Fuel dispensing and vehicle maintenance system

• US 4,490,798 A
• Filed: 12/16/1981
• Issued: 12/25/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Art Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Art Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Martin, Richard R., Walsh, Richard F., Franks, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Krass, Errol A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Teska, Kevin J.
• Application Number:
  US06/331,250
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 364/465, 364/550, 364/479, 364/521, 364/510, 364/478, 364/551, 364/424, 364/442, 364/200, 364/900, 340/52 D, 340/52 R, 340/59, 340/63, 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 235/380, 235/381, 235/382, 235/384, 222/26, 222/30, 222/56
• US Class Current: 700/283
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/14 Fixed-demand indicating or recording apparatus, i.e. where indication is made when a predetermined quantity has been consumed during a time interval greater or less than a predetermined time interval
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A method and apparatus for dispensing fuel has features to prevent theft of fuel and also control maintenance of authorized vehicles. The system includes a portable memory unit which remains with each vehicle. At the fuel dispensing site, a data processing unit receives the portable memory unit to read from it coded information. A central processing unit is located at a central records site and connected to the remote processing unit for record storage. The remote processing unit reads a vehicle identification number and checks it for validity. The remote processing unit also reads a last mileage at which fuel was dispensed, and compares it to a current mileage entered by the operator into the remote processing unit. A next service mileage is also read by the remote processing unit and compared to the current mileage. If the current mileage is less than the last mileage, this is an indication of error, and fuel will not be dispensed. If the current mileage exceeds a next sevice mileage, the operator is notified to immediately take the vehicle to a maintenance facility for maintenance. The portable memory unit may be updated in the field with the remote processing unit to indicate a new current mileage. The memory unit can also be updated at the maintenance site to indicate a new service mileage.

Claims

1. A method of dispensing fuel and indication maintenance for a motor vehicle, comprising in combination:

providing with the vehicle a portable memory means for storing, retrieving and updating selected data of the vehicle;

providing at a fuel dispensing site a remote processing unit having receptacle means for receiving the memory means, and for reading and updating the data in the memory means, and providing with the remote processing unit interface means for controlling a pump to dispense fuel and for monitoring the fuel dispensed;

inserting the memory means into the receptacle means of the remote processing unit and reading with the remote processing unit from the memory means an identification number and a next service mileage for the vehicle;

verifying with the remote processing unit that the identification number is a valid number;

entering into the remote processing unit currentmileage of the vehicle;

comparing with the remote processing unit the current mileage with the next service mileage and notifying the vehicle operator of service needs if the current mileage exceeds the next service mileage;

if the identification number is valid, turning on the pump and monitoring with the remote processing unit the amount of fuel dispensed; and

performing indicated service on the vehicle and updating the next service mileage in the memory means.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

entering in the memory means with the remote processing unit an indication that the operator was notified of a service needed;

reading with the remote processing unit a total number of notifications contained in the memory means; and

refusing with the remote processing unit to turn on the pump if the number of notifications exceeds a selected maximum.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

reading with the remote processing unit from the memory means the next service date;

comparing the next service date with the current date; and

notifying the operator of service needs if the current date is later than the next service date.

4. A method of dispensing fuel and indicating maintenance for a motor vehicle, comprising in combination:

providing with the vehicle a key having internal memory means for storing, retrieving and updating selected data of the vehicle, and external terminal means for providing electrical connection to the memory means;

providing at a fuel dispensing site a remote processing unit having receptacle means for receiving the key and for reading, comparing and updating the data in the memory means, and providing with the remote processing unit interface means for controlling a pump to dispense fuel and for monitoring the fuel dispensed;

providing a central processing unit at a central records site remote from the fuel dispensing site with storage means for storing data transmitted to it by the remote processing unit;

providing at a maintenance site a data processing unit having interface means for receiving the key and for reading and updating the data in the memory means;

inserting the key into the remote processing unit and reading with the remote processing unit on the memory means an identification number, a last mileage and a next service mileage for the vehicle;

verifying with the remote processing unit that the identification number is a valid number;

entering into the remote processing unit the current mileage of the vehicle;

comparing with the remote processing unit the current mileage with the last mileage and refusing with the remote processing unit to turn on the pump if the current mileage is less than the last mileage;

comparing with the remote processing unit the next service mileage with the current mileage and notifying the vehicle operator of service needs if the current mileage exceeds the next service mileage;

transmitting with the remote processing unit to the central processing unit a message that the remote processing unit has notified the operator of service needs;

updating with remote processing unit in the memory means the last mileage with the current mileage;

turning on the pump with the remote processing unit if the identification number is valid and monitoring with the remote processing unit the amount of fuel dispensed;

transmitting with the remote processing unit to the central processing unit the amount of fuel dispensed, the vehicle identification number, the last mileage and the current mileage;

inserting the key into the receptacle means of the data processing unit at the remote maintenance site and reading with the data processing unit an identification number and a next service mileage;

performing needed service on the vehicle; and

updating with the data processing unit a new next service mileage in the memory means of the key.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

entering into the memory means with the remote processing unit an indication that the operator was notified of a service need; and

reading with the remote processing unit the total number of notifications in the memory means of the key, and transmitting the total number to the central processing unit.

6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

subtracting with the central processing unit the last mileage from the current mileage, dividing the difference by the gallons dispensed, and indicating the miles per gallon at the central records site.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting to the remote processing unit by the central processing unit the identification number of a vehicle if the miles per gallon calculated is less than a selected minimum, and instructing the remote processing unit to invalidate the key.

8. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

reading by the remote processing unit from the memory means the maximum fuel capacity of the vehicle; and

turning off the pump with the remote processing unit once the gallons dispensed reaches the maximum fuel capacity.

9. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

removing the key from the remote processing unit after the identification number has been determined valid and the next service mileage checked, to cause the remote processing unit to turn on the pump.

10. A method of dispensing fuel, comprising in combination:

providing with the vehicle a key having internal memory means for storing, retrieving and updating selected data of the vehicle, and external terminal means for providing electrical connection to the memory means;

providing at a fuel dispensing site a remote processing unit having interface means for receiving the key and for reading, comparing and updating the data in the memory means, and providing with the remote processing unit interface means for controlling a pump to dispense fuel and for monitoring the fuel dispensed;

providing at a central record site a central processing unit remote from the fuel dispensing site, and providing with the central processing unit storage means for storing data transmitted to it by the remote processing unit;

inserting the key into the receptacle means of the remote processing unit and reading with the remote processing unit an identification number, a last mileage at which the vehicle received fuel, and maximum tank capacity for the vehicle;

verifying with the remote processing unit that the identification number is valid;

entering into the remote processing unit the current mileage;

comparing the current mileage with the last mileage and refusing to turn on the pump if the current mileage is less than the last mileage;

if the current mileage is greater than the last mileage, entering in the memory means with the remote processing unit the current mileage to replace the last mileage;

removing the key from the remote processing unit;

turning on the pump with the remote prcessing unit if the identification number is valid and monitoring the amount of fuel dispensed;

turning off the pump if the amount of fuel dispensed reaches maximum tank capacity;

notifying with the remote processing unit the central processing unit of the last mileage, current mileage and amount of fuel dispensed; and

subtracting with the central processing unit the last mileage from the current mileage, dividing the difference by the gallons dispensed, and indicating the mileage per gallon.

11. A system for dispensing fuel from a fuel pump at a remote dispensing site to a motor vehicle, comprising in combination:

a key for each vehicle having internal memory means for storing, retrieving and updating selected data of the vehicle, and external terminal means for providing electrical connection to the memory means;

a remote processing unit at the fuel dispensing site having means for reading data in the memory means, keyboard means for inserting a current mileage from the vehicle, and interface means connected to the pump for turning on the pump and monitoring the amount of fuel dispensed;

a central processing unit at a central record site remote from the fuel dispensing site, with storage means for storing data transmitted to it by the remote processing unit;

the remote processing unit having means for;

comparing an identification number from the memory means with a stored list of identification numbers in the remote processing unit to determine the validity of the key;

comparing a current mileage inserted into the remote processing unit through the keyboard means with a last mileage read from the key memory means;

refusing to turn on the pump if the current mileage is less than the last mileage;

monitoring the fuel dispensed and providing the amount of fuel dispensed, the current and last mileages to the central processing unit; and

updating the memory means with the current mileage.

12. A system for dispensing fuel through a fuel pump located at a remote fuel dispensing site and for indicating maintenance of a motor vehicle, comprising in combination:

a key for each vehicle having internal memory means for storing, retrieving and updating selected data of the vehicle, and external terminal means for providing electrical connection to the memory means;

a remote processing unit at the fuel dispensing site having means for reading data in the memory means, keyboard means for inserting a current mileage from the vehicle into the remote processing unit, and control means connected to the pump for turning on the pump and monitoring the amount of fuel dispensed;

a data processing unit located at a remote maintenance site having means for reading service data in the memory means and keyboard means for updating service data in the memory means;

a central processing unit at a location remote from the fuel dispensing site, with storage means for storing data transmitted to it by the remote processing unit and data processing unit;

the remote processing unit having means for;

comparing an identification number from the memory means with a stored list of identification numbers in the remote processing unit to determine validity of the key;

comparing a current mileage inserted into the data processing unit with a keyboard means with a next service mileage stored in the memory means;

displaying to the operator service needs if the current mileage is greater than the next service mileage and transmitting this information to the central processing unit; and

updating the memory means with the current mileage.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the remote processing unit further has means to write into the memory means an indication that the operator was notified of a service need.