Transaction-based fuel purchase authorization

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10163141-B2
Application number	US-201213538742-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2012
Priority date	Jul 8, 2011
Publication date	Dec 25, 2018
Grant date	Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

Techniques for authorizing fuel purchases based on vehicle available fuel tank capacity. The authorization may be performed on a transaction basis, such that each fueling event may be independently authorized. A current fuel tank capacity for the vehicle is obtained, and transmitted to an authorization entity. An authorization is obtained for dispensing a quantity of fuel that does not exceed the current fuel tank capacity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A processor-implemented method comprising:
obtaining a current fuel tank capacity for a vehicle;
transmitting the current fuel tank capacity to an authorization entity;
obtaining an authorization for dispensing a quantity of fuel not exceeding the current fuel tank capacity;
determining whether the vehicle is traveling on a predetermined route;
authorizing the vehicle to receive the authorized quantity of fuel based on compliance with the predetermined route;
receiving an updated current fuel tank capacity for the vehicle after the authorized quantity of fuel has been dispensed; and
determining whether the updated current fuel tank capacity substantially corresponds to a total fuel tank capacity for the vehicle at least in part using a processor.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a request for authorization to purchase a quantity of fuel corresponding to the current fuel tank capacity.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the request for authorization is ultimately directed to an authorization module capable of limiting the purchase to the quantity of fuel corresponding to the current fuel tank capacity.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the authorization module is implemented by a fuel vendor, and the authorization for the quantity of fuel is provided by way of a fuel card configured to allow fuel to be dispensed for that fuel transaction in the quantity corresponding to the current fuel tank capacity.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining an authorization for dispensing a quantity of fuel not exceeding the current fuel tank capacity comprises obtaining an authorization for a quantity of fuel substantially corresponding to the current fuel tank capacity.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining an authorization for dispensing a quantity of fuel not exceeding the current fuel tank capacity comprises obtaining the authorization for a quantity of fuel from a fuel vendor by way of a card electronically readable at a fuel dispensing machine.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising limiting the quantity of fuel available to the vehicle for dispensing by causing a fuel dispensing machine to stop dispensing fuel when the authorized quantity of fuel has been dispensed.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining a current fuel tank capacity comprises determining the current fuel tank capacity in response to initiation of a fuel transaction.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining a current fuel tank capacity comprises determining an available capacity for additional fuel in the fuel tank of the vehicle at the time of the request for authorization of the fuel.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising facilitating user creation of an electronic form to provide the request for authorization of the fuel for the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the current fuel tank capacity comprises receiving an estimated current fuel tank capacity from an engine control module equipped on the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the current fuel tank capacity comprises receiving an estimated current fuel tank level from an engine control module equipped on the vehicle, and calculating the current fuel tank capacity based on the current fuel tank level and a total fuel tank capacity of the fuel tank on that vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising receiving the total fuel tank capacity from a remote source.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the remote source comprises a vehicle identification number (VIN) decoder, and wherein receiving the total fuel tank capacity from a remote source comprises receiving the total fuel tank capacity from equipment information obtained via the VIN decoder.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the remote source comprises a fuel analysis module capable of providing fuel efficiency modeling for the vehicle and having access to the vehicle's equipment information including the total fuel tank capacity.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein calculating the current fuel tank capacity comprises subtracting the current fuel tank level from a total fuel tank capacity of the fuel tank on that vehicle.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the current fuel tank level is provided as a filled percentage of the total fuel tank capacity of the fuel tank for the vehicle, and wherein calculating the current fuel tank capacity comprises multiplying the filled percentage and the total fuel tank capacity of the fuel tank on that vehicle.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the current fuel tank capacity comprises receiving a current fuel tank level from at least one fuel tank level sensor, and determining the current fuel tank capacity from a difference of a maximum fuel tank capacity for that vehicle and the current fuel tank level.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising receiving equipment information including at least the maximum fuel tank capacity for the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining a current fuel tank capacity for the vehicle comprises:
wirelessly providing an indication of the current fuel tank capacity from an engine control module; and
receiving the indication of the current fuel tank capacity at a mobile device within wireless transmission range of the engine control module.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein transmitting the current fuel tank capacity to an authorization entity comprises transmitting the current fuel tank capacity via the mobile device.

22. The method of claim 1 , further comprising recording an indication of potential fuel theft if the updated current fuel tank capacity does not substantially correspond to a total fuel tank capacity for the vehicle.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein authorization is further dependent on a location in which the vehicle attempts to dispense the quantity of fuel.

24. A processor-implemented method comprising:
calculating, at least in part using a processor, a current fuel tank capacity for a vehicle based on a difference between a previously known fuel tank level for the vehicle and a calculated fuel consumption based at least on estimated fuel consumption rate and distance traveled;
providing the calculated current fuel tank capacity to an authorization module;
receiving an authorization of a quantity of authorized fuel from the authorization module;
making the authorization of the quantity of authorized fuel available at the vehicle to limit a quantity of dispensed fuel to the quantity of authorized fuel;
determining whether the vehicle is traveling on a predetermined route;
authorizing the vehicle to receive the authorized quantity of fuel based on compliance with the predetermined route;
receiving an updated current fuel tank capacity for the vehicle after the authorized quantity of fuel has been dispensed; and
determining whether the updated current fuel tank capacity substantially corresponds to a total fuel tank capacity for the vehicle.

25. An apparatus comprising:
a receiver configured to receive a fuel tank level indication for a fuel tank in a vehicle;
storage to at least temporarily store a total fuel tank capacity of the fuel tank;
a processor configured to:
calculate a quantity of fuel that would fill the fuel tank based on at least the fuel tank level indication and the total fuel tank capacity of the fuel tank, and
determine whether the vehicle is traveling o

Assignees

• Fansler Thomas S
• Konezny Ronald Edward
• Trimble Navigation Ltd

Inventors

• Fansler Thomas S
• Konezny Ronald Edward

Classifications

• G07F13/025

  wherein the volume is determined during delivery · CPC title

• G06Q30/06 Primary

  Buying, selling or leasing transactions · CPC title