System and method for operating a fuel dispensing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10329137-B1
Application number	US-201514640135-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 6, 2015
Priority date	May 12, 2014
Publication date	Jun 25, 2019
Grant date	Jun 25, 2019

Abstract

A fuel dispenser including one or more processors in a local or distributed computing system provide techniques for smart fuel dispensing that represent a marriage of vehicle telematics data, a smart fuel dispenser, and a customer device (e.g., a mobile device, tablet, computer, etc.). The techniques disclosed particularly provide a customizable fueling experience to customers and, for example, communicate fuel dispensing configuration information to/from a customer, pair vehicles to a fueling dispenser (e.g., using combinations of vehicle telematics, mobile phone data, fuel dispensing data, etc.), initiate/terminate fueling sessions, recommend fuel grades, establish customer accounts for various payment options, and look forward to potential itineraries (e.g., planned trips) to provide recommendations for vehicle maintenance, fuel grades, additives, etc.).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
one or more network interfaces adapted to communicate in a communication network;
a memory configured to store one or more processes;
a processor adapted to execute the one or more processes, the processor when executing the one or more processes, is operable to:
receive telematics data regarding at least one vehicle from at least one of a vehicle device and a mobile device associated with the vehicle wherein the telematics data includes vehicle identification data;
determine a location of the vehicle based on at least one of the telematics data and a location of the mobile device associated with the vehicle;
determine that the location of the vehicle is within a predetermined proximity of a fuel dispenser;
determine a fuel type based on the vehicle identification data;
determine scope of fueling permission associated with the vehicle identification data; and
initiate, by the fuel dispenser, a fueling session contingent upon the determined scope of fueling permission, the location of the vehicle, and the fuel type,
wherein the fueling session is permitted to proceed while the location is within a predetermined proximity of the fuel dispenser, and
wherein the fueling session is terminated when the location of the vehicle exceeds the predetermined proximity between the vehicle and the fuel dispenser.

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor when executing the one or more processes, is further operable to:
terminate the fueling session further based on the fuel dispenser registering a holstered dispenser; and
prevent fuel from dispensing from the fuel dispenser when the fueling session is terminated.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable to determine the location of the vehicle based on a beacon signal transmitted between the vehicle and the fuel dispenser.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable to:
determine an account associated with vehicle identification data, the account having an account balance;
determine a total value of fuel dispensed for the fueling session;
deduct the total value of fuel dispensed for the fueling session from the account balance; and
notify an owner of the account associated with the vehicle identification data the total value of fuel dispensed was deducted from the account balance.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor when executing the one or more processes, is operable to provide the fuel type for the vehicle causing display of the fuel type on at last one of the mobile device, a fuel dispenser display, and a vehicle display.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable to prevent fuel of a different fuel type from dispensing from the fuel dispenser.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable to cause display of one or more recommended fuel additives on at least one of the mobile device, a fuel dispenser display, and a vehicle display.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable to determine an octane grade for the fuel type.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the telematics data includes itinerary data regarding at least one upcoming trip and wherein the processor is further operable to determine at least one of a distance for the upcoming trip and one or more associated altitudes for the upcoming trip such that the processor is operable to determine the fuel type.

10. A method, comprising:
receiving telematics data regarding at least one vehicle from at least one of a vehicle device and a mobile device associated with the vehicle wherein the telematics data includes vehicle identification data;
determining a location of the vehicle based on at least one of the telematics data and a location of the mobile device associated with the vehicle;
determining that the location of the vehicle is within a predetermined proximity of a fuel dispenser;
determining a fuel type based on the vehicle identification data;
determining scope of fueling permission associated with the vehicle identification data; and
initiating, by the fuel dispenser, a fueling session contingent upon the determined scope of fueling permission, the location of the vehicle, and the fuel type,
wherein the fueling session is permitted to proceed while the location is within a predetermined proximity of the fuel dispenser, and
wherein the fueling session is terminated when the location of the vehicle exceeds the predetermined proximity between the vehicle and the fuel dispenser.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
terminating the fueling session further based on the fuel dispenser registering a holstered dispenser; and
preventing fuel from dispensing from the fuel dispenser when the fueling session is terminated.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
determining an account associated with vehicle identification data, the account having an account balance;
determining a total value of fuel dispensed for the fueling session;
deducting the total value of fuel dispensed for the fueling session from the account balance; and
notifying an owner of the account associated with the vehicle identification data the total value of fuel dispensed was deducted from the account balance.

13. A system comprising:
means for receiving telematics data regarding at least one vehicle from at least one of a vehicle device and a mobile device associated with the vehicle wherein the telematics data includes vehicle identification data;
means for determining a location of the vehicle based on at least one of the telematics data and a location of the mobile device associated with the vehicle; means for determining that the location of the vehicle is within a predetermined proximity of a fuel dispenser;
means for determining a fuel type based on the vehicle identification data;
means for determining scope of fueling permission associated with the vehicle identification data; and
means for initiating a fueling session contingent upon the determined scope of fueling permission, the location of the vehicle, and the fuel type,
wherein the fueling session is permitted to proceed while the location is within a predetermined proximity of the fuel dispenser, and
wherein the fueling session is terminated when the location of the vehicle exceeds the predetermined proximity between the vehicle and the fuel dispenser.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising:
means for terminating the fueling session further based on the fuel dispenser registering a holstered dispenser; and
means for preventing fuel from dispensing from the fuel dispenser when the fueling session is terminated.

15. The system of claim 13 , further comprising:
means for determining an account associated with vehicle identification data, the account having an account balance;
means for determining a total value of fuel dispensed for the fueling session;
means for deducting the total value of fuel dispensed for the fueling session from the account balance; and
means for notifying an owner of the account associated with the vehicle identification data the total value of fuel dispensed was deducted from the account balance.

Assignees

• Usaa
• Usaa

Inventors

• Prasad Bharat
• Oakes Iii Charles L

Classifications

• G07F9/002

  Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines · CPC title

• G06Q20/3223

  Realising banking transactions through M-devices · CPC title

• G07F13/025

  wherein the volume is determined during delivery · CPC title

• B67D7/0401

  arrangements for automatically fuelling vehicles, i.e. without human intervention · CPC title

• G06Q30/0601

  Electronic shopping [e-shopping] · CPC title