System and method for controlling service systems
First Claim
1. A method for activating a fuel pump system, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving, by a computing device of a vehicle service station, transaction information for a pre-authorized fueling transaction at the vehicle service station;
wherein the transaction information includes an activation request for a fuel pump system from a vehicle and a confirmation of funding by a carrier organization employing at least one of the vehicle and a driver of the vehicle, wherein the confirmation is specific to the pre-authorized fueling transaction;
receiving, by the computing device of the vehicle service station, a first vehicle identifier issued by a back office system associated with the vehicle service station, prior to an arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle service station;
upon the arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle service station, determining, by the computing device of the vehicle service station, a location of the vehicle using location information determined from at least one of a GPS system, an NFC chip, and an RFID chip of the vehicle and received by a scanner associated with the fuel pump system from a communication device of the vehicle, wherein the location information is electronically signed by the communication device of the vehicle and further includes a second vehicle identifier;
determining, by the computing device of the vehicle service station, whether the vehicle is within a predetermined proximity of the fuel pump system based on the location information of the vehicle and based on a location of the fuel pump system;
determining, by the computing device of the vehicle service station, whether the first vehicle identifier matches the second vehicle identifier; and
upon determining that the vehicle is within the predetermined proximity of the fuel pump system and determining that the first and second vehicle identifiers match, activating, by the computing device of the vehicle service station, the fuel pump system to dispense fuel into the vehicle.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pump surrogate controller system and method allows multiple point of sale systems to control a particular service system. For example, a register at a cashier stand may activate the same fuel pump as an automated checkout kiosk. The surrogate controller may further coordinate the transmission of transaction data to the appropriate destinations. For example, transaction information relating to a fuel transaction may be delivered to the appropriate point of sale for completion. Transactions that are pre-authorized prior to a purchaser'"'"'s arrival at a service station may also be activated using the surrogate controller. Fuel dispensing may be dependent on confirmation that the vehicle and dispensing pump are in close proximity.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for activating a fuel pump system, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, by a computing device of a vehicle service station, transaction information for a pre-authorized fueling transaction at the vehicle service station; wherein the transaction information includes an activation request for a fuel pump system from a vehicle and a confirmation of funding by a carrier organization employing at least one of the vehicle and a driver of the vehicle, wherein the confirmation is specific to the pre-authorized fueling transaction; receiving, by the computing device of the vehicle service station, a first vehicle identifier issued by a back office system associated with the vehicle service station, prior to an arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle service station; upon the arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle service station, determining, by the computing device of the vehicle service station, a location of the vehicle using location information determined from at least one of a GPS system, an NFC chip, and an RFID chip of the vehicle and received by a scanner associated with the fuel pump system from a communication device of the vehicle, wherein the location information is electronically signed by the communication device of the vehicle and further includes a second vehicle identifier; determining, by the computing device of the vehicle service station, whether the vehicle is within a predetermined proximity of the fuel pump system based on the location information of the vehicle and based on a location of the fuel pump system; determining, by the computing device of the vehicle service station, whether the first vehicle identifier matches the second vehicle identifier; and upon determining that the vehicle is within the predetermined proximity of the fuel pump system and determining that the first and second vehicle identifiers match, activating, by the computing device of the vehicle service station, the fuel pump system to dispense fuel into the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to:
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receive transaction information for a pre-authorized fueling transaction at a vehicle service station; wherein the transaction information includes an activation request for a fuel pump system from a vehicle and a confirmation of funding by a carrier organization employing at least one of the vehicle and a driver of the vehicle, wherein the confirmation is specific to the pre-authorized fueling transaction; receive a first vehicle identifier issued by a back office system associated with the vehicle service station, prior to an arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle service station; upon the arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle service station, determine a location of the vehicle using location information determined from at least one of a GPS system, an NFC chip, and an RFID chip of the vehicle and received by a scanner associated with the fuel pump system from a communication device of the vehicle, wherein the location information is electronically signed by the communication device of the vehicle and further includes a second vehicle identifier; determine whether the vehicle is within a predetermined proximity of the fuel pump system based on the location information of the vehicle and based on a location of the fuel pump system; determine whether the first vehicle identifier matches the second vehicle identifier; and upon determining that the vehicle is within the predetermined proximity of the fuel pump system and determining that the first and second vehicle identifiers match, activate the fuel pump system to dispense fuel into the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system comprising:
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a processor; and a memory storing computer readable instructions configured to execute, cause the system to; receive transaction information for a pre-authorized fueling transaction at a vehicle service station; wherein the transaction information includes an activation request for a fuel pump system from a vehicle and a confirmation of funding by a carrier organization employing at least one of the vehicle and a driver of the vehicle, wherein the confirmation is specific to the pre-authorized fueling transaction; receive a first vehicle identifier issued by a back office system associated with the vehicle service station, prior to an arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle service station; upon the arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle service station, determine a location of the vehicle using location information determined from at least one of a GPS system, an NFC chip, and an RFID chip of the vehicle and received by a scanner associated with the fuel pump system from a communication device of the vehicle, wherein the location information is electronically signed by the communication device of the vehicle and further includes a second vehicle identifier, determine whether the first vehicle identifier matches the second vehicle identifier; determine whether the vehicle is within a predetermined proximity of the fuel pump system based on the location information of the vehicle and based on a location of the fuel pump system; and
upon determining that the vehicle is within the predetermined proximity of the fuel pump system and that the fueling transaction was pre-authorized by a carrier organization, activate the fuel pump system to dispense fuel into the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification