METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AN AUTOMATED FUEL AUTHORIZATION PROGRAM FOR FUEL TERMINALS USING A CAMERA AS PART OF THE AUTHORIZATION PROCESS

• US 20140267741A1
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zonar Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Zonar Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: KING, MICHAEL CHARLES, FADLER, RICK, MCQUADE, CHARLES MICHAEL
• Granted Patent: US 9,787,950 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0893 the card reader reading the card in a contactless manner
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

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.

Claims

10. A module to be installed at a fuel lane to enable the fuel lane to participate in a fuel authorization program, the module comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a video camera to detect a vehicle entering the fuel lane;

(c) a radio frequency (RF) transmitter for establishing an RF data link between the fuel lane and the vehicle disposed in the lane; and

(d) a controller for implementing the following functions;

(i) in response to detecting the vehicle using the video camera, automatically establishing an RF communication link with the vehicle to verify that the vehicle is enrolled in a fuel authorization program, and automatically including a request defining an action at the vehicle that can be observed by the video camera; and

(ii) analyzing images data from the video camera to determine if the defined action has been observed at the vehicle;

(iii) verifying that the vehicle is enrolled in the fuel authorization program, conveying a request to enable fuel delivery at the fuel lane where the defined action was observed.

11. The module of claim 10, wherein the controller implements the function of automatically defining that the vehicle flash its lights.

12. The module of claim 10, wherein the controller implements the function of automatically defining that the vehicle activate it hazard lights.

13. The module of claim 10, wherein the controller implements the function of automatically defining that the vehicle activate its turn signals.

14. The module of claim 10, wherein the controller implements the function of automatically defining that a driver of the vehicle open and close a driver door a specific number of times.

15. The module of claim 10, wherein the controller implements the function of automatically defining that a driver of the vehicle exit the vehicle and stand in front of the vehicle for a predetermined time.

16. The module of claim 10, wherein the controller implements the function of automatically defining that a driver of the vehicle moves the vehicle backward and forward in a predefined pattern.

17. A method for enabling automated access of a vehicle to a gated facility, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) automatically detecting the presence of a vehicle at a gate using a video camera;

(b) automatically using a radio frequency (RF) component 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, performing some action at the vehicle that can be observed by the video camera, thereby unambiguously identifying the vehicle responding to the RF query;

(d) automatically analyzing an image from the video camera to determine if the action is observed at the gate, thereby unambiguously identifying that the vehicle responding to the RF query is the vehicle at the gate, and not a different vehicle;

(e) in response to receiving the RF query at the vehicle, automatically conveying gate authorization credentials from the vehicle to the gate controller over an RF data link to verify that the vehicle is enrolled in the gate authorization program; and

(f) in response to receiving the gate authorization credentials from the vehicle at the fuel vendor, automatically determining if the vehicle is authorized to enter the gate, and if so; and

(g) automatically opening the gate so the vehicle may pass.

1. A method for administering a fuel authorization program for a fuel vendor operating a plurality of fueling lanes, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) automatically detecting the presence of a vehicle in a specific fueling lane using a video camera;

(b) automatically using a radio frequency (RF) component to transmit an RF query from the fuel vendor to the vehicle in response to detecting the presence of the vehicle;

(c) in response to receiving the RF query at the vehicle, performing some action at the vehicle that can be observed by the video camera, thereby unambiguously identifying the vehicle responding to the RF query;

(d) automatically analyzing an image from the video camera to determine which vehicle in which fuel lane is responding to the RF query, thereby unambiguously identifying which fuel pump is to be enabled if authorization is approved;

(e) in response to receiving the RF query at the vehicle, automatically conveying fuel authorization credentials from the vehicle to the fuel vendor over an RF data link to verify that the vehicle is enrolled in the fuel authorization program; and

(f) in response to receiving the fuel authorization credentials from the vehicle at the fuel vendor, automatically determining if the vehicle is authorized to receive fuel, and if so; and

(g) automatically enabling fuel delivery at the identified fueling lane, so long as the video camera indicates that the vehicle remains in the specific fueling lane.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of automatically using the RF component to transmit the RF query from the fuel vendor to the vehicle in response to detecting the presence of the vehicle comprises the step of automatically including a request defining the action at the vehicle that can be observed by the video camera.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of automatically including the request for the defined action comprises the step of defining that the vehicle flash its lights.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of automatically including the request for the defined action comprises the step of defining that the vehicle activate it hazard lights.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of automatically including the request for the defined action comprises the step of defining that the vehicle activate its turn signals.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of automatically including the request for the defined action comprises the step of defining that a driver of the vehicle open and close a driver door a specific number of times.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of automatically including the request for the defined action comprises the step of defining that a driver of the vehicle exit the vehicle and stand in front of the vehicle for a predetermined time.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of automatically including the request for the defined action comprises the step of defining that a driver of the vehicle moves the vehicle backward and forward in a predefined pattern.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the presence of the vehicle in the specific fueling lane using the video camera comprises the step of using a video camera having a field of view that covers more than one specific fuel lane, and automatically analyzing an image provided by the video camera to determine which fuel lane the vehicle is in.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of automatically using the RF component to transmit the RF query from the gate controller to the vehicle in response to detecting the presence of the vehicle comprises the step of automatically including a request defining the action at the vehicle that can be observed by the video camera.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of automatically including the request for the defined action comprises the step of defining at least one of the following:

(a) that the vehicle flash its lights;

(b) that the vehicle activate its hazard lights; and

(c) that the vehicle activate its turn signals.

19-1. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of automatically including the request for the defined action comprises the step of defining at least one of the following:

(a) that a driver of the vehicle open and close a driver door a specific number of times;

(b) a driver of the vehicle moves the vehicle backward and forward in a predefined pattern; and

(c) a driver of the vehicle exit the vehicle and stand in front of the vehicle for a predetermined time.