IN-VEHICLE DATA ENTRY

• US 20160364718A1
• Filed: 06/15/2015
• Published: 12/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Epona LLC
• Original Assignee: Epona LLC
• Inventors: BETANCOURT, Ernest, PESCHIO, Vince
• Granted Patent: US 10,579,988 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery

Abstract

A transaction system may receive transaction information for a fueling transaction that includes input data from a communication device in the vehicle. Upon detecting the presence of a wireless device of the vehicle in a predefined wireless service area of a service station, the service station may read the wireless device and may transmit the fuel stop information and to the transaction system. The transaction system may determine if the fuel stop information corresponds to the transaction information and if the fueling transaction is authorized. Upon determining that the fueling transaction is authorized, a transaction authorization indication may be transmitted to the service station and the service station may activate a fuel dispenser system to dispense fuel into the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a transaction system, transaction information for a fueling transaction, the transaction information including input data from a communication device in a vehicle;

receiving, by a transaction system, fuel stop information in response to a service station detecting a wireless device corresponding to the vehicle in a predefined wireless service area of the service station;

determining, by the transaction system, if the fuel stop information corresponds to the transaction information;

determining, by the transaction system, authorization of the fueling transaction based on the transaction information; and

transmitting, to the service station, a transaction authorization indication from the transaction system responsive to determining authorization of the fueling transaction,

wherein the service station is configured to activate a fuel dispenser system to dispense fuel into the vehicle upon receiving the transaction authorization indication from the transaction system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the input data includes at least one of:

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

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the input data includes a plurality of inputs and the communication device is configured to store one or more of the plurality of inputs.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more stored inputs include one or more driver-related loyalty identifications, each driver-related loyalty identification corresponding to a loyalty program associated with one or more service station.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a data input entry prompt to the communication device upon determining a transaction information component is missing or includes an error, the data input reentry prompt including a request for entry of the transaction information component.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining authorization of the fueling transaction based on the transaction information includes determining whether the service station is an authorized service station.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device is selected from one of a personal digital assistant, a mobile telephone, a portable computer, and a tablet.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device is installed in the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a prompt to the communication device if no input data is received for a predetermined time after receiving fuel stop information.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting an error message to the communication device in response to determining the fueling transaction is not authorized.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting a data input reentry prompt to the communication device, the data input reentry prompt including a request for reentry of input data.

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

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the fuel stop information includes at least one of a lane location and a dispenser location at the service station and activating a fuel dispenser system to dispense fuel into the vehicle include activating a primary fuel nozzle on one side of a fuel lane and activating a satellite fuel nozzle on an opposite side if the fuel lane.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting an error message to the communication device in response to determining that no transaction information corresponds to the fuel stop information.

15. A system comprising:

a near range wireless device associated with a vehicle, the wireless device being configured to wirelessly transmit information to a service station upon entering a predefined wireless area of the service station;

a near range wireless detection system configured to detect the wireless device entering the wireless area causing the service station to read information from the wireless device and to send fuel stop information to a transaction system in response to reading information from the wireless device; and

a long range communication device configured to wirelessly transmit transaction information to the transaction system, the transaction information including input data for a fueling transaction request;

wherein the transaction system is configured to;

determine if the fuel stop information corresponds to the transaction information;

determine if the fueling transaction is authorized; and

transmit a transaction authorization to the service station upon determining the fueling transaction is authorized, and

wherein the service station is configured to activate a fuel dispenser system to dispense fuel into the vehicle upon receiving the transaction authorization from the transaction system.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the communication device is configured to store at least a portion of the input data for a predetermined amount of time.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the input data includes at least one of:

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

18. A method comprising:

detecting, by a service station, a wireless device associated with a vehicle in a predefined wireless area of the service station;

reading, by the service station, information from the wireless device;

transmitting, to a transaction system, fuel stop information from the service station, the fuel stop information including information read from the wireless device;

determining, by the service station, approval of a fueling transaction request associated with the vehicle based on a transaction authorization indication received from the transaction system; and

activating, by the service station, a fuel dispenser system to dispense fuel into the vehicle in response to determining approval of the fueling transaction.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising displaying a denial of authorization message in response to determining the fueling transaction is not approved.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining, by the service station, that additional transaction information is needed to complete the fueling transaction; and

displaying, at the service station, a prompt for the additional transaction information.