Patents by Inventor Erica Haefner Ferro

Erica Haefner Ferro has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8918336
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for brokering a charging process of an electric vehicle. In one embodiment, a process extracts event data associated with the charging process from a charge notification in response to receiving the charge notification indicating that the charging process of the electric vehicle is complete. The event data may include, but is not limited to, duration of the charging process, quantity of electricity transferred, or rate at which electricity was transferred during the charging process. The process then identifies, from an energy transaction plan, a set of payees participating in the charging process. Thereafter, the process disburses a payment owed to the set of payees. An amount of the payment is calculated using payment terms in profiles of the set of payees. The payment includes funds from at least one of a payer fund and an incentive fund.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Erica Haefner Ferro, Allan James Schurr, Mark William Trekell, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Patent number: 8918376
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing electric vehicle charging information. In one embodiment, the process receives charging process data. The charging process data may be stored in a data repository and associated with a user to form historical user data. The process then generates a notification in response to detecting a condition for triggering the generation of the notification. The notification comprises a set of recommendations for achieving a set of optimization objectives. In addition, the set of recommendations are derived from at least one of the historical user data and a remote data source. Thereafter, the process presents the notification to a user using a set of notification preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald Ambrosio, Erica Haefner Ferro, Allan James Schurr, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Patent number: 8836281
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a computer manages an electric vehicle charging transaction. A set of principals is identified associated with the charging transaction for an electric vehicle. A principal is an entity having an interest in the charging transaction. Electric vehicle charging information is retrieved from a set of sources. An energy transaction plan is generated during a pre-charge phase using the electric vehicle charging information and based on preferences of one or more principals to govern the charging transaction. The computer initiates a charging phase of the electric vehicle charging transaction for an electric vehicle connected to a charging station according to the energy transaction plan. The charging phase comprises charging the electric vehicle with electricity, storing electricity in the electric vehicle, and removing electricity to de-charge the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald Ambrosio, Erica Haefner Ferro, James L. Hafner, Colin G. Harrison, Melissa W. O'Mara, Allan J. Schurr, Mark W. Trekell, Paul S. Williamson
  • Patent number: 8266075
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments manage an electric vehicle charging transaction. A set of principals associated with the electric vehicle charging transaction is identified. Electric vehicle charging information is retrieved from a set of sources. An energy transaction plan is generated using the electric vehicle charging information. A charging phase of the electric vehicle charging transaction is initiated for an electric vehicle connected to a charging station in accordance with the energy transaction plan. The charging phase comprises at least one of charging the electric vehicle with electricity, storing electricity in an electric storage mechanism associated with the electric vehicle, and removing electricity from the electric storage mechanism to de-charge the electric vehicle. In response to completion of the charging phase, the process then settles the financial obligations of a subset of principals in accordance with the energy transaction plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald Ambrosio, Erica Haefner Ferro, James Lee Hafner, Colin George Harrison, Melissa Wiltsey O'Mara, Allan James Schurr, Mark William Trekell, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Publication number: 20120191524
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a computer manages an electric vehicle charging transaction. A set of principals is identified associated with the charging transaction for an electric vehicle. A principal is an entity having an interest in the charging transaction. Electric vehicle charging information is retrieved from a set of sources. An energy transaction plan is generated during a pre-charge phase using the electric vehicle charging information and based on preferences of one or more principals to govern the charging transaction. The computer initiates a charging phase of the charging transaction for an electric vehicle connected to a charging station according to the energy transaction plan. The charging phase comprises charging the electric vehicle with electricity, storing electricity in the electric vehicle, and removing electricity to de-charge the electric vehicle. The computer settles financial obligations among principals according to the energy transaction plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald Ambrosio, Erica Haefner Ferro, James Lee Hafner, Colin George Harrison, Melissa Wiltsey O'Mara, Allan James Schurr, Mark William Trekell, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Patent number: 8103391
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments disclose managing a charging process of an electric vehicle. Begin by monitoring a set of operational parameters of the charging process during the flow of electricity for one or more interruptions in response to receiving, from an energy transaction execution engine, a request signaling the start of the charging process. The process then detects the one or more interruptions during the flow of electricity from the set of operational parameters, which conform to a set of predefined interrupt conditions. In one embodiment, the one or more interruptions include at least one of a device capability interruption, a preference interruption, and a data services interruption. The process sends a response to the energy transaction execution engine to terminate the charging transaction in response to detecting the one or more interruptions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Erica Haefner Ferro, Mark William Trekell, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Publication number: 20100049533
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing a charging process of an electric vehicle. In one embodiment, the process initiates the charging process of the electric vehicle at a charging station in response to receiving an energy transaction plan from an energy transaction planner. The process then terminates the charging process in response to at least one of a deviation of the charging process from the energy transaction plan and a completion of the charging process according to the energy transaction plan. Thereafter, the process sends a charge notification to a set of recipients that includes a user of the electric vehicle and an energy transaction broker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Erica Haefner Ferro, Colin George Harrison, Mark William Trekell, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Publication number: 20100049396
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing a charging process of an electric vehicle. The process begins by monitoring a set of operational parameters of the charging process for one or more interruptions in response to receiving, from an energy transaction execution engine, a request signaling the start of the charging process. The process then detects the one or more interruptions from the set of operational parameters, which conform to a set of predefined interrupt conditions. In one embodiment, the one or more interruptions include at least one of a device capability interruption, a preference interruption, and a data services interruption. The process sends a response to the energy transaction execution engine to terminate the charging transaction in response to detecting the one or more interruptions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Erica Haefner Ferro, Mark William Trekell, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Publication number: 20100049639
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for brokering a charging process of an electric vehicle. In one embodiment, a process extracts event data associated with the charging process from a charge notification in response to receiving the charge notification indicating that the charging process of the electric vehicle is complete. The event data may include, but is not limited to, duration of the charging process, quantity of electricity transferred, or rate at which electricity was transferred during the charging process. The process then identifies, from an energy transaction plan, a set of payees participating in the charging process. Thereafter, the process disburses a payment owed to the set of payees. An amount of the payment is calculated using payment terms in profiles of the set of payees. The payment includes funds from at least one of a payer fund and an incentive fund.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Erica Haefner Ferro, Allan James Schurr, Mark William Trekell, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Publication number: 20100049737
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing electric vehicle charging information. In one embodiment, the process receives charging process data. The charging process data may be stored in a data repository and associated with a user to form historical user data. The process then generates a notification in response to detecting a condition for triggering the generation of the notification. The notification comprises a set of recommendations for achieving a set of optimization objectives. In addition, the set of recommendations are derived from at least one of the historical user data and a remote data source. Thereafter, the process presents the notification to a user using a set of notification preferences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ronald Ambrosio, Erica Haefner Ferro, Allan James Schurr, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Publication number: 20090313103
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for managing an electric vehicle charging transaction. A set of principals associated with the electric vehicle charging transaction is identified. Electric vehicle charging information is retrieved from a set of sources. An energy transaction plan is generated using the electric vehicle charging information. A charging phase of the electric vehicle charging transaction is initiated for an electric vehicle connected to a charging station in accordance with the energy transaction plan. The charging phase comprises at least one of charging the electric vehicle with electricity, storing electricity in an electric storage mechanism associated with the electric vehicle, and removing electricity from the electric storage mechanism to de-charge the electric vehicle. In response to completion of the charging phase, the process then settles the financial obligations of a subset of principals in accordance with the energy transaction plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald Ambrosio, Erica Haefner Ferro, James Lee Hafner, Colin George Harrison, Melissa Wiltsey O'Mara, Allan James Schurr, Mark William Trekell, Paul Stuart Williamson
  • Publication number: 20090313034
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating a dynamic energy transaction plan to manage an electric vehicle charging transaction. The dynamic energy transaction planner generates a dynamic energy transaction plan based on the charging transaction information. The dynamic energy transaction plan comprises a first set of terms of the charging transaction. An initial portion of the charging transaction is controlled according to the first set of terms of the dynamic energy transaction plan. The dynamic energy transaction planner receives updated charging transaction information during execution of the charging transaction; and updates the dynamic energy transaction plan based on the updated charging transaction information to form an updated dynamic energy transaction plan. The updated dynamic energy transaction plan comprises a second set of terms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Erica Haefner Ferro, James Lee Hafner, Melissa Wiltsey O'Mara, Paul Stuart Williamson