Providing service to a vehicle

• US 5,902,985 A
• Filed: 08/11/1997
• Issued: 05/11/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Bos, Emko Wilhelm Harmannus Maria, Deleval, Xavier Frederic Nicolas Marie, Dwars, Sicco, Van Der Steen, Johan
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien Minh
• Application Number:
  US08/821,140
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 235/381, 235/380, 235/382, 235/492, 235/384, 340/825.31, 340/825.85, 342/44, 342/456, 342/155
• US Class Current: 235/384
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/145 by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/16 Arrangements of liquid meters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered

Abstract

A system is disclosed for providing service to a vehicle (1) positioned at a service site (2) and billing a person or company for the service provided, wherein the vehicle (1) is provided with a vehicle processing unit (10) which includes a receiver-transmitter connected to a vehicle antenna (12) and with element for manually activating the vehicle processing unit, and wherein the service site (2) comprises element for providing service (3), a site processing unit (20) which includes a receiver-transmitter connected to a site antenna (22), which site processing unit includes element for registering the transaction and means for billing the person or company for the service provided, which system further comprises means for automatically correlating the act of servicing the vehicle with the vehicle (1), which element may comprise a passive tag (30) located at the element for providing service (5), element for energizing the passive tag located on the vehicle (1) and a secondary antenna (33) on the vehicle (1) connected to the vehicle processing unit (10).

Claims

1. A system for providing service to a vehicle positioned at a service site and billing for the service provided, the vehicle having an antenna, the system comprising:

a vehicle processing unit operatively associated with the vehicle;

a receiver-transmitter with capability to communicate with the vehicle processing unit;

an antenna located on the vehicle, the antenna connected to the receiver-transmitter and effective to transmit signals to and from the receiver-transmitter;

a manual activating means effective to activate the vehicle processing unit upon manual input from within the vehicle and initiate sending of a signal requesting services to the receiver-transmitter;

a service site comprising means for providing service;

a site processing unit located at the service site;

a site receiver-transmitter with capability to communicate with the site processing unit

a site antenna, the site antenna connected to the site receiver-transmitter and effective to transmit signals to and from the receiver-transmitter wherein service can be provided to a vehicle upon receipt of a signal requesting such service from the manual input to the vehicle processing unit and through the vehicle antenna, the site antenna, the site receiver-transmitter, and the site processing unit;

a means for registering the transaction with the site processing unit;

a means for billing for the service provided based on information registered on the site processing unit; and

a means for automatically correlating the act of servicing the vehicle with the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for automatically correlating the act of servicing the vehicle with the vehicle comprise a passive tag located at the means for providing service, and on the vehicle means for energizing the passive tag and a secondary antenna connected to the vehicle processing unit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for automatically correlating the act of servicing the vehicle with the vehicle comprise an active tag located at the means for providing service, which tag is activated during the provision of the service.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for providing service is a fuel pump, and wherein the means for automatically correlating the act of servicing the vehicle with the vehicle comprise a fuel tank level gauge connected to the vehicle processing unit.

5. A method for providing service to a vehicle positioned at a service site and billing for the service provided, comprising the steps of

(a) activating manually the vehicle processing unit which will transmit sufficient data to the site processing unit to allow identifying the vehicle;

(b) determining, in a site processing unit, that the vehicle processing unit has been activated, and determining if service to the vehicle is authorized;

(c) allowing service provision to start if the vehicle has been authenticated and authorized;

(d) automatically correlating the act of servicing the vehicle with the vehicle;

(e) stopping service provision and closing the transaction;

(f) registering the transaction, and billing for the service provided.