In-vehicle ordering

• US 6,574,603 B1
• Filed: 07/21/1998
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: Marion, Kenneth O., Dickson, Timothy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, Vincent
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, JAGDISH
• Application Number:
  US09/119,905
• Time in Patent Office: 1,778 Days
• Field of Search: 705/13, 705/1, 235/381, 235/383, 700/241
• US Class Current: 705/15
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/067 using communication means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/08 Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred arrangement of flow- or pressure-control valves B67D7/36; computing, calculating, counting G06; coin-freed apparatus for dispensing fluids G07F13/00; prepayment devices for metering liquids G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/145 by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

The present invention relates to an in-vehicle interface allowing occupants of the vehicle to place orders from within the vehicle for items provided by a quick-serve restaurant before or after the vehicle reaches a typical order entry position associated with the quick-serve restaurant. Occupants in the vehicle are provided a menu on a display of an in-vehicle interface. The occupants may select any number of desired items to form an occupant order. The occupant order is stored and/or transmitted directly or indirectly to the quick-serve restaurant for processing. Financial information may be sent along with the customer order to effect payment for the occupant order. Preferably, the occupant order is transmitted directly to communication electronics in or associated with a fuel dispenser in an environment associated with a quick-serve restaurant. The dispenser electronics will forward the occupant order to the quick-serve restaurant for processing. Alternatively, the occupant order may be transmitted to the quick-serve restaurant via satellite or ground-based communication systems, which in effect relay information transmitted from the vehicle to communication electronics associated with the quick-serve restaurant.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle ordering system comprising:

a. an occupant interface having a display and input device located within a vehicle cabin, said occupant interface adapted to provide a selection of items to order from a quick service restaurant and receive an occupant order via said input device;

b. vehicle communication electronics associated with said occupant interface and adapted to wirelessly transmit the occupant order for ultimate receipt at the quick service restaurant; and

c. a control system configured to display said selection of items to order on said display, determine the occupant order based on occupant input received via said input device, and effect wireless transmission of the occupant order.

2. The in-vehicle ordering system of claim 1 wherein said control system includes memory, and said selection of items to order is pre-stored in said memory.

3. The in-vehicle ordering system of claim 1 wherein said control system is configured to display said selection of items to order, receive the occupant order, and store the occupant order.

4. The in-vehicle ordering system of claim 3 wherein said control system is further configured to effect wireless transmission of the occupant order when an occupant input to transmit said order is received at said input device.

5. The in-vehicle ordering system of claim 3 wherein said control system is further configured to effect wireless transmission of the occupant order when a remotely transmitted signal is received via said vehicle communication electronics.

6. The in-vehicle ordering system of claim 3 wherein said control system is further configured to effect wireless transmission of the occupant order when a remotely transmitted signal is received from a transmitter associated with a fuel dispenser.

7. The in-vehicle ordering system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle communication electronics are configured to receive a remotely transmitted signal comprising the selection of items to order, and said control system is configured to receive the selection of items to order from said vehicle communication electronics and display the selection of items to order on said display.

8. The in-vehicle ordering system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle communication electronics are configured to communicate with a first communication station configured to receive the occupant order and a second communication station configured to identify the occupant, vehicle, or said associated occupant order, said control system adapted to transmit via said vehicle communication electronics:

said occupant order to the first communication station, and

identification indicia to the second communication station.

9. The in-vehicle ordering system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle communication electronics are configured to communicate with a first communication station configured to receive the occupant order, a second communication station configured to identify the occupant or vehicle associated with the occupant order, and a third communication station configured to identify the occupant, vehicle, or said associated occupant order, said control system adapted to transmit via said vehicle communication electronics:

a. said occupant order to the first communication station,

b. identification indicia to the second communication station, and

c. identfication indicia to the third communication station.

10. An in-vehicle ordering system comprising:

a. an occupant interface having a display and input device located within a vehicle cabin, said occupant interface adapted to provide a selection of items to order from a quick service restaurant and receive an occupant order via said input device;

b. vehicle communication electronics associated with said occupant interface and adapted to wirelessly transmit the occupant order for ultimate receipt at the quick service restaurant;

c. an order processing station at the quick service restaurant where orders are processed; and

d. station communication electronics for receiving the occupant order and communicating the occupant order to said order processing station.

11. A remote ordering system configured to ultimately communicate with an in-vehicle order interface, said ordering system comprising:

communication electronics adapted to ultimately communicate with vehicle communication electronics associated with the in-vehicle order interface;

an order processing terminal at a quick-serve restaurant adapted to display the occupant order for a food preparer; and

a control system associated with said communication electronics and said occupant order processing terminal;

said control system adapted to;

a. receive the occupant order via said communication electronics;

b. receive occupant account information;

c. send the occupant order to said order processing terminal for processing; and

d. effect payment for the occupant order based on said occupant account.

12. The remote ordering system of claim 11 wherein said communication electronics are located at a fuel dispenser apart from the quick-serve restaurant.

13. The remote ordering system of claim 11 wherein said communication electronics are located in a fuel station forecourt with fuel dispensers apart from the quick serve restaurant.

14. The remote ordering system of claim 11 wherein said communication electronics are configured to communicate with a satellite.

15. The remote ordering system of claim 11 wherein said communication electronics are configured to communicate with a ground-based communication station.

16. The remote ordering system of claim 11 wherein said communication electronics receive signals including the occupant order originating at the in-vehicle order interface and transmit signals containing information for ultimate receipt by the in vehicle order interface.

17. A multistage order system interacting with an in-vehicle occupant order system comprising:

a) a fuel dispenser having first remote communications electronics adapted to provide wireless communications with the in-vehicle occupant order system;

b) an order receipt position apart from said fuel dispenser for providing the customer with an order and having;

i) second remote communications electronics adapted to provide wireless communications with the in-vehicle occupant order system; and

ii) an output indicating the customer who placed the order is at the order receipt location;

c) a control system associated with said first remote communications electronics of said fuel dispenser and said second remote communications electronics and said output of said order receipt position, said control system adapted to;

i) communicate with the in-vehicle occupant order system through said first remote communications electronics when the in-vehicle occupant order system is proximate said fuel dispenser;

ii) communicate with the in-vehicle occupant order system through said second remote communications electronics when the in-vehicle occupant order system is proximate said order receipt location; and

iii) identify the order at the order receipt location associated with the in-vehicle occupant order system of the customer who placed the order at the in-vehicle occupant order system and provide said output indicating that the customer who placed the order is at the order receipt location.

18. The multistage order system of claim 17 wherein said first and second remote communications electronics are adapted to receive data from the in-vehicle occupant order system.

19. The multistage order system of claim 18 wherein data transmitted to said first and second communications electronics includes an in-vehicle occupant order system identifier and said control system associates the customer order with the in-vehicle occupant order system identifier.

20. The multistage order system of claim 19 wherein the identifier is an in-vehicle occupant order system identification number.

21. The multistage order system of claim 17 wherein said first remote communications electronics is adapted to transmit data to the in-vehicle occupant order system and said second remote communications electronics is adapted to receive data from the remote communications unit.

22. The multistage order system of claim 21 wherein said control system is adapted to:

a) provide order identification data and transmit said order identification data to the in-vehicle occupant order system when the order is transmitted from the in-vehicle occupant order system; and

b) receive the order identification data from the in-vehicle occupant order system via said second communications electronics to identify the customer at said order receipt location.

23. The multistage order system of claim 22 wherein said order identification information is an order identification code.

24. The multistage order system of claim 22 wherein said order identification information includes actual order information.

25. The multistage order system of claim 22 wherein said order identification information is an order reference number.

26. The multistage order system of claim 17 wherein said first and second remote communications electronics are adapted to receive data from and transmit data to the in-vehicle occupant order system.

27. The multistage order system of claim 17 wherein said order receipt location includes an automatic car wash wherein the customer may order a car wash via the in-vehicle occupant order system and said control system will activate said car wash with said output when the customer is at an appropriate location proximate said order receipt location.

28. The multistage order system of claim 17 wherein said order receipt location includes a quick serve restaurant wherein the customer may order food or drink via the in-vehicle occupant order system and pick up the food order at said order receipt location.

29. The multistage order system of claim 17 wherein said order receipt location includes a vending machine wherein the customer may order food or drink via the in-vehicle occupant order system and pick up the food order at said order receipt location.

30. The multistage order system of claim 17 wherein said control system is associated with a remote payment/authorization network and the in-vehicle occupant order system is adapted to transmit financial data of the occupant to the fuel dispenser, said control system transmitting the financial data to the payment/authorization network to facilitate payment of fuel and the order.

31. The multistage order system of claim 17 wherein said communications electronics include interrogators adapted to transmit signals capable of being received and modified for transmission back to the interrogator by the in-vehicle occupant order system to facilitate communications.

32. The multistage order system of claim 17 wherein said communications electronics are adapted to communicate with a plurality of in-vehicle occupant order systems.

33. The multistage order system of claim 17 wherein said control system includes a dispenser controller located with said fuel dispenser and adapted to operate said first remote communications electronics.

34. The multistage order system of claim 17 wherein said control system includes an order processing controller associated with said order receipt location and adapted to operate said second communications electronics.

35. A multistage order system comprising:

a) a fuel dispenser having first remote communications electronics adapted to provide wireless communications with the in-vehicle occupant order system;

b) an order receipt position apart from said fuel dispenser for providing the customer with an order and having;

i) second remote communications electronics adapted to provide wireless communications with the in-vehicle occupant order system;

ii) a receipt position output indicating the customer who placed the order is at the order receipt location; and

iii) an intermediate location output indicating the customer is proximate said intermediate locating position;

c) an intermediate locating position located on a path of travel between said fuel dispenser and said order receipt position, said intermediate locating position having third remote communications electronics adapted to communicate with the in-vehicle occupant order system; and

d) a control system associated with said first remote communications electronics of said fuel dispenser, said third remote communications electronics of said intermediate locating position and said second remote communications electronics and said output of said order receipt position, said control system adapted to;

i) communicate with the in-vehicle occupant order system through said first remote communications electronics when said remote communications unit is proximate said fuel dispenser;

ii) communicate with the in-vehicle occupant order system through said third remote communications electronics when said remote communications unit is proximate said intermediate locating position indicating said customer is near said intermediate locating position;

iii) provide said intermediate location output indicating the customer is proximate said intermediate locating position;

iv) communicate with the in-vehicle occupant order system through said second remote communications electronics when the in-vehicle occupant order system is proximate said order receipt location; and

v) identify the order at the order receipt location associated with the in-vehicle occupant order system of the customer who placed the order at the order entry user interface of the fuel dispenser and provide said output indicating the customer who placed the order is at the order receipt location.

36. The multistage order system of claim 35 wherein said order receipt location is associated with a quick serve restaurant wherein the customer may order food or drink at the fuel dispenser and pick up the food order at said order receipt location, said order receipt location further associated with an order preparation location having an order preparation output, said control system associated with said order preparation output and adapted to control said order preparation output to indicate the customer associated with the order is at said intermediate location wherein processing the order for the customer is effected when the customer is determined to be at said intermediate location.

37. The multistage order system of claim 36 wherein the order preparation output is configured to instruct order preparation to begin when the customer is at the intermediate location.

38. The multistage order system of claim 35 wherein said control system includes a dispenser controller located with said fuel dispenser and adapted to operate said first remote communications electronics.

39. The multistage order system of claim 35 wherein said control system includes an order processing controller associated with said order receipt location and adapted to operate said second and third communications electronics.

40. A multistage order system for a fueling environment comprising:

a) a fuel dispenser operatively associated with a first receiver for receiving indicia via remote communications from an in-vehicle occupant order system associated with a customer;

b) an order receipt location where the customer receives the order, said order receipt located apart from said dispenser and operatively associated with a second receiver for receiving the indicia via remote communications from the in-vehicle occupant order system associated with a customer;

c) a control system operatively associated with said first receiver and said second receiver;

d) said first receiver adapted to receive indicia from the in-vehicle occupant order system when said remote communications unit is proximate said fuel dispenser;

e) said control system adapted to associate an order received from the in-vehicle occupant order system with the in-vehicle occupant order system;

f) said second receiver adapted to receive said indicia from the in-vehicle occupant order system when the in-vehicle occupant order system is proximate said order receipt location; and

g) said control system adapted to relate the indicia received at said second receiver with the indicia received at said first receiver and the order associated therewith.

41. A method of correlating remote orders using remote communications units comprising:

a) entering an occupant order at an in-vehicle occupant order system;

b) communicating with the in-vehicle occupant order system at a station to receive the occupant order;

c) processing the occupant order at a remote receiving location;

d) communicating with the in-vehicle occupant order system at the remote receiving location to associate the in-vehicle occupant order system with the processed order; and

e) providing a customer associated with the in-vehicle occupant order system with ordered goods or services.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein step b) includes transmitting an in-vehicle occupant order system identifier from the in-vehicle occupant order system to the station and step d) includes transmitting the in-vehicle occupant order system identifier from the in-vehicle occupant order system to the remote receiving location.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein step b) includes transmitting an order code to the in-vehicle occupant order system from the station and step d) includes transmitting the order code from the in-vehicle occupant order system to the remote receiving location.

44. The method of claim 41 wherein after step b) and before step d) the following steps are provided:

i) communicating with the in-vehicle occupant order system at an intermediate location along a path of travel between the station and the remote receiving location; and

ii) providing an alert that a customer is en route to pick up the order.

45. An in-vehicle ordering system comprising:

a. an occupant interface having a display and input device located within a vehicle cabin, said occupant interface adapted to provide a selection of items to order from a restaurant or store and receive an occupant order via said input device;

b. vehicle communication electronics associated with said occupant interface and adapted to wirelessly transmit the occupant order for ultimate receipt at the restaurant or store; and

c. a control system configured to display said selection of items to order on said display, determine the occupant order based on occupant input received via said input device, and effect wireless transmission of the occupant order.