Automobile Identification and Variable Rate Fuel System and Method
AssigneeItron, Inc.
InventorRobert Strasser
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Techniques for vehicle identification are described herein. In one example, vehicle identification information is obtained for a vehicle at a smart fueling station. Using the vehicle identification information, characteristics of the vehicle may be considered, and a fuel price can be set. Fuel can be dispensed to the vehicle according to the price as set. Payment may be made, such as by an automated system based on near field communications (NFC). The techniques used to identify the vehicle may utilize connections to the on-board diagnostic port (e.g., OBD II) of the vehicle, NFC and data encryption techniques.
Claims20
A method of operating a smart fueling station, comprising:
- obtaining vehicle identification information for a vehicle at the smart fueling station;
- obtaining price information based at least in part on the vehicle identification information;
- dispensing fuel to the vehicle;
- and
- receiving payment for the dispensed fuel based on the price information.
A method, operable by a vehicle, to obtain fuel, comprising:
- sending vehicle identification information of the vehicle to a fuel price-determination application;
- sending information that provides a confirmation of the vehicle identification information to the fuel price-determination application;
- and
- receiving fuel based on a price that is:
- determined at least in part based on the vehicle identification information;
- and
- determined at least in part based on characteristics of the vehicle.
A method, comprising:
- sending, from a smartphone, vehicle identification information about a vehicle, to a fuel price-determination application;
- receiving, at the smartphone, notification of a price per unit of fuel, based at least in part on the vehicle identification information;
- and
- sending, from the smartphone, payment in response to receipt, at a vehicle, of fuel, from a smart fueling station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.