1. An electrophotographic apparatus comprising:
an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a photoconductive layer, a surface layer, and N intermediate layers disposed between the photoconductive layer and the surface layer, N being an odd number more than 2; and
an image exposure apparatus for irradiating a surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member with an image exposure beam having a central wavelength of \u03bb \u03bcm and forming a latent image on the surface,
wherein, where n0 is a refractive index of the photoconductive layer, n1 is a refractive index of a first intermediate layer counting from the photoconductive layer side, ni is a refractive index of an ith intermediate layer counting from the photoconductive layer side, i being an integer equal to or more than 1 and equal to or less than N, nN is a refractive index of an Nth intermediate layer counting from the photoconductive layer side, nN+1 is a refractive index of the surface layer, and di is a thickness \u03bcm of the ith intermediate layer, the refractive indices n0, n1, ni, nN, and nN+1 satisfy the following expression (1):
n0>n1> . . . >ni> . . . >nN>nN+1\u2003\u2003(1)
wherein, for each of odd-numbered intermediate layers counting from the photoconductive layer side, ni\u22121 being the refractive index n0 of the photoconductive layer when i is 1 and ni+1 being the refractive index nN+1 of the surface layer when i is N, the refractive index ni satisfies the following expression (2):
\uf603
n
i
–
n
i
–
1
\ue89c
\xb7
n
i
+
1
n
i
\uf604
\u2264
0.02
(
2
)
wherein, for each of the odd-numbered intermediate layers counting from the photoconductive layer side, there exists pi for enabling the refractive index ni and the thickness di \u03bcm, pi being a positive integer, to satisfy the following expression (3):
\uf603
4
\ue89e
\ue89e
\u03c0
\xb7
n
i
\xb7
d
i
\u03bb
–
(
2
\xb7
p
i
–
1
)
\ue89e
\u03c0
\uf604
\u2264
\u03c0
16
(
3
)
wherein, among combinations in which two intermediate layers are selected from the odd-numbered layers counting from the photoconductive layer side, there exists at least one combination at which q for enabling the sum of the products (ni\xb7di) of the refractive indices ni and the thicknesses di \u03bcm of one or more intermediate layers disposed between selected two intermediate layers, q being an integer equal to or more than 0, to satisfy the following expression (4):
\uf603
4
\ue89e
\ue89e
\u03c0
\xb7
\u2211
n
i
\xb7
d
i
\u03bb
–
2
\ue89e
\ue89e
\u03c0
\xb7
q
\uf604
<
\u03c0
2
(
4
)
2. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein pi is 1 or 2.
3. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein N is an odd number more than 4.
4. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, for one or more even-numbered layers counting from the photoconductive layer side, there exists qi for enabling the refractive index ni and the thickness di \u03bcm, qi being an integer equal to or more than 0, to satisfy the following expression (5):
\uf603
4
\ue89e
\ue89e
\u03c0
\xb7
n
i
\xb7
d
i
\u03bb
–
2
\ue89e
\ue89e
\u03c0
\xb7
q
i
\uf604
\u2264
\u03c0
8
(
5
)
5. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein qi is 1, 2, 3, or 4.
6. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein N is an odd number more than 4, and
wherein, for one or more even-numbered intermediate layers counting from the photoconductive layer side, there exists qi for enabling the refractive index ni and the thickness di \u03bcm, qi being an integer equal to or more than 0, to satisfy the above expression (5), and
for the remaining one or more even-numbered intermediate layers, there exists pi for enabling the refractive index ni and the thickness di \u03bcm, pi being a positive integer, to satisfy the above expression (3).
7. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein N is an integer that satisfies the following expression (6):
N=4\xb7k\u22121\u2003\u2003(6)
where k is a positive integer, and
wherein, among combinations in which two even-numbered intermediate layers arranged substantially symmetrical with respect to a (2\xb7k)th intermediate layer counting from the photoconductive layer side, there exists at least one combination at which the refractive index ni and the thickness di \u03bcm of each of selected even-numbered intermediate layers satisfy the above expression (5).
8. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein N is an integer that satisfies the following expression (7):
N=4\xb7h+1\u22124\u2003\u2003(7)
where h is a positive integer, and
wherein, for each of even-numbered intermediate layers counting from the photoconductive layer side, there exists si for enabling the refractive index ni and the thickness di \u03bcm, si being a positive integer at which (2\xb7si\u22121)(2\xb7h+1) is not an odd number, to satisfy the following expression (8):
\uf603
4
\ue89e
\ue89e
\u03c0
\ue89e
\xb7
n
i
\xb7
d
i
\u03bb
–
(
2
\xb7
s
i
–
1
)
\ue89e
\u03c0
2
\xb7
h
+
1
\uf604
\u2264
\u03c0
16
(
8
)
9. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein si is an integer that satisfies the following expression (9):
Si=Sa=(2\xb7h+1)mi\u2003\u2003(9)
where sa is a positive integer at which (2\xb7sa\u22121)(2\xb7h+1) is not an odd number and mi is an integer equal to or more than 0.
10. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein si is smaller than (16\xb7h+9)2.
11. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein N is an integer that satisfies the following expression (6):
N=4\xb7k\u22121\u2003\u2003(6)
where k is a positive integer, and
wherein there exists ui for enabling the refractive index ni and the thickness di \u03bcm of each of even-numbered intermediate layers counting from the photoconductive layer side, ui being a positive integer at which ui(k+1) is not an odd number, to satisfy the following expression (10):
\uf603
4
\ue89e
\ue89e
\u03c0
\xb7
n
i
\xb7
d
i
\u03bb
–
\u03c0
\xb7
u
i
k
+
1
\uf604
\u2264
\u03c0
16
(
10
)
12. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein ui is an integer that satisfies the following expression (11):
ui=ua+2(k+1)vi\u2003\u2003(11)
where ua is a positive integer at which ua(k+1) is not an odd number and vi is an integer equal to or more than 0.
13. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein ui is equal to or less than 8(k+1).
14. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein N is an odd number less than 12.
15. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photoconductive layer comprises a layer including amorphous silicon, and each of the intermediate layers and the surface layer comprises a layer including amorphous silicon carbide or amorphous silicon nitride.
16. An electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising:
a photoconductive layer;
a surface layer on the photoconductive layer; and
N intermediate layers disposed between the photoconductive layer and the surface layer, N being an odd number more than 2,
wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member is an object irradiated with an image exposure beam having a central wavelength of \u03bb \u03bcm,
wherein, where n0 is a refractive index of the photoconductive layer, ni is a refractive index of a first intermediate layer counting from the photoconductive layer side, ni is a refractive index of an ith intermediate layer counting from the photoconductive layer side, i being an integer equal to or more than 1 and equal to or less than N, nN is a refractive index of an Nth intermediate layer counting from the photoconductive layer side, nN+1 is a refractive index of the surface layer, and di is a thickness \u03bcm of the ith intermediate layer counting from the photoconductive layer side, the refractive indices n0, n1, ni, nN, and nN+1 satisfy the following expression (1):
n0>n1> . . . >ni> . . . >nN>nN+1\u2003\u2003(1)
wherein, for each of odd-numbered intermediate layers counting from the photoconductive layer side, being the refractive index n0 of the photoconductive layer when i is 1 and ni+1 being the refractive index nN+1 of the surface layer when i is N, the refractive index ni satisfies the following expression (2):
\uf603
n
i
–
n
i
–
1
\xb7
n
i
+
1
n
i
\uf604
\u2264
0.02
(
2
)
wherein, for each of the odd-numbered intermediate layers counting from the photoconductive layer side, there exists pi for enabling the refractive index ni and the thickness di \u03bcm, pi being a positive integer, to satisfy the following expression (3):
\uf603
4
\ue89e
\ue89e
\u03c0
\xb7
n
i
\xb7
d
i
\u03bb
–
(
2
\xb7
p
i
–
1
)
\ue89e
\u03c0
\uf604
\u2264
\u03c0
16
(
3
)
wherein, among combinations in which two intermediate layers are selected from the odd-numbered layers counting from the photoconductive layer side, there exists at least one combination at which q for enabling the sum of the products (ni\xb7di) of the refractive indices ni and the thicknesses di \u03bcm of one or more intermediate layers disposed between selected two intermediate layers, q being an integer equal to or more than 0, to satisfy the following expression (4):
\uf603
4
\ue89e
\ue89e
\u03c0
\xb7
\u2211
n
i
\xb7
d
i
\u03bb
–
2
\ue89e
\ue89e
\u03c0
\xb7
q
\uf604
<
\u03c0
2
(
4
)
17. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 16, wherein, for one or more even-numbered layers counting from the photoconductive layer side, there exists qi for enabling the refractive index and the thickness di \u03bcm, qi being an integer equal to or more than 0, to satisfy the following expression (5):
\uf603
4
\ue89e
\ue89e
\u03c0
\xb7
n
i
\xb7
d
i
\u03bb
–
2
\ue89e
\ue89e
\u03c0
\xb7
q
i
\uf604
\u2264
\u03c0
8
(
5
)
18. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 16, wherein N is an integer that satisfies the following expression (7):
N=4\xb7h+1\u2003\u2003(7)
where h is a positive integer, and
wherein, for each of even-numbered intermediate layers counting from the photoconductive layer side, there exists si for enabling the refractive index ni and the thickness di \u03bcm, si being a positive integer at which (2\xb7si\u22121)(2\xb7h+1) is not an odd number, to satisfy the following expression (8):
\uf603
4
\ue89e
\ue89e
\u03c0
\xb7
n
i
\xb7
d
i
\u03bb
–
(
2
\xb7
s
i
–
1
)
\ue89e
\u03c0
2
\xb7
h
+
1
\uf604
\u2264
\u03c0
16
(
8
)
19. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 16, wherein N is an integer that satisfies the following expression (6):
N=4\xb7k\u22121\u2003\u2003(6)
where k is a positive integer, and
wherein there exists ui for enabling the refractive index ni and the thickness di \u03bcm of each of even-numbered intermediate layers counting from the photoconductive layer side, ui being a positive integer at which ui(k+1) is not an odd number, to satisfy the following expression (10):
\uf603
4
\ue89e
\ue89e
\u03c0
\xb7
n
i
\xb7
d
i
\u03bb
–
\u03c0
\xb7
u
i
k
+
1
\uf604
\u2264
\u03c0
16
(
10
)
20. An electrophotographic apparatus comprising:
an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a photoconductive layer, a surface layer, and N intermediate layers disposed between the photoconductive layer and the surface layer, N being an odd number more than 2; and
an image exposure apparatus for irradiating a surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member with an image exposure beam having a central wavelength of \u03bb \u03bcm and forming a latent image on the surface,
wherein, where n0 is a refractive index of the photoconductive layer, ni is a refractive index of a first intermediate layer counting from the photoconductive layer side, ni is a refractive index of an ith intermediate layer counting from the photoconductive layer side, i being an integer equal to or more than 1 and equal to or less than N, nN is a refractive index of an Nth intermediate layer counting from the photoconductive layer side, nN+1 is a refractive index of the surface layer, and di is a thickness \u03bcm of the ith intermediate layer, the refractive indices n0, n1, ni, nN, and nN+1 satisfy the following expression (1):
n0>n1> . . . >ni> . . . >nN>nN+1\u2003\u2003(1)
wherein, for each of odd-numbered intermediate layers counting from the photoconductive layer side, being the refractive index n0 of the photoconductive layer when i is 1 and ni+1 being the refractive index nN+1 of the surface layer when i is N, the refractive index ni satisfies the following expression (2):
\uf603
n
i
–
n
i
–
1
\ue89c
\xb7
n
i
+
1
n
i
\uf604
\u2264
0.02
(
2
)
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A computer implemented method for real-time aggregating of electrical vehicle (EVs) energy capacity for real-time auctioning of ancillary services, comprising:
receiving a set-up data identifying each of a plurality of participating EVs;
aggregating, using a processor, in real time, EV energy capacity data from each of the plurality of participating EVs;
generating, based on the EV energy capacity data, an aggregated ancillary services offer;
communicating the aggregated ancillary services offer to an auction entity;
testing whether an operability of a real-time communications link from an aggregator entity to one of the participating EVs fails to meet a given criterion; and
if a result of the testing indicates the real-time communication link fails to meet the given criterion, enabling the charging of the participating EV at a default rate.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein aggregating, in real time, includes communicating the EV energy capacity data from at least one of the plurality of participating EVs over a real-time wireless link.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the real-time wireless link is a wireless cellular communication link.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
aggregating, in real time, EV energy demand data from each of the plurality of the participating EVs; and
generating and communicating to the auction entity, based on a result of the aggregating, at least one aggregated EV energy demand.
5. The method of claim 4, the method further comprising receiving from the auction entity an aggregator ancillary services control command indicating a matching of the aggregated ancillary services offer with an ancillary services requirement.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one participating EV is identified as associated with the aggregated ancillary services offer indicated as matching the ancillary services requirement.
7. The method of claim 6, the method further comprising sending, to an EV support equipment (EVSE) associated with each of the at least one participating EVs, an EVSE ancillary services control command, the EVSE ancillary services control command indicating a control of the EVSE for delivering a power from a storage battery of the associated participating EV to a power grid.
8. The method of claim 7, the method further comprising receiving, from at least one of the at least one participating EVs and the EV support equipment (EVSE) associated with each of the at least one participating EVs, an EV verification information corresponding to the EVSE ancillary services control command.
9. The method of claim 8, the method further comprising sending to the auction entity an aggregated verification information based, at least in part, on the EV verification information.
10. The method of claim 9, the method further comprising settling a transaction payment to the at least one of the participating EVs identified as associated with the aggregated ancillary services offer indicated as matching the ancillary services requirement.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein settling the transaction payment is conditional on receiving the EV verification information from the at least one of the participating EVs.
12. The method of claim 4, the method further comprising:
receiving, from the auction entity, an EV charging enablement data associated with an aggregated EV energy demand among the communicated aggregated EV energy demands and a matching EV charging service offer indicating an offering power generator; and
controlling, based on the received EV charging enablement data, a charging of at least one of the participating EVs.
13. The method of claim 4, wherein the EV energy capacity data indicates a kilowatt power delivery capacity of the participating EV, and wherein the generating and communicating to the auction entity of at least one aggregated ancillary services offer is further based, at least in part, on the kilowatt power delivery capacity of the participating EVs associated with said aggregated ancillary services offer.
14. The method of claim 4, wherein the EV energy capacity data from at least one of the participating EVs includes a geographic location identifier indicating a geographic location of the participating EV, and wherein the generating and communicating to the auction entity at least one aggregated ancillary services offer is further based, at least in part, on the geographic location identifier of the participating EVs associated with said aggregated ancillary services offer.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein generating and communicating the aggregated ancillary services offer based at least in part on EV geographic location identifier from at least one of the participating EVs comprises:
calculating a virtual location based on the EV location data; and
including the virtual location with the aggregated ancillary services offer.
16. The method of claim 15, the method further comprising receiving from the auction entity an aggregator ancillary services control command indicating a matching of the aggregated ancillary services offer with an ancillary services requirement.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one participating EV is identified as associated with the aggregated ancillary services offer indicated as matching the ancillary services requirement.
18. The method of claim 17, the method further comprising sending, to an EV support equipment (EVSE) associated with each of the at least one participating EVs, an EVSE ancillary services control command, the EVSE ancillary services control command indicating a control of the EVSE for delivering a power from a storage battery of the associated participating EV to a power grid.
19. The method of claim 18, the method further comprising receiving, from at least one of the at least one participating EVs and the EV support equipment (EVSE) associated with each of the at least one participating EVs, an EV verification information corresponding to the EVSE ancillary services control command.
20. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-time communications link is a wireless communications link.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein enabling the charging of the participating EV at the default rate includes communicating an indication to the participating EV of a default rate offer, over a secondary communication channel.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the secondary communication channel is a text-messaging channel of a wireless cellular network.
23. The method of claim 1 wherein the EV energy capacity data indicates a kilowatt power delivery capacity of the participating EV, and wherein the generating and communicating to the auction entity of at least one aggregated ancillary services offer is further based, at least in part, on the kilowatt power delivery capacity of the participating EVs associated with said aggregated ancillary services offer.
24. The method of claim 1, wherein the EV energy capacity data from at least one of the participating EVs includes a geographic location identifier indicating a geographic location of the participating EV, and wherein the generating and communicating to the auction entity at least one aggregated ancillary services offer is further based, at least in part, on the geographic location identifier of the participating EVs associated with said aggregated ancillary services offer.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein generating and communicating the aggregated ancillary services offer based at least in part on EV geographic location identifier from at least one of the participating EVs comprises:
calculating a virtual location based on the EV location data; and
including the virtual location with the aggregated ancillary services offer.
26. The method of claim 1, wherein the criterion is a ping test.
27. The method of claim 1, wherein the criterion is a threshold round-trip time.
28. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:
determining an optimal real-time communications link, from a plurality of available real-time communications links, for use in communicating from the aggregator entity to one of the participating EVs.
29. A computer implemented method for real-time aggregating of electrical vehicles (EVs) charging, comprising:
aggregating, using a processor, in real time, EV energy demand data from each of a plurality of the EVs;
generating and communicating to an auction entity, based on a result of the aggregating, at least one aggregated EV energy demand;
testing whether an operability of a real-time communications link from an aggregator entity to one of the EVs fails to meet a given criterion; and
if a result of the testing indicates the real-time communication link fails to meet the given criterion, enabling the charging of the EV at a default rate.
30. The method of claim 29, the method further comprising:
receiving, from the auction entity, an EV charging enablement data associated with an aggregated EV energy demand among the communicated aggregated EV energy demands and a matching EV charging service offer indicating an offering power generator; and
controlling, based on the received EV charging enablement data, a charging of at least one of the EVs.
31. The method of claim 30, wherein aggregating, in real time, includes communicating EV energy demand data from at least one of the plurality of EVs over a real-time wireless link.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the real-time wireless link is a wireless cellular communication link.
33. The method of claim 29, wherein the real-time communications link is a wireless communications link.
34. The method of claim 33, wherein enabling the charging of the EV at the default rate includes communicating an indication to the EV of a default rate offer, over a secondary communication channel.
35. The method of claim 34, wherein the secondary communication channel is a text-messaging channel associated with the real-time wireless cellular communication link.
36. The method of claim 29, wherein the criterion is a ping test.
37. The method of claim 29, wherein the criterion is a threshold round-trip time.
38. The method of claim 29, the method further comprising:
determining an optimal real-time communications link, from a plurality of available real-time communications links, for use in communicating from the aggregator entity to one of the participating EVs.
39. An aggregator for real-time aggregating of electrical vehicle (EVs) energy capacity for real-time auctioning of ancillary services, comprising:
means for receiving a set-up data identifying each of a plurality of participating EVs;
means for aggregating, in real-time, EV energy capacity data from each of the plurality of participating EVs;
means for generating, based on the EV energy capacity data, an aggregated ancillary services offer;
means for communicating the aggregated ancillary services offer to an auction entity;
means for testing whether an operability of a real-time communications link from an aggregator entity to one of the participating EVs fails to meet a given criterion; and
means for enabling, if a result of the testing indicates the real-time communication link fails to meet the given criterion, a charging of the participating EV at a default rate.
40. The aggregator of claim 39, wherein aggregating, in real time, includes communicating EV energy capacity data from at least one of the plurality of participating EVs over a real-time wireless link.
41. The aggregator of claim 39, the aggregator further comprising:
means for receiving from the auction entity an aggregator ancillary services control command indicating a matching of the aggregated ancillary services offer with an ancillary services requirement;
means for identifying at least one participating EV as associated with the aggregated ancillary services offer indicated as matching the ancillary services requirement; and
means for sending, to an EV support equipment (EVSE) associated with each of the at least one participating EVs, an EVSE ancillary services control command, the EVSE ancillary services control command indicating a control of the EVSE for delivering a power from a storage battery of the associated participating EV to a power grid.
42. The aggregator claim 41, wherein the EV energy capacity data from at least one of the participating EVs includes a geographic location identifier indicating a geographic location of the participating EV, and wherein the generating and communicating to the auction entity at least one aggregated ancillary services offer is further based, at least in part on the geographic location identifier of the participating EVs associated with said aggregated ancillary services offer.
43. The aggregator of claim 42, wherein generating and communicating the aggregate ancillary services offer based at least in part on the EV location data from at least one of the EVs comprises:
calculating a virtual location based on the EV location data; and
including the virtual location with the aggregated ancillary services offer.
44. The aggregator of claim 39, the aggregator further comprising:
means for aggregating, in real time, EV energy demand data from each of the plurality of the participating EVs; and
means for generating and communicating to the auction entity, based on a result of the aggregating, at least one aggregated EV energy demand.
45. The aggregator of claim 44, the aggregator further comprising:
means for receiving, from the auction entity, an EV charging enablement data associated with an aggregated EV energy demand among the communicated aggregated EV energy demands and a matching EV charging service offer indicating an offering power generator; and
means for controlling, based on the received EV charging enablement data, a charging of at least one of the participating EVs.
46. The aggregator of claim 44, the aggregator further comprising means for sending, to an EV support equipment (EVSE) associated with each of the at least one participating EVs, an EVSE ancillary services control command, the EVSE ancillary services control command indicating a control of the EVSE for delivering a power from a storage battery of the associated participating EV to a power grid.
47. The aggregator of claim 46, the aggregator further comprising means for receiving, from at least one of the at least one participating EVs and an EV support equipment (EVSE) associated with each of the at least one participating EVs, an EV verification information corresponding to the EVSE ancillary services control command.
48. The aggregator of claim 39, wherein the real-time communications link is a wireless communications link.
49. The aggregator of claim 48, wherein enabling the charging of the participating EV at the default rate includes communicating an indication to the participating EV of a default rate offer, over a secondary communication channel.
50. The aggregator of claim 49, wherein communicating the indication over the secondary communication channel includes communicating over a text-messaging channel of a wireless cellular network.
51. The aggregator of claim 39, wherein the EV energy capacity information indicates a kilowatt power delivery capacity of the participating EV, and wherein the generating and communicating to the auction entity of at least one aggregated ancillary services offer is further based, at least in part, on the kilowatt power delivery capacity of the participating EVs associated with said aggregated ancillary services offer.
52. The aggregator of claim 39, wherein the EV energy capacity data from at least one of the participating EVs includes a geographic location identifier indicating a geographic location of the participating EV, and wherein the generating and communicating to the auction entity at least one aggregated ancillary services offer is further based, at least in part, on the geographic location identifier of the participating EVs associated with said aggregated ancillary services offer.
53. The aggregator of claim 52, wherein the means for generating and communicating the aggregate ancillary services offer based at least in part on the EV location data from at least one of the EVs comprises:
means for calculating a virtual location based on the EV location data; and
means for including the virtual location with the aggregated ancillary services offer.
54. The aggregator of claim 39, wherein the criterion is a ping test.
55. The aggregator of claim 39, wherein the criterion is a threshold round-trip time.
56. The aggregator of claim 39, the aggregator further comprising:
means for determining an optimal real-time communications link, from a plurality of available real-time communications links, for use in communicating from the aggregator entity to one of the participating EVs.
57. An aggregator for real-time aggregating of electrical vehicles (EVs) charging, comprising:
means for aggregating, in real time, EV energy demand data from each of a plurality of the EVs;
means for generating and communicating to the auction entity, based on a result of the aggregating, at least one aggregated EV energy demand;
means for testing whether an operability of a real-time communications link from an aggregator entity to one of the EVs fails to meet a given criterion; and
means for enabling, if a result of the testing indicates the real-time communication link fails to meet the given criterion, a charging of the EV at a default rate.
58. The aggregator of claim 57, the aggregator further comprising:
means for receiving, from the auction entity, an EV charging enablement data associated with an aggregated EV energy demand among the communicated aggregated EV energy demands and a matching EV charging service offer indicating an offering power generator; and
controlling, based on the received EV charging enablement data, a charging of at least one of the EVs.
59. The aggregator of claim 57, wherein the real-time communications link is a wireless communications link.
60. The aggregator of claim 59, wherein enabling the charging of the EV at the default rate includes communicating an indication to the EV of a default rate offer, over a secondary communication channel.
61. The aggregator of claim 59, wherein communicating the indication to the EV of a default rate offer the secondary communication channel includes communicating a on a text-messaging channel of a wireless cellular network.
62. The aggregator of claim 57, wherein aggregating, in real time, includes communicating EV energy demand data from at least one of the plurality of EVs over a real-time wireless link.
63. The aggregator of claim 57, wherein the criterion is a ping test.
64. The aggregator of claim 57, wherein the criterion is a threshold round-trip time.
65. The aggregator of claim 57, the aggregator further comprising:
means for determining an optimal real-time communications link, from a plurality of available real-time communications links, for use in communicating from the aggregator entity to one of the participating EVs.
66. A computer program product, having a non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium comprising a set of computer instructions that upon execution would cause an associated processor to perform a real-time aggregating of electrical vehicle (EVs) energy capacity for real-time auctioning of ancillary services, the computer instructions comprising:
instructions to receive a set-up data identifying each of a plurality of participating EVs;
instructions to aggregate, in real time, EV energy capacity data from each of a plurality of participating EVs;
instructions to generate, based on the EV energy capacity data, an aggregated ancillary services offer;
instructions to communicate the aggregated ancillary services offer to an auction entity;
instructions to test whether an operability of a real-time communications link from an aggregator entity to one of the participating EVs fails to meet a given criterion; and
instructions to enable, if a result of the testing indicates the real-time communication link fails to meet the given criterion, a charging of the participating EV at a default rate.
67. The computer program product of claim 66, wherein the instructions to aggregate, in real time, include instructions to communicate EV energy capacity data from at least one of the plurality of participating EVs over a real-time wireless link.
68. The computer program product of claim 67, the instructions further comprising:
instructions to aggregate, in real time, EV energy demand data from each of a plurality of the participating EVs; and
instructions to generate and communicate to the auction entity, based on a result of the aggregating, at least one aggregated EV energy demand.
69. The computer program product of claim 38, the instructions further comprising:
instructions to receive from the auction entity an aggregator ancillary services control command indicating a matching of an aggregated ancillary services offer with an ancillary services requirement;
instructions to identify at least one participating EV as associated with the aggregated ancillary services offer indicated as matching the ancillary services requirement; and
instructions to send, to an EV support equipment (EVSE) associated with each of the at least one participating EVs, an EVSE ancillary services control command, the EVSE ancillary services control command indicating a control of the EVSE for delivering a power from a storage battery of the associated participating EV to a power grid.
70. The computer program product of claim 68, the instructions further comprising:
instructions to receive, from the auction entity, an EV charging enablement data associated with an aggregated EV energy demand among the communicated aggregated EV energy demands and a matching EV charging service offer indicating an offering power generator; and
instructions to control, based on the received EV charging enablement data, a charging of at least one of the participating EVs.
71. The computer program product of claim 68, wherein the EV energy capacity data from at least one of the participating EVs includes a geographic location identifier indicating a geographic location of the participating EV, and wherein the generating and communicating to the auction entity at least one aggregated ancillary services offer is further based, at least in part on the geographic location identifier of the participating EVs associated with said aggregated ancillary services offer.
72. The computer program product of claim 71, wherein generating and communicating the aggregate ancillary services offer based at least in part on the EV location data from at least one of the EVs comprises:
calculating a virtual location based on the EV location data; and
including the virtual location with the aggregated ancillary services offer.
73. The computer program product of claim 72, the instructions further comprising instructions to receive from the auction entity an aggregator ancillary services control command indicating a matching of an aggregated ancillary services offer with an ancillary services requirement.
74. The computer program product of claim 73, the instructions further comprising:
instructions to identify at least one participating EV as associated with the aggregated ancillary services offer indicated as matching the ancillary services requirement; and
instructions to send, to an EV support equipment (EVSE) associated with each of the at least one participating EVs, an EVSE ancillary services control command, the EVSE ancillary services control command indicating a control of the EVSE for delivering a power from a storage battery of the associated participating EV to a power grid.
75. The computer program product of claim 73, the instructions further comprising
instructions to receive, from at least one of the at least one participating EVs and an EV support equipment (EVSE) associated with each of the at least one participating EVs, an EV verification information corresponding to the EVSE ancillary services control command.
76. The computer program product of claim 75, wherein settling the transaction payment is conditioned on receiving an EV verification information from the at least one of the participating EVs.
77. The computer program product of claim 66, wherein the real-time communications link is a wireless communications link.
78. The computer program product of claim 77, wherein enabling the charging of the participating EV at the default rate includes communicating an indication to the participating EV of a default rate offer, over a secondary communication channel.
79. The computer program product of claim 78, wherein communicating the indication over the secondary communication channel includes communicating over a text-messaging channel of a wireless cellular network.
80. The computer program product of claim 66, wherein the EV energy capacity information indicates a kilowatt power delivery capacity of the participating EV, and wherein the generating and communicating to the auction entity of at least one aggregated ancillary services offer is further based, at least in part, on the kilowatt power delivery capacity of the participating EVs associated with said aggregated ancillary services offer.
81. The computer program product of claim 66, wherein the EV energy capacity data from at least one of the participating EVs includes a geographic location identifier indicating a geographic location of the participating EV, and wherein the generating and communicating to the auction entity at least one aggregated ancillary services offer is further based, at least in part, on the geographic location identifier of the participating EVs associated with said aggregated ancillary services offer.
82. The computer program product of claim 81, wherein the instructions to generate and communicate the aggregate ancillary services offer based at least in part on the EV location data from at least one of the EVs comprise:
instructions to calculate a virtual location based on the EV location data; and
instructions to include the virtual location with the aggregated ancillary services offer.
83. The computer program product of claim 66, wherein the criterion is a ping test.
84. The computer program product of claim 66, wherein the criterion is a threshold round-trip time.
85. The computer program product of claim 66, the instructions further comprising:
instructions to determine an optimal real-time communications link, from a plurality of available real-time communications links, for use in communicating from the aggregator entity to one of the participating EVs.
86. A computer program product, having a non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium comprising a set of computer instructions that upon execution would cause an associated processor to perform a real-time aggregating of electrical vehicle (EVs) energy capacity for real-time auctioning of ancillary services, the computer instructions comprising:
instructions to aggregate, in real time, EV energy demand data from each of a plurality of the EVs;
instructions to generate and communicate to the auction entity, based on a result of the aggregating, at least one aggregated EV energy demand;
instructions to test whether an operability of a real-time communications link from an aggregator entity to one of the EVs fails to meet a given criterion; and
instructions to enable, if a result of the testing indicates the real-time communication link fails to meet the given criterion, a charging of the EV at a default rate.
87. The computer program product of claim 86, the instructions further comprising:
instructions to receive, from the auction entity, an EV charging enablement data associated with an aggregated EV energy demand among the communicated aggregated EV energy demands and a matching EV charging service offer indicating an offering power generator; and
instructions to control, based on the received EV charging enablement data, a charging of at least one of the EVs.
88. The computer program product of claim 87, wherein the instructions to aggregate, in real time, include instructions to communicate EV energy demand data from at least one of the plurality of EVs over a real-time wireless link.
89. The computer program product of claim 86, wherein the real-time wireless link is a wireless cellular communication link.
90. The computer program product of claim 89, wherein the instructions to enable the charging of the EV at the default rate include instructions to communicate an indication to the EV of a default rate offer, over a secondary communication channel.
91. The computer program product of claim 90, the instructions to communicate the indication to the EV of a default rate offer over the secondary communication channel include instructions to communicate over a text-messaging channel of a wireless cellular network.
92. The computer program product of claim 86, wherein the criterion is a ping test.
93. The computer program product of claim 86, wherein the criterion is a threshold round-trip time.
94. The computer program product of claim 86, the instructions further comprising:
instructions to determine an optimal real-time communications link, from a plurality of available real-time communications links, for use in communicating from the aggregator entity to one of the participating EVs.