SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FUELING MOTOR VEHICLES

• US 20160117636A1
• Filed: 10/28/2014
• Published: 04/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nick Miller
• Original Assignee: Nick Miller
• Inventors: Miller, Nick
• Granted Patent: US 9,947,063 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching

Abstract

Methods and systems can automate the delivery of motor vehicle fuel while reducing the need for operator involvement and driving to a gas station. A server with access to a database and in wireless communication with computers installed in a motor vehicle can collect data from the computers including vehicle fuel level and vehicle geographic location. The data can be compared to the data to a fuel level threshold and geographic boundary. The data can be transmitted wirelessly through a wireless network to the database. A mobile fuel tanker truck can be dispatched to the vehicle'"'"'s location when at least one of: fuel service is requested by a user of the vehicle or the vehicle'"'"'s fuel level falls beneath the fuel level threshold. Fuel service can be requested by a user via a smartphone running an application that enables the monitoring, management, selection, and ordering of fuel service.

Claims

1. A method for automating the delivery of motor vehicle fuel wherein the need for operator involvement is minimized, comprising:

providing a server including access to a database in communication in wireless communication with computers installed in a motor vehicle including a fuel level sensor and a geographic location module;

said server collecting data from the computer including vehicle fuel level from said fuel sensor and vehicle location from said geographic location module;

comparing the data to a fuel level threshold and geographic boundary;

transmitting the data through a network to the database; and

dispatching a mobile fuel tanker truck to the vehicle'"'"'s location when at least one of fuel service is requested by a user of the vehicle or the vehicle'"'"'s fuel level falls beneath the fuel level threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising utilizing a smartphone within and/or otherwise associated with the vehicle, the smartphone including an application enables communication with the computer to facilitate at least one of:

monitoring the vehicles fuel level, alerting the operator when the vehicle is within range of mobile fuel service, and providing the user with the ability to place a fuel order.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing the vehicle'"'"'s location to a fixed or variable geographic boundary to determine if a mobile fuel tank can be dispatched to the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising dispatching a mobile fuel tank to the vehicle location if a mobile fuel tank is available and providing the mobile fuel tank instructions including vehicle identification and location.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising providing a code to an operator of the mobile fuel tank to unlock at least one of a fuel door or fuel cap associated with the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a quantity of fuel dispensed into the vehicle for bill processing.

7. A method implemented by a computer coupled to a motor vehicle and programmed for automating the delivery of motor vehicle fuel in a manner that minimizes operator involvement, comprising:

determining a vehicle'"'"'s fuel level based on measurements from a fuel level sensor located in the vehicle'"'"'s fuel tank;

determining the vehicle'"'"'s location based on a location module located in at least one of;

the vehicle, or a smartphone associated with the vehicle and in communication with the computer; and

transmitting the fuel level and location data over a wireless network to a remote server for analysis and for dispatch of a mobile fuel tanker trunk to the vehicle'"'"'s location to refuel the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising comparing the vehicle'"'"'s location to a fixed or variable geographic boundary to determine if a mobile fuel tank can be dispatched to the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing a code to unlock at east one of a fuel door or fuel cap associated with the vehicle.

10. A system for automating the delivery of motor vehicle fuel wherein the need for operator involvement is minimized, comprising:

a wireless appliance including microcontroller, GPS chipset, and radio frequency transceiver in communication with on-board diagnostics of a vehicle;

a fuel level sensor in communication with at least one of the on-board diagnostics and the wireless appliance; and

Bluetooth communication module enabling communication with a smartphone;

wherein said wireless appliance communicates with a remote server via said smartphone when the fuel level sensor detects that a fuel level drops below an established threshold in a tank associated with a fuel tank integrated in the vehicle and a request for refueling together with the vehicle'"'"'s location is also transmitted to the remote server.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a security code-enable locking mechanism installed on a refill spout associated with the fuel tank, wherein a mobile fuel tank truck operator can open the locking mechanism with a code provided by the remote server.