System for communication with a vehicle in close proximity to a fixed service port

A method of detecting, identifying, authorizing, and polling a port and a vehicle for the purpose of initiating and maintaining an automated coupling and interchange of fuels and services between a couplable vehicle containing an active wireless transceiver for establishing a zone of proximity detection, and a fixed service port containing a transponder and a wireless access port, the method comprising the steps of:

• detecting a location of a port with respect to a couplable vehicle;
• identifying the port by means of a unique identification number located in a transponder;
• authorizing the initiation of a service interchange sequence;
• polling the transponder on a port for the purpose of monitoring during service interchange sequence;
• and
• communicating proximity data for coupling or service exchange processes through a controller located on a vehicle.

A system for detecting, identifying, authorizing, and polling a couplable vehicle and a fixed service port having a transponder located at a defined location on said fixed service port, including a port controller, for the purpose of initiating and maintaining an automated coupling and interchange of fuels and services between a couplable vehicle and a fixed service port in which said fixed service port is within a zone of proximity detection from said couplable vehicle, comprising:

• a couplable vehicle having a first wireless transceiver system located at a defined location which transmits a signal constrained in range and radiation pattern and is capable of receiving a port transponder response, to form a zone of proximity detection in a fixed relative position to a couplable range;
• and
• a second wireless transceiver system located on said couplable vehicle for the purpose of communicating with the fixed service port;
• and
• a controller located on the couplable vehicle and connected to the first and second wireless transceivers, for controlling the data flow and processing required for the detecting, identifying, authorizing, and polling of said couplable vehicle.

A method of detecting, identifying, authorizing, and polling a vehicle or a port for the purpose of initiating and maintaining an automated coupling and interchange of fuels and services between a couplable vehicle and one of a number of fixed service ports, in which said couplable vehicle is within a zone of proximity detection, the method comprising the steps of:

• detecting a location of a couplable vehicle with respect to one of a number of fixed service ports;
• identifying the vehicle or the port or both by means of reading identification numbers;
• authorizing the initiation of a service interchange sequence;
• polling the identifier on the vehicle and the port for the purpose of monitoring during service interchange sequence;
• and
• communicating the proximity data for coupling or service exchange processes through a central controller located at a fixed station.

A system for detecting, identifying, authorizing, and polling a couplable vehicle for the purpose of initiating and maintaining an automated coupling and interchange of fuels and services between said vehicle and one of a multiplicity of fixed service ports at a station in which said vehicle is within a zone of proximity detection from one of said fixed service ports, comprising:

• a wireless transceiver system located at a defined location at each fixed service port for transmitting a signal constrained in range and radiation pattern for establishing a zone of proximity detection which significantly overlaps a couplable range;
• a transponder located at a defined location on the couplable vehicle;
• a controller associated with each said fixed service port;
• and
• a station controller located at the station and linked to port controllers at all station ports and couplable vehicles within couplable range for overall monitoring and control of all fixed service ports located at the station and all vehicles within couplable range.

A system for detecting, identifying, authorizing, and polling a couplable vehicle and a fixed service port for the purpose of initiating and maintaining an automated coupling and interchange of fuels and services between said couplable vehicle and one of a multiplicity of fixed service ports at a station in which said fixed service port is within a zone of proximity detection from a vehicle, comprising:

• a wireless transceiver system located at a defined first location on each said couplable vehicle that transmits a signal constrained in range and radiation pattern for establishing a zone of proximity detection which significantly overlaps a couplable range;
• a transponder located at a defined location on each fixed service port;
• a controller associated with each said fixed service port;
• a station controller located at the station and linked to port controllers at all station ports and couplable vehicles within couplable range for overall monitoring and control of all fixed service ports located at the station and all vehicles within couplable range;
• a vehicle controller located on each couplable vehicle for controlling the data flow and processing required for the detecting, identifying, authorizing, and polling of a vehicle;
• a second wireless system located on a couplable vehicle for the purpose of communications between said vehicle controllers and the station;
• and
• a wireless access port located at the station for the purpose of communications between couplable vehicles and the station controller.