# US 2014/0191842 A1 · Apparatus for an automated fuel authorization program requiring data to be dynamically exchanged with a fuel vendor during fuel authorization using an infrared data link

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- Number: US 2014/0191842 A1
- Document ID: US20140191842A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/204,962
- Filed: 2014-03-11
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2010-10-18
- Assignees: Zonar Systems, Inc.
- Applicants: Zonar Systems, Inc.
- Inventors: CHARLES MICHAEL MCQUADE; RICK FADLER
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191842A1

## CPC

- G07F 13/00: Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs
- G06F 21/44: Program or device authentication
- H04L 9/3215: {using a plurality of channels (network architectures or network communication protocols using different networks H04L63/18)}
- H04L 9/3226: {using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN (network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083)}
- H04L 63/107: {wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals}
- G06F 2221/2111: Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
- H04L 2209/805: Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
- H04L 2209/84: Vehicles
- G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00})
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

A fuel authorization system enables data to be exchanged between vehicles and a fuel vendor, to verify that the vehicle is authorized to receive fuel. In an exemplary embodiment, each fuel island is equipped with a motion detector, a short range radio frequency (RF) component, and an infrared (IR) receiver. Participating vehicles are equipped with fuel authorization component including an IR transmitter and a RF component that can establish a data link with the fuel island's RF unit. When the motion detector senses a vehicle in the fuel lane, an RF query is sent to the vehicle. Participating vehicles respond with an IR transmission. An RF data link is then established between the enrolled vehicle and the fuel vendor to verify that the vehicle is authorized to receive fuel. Once the verification is complete, the fuel dispenser is enabled.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fuel authorization component to be installed in a vehicle participating in a fuel authorization program, where the fuel authorization program is based on exchanging data between the vehicle and a fuel vendor via both infrared (IR) and radiofrequency (RF) communication, comprising:
(a) a housing;
(b) an RF component enclosed in the housing, the RF component for exchanging data over an RF data link;
(c) an IR component for transmitting data over an IR data link;
(d) a physical data port, the physical data port for exchanging data over a hard wire data link;
(e) a controller disposed in the housing, the controller automatically implementing the function of responding to an RF query by the fuel vendor by energizing the IR component.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The component of claim 1, wherein the controller further implements the function of automatically using the IR data link to transmit at least some data required to authorize a fuel transaction once the IR data with the fuel vendor is established.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The component of claim 1, wherein electrical power required for operation of the component is received via the physical data port.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The component of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a substantially flat rear surface to enable the housing to be attached to a flat windshield of a vehicle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The component of claim 4, wherein the IR component, when activated, emits IR radiation outwardly and away from the rear surface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The component of claim 1, further comprising a first light element for emitting visible light, and wherein the controller further automatically implements the function of energizing the first light element when the IR data link is established with the fuel vendor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The component of claim 6, further comprising a second light element for emitting visible light, and wherein the controller further automatically implements the function of energizing the second light element after all fuel authorization data that needs to be transmitted over the IR data link has been sent.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The component of claim 6, wherein:
(a) when activated, the first light element emits visible light outwardly and away from a front surface of the component; and
(b) when activated, emits IR radiation outwardly and away from a rear surface of the component.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The component of claim 1, wherein the controller further implements the function of automatically responding to an RF query by the fuel vendor by requesting a unique vehicle ID required for fuel authorization from a non-removable memory in the vehicle using the physical data port.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The component of claim 1, wherein the controller further implements the function of automatically responding to an RF query by the fuel vendor by obtaining a unique ID required for fuel authorization from a non-transient memory in the component.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The component of claim 1, wherein the controller further implements the function of automatically responding to an RF query by the fuel vendor by determining if the component is paired to a different type of fuel authorization component attached to a trailer being towed by the vehicle.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The component of claim 1, wherein the controller further implements the function of automatically responding to an RF query by the fuel vendor by using the RF component to determine if any additional RF equipped fuel authorization components are present at the vehicle.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The component of claim 1, wherein the controller further implements the function of, in response to a termination of the IR data link with the fuel vendor, automatically using the RF component to communicate with the fuel vendor that the vehicle has left a fuel island where the IR data link was initially established.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

A non-transitory memory medium having machine instructions stored thereon for implementing the controller function of claim 1.

### Claim 15 (depends on 2, 14)

The non-transitory memory medium of claim 14, further having machine instructions stored thereon for implementing the controller function of claim 2.

### Claim 16 (depends on 6, 14)

The non-transitory memory medium of claim 14, further having machine instructions stored thereon for implementing the controller function of claim 6.

### Claim 17 (depends on 7, 14)

The non-transitory memory medium of claim 14, further having machine instructions stored thereon for implementing the controller function of claim 7.

### Claim 18 (depends on 9, 14)

The non-transitory memory medium of claim 14, further having machine instructions stored thereon for implementing the controller function of claim 9.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12, 14)

The non-transitory memory medium of claim 14, further having machine instructions stored thereon for implementing the controller function of claim 12.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13, 14)

The non-transitory memory medium of claim 14, further having machine instructions stored thereon for implementing the controller function of claim 13.

### Claim 21

A fuel authorization component to be installed in a vehicle participating in a fuel authorization program, where the fuel authorization program is based on exchanging data between the vehicle and a fuel vendor via infrared (IR) communication, comprising:
(a) a housing having a front surface and a rear surface, the front and rear surfaces being substantially parallel and spaced apart;
(b) a light emitting element, that when activated emits visible light outwardly and away from the front surface;
(c) an IR component for transmitting data over an IR data link, the IR component, when activated, emitting IR radiation outwardly and away from the rear surface; and
(d) a controller disposed in the housing, the controller automatically implementing the function of transmitting at least some data required to authorize a fuel transaction once the IR data link with the fuel vendor is established.