A SYSTEM AND APPLICATION OF AI AND BLOCKCHAIN INTEGRATED BILLING ARCHITECTURE FOR CHARGING THE ROAMING ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Abstract

ABSTRACT A SYSTEM AND APPLICATION OF AI AND BLOCKCHAIN INTEGRATED BILLING ARCHITECTURE FOR CHARGING THE ROAMING ELECTRIC VEHICLES Due to the proliferation of extended travel range electric vehicles (EVs), these will travel through different networks that might be served by different utility companies. Therefore, we propose an architecture capable of offering a charging service to roaming vehicles. Furthermore, although the energy internet supports both the flow of energy and information, it does not support seamless EV roaming service, because it is based on a centralized architecture. The blockchain technology that is based on a decentralized system has the potential to support a secure billing platform for charging the EVs roaming through different electrical jurisdictions. Furthermore, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) ensures that the participating players get a fair portion of the revenue. Thus, the objective of this paper is to develop an AI and blockchain integrated billing architecture that would offer a charging service to the “roaming” EVs and present a fair and unified billing solution. The proposed system provides several benefits to all the players. The analysis shows that it improves the aggregated satisfaction level of the customers, and thus positively impacts the utility companies’ revenue. It also shows the results of the effect of AI on smart contracts.

Specification

Description:A SYSTEM AND APPLICATION OF AI AND BLOCKCHAIN INTEGRATED BILLING ARCHITECTURE FOR CHARGING THE ROAMING ELECTRIC VEHICLES
FIELD OF INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates to the application architecture capable of offering a charging service to roaming vehicles. More particularly, The blockchain technology that is based on a decentralized system has the potential to support a secure billing platform for charging the EVs roaming through different electrical jurisdictions. Furthermore, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) ensures that the participating players get a fair portion of the revenue.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

[003] Electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining importance as they are evolving to (a) provide more miles per charge, (b) help utilities in peak demand shaving, (c) reduce environmental pollution, and (d) offer a lower cost per mile [1]. Many of today's newest EVs can travel over 200 miles on a single charge. Tesla's flagship Model S offers as much as 370 miles on demand [2]. The market penetration of extended travel range EVs is encouraging EV travel through networks that might be served by different utility companies. Therefore, there is a need for roaming-enabled charging infrastructure.

[004] Roaming refers to an EV drivers' ability to receive an EV charging service during long-distance EV travels, using charging stations that belong not only to a home utility network (HUN), but also to a visiting utility network (VUN), with the same privileges as they would receive in an HUN. These privileges may include, for example, receiving a discounted EV charging rate based on a drivers' long term dedication with a HUN, or receiving premium charging services for being a Gold, Diamond, or Platinum customer, contingent upon their enrollment in a loyalty program with their HUN, etc. Thus, such customers will continue to receive discounted and premium services even if they travel out of the service jurisdiction of their HUN. Furthermore, with roaming-enabled infrastructure in place, an EV driver will receive just one bill associated with the customer HUN's account number.

[005] Provisioning of roaming service requires (a) the introduction of new functional entities; (b) development of new communication interfaces; (c) upgrades in charging stations; (d) creation of contractual agreements among the participating utilities that would bind them to provide the agreed-upon charging services to each other's customers while honoring consumer confidentiality, privacy, and security; (e) interconnection between the energy and the information flow; and (f) a decentralized, transparent, and secure transaction system to allow participating utilities to keep track of usage of service and completion of transactions. This paper proposes an "AI and blockchain integrated billing architecture for charging the roaming electric vehicles".

[006] Blockchain technology was developed specifically for bitcoin; bitcoin is the first application of blockchain in action. However, blockchain has several applications beyond cryptocurrency networks, and these have the potential revolutionize the way we conduct business [3]. Figure 1 shows the players involved, and the following paragraphs show some of the benefits for each player for using blockchain technology for billing architecture for charging roaming EVs. IoT 2019, 2 FOR PEER REVIEW 2 Provisioning of roaming service requires (a) the introduction of new functional entities; (b) development of new communication interfaces; (c) upgrades in charging stations; (d) creation of contractual agreements among the participating utilities that would bind them to provide the agreedupon charging services to each other's customers while honoring consumer confidentiality, privacy, and security; (e) interconnection between the energy and the information flow; and (f) a decentralized, transparent, and secure transaction system to allow participating utilities to keep track of usage of service and completion of transactions.
[007]
[008] This paper proposes an "AI and blockchain integrated billing architecture for charging the roaming electric vehicles". Blockchain technology was developed specifically for bitcoin; bitcoin is the first application of blockchain in action. However, blockchain has several applications beyond cryptocurrency networks, and these have the potential revolutionize the way we conduct business [3]. Figure 1 shows the players involved, and the following paragraphs show some of the benefits for each player for using blockchain technology for billing architecture for charging roam

[009] Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art through comparison of described systems with some aspects of the present disclosure, as outlined in the remainder of the present application and concerning the drawings. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of "a," "an," and "the" includes plural reference unless the context dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context dictates otherwise.

[0010] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any or a combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all groups used in the appended claims.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0011] The present invention relates to the application architecture capable of offering a charging service to roaming vehicles. More particularly, The blockchain technology that is based on a decentralized system has the potential to support a secure billing platform for charging the EVs roaming through different electrical jurisdictions. Furthermore, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) ensures that the participating players get a fair portion of the revenue.

[0012] The architecture is classified into "Functional Entities" and "Blockchain Overlay Network". The functional entities are (i) enhanced charging stations, (ii) roaming gateway/router (R-GW/R), (iii) authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) node, (iv) charging rules and policy (CRP) database, and (v) consumer profile database. The blockchain overlay network includes a communication protocol and consortium blockchain code.

[0013] To understand the roaming framework, we first introduce a unique consumer identification number (CIN). A CIN is a sequence of digits formatted and standardized in such a way that all the functional entities involved in this architecture and the services associated with the CIN are distinguished by the functional entities. For example, the first part of a CIN uniquely identifies the AAA node situated in the HUN and is used to establish a communication link between the charging station and AAA node. The second part of the CIN is interpreted by the AAA node to validate the consumer and uniquely recognize the services associated with the number.

[0014] The enhanced charging stations are distributed throughout the service area. EVs connect to the charging station using a charging cable. The communication between the charging station (i.e., EVSE and the EV is carried out following the ISO/IEC 15118 protocols. The communication between the charging station (i.e., SECC) and the roaming-gateway/router (R-GW/R) is carried over ISO/IEC 61850. The serving utility feeds the EVSE. Enhanced charging stations have standard-as well as additional-features for the enablement of blockchain-based billing and EV recharging. Each charging station has a unique, addressable ID and supports the Energy Internet, i.e., it handles the flow of energy, as well as information. The flow of energy is between the EV and the serving utility provider through the serving charging station, whereas the flow of information is between the serving charging station, the HUN, and the VUN through the cloud.

[0015] The charging stations are equipped with a graphical user interface to accept user information, e.g., a utility-issued consumer identification number (CIN), customer loyalty number, or any such numbers that contain customers' subscription and service-related information. The graphical user interface may be a dial pad, a scanner to read the magnetic tape cards, a chip reader to read the integrated circuit (IC) chip card, a radio frequency identity (RFID), or a near field communication (NFC) reader to read the cards wirelessly. User information may appear on the card issued to the EV drivers by their HUN. It may also be human/machine-readable.
[0016] The extended travel range of EVs will encourage EV drivers to travel through networks belonging to different utility jurisdictions. Therefore, we propose AI and blockchain integrated billing architecture for charging the roaming electric vehicles, since blockchain technology offers attractive features. It also shows the results of the effect of AI on smart contracts. It is also demonstrated that, with the integration of AI with smart contracts, the efficiency of decision-making performance increases, which ensures that the participating players get a fair portion of the revenues.
[0017] Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art through comparison of described systems with some aspects of the present disclosure, as outlined in the remainder of the present application and concerning the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.
[0019] Figure 1. Players in artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain-integrated billing architecture for roaming electric vehicles (EVs) 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

[0021] Figure 1. Players in artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain-integrated billing architecture for roaming electric vehicles (EVs). Blockchain technology was developed specifically for bitcoin; bitcoin is the first application of blockchain in action. However, blockchain has several applications beyond cryptocurrency networks, and these have the potential revolutionize the way we conduct business . Figure 1 shows the players involved, and the following paragraphs show some of the benefits for each player for using blockchain technology for billing architecture for charging roaming EVs.

[0022] 1. EV Owners: Blockchain-based roaming offers several perks for EV owners. For example, blockchain-enabled roaming eliminates the need for one to possess multiple subscriptions, loyalty cards, credit cards, or gift cards for different charging networks. It also reduces transaction fees, because in blockchain, there is no involvement of a third-party management entity.

[0023] The integration of AI with blockchain also provides transparency, fairness, and security for billing. Further, it offers a single/unified billing solution, regardless of where the charging request is initiated from. Furthermore, it offers the ability to provide premium services to the select customers, such as priority charging, discounted tariffs, and pre-booking of charging facility, etc.

[0024] 2. Utility Industry: The potential of blockchain-based roaming in the utility industry is transformative, as it has a great beneficial impact on the revenue, which is a key performance indicator (KPI) of utility companies. Blockchain-enabled roaming also provides the utilities the liberty to pick-and-choose best roaming partners, which in turn promotes competition, and enhances customers' trust and retention. It also offers a decentralized energy trading platform and distributive data storage facility.

[0025] Additionally, it provides a robust security architecture, as the whole blockchain system is protected by encryption algorithms. Its integration with AI provides a fair distribution of the funds.

[0026] 3. Charging Infrastructure Providers: AI integrated blockchain-based roaming also offers several benefits to the charging infrastructure providers.

[0027] The charging infrastructure may include the real estate and the charging equipment, also called electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). It offers the transaction's correctness, openness, traceability, and immutability that is hard to achieve in traditional centralized charging stations. AI integrated blockchain-based roaming system will build trust in EV owners for battery charging in general, and for battery swapping in particular, because the network will permanently save operations histories, including information about battery health and life-cycle, and make it visible to all the players, i.e., the EV owner, the charging/swapping stations, and the utilities.

[0028] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow.

[0029] The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions, or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person.
, Claims:CLAIMS
We claim,
1. A system and application of ai and blockchain integrated billing architecture for charging the roaming electric vehicles comprises an architecture capable of offering a charging service to roaming vehicles. although the energy internet supports both the flow of energy and information, it does not support seamless EV roaming service, because it is based on a centralized architecture.
2. The invention claimed in claim 1, The blockchain technology that is based on a decentralized system has the potential to support a secure billing platform for charging the EVs roaming through different electrical jurisdictions.
3. The invention claimed in claim 1, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) ensures that the participating players get a fair portion of the revenue. Thus, the objective of this paper is to develop an AI and blockchain integrated billing architecture that would offer a charging service to the "roaming" EVs and present a fair and unified billing solution.
4. The invention claimed in claim 1, The proposed system provides several benefits to all the players. The analysis shows that it improves the aggregated satisfaction level of the customers, and thus positively impacts the utility companies' revenue. It also shows the results of the effect of AI on smart contracts.

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