READABLE INDICIA FOR FUEL PURCHASE

• US 20140006186A1
• Filed: 07/31/2012
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Grigg, David M., Grossman, Glenn, Calman, Matthew A., Bondesen, Laura Corinne, Jones, Alicia C., Bertanzetti, Peter John
• Granted Patent: US 9,177,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/384 using social networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/009 User recognition or proximity detection

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed to purchasing fuel for a vehicle from a fuel station. An exemplary apparatus is configured to: receive pre-configured information associated with an information-providing source associated with at least one of the fuel station or a fuel pump at the fuel station; determine identification information associated with the fuel pump that will be used for fueling the vehicle; and transmit a purchase authorization request to an external server based on the identification information and the pre-configured information.

Claims

1. An apparatus for purchasing fuel for a vehicle from a fuel station, the apparatus comprising:

a memory;

a processor; and

a computing module stored in the memory, executable by the processor, and configured to;

receive pre-configured information associated with an information-providing source associated with at least one of the fuel station or a fuel pump at the fuel station;

determine identification information associated with the fuel pump that will be used for fueling the vehicle; and

transmit a purchase authorization request to an external server based on the identification information and the pre-configured information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a display, and wherein the module is further configured to determine identification information based on the module being configured to:

initiate, on the display, a user interface in response to receiving the pre-configured information; and

enable selection, on the user interface, of a fuel pump associated with the fuel station.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the module is further configured to:

determine a location of the apparatus based on at least one of positioning system information or location information associated with a social networking account; and

determine at least one of the identification information associated with the fuel pump or information associated with the fuel station based on the location of the apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the module is further configured to:

initiate, on the display, address information associated with the fuel station; and

initiate, on the display, identification information associated with one or more fuel pumps associated with the fuel station.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the module is further configured to:

enable selection, on the user interface, of a payment card to pay for the fuel purchase, wherein the apparatus accesses information associated with one or more payment cards.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is in communication with the apparatus, and wherein the vehicle communicates to the apparatus information regarding an amount of fuel needed to fill the vehicle'"'"'s fuel tank to a predetermined capacity.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the purchase authorization request is further based on at least one of payment card information, social networking information, or a selected type of fuel.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the external server determines at least one of a pre-selected payment card, a pre-selected payment amount, or a discount eligibility for the purchase authorization request, processes the purchase authorization request based on one or more authorization rules, and transmits an electronic receipt to the apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the external server sends an authorization prompt to the fuel station, wherein in response to receiving the authorization prompt, at least one of:

an agent at the fuel station activates the fuel pump, or the fuel pump is automatically activated.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises an image-capturing component, wherein the information-providing source comprises readable indicia, and wherein the apparatus enables capture of an image of the readable indicia.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the readable indicia is presented on a display associated with at least one of the fuel station or the fuel pump.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the readable indicia comprises a sticker attached to the fuel pump.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the readable indicia comprises a Quick Response (QR) code.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information-providing source comprises a near-field communication (NFC) tag.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pre-configured information comprises information pre-approved by at least one of a merchant associated with the fuel station or a user of the apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pre-configured information is pre-configured to be associated with the apparatus and not to be associated with another apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a purchase transaction based on the purchase authorization request comprises a card-present transaction or a card-not-present transaction.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is integrated into the vehicle.

19. A method for purchasing fuel for a vehicle from a fuel station, the method comprising:

receiving pre-configured information associated with an information-providing source associated with at least one of the fuel station or a fuel pump at the fuel station;

determining identification information associated with the fuel pump that will be used for fueling the vehicle; and

transmitting a purchase authorization request to an external server based on the identification information and the pre-configured information.

20. A computer program product for purchasing fuel for a vehicle from a fuel station, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a set of codes for causing a device to;

receive pre-configured information associated with an information-providing source associated with at least one of the fuel station or a fuel pump at the fuel station;

determine identification information associated with the fuel pump that will be used for fueling the vehicle; and

transmit a purchase authorization request to an external server based on the identification information and the pre-configured information.