Method and apparatus for an automated fuel authorization program for fuel terminals using a camera as part of the authorization process
First Claim
1. A method for enabling automated access of a vehicle to a gated facility having a gate controller system, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) automatically detecting the presence of a vehicle at a gate;
(b) automatically using a radio frequency (RF) component of the gate controller system to transmit an RF query from a gate controller to the vehicle in response to detecting the presence of the vehicle;
(c) in response to receiving the RF query at the vehicle, automatically sending an infrared red (IR) transmission from the vehicle to the gate controller system, thereby identifying the vehicle responding to the RF query;
(d) in response to receiving the RF query at the vehicle, automatically conveying gate authorization credentials from the vehicle to the gate controller system to verify that the vehicle is enrolled in the gate control program; and
(e) in response to receiving the gate authorization credentials from the vehicle, automatically determining if the vehicle is authorized to enter, and analyzing data received at the gate controller system to determine if the vehicle at the gate has sent an IR transmission to the gate controller system, and if so;
(f) automatically unlocking the gate to permit the vehicle to enter.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel authorization system enables data to be exchanged between vehicles and a fuel vendor, to verify that the vehicle is authorized to receive fuel. Each fuel island is equipped with a camera and a short range radio (RF) component. Participating vehicles are equipped with fuel authorization component including an IR transmitter and a RF component that can establish a data link with the fuel island'"'"'s RF unit. When the camera senses a vehicle in the fuel lane, an RF query is sent to the vehicle. Participating vehicles respond with an IR transmission. An RF data link is then established between the enrolled vehicle and the fuel vendor to verify that the vehicle is authorized to receive fuel. Once the verification is complete, the fuel dispenser is enabled. In some embodiments, the IR data link is not required, as the camera can distinguish between multiple fuel lanes.
56 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method for enabling automated access of a vehicle to a gated facility having a gate controller system, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) automatically detecting the presence of a vehicle at a gate; (b) automatically using a radio frequency (RF) component of the gate controller system to transmit an RF query from a gate controller to the vehicle in response to detecting the presence of the vehicle; (c) in response to receiving the RF query at the vehicle, automatically sending an infrared red (IR) transmission from the vehicle to the gate controller system, thereby identifying the vehicle responding to the RF query; (d) in response to receiving the RF query at the vehicle, automatically conveying gate authorization credentials from the vehicle to the gate controller system to verify that the vehicle is enrolled in the gate control program; and (e) in response to receiving the gate authorization credentials from the vehicle, automatically determining if the vehicle is authorized to enter, and analyzing data received at the gate controller system to determine if the vehicle at the gate has sent an IR transmission to the gate controller system, and if so; (f) automatically unlocking the gate to permit the vehicle to enter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method for enabling automated access of a vehicle to a gated facility having a gate controller system, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) automatically detecting the presence of a vehicle at a gate using a video camera that is part of a gate controller system; (b) automatically using a radio frequency (RF) component of the gate controller system to transmit an RF query from a gate controller to the vehicle in response to detecting the presence of the vehicle; (c) in response to receiving the RF query at the vehicle, automatically performing an action at the vehicle that is visible to the video camera; (d) detecting the action by the video camera, thereby identifying the vehicle responding to the RF query; (e) in response to receiving the RF query at the vehicle, automatically conveying gate authorization credentials from the vehicle to the gate controller system over an RF data link to verify that the vehicle is enrolled in the gate control program; and (f) in response to receiving the gate authorization credentials from the vehicle, and the detection of the action at the camera, automatically determining if the vehicle is authorized to enter, and if so; (g) automatically unlocking the gate to permit the vehicle to enter. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification