Automatic payment method using RF ID tags
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for conducting cashless business transactions, comprising:
- a plurality of fuel dispensers, each dispenser having at least one antenna and at least one vehicle presence detector,said at least one vehicle presence detector determining presence of a stationary vehicle by;
(i) setting a stationary vehicle timer,(ii) detecting the vehicle while said timer is running,(iii) determining whether the timer has exceeded a predetermined threshold while the vehicle is detected, and(iv) if the threshold has been exceeded, determining that the vehicle is stationary;
a controller having a tag reader for reading information from a tag connected to the vehicle when the vehicle is detected by said at least one vehicle presence detector,the controller receiving information by;
(i) attempting to read the tag of the stationary vehicle,(ii) setting a tag read timer,(iii) determining whether a wait time for the tag reader has been exceeded,(iv) if the wait time for the tag reader has not been exceeded, determining the tag reader was able to read the tag,(v) determining whether the number of readings of the tag has exceeded a predetermined threshold,(vi) if the threshold has been exceeded, determining whether the tag is a valid tag,(vii) extracting data from the tag; and
a point of sale computer receiving tag information from the controller and processing the tag information to conduct a cashless business transaction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention discloses systems and methods for enabling cashless fueling transactions through the use of vehicle-based decal sticker RFID tags. The tags store a unique customer identification number as well as other frequent purchase information. When read by a reader installed at the fuel dispenser, the tag information is sent to the network host via the Point of Sale (“POS”) system, where it is linked to a customer'"'"'s account for transaction processing and subsequent activation of the fuel dispenser. Several tags may be read by a single interface unit, avoiding the need to connect a tag reader to each fuel dispenser.
78 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A system for conducting cashless business transactions, comprising:
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a plurality of fuel dispensers, each dispenser having at least one antenna and at least one vehicle presence detector, said at least one vehicle presence detector determining presence of a stationary vehicle by; (i) setting a stationary vehicle timer, (ii) detecting the vehicle while said timer is running, (iii) determining whether the timer has exceeded a predetermined threshold while the vehicle is detected, and (iv) if the threshold has been exceeded, determining that the vehicle is stationary; a controller having a tag reader for reading information from a tag connected to the vehicle when the vehicle is detected by said at least one vehicle presence detector, the controller receiving information by; (i) attempting to read the tag of the stationary vehicle, (ii) setting a tag read timer, (iii) determining whether a wait time for the tag reader has been exceeded, (iv) if the wait time for the tag reader has not been exceeded, determining the tag reader was able to read the tag, (v) determining whether the number of readings of the tag has exceeded a predetermined threshold, (vi) if the threshold has been exceeded, determining whether the tag is a valid tag, (vii) extracting data from the tag; and a point of sale computer receiving tag information from the controller and processing the tag information to conduct a cashless business transaction. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A system for conducting cashless business transactions, comprising:
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a plurality of dispensers, each dispenser being associated with at least one antenna and at least one vehicle presence detector, said at least one vehicle presence detector performing detection of a stationary vehicle, wherein the stationary vehicle is detected by;
(i) setting a stationary vehicle timer, (ii) detecting the vehicle while said timer is running, (iii) determining whether the timer has exceeded a predetermined threshold while the vehicle is detected, and (iv) if the threshold has been exceeded, determining that the vehicle is stationary;a controller receiving a detection notification from a first vehicle presence detector, the first vehicle presence detector being associated with a first dispenser, the controller activating a first antenna in response to the notification; a tag interrogator connected to the at least one antenna and transmitting an interrogation signal to a tag through the first antenna and receiving information from said tag after the first antenna is activated, wherein said tag interrogator receives information by;
(i) attempting to read a tag of the stationary vehicle, (ii) setting a tag read timer, (iii) determining whether a wait time for the tag reader has been exceeded, (iv) if the wait time for the tag reader has not been exceeded, determining the tag reader was able to read the tag, (v) determining whether the number of readings of the tag has exceeded a predetermined threshold, (vi) if the threshold has been exceeded, determining whether the tag is a valid tag, and (vii) extracting data from the tag; anda point of sale device receiving the information from the tag interrogator and activating the first dispenser. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification