Monitoring powered assets for fueling

• US 8,922,360 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2011
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tyler, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US13/041,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20120223830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 340/450, 340/450.2, 340/438, 340/439, 340/442, 701/23, 701/24, 701/29, 701/35, 701/36
• US Class Current: 340/450
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/005 automatically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/04 for transferring fuels, lubricants or mixed fuels and lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/348 by interrogating an information transmitter, e.g. a transponder B67D7/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/207 with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for monitoring powered assets for fueling. For example, in one embodiment, a fuel server can monitor the location of powered assets and fueling units. In response to determining, for example, that a powered asset that needs fuel is within a predetermined geofence defined around a fueling unit, the powered asset can emit a perceivable indication. The powered asset can then be authenticated for receiving fuel from the fueling unit.

Claims

1. A method for authenticating powered assets for fueling comprising:

receiving, via a data receptacle associated with a powered asset, a unique identifier associated with a fueling unit from physical contact of a data carrier associated with the fueling unit with the data receptacle;

after receiving the unique identifier, transmitting a powered asset identifier associated with the powered asset to a fuel server;

electronically determining whether the powered asset associated with the powered asset identifier is authorized to receive fuel; and

after determining, via a processor, that the powered asset associated with the powered asset identifier is authorized to receive fuel, transmitting a notification indicating that the powered asset is authorized to receive fuel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) the unique identifier is received by the data receptacle and transmitted from the data receptacle to a powered asset computing device associated with the powered asset and (b) the powered asset identifier is transmitted from the powered asset computing device to the fuel server.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein (1) the notification (a) is transmitted from the fuel server to the powered asset computing device and (b) is transmitted from the powered asset computing device to a fueling unit computing device associated with the fueling unit and (2) after receiving the notification, the fueling unit computing device allows fuel to be dispensed to the powered asset.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein (1) the unique identifier is received by the data receptacle and transmitted from the data receptacle to a powered asset computing device associated with the powered asset and (2) the powered asset identifier is (a) transmitted from the powered asset computing device to a fueling unit computing device associated with the fueling unit and (b) transmitted by the fueling unit computing device to the fuel server.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein (a) the notification is transmitted from the fuel server to the fueling unit computing device and (b) after receiving the notification, the fueling unit computing device allows fuel to be dispensed to the powered asset.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the fueling unit is a mobile fueling unit.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the fueling unit is a fixed fueling unit.

8. The method of claim 1 (a) further comprising receiving, via the fuel server, the powered asset identifier associated with the powered asset and (b) wherein the fuel server electronically determines whether the powered asset associated with the powered asset identifier is authorized to receive fuel.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

determining an estimated amount of fuel dispensed to the powered asset; and

transmitting the estimated amount of fuel dispensed to the powered asset to the fuel server.

10. A system comprising a fuel server, a fueling unit computing device associated with a fueling unit, and a powered asset computing device associated with a powered asset, the system configured to:

receive, via a data receptacle associated with the powered asset, a unique identifier associated with the fueling unit from physical contact of a data carrier associated with the fueling unit with the data receptacle;

after receiving the unique identifier, transmit a powered asset identifier associated with the powered asset to the fuel server;

electronically determine whether the powered asset associated with the powered asset identifier is authorized to receive fuel; and

after determining that the powered asset associated with the powered asset identifier is authorized to receive fuel, transmit a notification indicating that the powered asset is authorized to receive fuel.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein (a) the unique identifier is received by the data receptacle and transmitted from the data receptacle to the powered asset computing device and (b) the powered asset identifier is transmitted from the powered asset computing device to the fuel server.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein (1) the notification (a) is transmitted from the fuel server to the powered asset computing device and (b) is transmitted from the powered asset computing device to the fueling unit computing device and (2) after receiving the notification, the fueling unit computing device allows fuel to be dispensed to the powered asset.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein (1) the unique identifier is received by the data receptacle and transmitted from the data receptacle to the powered asset computing device and (2) the powered asset identifier is (a) transmitted from the powered asset computing device to the fueling unit computing device and (b) transmitted by the fueling unit computing device to the fuel server.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein (a) the notification is transmitted from the fuel server to the fueling unit computing device and (b) after receiving the notification, the fueling unit computing device allows fuel to be dispensed to the powered asset.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the fueling unit is a mobile fueling unit.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the fueling unit is a fixed fueling unit.

17. The system of claim 10 (a) further configured to receive, via the fuel server, the powered asset identifier associated with the powered asset and (b) wherein the fuel server electronically determines whether the powered asset associated with the powered asset identifier is authorized to receive fuel.

18. The system of claim 17 further configured to:

determine an estimated amount of fuel dispensed to the powered asset; and

transmit the estimated amount of fuel dispensed to the powered asset to the fuel server.