System and method for controlling service systems

• US 9,715,683 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2012
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Epona LLC
• Original Assignee: Epona LLC
• Inventors: Betancourt, Ernest Blas
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEIKH, ASFAND M
• Application Number:
  US13/569,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20120303531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,812 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices

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.

Claims

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.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction information includes location information corresponding to the location of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving and logging, by the computing device of the vehicle service station, transaction data from the fuel pump system upon completion of fuel dispensing, wherein the transaction data includes a cost associated with the fuel dispensing.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of transmitting a record of the transaction data to the carrier organization.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the confirmation of funding includes a confirmation of vehicle credentials and a confirmation of sufficient funds from the carrier organization for the fueling transaction.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the computing device of the vehicle service station, that the vehicle is not within the predetermined proximity of the fuel pump system; and

denying, by the computing device of the vehicle service station, the activation request for the fuel pump system.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

reporting, by the computing device of the vehicle service station, that an unauthorized transaction was attempted to the carrier organization.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor 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 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.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the transaction information includes location information corresponding to the location of the vehicle.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, further comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to:

receive and log transaction data from the fuel pump system upon completion of fuel dispensing, wherein the transaction data includes a cost associated with the fuel dispensing.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to:

transmit a record of the transaction data to a carrier organization.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the transaction information further includes a confirmation of funding by a carrier organization employing a driver of the vehicle, wherein the confirmation of funding is specific to the pre-authorized fueling transaction.

13. A system comprising:

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.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the transaction information includes location information corresponding to the location of the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 13, comprising additional memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the system to:

receive and log transaction data from the fuel pump system upon completion of fuel dispensing, wherein the transaction data includes a cost associated with the fuel dispensing.

16. The system of claim 15, comprising additional memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the system to:

transmit a record of the transaction data to the carrier organization.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the transaction information further includes a confirmation of funding by a carrier organization employing the vehicle, wherein the confirmation of funding is specific to the pre-authorized fueling transaction.