Centralized transponder arbitration

• US 6,313,737 B1
• Filed: 06/23/1998
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Marconi Commerce Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Freeze, Deron W., Greene, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): BANGACHON, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US09/102,805
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/2, 340/3, 340/988, 340/991-993, 141/94, 141/129, 364/528.37, 705/13, 235/384
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/145 by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/348 by interrogating an information transmitter, e.g. a transponder B67D7/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery

Abstract

A system and method to store a sequence of data records relating to attributes of interactions between fuel dispensers and tags. The data records may be stored on the tag or at a location remote from the tag, such as a fuel dispenser, central site controller or other network. The data records may contain the identity of the dispenser, tag and any attribute of a received signal, such as frequency band or signal strength, or other attribute indicative of proximity. Every dispenser that attempts to communicate with a tag in question adds its own interaction data to a limited history of a tag'"'"'s past interactions with the same and other dispensers. When a dispenser or central site control system examines the contents of the interaction histories, the detected presence of other dispensers or the relative strength of the recorded interaction attributes will determine what, if any, action is to be taken by the dispensers or central site control system to communicate with the tag at issue.

Claims

1. A transponder arbitration system for a dispensing environment comprising:

a. communication electronics associated with respective, opposing sides of a plurality of fuel dispensers, the communication electronics adapted to;

i. transmit a polling signal causing transponders receiving the polling signal to transmit a response signal including transponder identifying indicia;

ii. receive response signals from responding transponders; and

iii. generate a proximity value based on a characteristic of a received response signal wherein a single response signal from one transponder may be received at one or more communication electronics, which will generate a proximity value at one or more of said communication electronics receiving the response signal; and

b. a control system communicatively associated with each of said communication electronics and adapted to compare the proximity values associated with a certain transponder for a given response signal to determine which dispenser side is most proximate to the certain transponder.

2. The transponder arbitration system of claim 1 wherein said control system is further adapted to associate the certain transponder with said communication electronics most proximate the certain transponder and compare subsequent proximity values, generated at one or more of said interrogators and associated with the certain transponder, for a given subsequent response signal transmitted from the certain transponder to determine which dispenser side is most proximate to the certain transponder and associate the certain transponder with one of said communication electronics most proximate the certain transponder.

3. The transponder arbitration system of claim 1 wherein said control system is adapted to effect polling of the transponders by causing said communication electronics to transmit the polling signals.

4. The transponder arbitration system of claim 2 wherein said control system is adapted to effect polling of the transponders by causing said communication electronics to transmit the polling signals and provide a predetermined delay between one polling resulting in said response signal and a subsequent polling resulting in said subsequent polling.

5. The transponder arbitration system of claim 1 wherein said control system is further adapted to determine if the proximity values associated with said communication electronics most proximate to the certain transponder are sufficient to indicate the certain transponder is close enough to said dispenser side to initiate a transaction.

6. The transponder arbitration system of claim 1 wherein said control system is further adapted to monitor subsequent proximity values for the certain transponder associated with said communication electronics most proximate to the certain transponder to determine if the certain transponder is substantially stationary to initiate a transaction.

7. The transponder arbitration system of claim 1 wherein said control system is positioned apart from said fuel dispensers and electrically coupled to said fuel dispensers to effect centralized control of said dispensers.

8. A transponder arbitration system for a dispensing environment comprising:

a. communication electronics associated with respective, opposing sides of a plurality of fuel dispensers, the communication electronics adapted to;

i. transmit a polling signal causing transponders receiving the polling signal to transmit a response signal including transponder identifying indicia;

ii. receive response signals from responding transponders; and

iii. generate a proximity value based on a characteristic of a received response signal wherein a single response signal from one transponder may be received at one or more communication electronics, which may generate unique proximity values at one or more of said communication electronics receiving the response signal; and

b. a control system communicatively associated with certain communication electronics to effect polling of the transponders by transmitting the polling signals and receiving transponder identification indicia and proximity values; and

c. a database maintained by said control system and configured to store proximity values associated with corresponding transponder identifying indicia and corresponding said interrogator generating the proximity values based on the response signal; and

d. said control system adapted to compare the proximity values associated with a certain transponder for a given response signal to determine which dispenser side is most proximate to the certain transponder.

9. The arbitration system of claim 8 wherein said control system is further adapted to:

a. effect a first polling of the transponders;

b. receive proximity values and associated identification indicia for responding transponders from said communication electronics receiving a response signal;

c. store the proximity values in said database; and

d. assign the certain transponder to said dispenser side most proximate to the certain transponder.

10. The arbitration system of claim 9 wherein said control system is further adapted to:

a. effect a second polling of the transponders;

b. receive proximity values and associated identification indicia for responding transponders from said communication electronics receiving a response signal for the second polling;

c. store the proximity values in said database;

d. compare the proximity values associated with a certain transponder for the second polling to determine which said dispenser side is most proximate to the certain transponder; and

e. maintain assignment of the certain transponder to said dispenser side most proximate to the certain transponder if the certain transponder is determined to be most proximate to the currently assigned dispenser side, or reassign the certain transponder to another said dispenser side determined to be most proximate to the certain transponder.

11. The arbitration system of claim 10 wherein said control system is further adapted to delay a determined period of time between the first and second polling.

12. The arbitration system of claim 8 wherein said control system is further adapted to:

a. effect a first polling of the transponders;

b. receive proximity values and associated identification indicia for responding transponders from said communication electronics receiving a response signal;

c. store the proximity values in said database;

d. compare the proximity values associated with a certain transponder for the first polling to determine which said dispenser side is most proximate to the certain transponder;

e. delay a determined period of time;

f. effect a second polling of the transponders;

g. receive proximity values and associated identification indicia for responding transponders from said communication electronics receiving a response signal for the second polling;

h. store the proximity values in said database; and

i. compare the proximity values associated with a certain transponder for the second polling to determine which said dispenser side is most proximate to the certain transponder.

13. The arbitration system of claim 8 wherein said control system is configured to:

a. periodically effect polling of the transponders;

b. receive proximity values and associated identification indicia for responding transponders from said communication electronics receiving a response signal for each polling;

c. store the proximity values for each polling in said database;

d. compare the proximity values, associated with a certain transponder for certain dispenser sides, for each polling to determine which said dispenser side is most proximate to the certain transponder at each polling; and

e. compare proximity values, associated with a certain transponder, from communication electronics most proximate to the certain transponder to determine if said proximity values from consecutive polling are substantially unchanged, and if substantially unchanged, initialize a transaction for said dispenser side most proximate to the certain transponder.

14. The arbitration system of claim 8 wherein said control system is further adapted to initiate authorization from a remote authorization authority once said transponder proximity is substantially unchanged.

15. The arbitration system of claim 8 wherein said control system is configured to:

a. assign a certain transponder to a dispenser side most proximate to the certain transponder.

b. periodically effect polling of the transponders;

c. receive proximity values and associated identification indicia for responding transponders;

d. store the proximity values for each polling in said database;

e. compare the proximity values, associated with the certain transponder, from different said communication electronics for each polling to determine which said dispenser side is most proximate to the certain transponder at each polling;

f. reassign the certain transponder to said interrogator most proximate the certain transponder if a subsequent polling results in the certain transponder being more proximate to a dispenser side at which the certain transponder is not assigned; and

g. compare proximity values, associated with a certain transponder, from said dispenser side most proximate to the certain transponder to determine if said proximity values from consecutive polling are substantially unchanged, and if substantially unchanged, initialize a transaction for said dispenser side associated with said dispenser side most proximate to the certain transponder.

16. The arbitration system of claim 8 wherein said control system is configured to:

a. effect a first polling of the transponders;

b. receive identification indicia for responding transponders from communication electronics receiving a response signal for each polling;

c. store the proximity values for each polling in said database;

d. effect a second polling of the transponders; and

e. compare the identification indicia received from the first polling and second polling to determine if a new transponder is present.

17. The arbitration system of claim 16 wherein said control system is configured to:

a. start a timer adapted to run a predetermined period of time when a new transponder is determined to be present;

b. effect a subsequent polling after the predetermined period of time;

c. receive proximity values and associated identification indicia for responding transponders from communication electronics receiving a response signal for each polling;

d. store the proximity values for the subsequent polling in said database; and

e. compare the proximity values, associated with the new transponder, from different dispenser sides for the subsequent polling to determine which dispenser side is most proximate to the new transponder.

18. The arbitration system of claim 16 wherein said control system is further configured to:

a. effect another polling; and

b. compare proximity values, associated with the new transponder, from said dispenser side most proximate to the new transponder to determine if said proximity values from consecutive pollings are substantially unchanged and, if substantially unchanged, initialize a transaction for said dispenser side most proximate to the new transponder.

19. The arbitration system of claim 8 wherein said control system is configured to:

a. periodically effect polling of the transponders;

b. receive proximity values and associated identification indicia for responding transponders from communication electronics receiving a response signal for each polling;

c. store the proximity values for each polling in said database;

d. compare the identification indicia received from a previous polling with a current polling to determine if a new transponder is present;

e. start a timer adapted to run a predetermined period of time when a new transponder is determined to be present;

f. effect a subsequent polling after the predetermined period of time; and

g. compare the proximity values, associated with a certain transponder, from different communication electronics for each polling to determine which dispenser side is most proximate to the certain transponder at each polling.

20. The arbitration system of claim 19 wherein said control system compares proximity values, associated with a certain transponder, from communication electronics most proximate to the certain transponder to determine if said proximity values from consecutive polling are substantially unchanged and, if substantially unchanged, to initialize a transaction for said dispenser side associated with the dispenser side most proximate to the certain transponder.

21. The transponder arbitration system of claim 8 wherein said communication electronics are placed in fuel dispensers on a forecourt and said control system is located apart from said dispensers to provide centralized control.

22. The arbitration system of claim 21 wherein each said dispenser includes communication electronics having one interrogator with a plurality of antennas, at least one said antenna being associated with fueling positions on opposite sides of said dispenser.

23. The arbitration system of claim 8 wherein said proximity values are proportional to signal strength.

24. The arbitration system of claim 8 wherein the proximity value is derived from a signal strength measurement made by said communication electronics, said communication electronics including signal strength electronics configured to provide the proximity value to a strength measurement of a signal received by said communication electronics.

25. The arbitration system of claim 24 wherein said signal strength electronics include automatic gain control circuitry adapted to amplify received signals to a nominal signal strength, said gain control circuitry having an output, proportional to the gain necessary to amplify the received signals to a nominal signal strength, representing the proximity values.

26. The arbitration system of claim 25 wherein said gain control circuitry comprises:

a. a variable gain amplifier having a gain input and a signal, said signal input receiving the received signals from the communication electronics; and

b. a gain control amplifier having;

i. an input derived the normalized signal of the variable gain amplifier'"'"'s output; and

ii. an output representing the amount of gain necessary to normalize the received signal and coupled to said gain input of said variable gain amplifier to provide feedback.

27. The arbitration system of claim 26 wherein said output of said gain control amplifier is coupled to an input of an analog-to-digital converter to provide a digital string representing the amount of gain necessary to normalize the received signals, said digital string corresponding to a proximity value.

28. The arbitration system of claim 8 wherein said control system effects polling by causing said communication electronics to transmit a polling signal at one dispenser side at a time.

29. A transponder arbitration method for a dispensing environment comprising:

a. providing communication electronics associated with respective, opposing sides of a plurality of fuel dispensers, and a control system with an associated database maintained by the control system and configured to store proximity values associated with corresponding transponder identifying indicia;

b. generating the proximity values at said communication electronics based on a response signal received from transponders polled by the interrogators; and

c. comparing the proximity values associated with a certain transponder for a given response signal to determine which dispenser side is most proximate to the certain transponder.

30. The arbitration method of claim 29 further comprising:

a. effecting a first polling of the transponders;

b. receiving proximity values and associated identification indicia for responding transponders from communication electronics receiving a response signal;

c. storing the proximity values in the database; and

d. assigning the certain transponder to the dispenser side most proximate to the certain transponder.

31. The arbitration method of claim 30 further comprising:

a. effecting a second polling of the transponders;

b. receiving proximity values and associated identification indicia for the responding transponders from communication electronics receiving a response signal for the second polling;

c. storing the proximity values in the database;

d. comparing the proximity values associated with a certain transponder for the second polling to determine the dispenser side most proximate to the certain transponder; and

e. maintaining assignment of the certain transponder to the dispenser side most proximate to the certain transponder if the certain transponder is determined to be most proximate to the currently assigned dispenser side, or reassign the certain transponder to another dispenser side determined to be most proximate to the certain transponder.

32. The arbitration method of claim 29 further comprising:

a. effecting a first polling of the transponders;

b. receiving proximity values and associated identification indicia for responding transponders from communication electronics receiving a response signal;

c. storing the proximity values in the database;

d. comparing the proximity values associated with a certain transponder for the first polling to determine which dispenser side is most proximate to the certain transponder;

e. delaying a determined period of time;

f. effecting a second polling of the transponders;

g. receiving proximity values and associated identification indicia for responding transponders from communication electronics receiving a response signal for the second polling;

h. storing the proximity values in the database; and

i. comparing the proximity values associated with a certain transponder for the second polling to determine which dispenser side is most proximate to the certain transponder.

33. The arbitration method of claim 29 further comprising:

a. periodically effecting polling of the transponders;

b. receiving proximity values and associated identification indicia for responding transponders from communication electronics receiving a response signal for each polling;

c. storing the proximity values for each polling in the database;

d. comparing the proximity values, associated with a certain transponder, and dispenser side for each polling to determine which dispenser side is most proximate to the certain transponder at each polling; and

e. comparing proximity values, associated with a certain transponder, from the dispenser side most proximate to the certain transponder to determine if the proximity values from consecutive pollings are substantially unchanged, and if substantially unchanged, to initialize a transaction for the dispenser side most proximate to the certain transponder.

34. A transponder arbitration system for a dispensing environment comprising:

a. a plurality of interrogators associated with a plurality of fuel dispensers, each interrogator including;

i. a transmitter to transmit a polling signal causing transponders receiving the polling signal to transmit a response signal including transponder identifying indicia;

ii. a receiver to receive response signals from responding tags; and

iii. means for generating a proximity value for each responding transponder based on a characteristic of each corresponding response signal; and

b. a control system communicatively associated with each interrogator and adapted to;

i. effect polling by causing said interrogators to transmit polling signals,

ii. compare the proximity values associated with the transponders based on response signals received by said interrogators, and

iii. determine a transponder most proximate to a certain said interrogator, and thus a dispenser.

35. The arbitration system of claim 34 wherein said control system is associated with a memory and is further adapted to:

a. effect polling at said interrogators;

b. store proximity values from each interrogator for a given transponder;

c. periodically compare the proximity values associated with the transponders based on the response signals received by each said interrogator; and

d. determine when a certain tag most proximate to a certain interrogator stops moving by comparing proximity values for a certain tag received during different polls wherein when the proximity values from said certain interrogator by the different polls are substantially the same, the control system determines the transponder has stopped moving.

36. A transponder arbitration system for a dispensing environment comprising:

a. a plurality of interrogators associated with a plurality of fuel dispensers, each interrogator including;

i. a transmitter to transmit a polling signal causing transponders receiving the polling signal to transmit a response signal including transponder identifying indicia;

ii. a receiver to receive response signals from responding tags; and

iii. means for generating a proximity value for each responding transponder based on a characteristic of each corresponding response signal; and

b. a control system communicatively associated with each interrogator and adapted to compare the proximity values for one transponder based on a response signal received by said two interrogators to determine the interrogator most proximate to the transponder.

37. A transponder arbitration system for a dispensing environment comprising:

a. one interrogator having at least one antenna at each of two opposing sides of a fuel dispenser, each interrogator including;

i. a transmitter to transmit a polling signal causing transponders receiving the polling signal to transmit a response signal including transponder identifying indicia;

ii. a receiver to receive response signals from responding tags; and

iii. means for generating a proximity value for each responding transponder based on a characteristic of each corresponding response signal; and

b. a control system communicatively associated with said interrogator and adapted to compare the proximity values of plural ones of the transponders based on response signals received by said interrogator to determine the transponders most proximate to said antennas, and thus dispenser fueling positions.