System for communication with a vehicle in close proximity to a fixed service port
First Claim
1. A method of detecting, identifying, authorizing, and polling a vehicle for the purpose of initiating and maintaining an automated coupling and interchange of fuels and services between a fixed service port containing a wireless transceiver, and a couplable vehicle containing a transponder, in which said couplable vehicle is within a zone of proximity detection, the method comprising the steps of:
- detecting a location of a vehicle with respect to a fixed service port;
identifying the vehicle by means of reading a unique identification number;
authorizing the initiation of a service interchange sequence;
polling the identifier on a vehicle for the purpose of monitoring during service interchange sequence; and
communicating proximity data for coupling or service exchange processes through a controller located at a fixed service port.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for the purpose of ensuring positioning between a fixed automatic fueling service terminal and a vehicle, such that the vehicle is identified within a close range and authorized to dock at an identified service terminal to exchange services. This is accomplished by wirelessly determining the proximity of a couplable vehicle, with respect to a docking location at the service terminal. When a vehicle is within a specified distance of an automatic fueling service terminal, known as the zone of proximity detection, the vehicle identification code and service terminal identification code are both continuously determined and passed to a multi-port station controller, for authentication of service transactions and secure service processes, including automatically fueling the vehicle.
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Citations
80 Claims
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1. A method of detecting, identifying, authorizing, and polling a vehicle for the purpose of initiating and maintaining an automated coupling and interchange of fuels and services between a fixed service port containing a wireless transceiver, and a couplable vehicle containing a transponder, in which said couplable vehicle is within a zone of proximity detection, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting a location of a vehicle with respect to a fixed service port;
identifying the vehicle by means of reading a unique identification number;
authorizing the initiation of a service interchange sequence;
polling the identifier on a vehicle for the purpose of monitoring during service interchange sequence; and
communicating proximity data for coupling or service exchange processes through a controller located at a fixed service port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for detecting, identifying, authorizing, and polling a couplable vehicle having a transponder located at a defined location on said couplable vehicle for the purpose of initiating and maintaining an automated coupling and interchange of fuels and services between said couplable vehicle and a fixed service port in which said couplable vehicle is within a zone of proximity detection from said fixed service port, comprising:
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a fixed service port comprising a wireless transceiver system located at a defined location at the fixed service port that transmits a signal constrained in range and radiation pattern and is capable of receiving a vehicle transponder response for establishing a zone of proximity detection in a fixed relative position to a couplable range;
a controller associated with the fixed service port and connected to the wireless transceiver system for controlling the data flow and processing required for the detecting, identifying, authorizing, and polling of a couplable vehicle within couplable range. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of detecting, identifying, authorizing, and polling a port and a vehicle for the purpose of initiating and maintaining an automated coupling and interchange of fuels and services between a couplable vehicle containing an active wireless transceiver for establishing a zone of proximity detection, and a fixed service port containing a transponder and a wireless access port, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting a location of a port with respect to a couplable vehicle;
identifying the port by means of a unique identification number located in a transponder;
authorizing the initiation of a service interchange sequence;
polling the transponder on a port for the purpose of monitoring during service interchange sequence; and
communicating proximity data for coupling or service exchange processes through a controller located on a vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A system for detecting, identifying, authorizing, and polling a couplable vehicle and a fixed service port having a transponder located at a defined location on said fixed service port, including a port controller, for the purpose of initiating and maintaining an automated coupling and interchange of fuels and services between a couplable vehicle and a fixed service port in which said fixed service port is within a zone of proximity detection from said couplable vehicle, comprising:
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a couplable vehicle having a first wireless transceiver system located at a defined location which transmits a signal constrained in range and radiation pattern and is capable of receiving a port transponder response, to form a zone of proximity detection in a fixed relative position to a couplable range; and
a second wireless transceiver system located on said couplable vehicle for the purpose of communicating with the fixed service port; and
a controller located on the couplable vehicle and connected to the first and second wireless transceivers, for controlling the data flow and processing required for the detecting, identifying, authorizing, and polling of said couplable vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A method of detecting, identifying, authorizing, and polling a vehicle or a port for the purpose of initiating and maintaining an automated coupling and interchange of fuels and services between a couplable vehicle and one of a number of fixed service ports, in which said couplable vehicle is within a zone of proximity detection, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting a location of a couplable vehicle with respect to one of a number of fixed service ports;
identifying the vehicle or the port or both by means of reading identification numbers;
authorizing the initiation of a service interchange sequence;
polling the identifier on the vehicle and the port for the purpose of monitoring during service interchange sequence; and
communicating the proximity data for coupling or service exchange processes through a central controller located at a fixed station. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A system for detecting, identifying, authorizing, and polling a couplable vehicle for the purpose of initiating and maintaining an automated coupling and interchange of fuels and services between said vehicle and one of a multiplicity of fixed service ports at a station in which said vehicle is within a zone of proximity detection from one of said fixed service ports, comprising:
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a wireless transceiver system located at a defined location at each fixed service port for transmitting a signal constrained in range and radiation pattern for establishing a zone of proximity detection which significantly overlaps a couplable range;
a transponder located at a defined location on the couplable vehicle;
a controller associated with each said fixed service port; and
a station controller located at the station and linked to port controllers at all station ports and couplable vehicles within couplable range for overall monitoring and control of all fixed service ports located at the station and all vehicles within couplable range. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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71. A system for detecting, identifying, authorizing, and polling a couplable vehicle and a fixed service port for the purpose of initiating and maintaining an automated coupling and interchange of fuels and services between said couplable vehicle and one of a multiplicity of fixed service ports at a station in which said fixed service port is within a zone of proximity detection from a vehicle, comprising:
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a wireless transceiver system located at a defined first location on each said couplable vehicle that transmits a signal constrained in range and radiation pattern for establishing a zone of proximity detection which significantly overlaps a couplable range;
a transponder located at a defined location on each fixed service port;
a controller associated with each said fixed service port;
a station controller located at the station and linked to port controllers at all station ports and couplable vehicles within couplable range for overall monitoring and control of all fixed service ports located at the station and all vehicles within couplable range;
a vehicle controller located on each couplable vehicle for controlling the data flow and processing required for the detecting, identifying, authorizing, and polling of a vehicle;
a second wireless system located on a couplable vehicle for the purpose of communications between said vehicle controllers and the station; and
a wireless access port located at the station for the purpose of communications between couplable vehicles and the station controller. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80)
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Specification