are met during the charging transaction, and wherein the charging transaction is terminated in response to a determination that a mandatory preference is not met. 
     
     
         33 . An apparatus comprising:
 a bus system;   a communications system coupled to the bus system;   a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes computer readable program code; and   a processing unit coupled to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the computer readable program code to receive, by a network based preference service, a request for a set of preferences for an identified principal associated with a charging transaction for an electric vehicle from a preference requesting service over a network connection, wherein the identified principal is an entity having an interest in the charging transaction for the electric vehicle, and wherein the charging transaction is a transaction associated with at least one of charging the electric vehicle, storing electric power in an electric storage mechanism associated with the electric vehicle, and de-charging the electric vehicle; retrieve the set of preferences from a plurality of preferences stored in a data storage device associated with the network based preference service, wherein the data storage device is located remotely from the electric vehicle and the preference requesting service, and wherein a preference in the set of preferences specifies a parameter of the charging transaction that is to be minimized, maximized, or optimized; and send the set of preferences to the preference requesting service, by the vehicle transaction planner, using the network connection.   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33  further comprising:
 responsive to a determination that the principal has previously selected preferences to form current preferences, retrieving the current preferences for the principal and presenting the preferences to the principal; 
 responsive to receiving a selection to enter changes to the preferences by the principal, computer usable program code for prompting the principal to enter the changes to the current preferences; 
 computer usable program code for receiving the changes to the preferences; and 
 computer usable program code for storing the changes to the preferences in the data storage device to form updated preferences for the principal. 
 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein sending the set of preferences further comprises:
 responsive to identifying a temporary preference in the set of preferences, computer usable program code for determining whether the temporary preference is valid, wherein the temporary preference is a preference that is only valid for a predetermined period of time or a predetermined number of charging transactions; and 
 responsive to a determination that the temporary preference is valid, computer usable program code for including the temporary preference in the set of preferences that is sent to the energy transaction planner in response to the request. 
 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein sending the set of preferences further comprises:
 responsive to identifying a dynamic preference in the set of preferences, computer usable program code for prompting the principal to select a preference value for the dynamic preference, wherein the dynamic preference is a preference that requires a selection of a preference value by the principal in real time; 
 computer usable program code for receiving a selection of the preference value for the dynamic preference; and 
 computer usable program code for including the dynamic preference and the value selected for the dynamic preference in the set of preferences that is sent to the energy transaction planner in response to the request. 
 
     
     
         37 . The computer program product of  claim 27  wherein each preference in the set of preferences is associated with an indicator that indicates whether the preference is mandatory or optional, wherein all requirements of a mandatory preference are met during the charging transaction, and wherein the charging transaction is terminated in response to a determination that a mandatory preference is not met.