Patent US5902985A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5902985A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Providing service to a vehicle
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
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Filing: 1997-08-11
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Granted: 1999-05-11
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Expires: 2017-08-11
Abstract
Abstract A system is disclosed for providing service to a vehicle (1) positioned at a service site (2) and billing a person or company for the service provided, wherein the vehicle (1) is provided with a vehicle processing unit (10) which includes a receiver-transmitter connected to a vehicle antenna (12) and with element for manually activating the vehicle processing unit, and wherein the service site (2) comprises element for providing service (3), a site processing unit (20) which includes a receiver-transmitter connected to a site antenna (22), which site processing unit includes element for registering the transaction and means for billing the person or company for the service provided, which system further comprises means for automatically correlating the act of servicing the vehicle with the vehicle (1), which element may comprise a passive tag (30) located at the element for providing service (5), element for energizing the passive tag located on the vehicle (1) and a secondary antenna (33) on the vehicle (1) connected to the vehicle processing unit (10).
Inventors
- 👤 Emko Wilhelm Harmannus Maria Bos
- 👤 Xavier Frederic Nicolas Marie Deleval
- 👤 Sicco Dwars
- 👤 Johan Van Der Steen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:37
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/06; B67D7/08; B67D7/14; B67D7/145; B67D7/16; G; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/342; G07; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/008; G07F; G07F13/00; G07F13/02; G07F13/025; G07F17/00; G07F17/0014; G07F7/00; G07F7/02; G07F7/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
A system for providing service to a vehicle positioned at a service site and billing for the service provided, the vehicle having an antenna, the system comprising: a vehicle processing unit operatively associated with the vehicle; a receiver-transmitter with capability to communicate with the vehicle processing unit; an antenna located on the vehicle, the antenna connected to the receiver-transmitter and effective to transmit signals to and from the receiver-transmitter; a manual activating means effective to activate the vehicle processing unit upon manual input from within the vehicle and initiate sending of a signal requesting services to the receiver-transmitter; a service site comprising means for providing service; a site processing unit located at the service site; a site receiver-transmitter with capability to communicate with the site processing unit a site antenna, the site antenna connected to the site receiver-transmitter and effective to transmit signals to and from the receiver-transmitter wherein service can be provided to a vehicle upon receipt of a signal requesting such service from the manual input to the vehicle processing unit and through the vehicle antenna, the site antenna, the site receiver-transmitter, and the site processing unit; a means for registering the transaction with the site processing unit; a means for billing for the service provided based on information registered on the site processing unit; and a means for automatically correlating the act of servicing the vehicle with the vehicle.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
232 words
A system for providing service to a vehicle positioned at a service site and billing for the service provided, the vehicle having an antenna, the system comprising: a vehicle processing unit operatively associated with the vehicle; a receiver-transmitter with capability to communicate with the vehicle processing unit; an antenna located on the vehicle, the antenna connected to the receiver-transmitter and effective to transmit signals to and from the receiver-transmitter; a manual activating means effective to activate the vehicle processing unit upon manual input from within the vehicle and initiate sending of a signal requesting services to the receiver-transmitter; a service site comprising means for providing service; a site processing unit located at the service site; a site receiver-transmitter with capability to communicate with the site processing unit a site antenna, the site antenna connected to the site receiver-transmitter and effective to transmit signals to and from the receiver-transmitter wherein service can be provided to a vehicle upon receipt of a signal requesting such service from the manual input to the vehicle processing unit and through the vehicle antenna, the site antenna, the site receiver-transmitter, and the site processing unit; a means for registering the transaction with the site processing unit; a means for billing for the service provided based on information registered on the site processing unit; and a means for automatically correlating the act of servicing the vehicle with the vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the means for automatically correlating the act of servicing the vehicle with the vehicle comprise a passive tag located at the means for providing service, and on the vehicle means for energizing the passive tag and a secondary antenna connected to the vehicle processing unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the means for automatically correlating the act of servicing the vehicle with the vehicle comprise an active tag located at the means for providing service, which tag is activated during the provision of the service.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the means for providing service is a fuel pump, and wherein the means for automatically correlating the act of servicing the vehicle with the vehicle comprise a fuel tank level gauge connected to the vehicle processing unit.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for providing service to a vehicle positioned at a service site and billing for the service provided, comprising the steps of (a) activating manually the vehicle processing unit which will transmit sufficient data to the site processing unit to allow identifying the vehicle; (b) determining, in a site processing unit, that the vehicle processing unit has been activated, and determining if service to the vehicle is authorized; (c) allowing service provision to start if the vehicle has been authenticated and authorized; (d) automatically correlating the act of servicing the vehicle with the vehicle; (e) stopping service provision and closing the transaction; (f) registering the transaction, and billing for the service provided.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for providing service to a vehicle positioned at a service site and billing for the service provided, comprising the steps of (a) activating manually the vehicle processing unit which will transmit sufficient data to the site processing unit to allow identifying the vehicle; (b) determining, in a site processing unit, that the vehicle processing unit has been activated, and determining if service to the vehicle is authorized; (c) allowing service provision to start if the vehicle has been authenticated and authorized; (d) automatically correlating the act of servicing the vehicle with the vehicle; (e) stopping service provision and closing the transaction; (f) registering the transaction, and billing for the service provided.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-05-10 | 2002-11-09 | 2003-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-10 | 2006-11-09 | 2007-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-10 | 2010-11-09 | 2011-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |