Back to results
US 12,682,336 B2Granted
Pay by plate
AssigneeAlimentation Couche-Tard Inc.
InventorsKarl Magnus Tägtström, Claudio Cardoso Saiki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for streamlined vehicle fueling and payment are provided. In an example, the present disclosure is directed to an automated, seamless payment system for use at a gas station or convenience store. In particular, the application is related to a payment system for use at a pay at pump arrangement that does not require the user to provide a specific payment method at the time of the gas pump use.
Claims20
A method for streamlined vehicle fueling and payment, the method comprising:
- detecting that a vehicle is in proximity to a selected fuel pump from a plurality of fuel pumps of a fuel station, based on the vehicle appearing in one of a plurality of different predetermined regions of an image, said predetermined regions corresponding to different ones of the plurality of fuel pumps of the fuel station;
- identifying vehicle information associated with the vehicle;
- based on the vehicle information, determining that the vehicle is associated with a customer account;
- determining a geolocation of a device associated with the customer account;
- comparing the geolocation of the device with a geofence associated with the fuel station;
- and
- based on the geolocation of the device being located inside of the geofence associated with the fuel station, unlocking the selected fuel pump.
4 more elements
A method for streamlined vehicle fueling and payment, the method comprising:
- detecting that a vehicle is in proximity to a fuel pump of a fuel station;
- identifying vehicle information associated with the vehicle;
- based on the vehicle information, determining that the vehicle is associated with a customer account;
- requesting secondary authorization to unlock the fuel pump, the secondary authorization including:
- determining a geolocation of a device associated with the customer account;
- and
- comparing the geolocation of the device with a geofence associated with the fuel station;
- and
- based on obtaining the secondary authorization, unlocking the fuel pump based, at least in part, on the geolocation of the device being located inside of the geofence associated with the fuel station, and wherein obtaining the secondary authorization includes:
- based on the geolocation of the device being located outside of the geofence associated with the fuel station, sending an authorization request to the customer account;
- and
- receiving a remote authorization via the customer account,
- wherein the fuel pump is unlocked, at least in part, based on receiving the remote authorization and without user interaction with the fuel pump.
10 more elements
A method for streamlined vehicle fueling and payment, the method comprising:
- in response to receiving authorization from a user, associating vehicle information for a vehicle with a customer account by capturing vehicle information with a camera and automatically updating the customer account to include the obtained vehicle information;
- receiving a location request for a device associated with the customer account;
- obtaining a geolocation of the device;
- comparing the geolocation of the device with a geofence of a fuel station at which the vehicle has been identified based on the vehicle information;
- determining a fueling pump of a plurality of fueling pumps at the fuel station associated with the vehicle based on the vehicle appearing in one of a plurality of different predetermined regions of an image captured with a camera system at the fuel station;
- determining that fueling of the vehicle at the fuel station is authorized by the customer account;
- and
- providing a transaction receipt for the authorized fueling of the vehicle at the fueling pump of the fuel station.
5 more elements
A system comprising:
- a fuel station comprising a plurality of fuel pumps;
- a camera network having a plurality of cameras positioned at the fuel station, each camera having a field of view, wherein, within the field of view of each of one or more of the plurality of cameras, a region is defined corresponding to a vehicle position in association with a predetermined one of the plurality of fuel pumps;
- a geolocation service defining a geofence in a vicinity of the fuel station;
- a customer profile database maintained in communicative connection with the camera network, the customer profile database storing customer account information associated with a plurality of customer accounts, the customer account information including payment information and vehicle information, the vehicle information including at least a license plate number associated with a vehicle;
- a fueling control system including a streamlined fueling controller and at least one content controller, the fueling control system configured to:
- determine, from the camera network that a vehicle is in proximity to a fuel pump of a fuel station;
- identify vehicle information associated with the vehicle;
- based on the vehicle information, determining that the vehicle is associated with a customer account maintained in the customer profile database;
- request secondary authorization to unlock the fuel pump, the secondary authorization including at least one of (1) confirmation of a geolocation of a device associated with the customer account within the geofence at the fuel station, or (2) an authorization received from a customer associated with the customer account;
- based on obtaining the secondary authorization, unlock the fuel pump without requiring user interaction with the fuel pump;
- after unlocking the fuel pump, providing personalized content to the fuel pump for display on a display of the fuel pump based, at least in part, on information associated with the customer account;
- and
- upon completion of a fueling transaction, providing a transaction receipt for authorized fueling of the vehicle at the fuel station.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.