VEHICLE TRANSACTION DATA COMMUNICATION USING COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20150199685A1
• Filed: 01/13/2014
• Published: 07/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Epona LLC
• Original Assignee: Epona LLC
• Inventors: BETANCOURT, Ernest, PESCHIO, Vince
• Granted Patent: US 10,580,001 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10386 the interrogation device being of the portable or hand-handheld type, e.g. incorporated in ubiquitous hand-held devices such as PDA or mobile phone, or in the form of a portable dedicated RFID reader
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists

Abstract

A transaction request may be initiated and completed using a vehicle based communication system. A vehicle may include a wireless tag or transponder, and a wireless system at a service station or fuel station can detect the presence of the wireless tag in a predefined wireless service area. The wireless system can transmit location information based on the detected location of the wireless tag or vehicle to the wireless tag. A communication device may establish a communication connection or link with a wireless tag or transponder, and through the communication connection, the wireless tag can transmit the location information received from the wireless system to the communication device. The requester may use the communication device to provide or enter transaction information. The communication device can transmit the transaction information for transaction authorization, and in response to authorization of the transaction, a transaction authorization indication may be transmitted to a point of sale.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

transmitting, to a wireless tag of a vehicle, location information in response to detecting the wireless tag in a predefined wireless service area of a service station, the location information configured to trigger a request for transaction information from a communication device within proximity of the vehicle;

receiving, from the wireless tag, user provided transaction information originating from the communication device;

transmitting the user provided transaction information in a transaction request; and

receiving a transaction authorization indication responsive to the transaction request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless tag comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, and

wherein the transaction information includes at least one of:

driver identification information, trip identification information, trailer identification information, truck identification information, license number, load identification information, loyalty card information, and payment information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction authorization indication comprises a denial message or an error message, and

transmitting the denial message or the error message to the wireless tag responsive to receiving the transaction authorization indication.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the error message is configured to cause the communication device to request re-entry of the transaction information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting, to the wireless tag, location information in response to detecting the wireless tag in the predefined wireless service area comprises:

transmitting, to the wireless tag, a lane location of the vehicle at a service station in response to detecting the wireless tag in the predefined wireless service area.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein within proximity of the vehicle comprises within communication range of the wireless tag of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction authorization indication comprises an authorization of the transaction request, and

in response to receiving the transaction authorization indication, activating a fuel station.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

transmit, to a wireless tag of a vehicle, location information in response to detecting the wireless tag in a predefined wireless service area of a service station, the location information configured to trigger a request for transaction information from a communication device within proximity of the vehicle;

receive, from the wireless tag, user provided transaction information originating from the communication device;

transmit the user provided transaction information in a transaction request; and

receive a transaction authorization indication responsive to the transaction request.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the wireless tag comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the transaction information includes at least one of:

driver identification information, trip identification information, trailer identification information, truck identification information, license number, load identification information, loyalty card information, and payment information.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the transaction authorization indication comprises a denial message or an error message, and

transmitting the denial message or the error message to the wireless tag responsive to receiving the transaction authorization indication.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the error message is configured to cause the communication device to request re-entry of the transaction information.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein transmit, to the wireless tag, location information in response to detecting the wireless tag in the predefined wireless service area comprises:

transmit, to the wireless tag, a lane location of the vehicle at a service station in response to detecting the wireless tag in the predefined wireless service area.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein within proximity of the vehicle comprises within communication range of the wireless tag of the vehicle.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the transaction authorization indication comprises an authorization of the transaction request, and

in response to receiving the transaction authorization indication, activating a fuel station.

16. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a communication device, location information in response to arriving in a predefined wireless service area of a service station from a wireless tag;

requesting, by the communication device, transaction information in response to receiving the location information;

receiving, by the communication device, transaction information from a user; and

transmitting, to a wireless tag, the user provided transaction information directed to the transaction processing system.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising:

receiving, by the communication device, a denial message responsive to a denial of a transaction request; and

requesting revised transaction information in response to the denial message.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein transmitting, to the wireless tag, the received transaction information directed to the transaction processing system comprises:

transmitting, to the wireless tag, transaction information including transaction information pre-stored in the communication device and selected for transmission based on the location information.

19. The method of claim 16, comprising:

establishing a wireless communication connection between the wireless tag and the communication device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the wireless tag is a RFID tag and the wireless communication connection includes a Bluetooth connection, a near field communication (NFC) connection, an infrared (IR) connection, or a Wi-Fi connection.