Automatic vehicle recognition and customer billing system
First Claim
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1. A system for automatically recognizing and servicing a vehicle at a service station and billing the vehicle owner comprising:
- a) means for determining whether an approaching vehicle is stopping for service electronically,b) means for identifying said vehicle electronically with radio frequency signals as it enters a service area in order to associate it with records in file, database, or other computer storage device,c) electronic means for informing the operator of said vehicle of promotional, diagnostic, or vehicle service information,d) means for preventing any other electronic identification from other nearby service areas,means for providing services to said vehicle,f) means for determining whether services are authorized for said vehicle by reidentifying said vehicle electronically so as to verify that it is the same vehicle identified earlier.g) means for informing the operator of said vehicle of the costs incurred of said vehicle.h) means for transferring data representing the costs or types of said services provided to said records in said file,i) means for assembling all costs for services, or types of service information in said record for a given billing period and invoicing said costs to said vehicle owner.
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Abstract
The present invention is a system and method for identifying a vehicle in a prescribed area of a service station and associating services with the vehicle. Each vehicle includes a transponder. Communication between the transponder and the service stations is via radio frequency signals.
291 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for automatically recognizing and servicing a vehicle at a service station and billing the vehicle owner comprising:
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a) means for determining whether an approaching vehicle is stopping for service electronically, b) means for identifying said vehicle electronically with radio frequency signals as it enters a service area in order to associate it with records in file, database, or other computer storage device, c) electronic means for informing the operator of said vehicle of promotional, diagnostic, or vehicle service information, d) means for preventing any other electronic identification from other nearby service areas, means for providing services to said vehicle, f) means for determining whether services are authorized for said vehicle by reidentifying said vehicle electronically so as to verify that it is the same vehicle identified earlier. g) means for informing the operator of said vehicle of the costs incurred of said vehicle. h) means for transferring data representing the costs or types of said services provided to said records in said file, i) means for assembling all costs for services, or types of service information in said record for a given billing period and invoicing said costs to said vehicle owner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for automatically recognizing and servicing a vehicle at a service station and billing the vehicle owner comprising:
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a) determining whether an approaching vehicle is stopping for service electronically, b) identifying said vehicle electronically as it enters a service area in order to associate it with records in a file, database, or other computer storage devices, c) informing the operator of said vehicle of promotional, diagnostic, or vehicle service information. d) preventing any other electronic identification from other nearby service areas, e) providing services to said vehicle, f) determining if the customer has an account or is authorized to purchase, g) informing the operator of said vehicle of the costs incurred of said vehicle, h) transferring data representing the costs or types of said services provided to said records in said file, i) assembling all costs for services, or types of service information in said record for given billing period and invoicing said costs to said vehicle owner. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification