Pre-filling vehicle data check

• US 8,433,471 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2010
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Christensen, Jeffrey P., Solomon, Michael D., Hering, Carl J., Edwards, Ryan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Drew
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODEN JR, BARRY J
• Application Number:
  US12/782,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20110288721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29.1, 701/29.3, 701/29.4, 701/29.6, 701/31.4, 701/32.3, 701/32.4, 701/33.4, 701/33.5, 701/34.2, 701/123, 705/16, 705/412, 705/413
• US Class Current: 701/29.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/20 by driver identification
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

A pre-filling vehicle data check method and system are disclosed herein. One example of the method includes receiving, at a financial institution, an authorization request from a filling station for initiating a filling event, where the authorization request includes a financial code. Via a computing device at the financial institution, the financial code is recognized as being associated with at least one of a vehicle identification number or a station identification associated with a vehicle, thereby identifying the vehicle. At least one parameter of the vehicle is identified via a computing device at a data center in selective communication with the vehicle and the financial institution, and an authorization or denial of the at least one filling event based at least upon the at least one parameter is transmitted from the computing device at the data center.

Claims

1. A pre-filling vehicle data check method, comprising:

receiving, at a financial institution, an authorization request from a filling station for initiating a filling event, the authorization request including a financial code and filling station identification information;

recognizing, via a computing device at the financial institution, that the financial code is associated with at least one of a vehicle identification number or a station identification associated with a vehicle, thereby identifying the vehicle;

transmitting, from the computing device at the financial institution, a revised authorization request to a computing device at a data center in selective communication with the vehicle and the financial institution, the revised authorization request including the at least one of the vehicle identification number or the station identification and the filling station identification information;

identifying a parameter of the vehicle via the computing device at the data center, the parameter being a fuel-related parameter when the filling station identification information indicates that the filling station is a fuel pump and the parameter being a charge-related parameter when the filling station identification information indicates that the filling station is a charge dispenser;

comparing the parameter with i) an other parameter of the vehicle, or ii) a parameter of the filling station; and

transmitting, from the computing device at the data center, an authorization or denial of the filling event based at least upon the comparison.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein identifying the parameter includes at least one of i) searching a data center profile associated with the vehicle or ii) requesting, via the data center, then-current information from the vehicle.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein:

the fuel-related parameter is a fuel tank capacity, and the other parameter of the vehicle is a last-recorded level of fuel;

or

the fuel-related parameter is a type of fuel that is suitable for the vehicle, and the parameter of the filling station is a type of fuel that is dispensed by the filling station;

or

the charge-related parameter is a charge capacity of a battery in the vehicle, and the other parameter of the vehicle is a last-recorded charge level of the battery;

or

the charge-related parameter is electric plugs of the vehicle and the parameter of the filling station is outlets that are available at the filling station.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

requesting, from the data center to the vehicle, a diagnostics check;

determining from the diagnostics check that the vehicle is due for a maintenance routine; and

transmitting a message to a telematics unit associated with the vehicle, the message indicating that the maintenance routine is due.

5. The method as defined in claim 4 wherein the maintenance routine is selected from an oil change, a tire pressure check, a wiper fluid check, the oil change and the tire pressure check, the oil change and the wiper fluid check, the tire pressure check and the wiper fluid check, or the oil change, the tire pressure check and the wiper fluid check.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, at the data center, a location of the filling station;

requesting, from the data center to the vehicle, a then-current location of the vehicle;

transmitting the then-current location from the vehicle to the data center; and

using the then-current location of the vehicle to determine whether the vehicle is located at the filling station from which the authorization request was received.

7. The method as defined in claim 6, further comprising:

determining that the then-current location of the vehicle does not correspond with the location of the filling station; and

transmitting the denial for the filling event.

8. The method as defined in claim 6, further comprising:

determining that the then-current location of the vehicle does correspond with the location of the filling station; and

transmitting the authorization for the filling event when the comparison of the parameters also indicates that the authorization should be transmitted.

9. A pre-filling vehicle data check method, comprising:

receiving, at a financial institution, an authorization request from a filling station for initiating a filling event, the authorization request including a financial code;

recognizing, via a computing device at the financial institution, that the financial code is associated with at least one of a vehicle identification number or a station identification associated with a vehicle, thereby identifying the vehicle;

identifying the filling station as a fuel filling station;

identifying at least one parameter of the vehicle via a computing device at a data center in selective communication with the vehicle and the financial institution, the identifying of the at least one parameter being accomplished by at least one of i) searching a data center profile associated with the vehicle or ii) requesting, via the data center, then-current information from the vehicle, and the identifying of the at least one parameter including;

determining a fuel tank capacity of the vehicle by retrieving fuel tank capacity information from the data center profile; and

determining a current fuel level of the vehicle by requesting and receiving current fuel level information from the vehicle;

comparing, at the data center, the fuel tank capacity of the vehicle with the current fuel level of the vehicle; and

transmitting, from the data center to the filling station via the financial institution, an authorization for the filling event including instructions for the filling station to allow a maximum amount to be dispensed that is equal to a difference between the current fuel level and the fuel tank capacity when the current fuel level is below the fuel tank capacity.

10. A pre-filling vehicle data check method, comprising:

receiving, at a financial institution, an authorization request from a filling station for initiating a filling event, the authorization request including a financial code;

recognizing, via a computing device at the financial institution, that the financial code is associated with at least one of a vehicle identification number or a station identification associated with a vehicle, thereby identifying the vehicle;

identifying the filling station as a particular type of fuel station;

identifying at least one parameter of the vehicle via a computing device at a data center in selective communication with the vehicle and the financial institution, the identifying of the at least one parameter being accomplished by at least one of i) searching a data center profile associated with the vehicle or ii) requesting, via the data center, then-current information from the vehicle, and the identifying of the at least one parameter including identifying a type of fuel used by the vehicle by retrieving fuel type information from the data center profile;

determining whether the type of fuel used by the vehicle matches the particular type of fuel station; and

when a match is determined, transmitting an authorization for the filling event;

or

when a match is not determined, transmitting a denial for the filling event.

11. A pre-filling vehicle data check method, comprising:

receiving, at a financial institution, an authorization request from a filling station for initiating a filling event, the authorization request including a financial code;

recognizing, via a computing device at the financial institution, that the financial code is associated with at least one of a vehicle identification number or a station identification associated with a vehicle, thereby identifying the vehicle;

identifying the filling station as a charging station;

identifying at least one parameter of the vehicle via a computing device at a data center in selective communication with the vehicle and the financial institution, the identifying of the at least one parameter being accomplished by at least one of i) searching a data center profile associated with the vehicle or ii) requesting, via the data center, then-current information from the vehicle, and the identifying of the at least one parameter including;

determining a charge capacity of the vehicle by retrieving charge capacity information from the data center profile; and

determining a current charge level of the vehicle by requesting and receiving current charge level information from the vehicle;

comparing, at the data center, the charge capacity of the vehicle with the current charge level of the vehicle; and

transmitting, from the data center to the charging station via the financial institution, an authorization for the filling event including instructions for the charging station to allow a maximum amount to be dispensed that is equal to a difference between the current charge level and the charge capacity when the current charge level is below the charge capacity.

12. A pre-filling vehicle data check method, comprising:

receiving, at a financial institution, an authorization request from a filling station for initiating a filling event, the authorization request including a financial code;

recognizing, via a computing device at the financial institution, that the financial code is associated with at least one of a vehicle identification number or a station identification associated with a vehicle, thereby identifying the vehicle;

identifying the filling station as a charging station;

identifying at least one parameter of the vehicle via a computing device at a data center in selective communication with the vehicle and the financial institution, the identifying of the at least one parameter being accomplished by at least one of i) searching a data center profile associated with the vehicle or ii) requesting, via the data center, then-current information from the vehicle, and the identifying of the at least one parameter including identifying electrical plugs of the vehicle by retrieving electrical plugs information from the data center profile;

determining whether the electrical plugs of the vehicle match an outlet of the charging station; and

when a match is determined, transmitting an authorization for the filling event;

or

when a match is not determined, transmitting a denial for the filling event.

13. A system for performing a pre-filling vehicle data check, comprising:

a vehicle having an identification number and a financial code associated therewith;

a financial institution configured to receive an authorization request for initiating a filling event, the authorization request including the financial code and filling station identification information;

a computing device at the financial institution configured to identify the vehicle; and

a data center in selective communication with the financial institution and the vehicle, the data center including;

a database configured to store a data center profile associated with the vehicle;

a communications module configured to establish communication with a telematics unit of the vehicle to retrieve data from the vehicle;

a processor configured to;

receive a revised authorization request from the computing device at the financial institution, the revised authorization request including the vehicle identification number and the filling station identification information; and

identify, using the database or the vehicle, a fuel-related parameter of the vehicle when the filling station identification information identifies a fuel filling station or a charge-related parameter of the vehicle when the filling station identification information identifies a charging station; and

a comparison module to compare the fuel-related parameter or the charge-related parameter with i) an other parameter of the vehicle or ii) a parameter of the fuel filling station or the charging station;

wherein the processor is further configured to generate an authorization or denial of the filling event based at least upon the comparison.

14. The system as defined in claim 13 wherein the processor is configured to identify the fuel-related parameter or the charge-related parameter by at least one of i) searching the data center profile or ii) requesting, via the communications module, then-current information from the vehicle.

15. The system as defined in claim 13, further comprising the fuel filling station or the charging station in operative communication with the financial institution, the fuel filling station or the charging station including at least one of a reader configured to read the financial code from a magnetic strip, a keypad configured to receive the financial code from a user of the filling station, a touchscreen configured to receive the financial code from the user of the fuel filling station or the charging station, or an RFID reader configured to read information from an RFID device.

16. The system as defined in claim 13 wherein the fuel filling station is in operative communication with the financial institution, wherein the fuel-related parameter is a fuel tank capacity of the vehicle, wherein the other parameter of the vehicle is a current fuel level of the vehicle, and wherein the processor of the data center is further configured to:

determine the fuel tank capacity of the vehicle by instructing the database to retrieve fuel tank capacity information from the data center profile;

determine the current fuel level of the vehicle by instructing the communications module to request current fuel level information from the vehicle;

compare, via the comparison module associated therewith, the fuel tank capacity of the vehicle with the current fuel level of the vehicle; and

transmit, to the fuel filling station through the financial institution, the authorization for the filling event including instructions for the fuel filling station to allow a maximum amount to be dispensed that is equal to a difference between the current fuel level and the fuel tank capacity when the current fuel level is below the fuel tank capacity.

17. The system as defined in claim 13 wherein the fuel filling station is a particular type of fuel station in operative communication with the financial institution, wherein the fuel-related parameter is a type of fuel used by the vehicle, wherein the parameter of the fuel filling station is the particular type of fuel station, and wherein the processor of the data center is further configured to:

identify the type of fuel used by the vehicle by instructing the database to retrieve fuel type information from the data center profile;

determine, via the comparison module, whether the type of fuel used by the vehicle matches the particular type of fuel station; and

when a match is determined, transmit, to the fuel filling station through the financial institution, the authorization for the filling event;

or

when a match is not determined, transmit, to the fuel filling station through the financial institution, the denial for the filling event.

18. The system as defined in claim 13 wherein the charging station is in operative communication with the financial institution, wherein the charge-related parameter is a charge capacity of the vehicle, wherein the other parameter of the vehicle is a current charge level of the vehicle, and wherein the processor of the data center is further configured to:

determine the charge capacity of the vehicle by instructing the database to retrieve charge capacity information from the data center profile;

determine the current charge level of the vehicle by instructing the communications module to request current charge level information from the vehicle;

compare, via the comparison module associated therewith, the charge capacity of the vehicle with the current charge level of the vehicle; and

transmit, to the charging station through the financial institution, the authorization for the filling event including instructions for the charging station to allow a maximum amount to be dispensed that is equal to a difference between the current charge level and the charge capacity when the current charge level is below the charge capacity.

19. The system as defined in claim 13 wherein the charging station is in operative communication with the financial institution, wherein the charge-related parameter is electrical plugs of the vehicle, wherein the parameter of the charging station is an outlet of the charging station, and wherein the processor of the data center is further configured to:

identify the electrical plugs of the vehicle by instructing the database to retrieve electrical plug information from the data center profile;

determine whether the electrical plugs of the vehicle match the outlet of the charging station; and

when a match is determined, transmit, to the charging station through the financial institution, the authorization for the filling event;

or

when a match is not determined, transmit, to the charging station through the financial institution, the denial for the filling event.

20. The system as defined in claim 13, further comprising a location detection system operatively connected to the telematics unit of the vehicle and configured to supply a then-current location of the vehicle upon request from the data center;

and wherein the data center is further configured to, via the comparison module, determine whether the vehicle is located at the fuel filling station or the charging station from which the authorization request was received.