SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING PREPAID CAR WASH OR LUBE SERVICES
First Claim
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1. A method for providing prepaid vehicle wash or lubrication services in an automated car wash or lubrication station, the method comprising:
- establishing a prepaid customer account for car wash or lubrication services to be provided to a customer vehicle in predefined time periods, the account specifying a customer credit card as well as customer selected carwash or lubrication services to be provided to the customer vehicle;
providing a tag comprising tag data indicative of the prepaid customer account;
affixing the tag to a specific customer vehicle;
reading tag data from the tag when the specific customer vehicle is brought to the car wash or lubrication station;
automatically identifying the prepaid customer account based at least partially on the tag data;
providing the customer selected car wash or lubrication services to the specific customer vehicle according to the customer account; and
automatically charging the customer credit card at a regular interval for services provided under the prepaid customer account during the predefined time periods.
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Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for operating an automated vehicle wash or lubrication system and providing user selected car wash or lubrication services according to a prepaid customer account, in which the customer'"'"'s credit card is automatically charged at a regular interval or based on a certain number of services having been provided for the prepaid wash or lubrication services.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for providing prepaid vehicle wash or lubrication services in an automated car wash or lubrication station, the method comprising:
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establishing a prepaid customer account for car wash or lubrication services to be provided to a customer vehicle in predefined time periods, the account specifying a customer credit card as well as customer selected carwash or lubrication services to be provided to the customer vehicle; providing a tag comprising tag data indicative of the prepaid customer account; affixing the tag to a specific customer vehicle; reading tag data from the tag when the specific customer vehicle is brought to the car wash or lubrication station; automatically identifying the prepaid customer account based at least partially on the tag data; providing the customer selected car wash or lubrication services to the specific customer vehicle according to the customer account; and automatically charging the customer credit card at a regular interval for services provided under the prepaid customer account during the predefined time periods. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for providing prepaid vehicle wash or lubrication services in an automated car wash or lubrication station, the method comprising:
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establishing a prepaid customer account for car wash or lubrication services to be provided to a customer, the account specifying a customer credit card, customer selected car wash or lubrication services to be provided, and a selected number of wash or lubrication services; providing a tag comprising tag data indicative of the prepaid customer account; reading tag data from the tag when the tag is brought to the car wash or lubrication station; automatically identifying the prepaid customer account based at least partially on the tag data; providing the customer selected carwash or lubrication services to the customer vehicle according to the customer account; and automatically charging the customer credit card to replenish the customer account once a given number of the customer selected car wash or lubrication services have been provided under the prepaid customer account, the given number being less than or equal to the selected number. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An automated vehicle wash or lubrication system comprising:
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a car wash tunnel or lubrication station; a prepaid account data store including prepaid customer account information for a customer account, the account information comprising a customer credit card and customer selected car wash or lubrication services to be provided to a customer vehicle during the predefined time periods; a tag reader operative to read tag data from a tag mounted on the customer vehicle at the car wash tunnel or lubrication station; a site management system operatively coupled with the data store and the tag reader to identify the customer account from the tag data; a car wash or lubrication station control system operated by the site management system to provide the customer selected car wash or lubrication services to the customer vehicle according to the customer account information; and an automatic charge system operatively coupled with the prepaid account data store to automatically charge the customer credit card at a regular interval. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. An automated vehicle wash or lubrication system comprising:
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a car wash tunnel or lubrication station; a prepaid account data store including prepaid customer account information for a customer account, the account information comprising a customer credit card, customer selected car wash or lubrication services to be provided, and a selected number of wash or lubrication services a tag reader operative to read tag data from a tag mounted on the customer vehicle at the car wash tunnel or lubrication station; a site management system operatively coupled with the data store and the tag reader to identify the customer account from the tag data; a car wash or lubrication station control system operated by the site management system to provide the customer selected car wash or lubrication services to the customer vehicle according to the customer account information; and an automatic charge system operatively coupled with the prepaid account data store to automatically charge the customer credit card once a given number of the customer selected car wash or lubrication services have been provided under the prepaid customer account, the given number being less than or equal to the selected number. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A method for operating an automated vehicle wash or lubrication system, the method comprising:
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providing a prepaid account data store including prepaid customer account information for a customer account, the account information comprising a customer credit card and customer selected car wash or lubrication services to be provided to a customer vehicle during predefined time periods; reading tag data from a tag mounted on a customer vehicle when the customer vehicle is brought to the car wash or lubrication station; automatically identifying a prepaid customer account based at least partially on the tag data using the prepaid account data store; automatically providing the customer selected car wash or lubrication services to the customer vehicle according to the customer account information; and automatically charging the customer credit card at a regular interval for services provided under the prepaid customer account during the predefined time periods. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A method for operating an automated vehicle wash or lubrication system, the method comprising:
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providing a prepaid account data store including prepaid customer account information for a customer account, the account specifying a customer credit card, customer selected car wash or lubrication services to be provided, and a selected number of wash or lubrication services; reading tag data from a tag mounted on a customer vehicle when the customer vehicle is brought to the car wash or lubrication station; automatically identifying a prepaid customer account based at least partially on the tag data using the prepaid account data store; automatically providing the customer selected carwash or lubrication services to the customer vehicle according to the customer account information; and automatically charging the customer credit card once a given number of the customer selected car wash or lubrication services have been provided under the prepaid customer account, the given number being less than or equal to the selected number. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:
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providing a prepaid account data store including prepaid customer account information for a customer account, the account information comprising a customer credit card and customer selected car wash or lubrication services to be provided to a customer vehicle during predefined time periods; reading tag data from a tag mounted on a customer vehicle when the customer vehicle is brought to the car wash or lubrication station; automatically identifying a prepaid customer account based at least partially on the tag data using the prepaid account data store; automatically providing the customer selected carwash or lubrication services to the customer vehicle according to the customer account information; and automatically charging the customer credit card at a regular interval for services provided under the prepaid customer account during the predefined time periods.
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34. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:
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providing a prepaid account data store including prepaid customer account information for a customer account, the account specifying a customer credit card, customer selected car wash or lubrication services to be provided, and a selected number of wash or lubrication services; reading tag data from a tag mounted on a customer vehicle when the customer vehicle is brought to the car wash or lubrication station; automatically identifying a prepaid customer account based at least partially on the tag data using the prepaid account data store; automatically providing the customer selected carwash or lubrication services to the customer vehicle according to the customer account information; and automatically charging the customer credit card once a given number of the customer selected car wash or lubrication services have been provided under the prepaid customer account, the given number being less than or equal to the selected number.
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Specification