Processing a fueling transaction based on entry of an authenticator at a fueling pump

• US 9,558,486 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2015
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Epona LLC
• Original Assignee: Epona LLC
• Inventors: Betancourt, Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): Negron, Daniell L
• Application Number:
  US14/690,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20160307185A1
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• 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 30/0213 Consumer transaction fees
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/00 Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs

Abstract

A method and system for authenticating and processing a transaction request using a vehicle based wireless system is provided. A vehicle may include a wireless tag or transponder, and a wireless system at a service station or fuel station can detect the presence of the wireless tag in a predefined general wireless service area. The wireless system can transmit vehicle information based on the detection of the wireless tag or vehicle. A user may enter an authenticator at a specific fuel dispenser within the general wireless service area. In response to entry of the authenticator, an authenticator processor may then associate a fueling authorization request with the specific fuel dispenser. In response to successful authorization of the transaction, a transaction authorization may be transmitted to the specific fuel dispenser where the authenticator was presented, which may be used to enable the specific fuel dispenser for use.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting, by a sensor of a fueling station computing system, entry of a wireless tag of a vehicle into a predefined general wireless service area of a fueling station, the sensor being common to a plurality of fuel pumps of the fueling station;

receiving, by the fueling station computing system and from the wireless tag, identification information and transaction payment information for at least one of a driver of the vehicle and the vehicle in response to detecting the entry of the wireless tag into the predefined general wireless service area;

initiating processing of a transaction for the vehicle using the received identification information and transaction payment information;

after initiating the processing of the transaction, receiving, through an input device specific to one of the fuel pumps of the fueling station computing system and separately from the identification information, an authenticator different from the identification and transaction payment information received from the wireless tag;

determining, by the fueling station computing system, the one of the fuel pumps at which the vehicle is located by matching the authenticator with the identification and transaction payment information received from the wireless tag; and

determining, by the fueling station computing system, whether to authorize a fueling transaction based on the authenticator and the transaction payment information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless tag is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined general wireless service area is coterminous with a fueling service station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined general wireless service area is coterminous with a lane of fueling pumps of a fueling service station.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the fueling station is owned by a company and wherein the authenticator includes an identifier of a user specific to the company.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the authenticator includes an identifier of a user for a loyalty rewards program.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining the transaction is to be authorized, authorizing the transaction.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining the transaction is not to be authorized, transmitting a request for additional information to a point of sale.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification information includes at least one of:

user identification information, and vehicle identification information.

10. A method, comprising:

detecting, by a sensor of a fueling station computing system, entry of a wireless tag of a vehicle into a predefined general wireless service area of a fueling station;

receiving, by the fueling station computing system, identification information in response to detecting the entry of the wireless tag into the predefined general wireless service area;

initiating processing, by the fueling station computing system, of the received identification information to pre-authorize a fueling transaction;

after initiating the processing of the received identification information to pre-authorize the fueling transaction, receiving, through an input device specific to a fuel pump of the fueling station, an authenticator different from the identification information received from the wireless tag, the sensor being common to a plurality of fuel pumps of the fueling station;

determining, by the computing device, whether the pre-authorized fueling transaction corresponds to the received authenticator; and

responsive to determining that the pre-authorized transaction corresponds to the authenticator, associating, by the computing device, the authenticator with the pre-authorized fueling transaction and authorizing the fueling transaction based on the associated pre-authorized fueling transaction and authenticator.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

in response to determining that the pre-authorized fueling transaction does not correspond to the authenticator, utilizing the authenticator in a subsequent attempt to authorize the fueling transaction.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the authenticator is at least one of:

a warehouse club membership card, a warehouse club membership identifier, a loyalty program membership card and a loyalty program membership identifier.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the wireless tag is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the predefined general wireless service area is coterminous with a fueling service station.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the predefined general wireless service area is coterminous with a lane of fueling pumps of a fueling service station.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause fueling station computing system to:

cause a sensor of the fueling station computing system to detect entry of a wireless tag of a vehicle into a predefined general wireless service area of a fueling station, the sensor being common to a plurality of fuel pumps of the fueling station;

receive, from the wireless tag, identification information and transaction payment information in response to detecting the wireless tag in the predefined general wireless service area;

initiate processing of a transaction for the vehicle using the received identification information and transaction payment information;

after initiating the processing of the transaction, receive, through an input device specific to a fuel pump of the fueling station, an authenticator different from the identification and transaction payment information received from the wireless tag;

match the authenticator information with the identification and transaction payment information received from the wireless tag; and

determine whether to authorize a fueling transaction based on the authenticator and the identification and transaction payment information.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the media further stores instructions that, when executed, cause the fueling station computing system to:

in response to a determination that the transaction is to be authorized authorizing the transaction.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, further including instructions that, when executed, cause the fueling station computing system to:

in response to determining the transaction is not to be authorized, transmitting a request for additional information to a point of sale.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the authenticator information is received by the one or more processors from a fueling pump where the authenticator information was entered, said fueling pump being located within the predefined general wireless service area.