Point-of-sale gas pump with access to travel information service

• US 20070225898A1
• Filed: 03/23/2006
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Piece Future Pte., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Wilkin, George, Pfleging, Gerald
• Granted Patent: US 7,526,294 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal

Abstract

An exemplary method facilities obtaining travel information. A request for travel information is received from a user by a point-of-sale gas pump at a service station or a wireless router operated in the vicinity of the pas pump. At least a location of a specified destination is received at a server at the service station, where the location of the specified destination is input by the user. Travel information based on the location of the specified destination is determined and conveyed to the user.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining travel information comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for travel information from a user by a point-of-sale gas pump at a service station;

receiving at least a location of a specified destination at a server at the service station, where the location of the specified destination is input by the user;

determining travel information based on the location of the specified destination;

conveying the travel information to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving the request comprises receiving a command entered on the point-of-sale gas pump by the user.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining step comprises transmitting a query from the server to a remotely located travel information provider and receiving a reply to the query containing corresponding travel information.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of conveying comprises delivering a printout of the travel information by the gas pump.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of conveying comprises delivering a printout of the travel information by a printer located in a service station building.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of conveying comprises transmitting the travel information via a wireless communication link to a mobile electronic device of the user, where the wireless communication link includes a wireless router coupled to a communication system of the service station.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving the at least location of the specified destination comprises receiving the at least location over a wireless communication link by a wireless router coupled to a communication system of the service station, a wireless communication device of the user being utilized to transmit the at least location over the wireless communication link.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the request is received at the point-of-sale gas pump prior to completion of an ongoing transaction for the delivery of fuel by the gas pump.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of incorporating the payment for services associated with the providing of the travel information with authorization of payment of fuel at the gas pump by the user so that payment for both the travel information services and fuel comprise part of a single payment transaction.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying by the gas pump a plurality of choices selectable by the user for receiving the results of the request for travel information.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein one of the plurality of choices comprises receiving the results of the travel information request on a wireless communication device of the user, and further comprising the step of assigning a code required to be utilized by the wireless communication device in order to receive the travel information.

12. A method for obtaining travel information comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for travel information from a user'"'"'s wireless communication device via a wireless router coupled to a point-of-sale gas pump at a service station and a server at the service station;

receiving via the wireless router at least a location of a specified destination at the server at the service station, where the location of the specified destination is determined by an input by the user;

determining travel information by the server based at least in part on the location of the specified destination;

conveying the travel information to the user.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the determining step comprises transmitting a query from the server to a remotely located travel information provider and receiving a reply to the query containing corresponding travel information.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of conveying comprises delivering a printout of the travel information by the gas pump.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of conveying comprises delivering a printout of the travel information by a printer located in a service station building.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the request is received prior to completion of an ongoing point-of-sale gas pump transaction for the delivery of fuel by the gas pump.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of incorporating the payment for services associated with the providing of the travel information with authorization of payment of fuel at the gas pump by the user so that payment for both the travel information services and fuel comprise part of a single payment transaction.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of displaying by the gas pump a plurality of choices selectable by the user for receiving the results of the request for travel information.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein one of the plurality of choices comprises receiving the results of the travel information request on a wireless communication device of the user, and further comprising the step of assigning a code required to be utilized by the wireless communication device in order to receive the travel information.