Fuel dispensing environment utilizing fueling position availability indicator system

• US 10,155,652 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2017
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: Carapelli, Giovanni, Liebal, Michael Charles, Pearce, Andrew, McNinch, Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Garcia, Santiago
• Application Number:
  US15/660,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20180029869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 340540
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 5/02 Supplying fuel to vehicles; General disposition of plant in filling stations apparatus for transferring measured quantities of petrol, oil, or the like from storage space to vehicles B67D
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/04 for transferring fuels, lubricants or mixed fuels and lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/145 by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/16 Arrangements of liquid meters
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/221 using electrical or electro-mechanical means B67D7/224 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery

Abstract

A retail fueling environment comprises a plurality of fuel dispensers located so that each defines at least one refueling position. Site automation electronics are in communication with the plurality of fuel dispensers. A fueling position availability indicator system is also provided, including a plurality of position indicators indicating availability status of at least one associated refueling position. Detection electronics are operative to ascertain data regarding transaction status of refueling transactions at the refueling positions. In addition, processing electronics are operative to determine a state of each of the position indicators based at least in part on the transaction status. A position indicator control device is operative to produce control signals to the position indicators.

Claims

1. A retail fueling environment comprising:

a plurality of fuel dispensers located so that each defines at least one refueling position for a refueling transaction;

site automation electronics in communication with said plurality of fuel dispensers;

a fueling position availability indicator system including;

a plurality of position indicators, each position indicator associated with at least one refueling position and visually indicating an availability status of the associated refueling position;

detection electronics operative to ascertain data regarding a transaction status of the refueling transactions at the associated refueling positions;

processing electronics operative to determine the availability status of each of said refueling positions based at least in part on said transaction status of the refueling transaction at the associated refueling position; and

a position indicator control device operative to produce control signals to said position indicators that changes the availability status of the position indicators for the associated refueling positions based at least in part on the availability status of that refueling position received from the processing electronics.

2. A retail fueling environment as set forth in claim 1, wherein said detection electronics comprises respective sniffers associated with the fuel dispensers, said sniffers operative to detect signals indicative of said transaction status.

3. A retail fueling environment as set forth in claim 1, wherein said detection electronics comprise proximity detection electronics operative to sense presence of a vehicle in the associated refueling position.

4. A retail fueling environment as set forth in claim 3, wherein said proximity detection electronics comprise a camera.

6. A retail fueling environment as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said processing electronics are included in said position indicator control device.

7. A retail fueling environment as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said processing electronics comprise a cloud server remote from said position indicator control device.

8. A retail fueling environment as set forth in claim 1, wherein the visual indicators each comprise a plurality of discrete lights of different colors selectively illuminated to convey information.

9. A retail fueling environment as set forth in claim 8, wherein said discrete lights of different colors comprise red, yellow, and green lights.

10. A retail fueling environment as set forth in claim 8, wherein the plurality of discrete lights are arranged in a light stack.

11. A retail fueling environment as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said dispensers includes connection electronics operative to establish a wireless communication link with a suitably-equipped vehicle in the at least one refueling position.

12. A retail fueling environment as set forth in claim 11, wherein the connection electronics are operative to obtain information from the suitably equipped vehicle regarding at least one of fuel tank total volume and fuel tank current fuel volume.

13. A retail fueling environment as set forth in claim 12, wherein fuel tank total volume is derived after receipt of information indicating type of vehicle.

5. A retail fueling environment comprising:

a plurality of fuel dispensers located so that each defines at least one refueling position;

site automation electronics in communication with said plurality of fuel dispensers;

a fueling position availability indicator system including;

a plurality of position indicators indicating availability status of at least one associated refueling position;

detection electronics operative to ascertain data regarding transaction status of refueling transactions at the associated refueling positions, said detection electronics comprising proximity detection electronics operative to sense presence of a vehicle in the associated refueling position;

processing electronics operative to determine a desired state of each of said position indicators based at least in part on said transaction status;

a position indicator control device operative to produce control signals to said position indicators; and

at least parking assist indicator associated with the associated refueling position, said parking assist indicator being operative to display information indicating when a vehicle has reached a selected location in the refueling position.