Patent US6067008A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6067008A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and apparatus for inputting messages, including advertisements, to a vehicle
Assignee: Intellectual Property Dev Assoc of Connecticut Inc
•
Filing: 1998-02-09
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Granted: 2000-05-23
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Expires: 2018-02-09
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparatus are disclosed for inputting messages and other infotion, such as advertisements, to a vehicle while the vehicle is coupled to a local station, such as a recharging station or a refueling station. The messages can be selected in accordance with information received from the vehicle, including information that selectively identifies one, some, or all of: (a) a characteristic of an occupant of the vehicle (e.g., name, account number, address, etc.); (b) a characteristic of the vehicle (e.g., make, model, year, class, registration number, marker number, odometer reading, owner, etc.); (c) a destination of the vehicle (entered through a data entry console and optionally stored within a vehicle memory); and (d) any other characteristic of interest.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry F. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:16
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/26; B; B60; B60L; B60L53/00; B60L53/30; B60L53/305; B60L53/60; B60L53/62; B60L53/65; B60L53/66; B60L53/665; B60L53/68; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/12; G06Q20/127; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G07; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/008; G07F; G07F15/00; G07F15/003; G07F15/12; G07F17/00; G07F17/0014; G07F17/16; G07F5/00; G07F5/18; G07F9/00; G07F9/002; G07F9/02; B60L2200/00; B60L2200/26; B60L2240/00; B60L2240/70; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/70; Y02T10/7072; Y02T10/72; Y02T90/00; Y02T90/10; Y02T90/12; Y02T90/14; Y02T90/16; Y02T90/167; Y04; Y04S; Y04S30/00; Y04S30/10; Y04S30/14; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/955
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 71
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for accessing a remote computer over a communications network, comprising the steps of: coupling a vehicle to means for dispensing a consumable energy source to the vehicle, the dispensing means being coupled to a communications network; formulating a communications network data access request within the vehicle; transferring information from the vehicle to the dispensing means, the transferred information including the communications network data access request and an identification of a remote computer that is to fulfil the communications network data access request, the remote computer being coupled to the communication network; forwarding the communications network data access request from the dispensing means to the communications network, and from the communications network to the identified remote computer that is coupled to the communications network; accessing data specified by the data access request at the remote computer; delivering the accessed data to the vehicle; and storing the delivered data within a memory.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for accessing a remote computer over a communications network, comprising the steps of: coupling a vehicle to means for dispensing a consumable energy source to the vehicle, the dispensing means being coupled to a communications network; formulating a communications network data access request within the vehicle; transferring information from the vehicle to the dispensing means, the transferred information including the communications network data access request and an identification of a remote computer that is to fulfil the communications network data access request, the remote computer being coupled to the communication network; forwarding the communications network data access request from the dispensing means to the communications network, and from the communications network to the identified remote computer that is coupled to the communications network; accessing data specified by the data access request at the remote computer; delivering the accessed data to the vehicle; and storing the delivered data within a memory.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising the step of: presenting the stored data in a human perceptible form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the communications network data access request includes information for specifying one or more securities, and wherein the accessed data includes one or more security quotations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the communications network data access request includes information for specifying at least one file, stored in a memory externally to the vehicle, that contains information needed to fulfil the communications network data access request, and wherein the method further includes the steps of: acessing the specified at least one file; and fulfilling the communications network data access request using information stored in the accessed at least one file.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for accessing a computer over a communications network, comprising the steps of: coupling a vehicle to a local station via connector means, the local station being coupled to a communications network; formulating a communications network request; transferring information from the vehicle to the local station through the connector means, the transferred information comprising the communications network request; routing the communications network request from the local station to the communications network; identifying a computer to fulfil the communications network request; further routing the communications network request to the identified computer; fulfilling the communications network request at the identified computer and transmitting a response to the communications network request from the computer to the vehicle via the local station and the connector means; and storing at least a portion of the response within a memory.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for accessing a computer over a communications network, comprising the steps of: coupling a vehicle to a local station via connector means, the local station being coupled to a communications network; formulating a communications network request; transferring information from the vehicle to the local station through the connector means, the transferred information comprising the communications network request; routing the communications network request from the local station to the communications network; identifying a computer to fulfil the communications network request; further routing the communications network request to the identified computer; fulfilling the communications network request at the identified computer and transmitting a response to the communications network request from the computer to the vehicle via the local station and the connector means; and storing at least a portion of the response within a memory.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as set forth in claim 5, and further comprising the step of: presenting the stored response in a human perceptible form.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the communications network request includes information for specifying one or more securities, and wherein the response is comprised of one or more security quotations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the communications network request includes information for specifying at least one file that is stored in a memory external to the vehicle, the file comprising information needed to fulfil the communications network request, and wherein the method further includes the steps of: accessing the specified at least one file; and fulfilling the communications network request using information stored in the accessed at least one file.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 5, wherein the connector means is comprised of an optical connector means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 5, wherein the connector means is comprised of an RF connector means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 5, wherein the connector means is comprised of an electrical connector means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 5, wherein the connector means is comprised of a wireless connector means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 5, wherein the connector means is comprised of a wired connector means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as set forth in claim 5, and further comprising the step of: presenting at least a portion of the response in an audio format.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 5, wherein the step of formulating includes a step of digitizing a human voice.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 5, wherein the local station is comprised of means for dispensing a fuel to the vehicle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 5, wherein the local station is comprised of means for charging a battery within the vehicle.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
66 words
A method for presenting information to an occupant of a vehicle, comprising steps of: providing a dispenser of a consumable vehicle energy source; transferring data from the vehicle to the dispenser, the data comprising demographic data related to an occupant of the vehicle; and selecting information to be presented to the occupant of the vehicle at least in part in response to the transferred demographic data.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
66 words
A method for presenting information to an occupant of a vehicle, comprising steps of: providing a dispenser of a consumable vehicle energy source; transferring data from the vehicle to the dispenser, the data comprising demographic data related to an occupant of the vehicle; and selecting information to be presented to the occupant of the vehicle at least in part in response to the transferred demographic data.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 18, and further comprising a step of presenting the selected information to the occupant of the vehicle by displaying at least some of the information within the vehicle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 18, and further comprising a step of presenting the selected information to the occupant of the vehicle by printing at least some of the information within the vehicle.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 18, and further comprising a step of presenting the selected information to the occupant of the vehicle by displaying at least some of the information with the dispenser.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 18, and further comprising a step of presenting the selected information to the occupant of the vehicle by printing at least some of the information with the dispenser.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for presenting information to an occupant of a vehicle, comprising steps of: providing a dispenser of a consumable vehicle energy source; transferring data from a transmitter located at the vehicle to a receiver located at the dispenser, the transferred data comprising data for identifying an occupant of the vehicle; retrieving, using at least some of the transferred data, additional data that is descriptive of the occupant of the vehicle; and selecting information to be presented to the occupant of the vehicle at least in part in response to the additional data.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for presenting information to an occupant of a vehicle, comprising steps of: providing a dispenser of a consumable vehicle energy source; transferring data from a transmitter located at the vehicle to a receiver located at the dispenser, the transferred data comprising data for identifying an occupant of the vehicle; retrieving, using at least some of the transferred data, additional data that is descriptive of the occupant of the vehicle; and selecting information to be presented to the occupant of the vehicle at least in part in response to the additional data.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 23, and further comprising a step of presenting the selected information to the occupant of the vehicle by at least one of displaying or printing at least some of the information within the vehicle.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 23, and further comprising a step of presenting the selected information to the occupant of the vehicle by at least one of displaying or printing at least some of the information with the dispenser.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 23, wherein the transferred data is comprised of an account number.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as in claim 23, wherein the step of retrieving is comprised of the steps of: further transferring the data that is descriptive of the occupant of the vehicle to a predetermined computer over a communications network; and accessing a data base with the predetermined computer, in accordance with the further transferred data, to obtain the additional data.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for selecting information to be presented to an occupant of a vehicle, comprising steps of: providing a dispenser of a consumable vehicle energy source, the dispenser being located at a predetermined location; transferring data from a transmitter of the vehicle to a receiver of the dispenser, the transferred data comprising data that is descriptive of at least one of an occupant of the vehicle or the vehicle; and selecting information to be presented to the occupant of the vehicle at least in part in response to the transferred data and in response to the location of the dispenser.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for selecting information to be presented to an occupant of a vehicle, comprising steps of: providing a dispenser of a consumable vehicle energy source, the dispenser being located at a predetermined location; transferring data from a transmitter of the vehicle to a receiver of the dispenser, the transferred data comprising data that is descriptive of at least one of an occupant of the vehicle or the vehicle; and selecting information to be presented to the occupant of the vehicle at least in part in response to the transferred data and in response to the location of the dispenser.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 28, and further comprising a step of presenting the selected information to the occupant of the vehicle by at least one of displaying or printing at least some of the information within the vehicle.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 28, and further comprising a step of presenting the selected information to the occupant of the vehicle by at least one of displaying or printing at least some of the information with the dispenser.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 28, wherein the selected information is comprised of a promotional message provided by a supplier of goods or services.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 28, wherein the selected information is comprised of a discount offer provided by a supplier of goods or services.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
86 words
A method for making a reservation for goods or services, comprising steps of: providing a dispenser of a consumable vehicle energy source; transferring data from a transmitter of the vehicle to a receiver of the dispenser, the transferred data comprising a reservation request; further transferring at least the reservation request to a computer that is bidirectionally coupled to the dispenser; operating the computer to make the requested reservation in response to the reservation request; and transmitting a reservation confirmation message from the computer towards the dispenser.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
86 words
A method for making a reservation for goods or services, comprising steps of: providing a dispenser of a consumable vehicle energy source; transferring data from a transmitter of the vehicle to a receiver of the dispenser, the transferred data comprising a reservation request; further transferring at least the reservation request to a computer that is bidirectionally coupled to the dispenser; operating the computer to make the requested reservation in response to the reservation request; and transmitting a reservation confirmation message from the computer towards the dispenser.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 33, and further comprising steps of: transmitting the reservation confirmation message from the dispenser to the vehicle; and presenting the reservation confirmation request in a human perceptible format within the vehicle.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 33, and further comprising a step of presenting the reservation confirmation request in a human perceptible format with the dispenser.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for accessing information from a computer coupled to a data communications network, comprising the steps of: providing a dispenser of a consumable vehicle energy source; coupling a vehicle to the dispenser; formulating a data communications network request; transferring information from a transmitter of the vehicle to a receiver of the dispenser, the transferred information comprising the data communications network request; transmitting at least the data communications network request from the dispenser to a remote station that is bidirectionally coupled to the dispenser, the remote station also being bidirectionally coupled to the data communications network; further transmitting at least the data communications network request from the remote station to the data communications network, the data communications network request being directed to a computer that is to fulfill the request; and acting on the data communications network request at the computer and transmitting a response to the data communications network request towards the remote station over the data communications network.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for accessing information from a computer coupled to a data communications network, comprising the steps of: providing a dispenser of a consumable vehicle energy source; coupling a vehicle to the dispenser; formulating a data communications network request; transferring information from a transmitter of the vehicle to a receiver of the dispenser, the transferred information comprising the data communications network request; transmitting at least the data communications network request from the dispenser to a remote station that is bidirectionally coupled to the dispenser, the remote station also being bidirectionally coupled to the data communications network; further transmitting at least the data communications network request from the remote station to the data communications network, the data communications network request being directed to a computer that is to fulfill the request; and acting on the data communications network request at the computer and transmitting a response to the data communications network request towards the remote station over the data communications network.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as in claim 36, and further comprising steps of: transferring the response from the remote station to the dispenser, and from the dispenser to the vehicle; and presenting the response to an occupant of the vehicle by at least one displaying, annunciating or printing at least a portion of the response within the vehicle.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as in claim 36, and further comprising steps of: transferring the response from the remote station to the dispenser; and presenting the response to an occupant of the vehicle by at least one displaying or printing at least a portion of the response with the dispenser.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 36, wherein the remote station is bidirectionally coupled to a plurality of dispensers for receiving data communications network requests from each of the plurality of dispensers.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 36, wherein the data communications network request is comprised of an account number.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for providing information to an occupant of a vehicle, comprising steps of: providing a fuel dispenser; transferring data from a vehicle to a computer via the fuel dispenser, the transferred data comprising data that is descriptive of at least one of an occupant of the vehicle or the vehicle; in response to the transferred data, operating the computer to search a data base to select information to be presented to the occupant of the vehicle, the selected information being comprised of at least one of a promotional message provided by a supplier of goods or services or a discount offer provided by a supplier of goods or services; and presenting the selected information to the occupant of the vehicle.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for providing information to an occupant of a vehicle, comprising steps of: providing a fuel dispenser; transferring data from a vehicle to a computer via the fuel dispenser, the transferred data comprising data that is descriptive of at least one of an occupant of the vehicle or the vehicle; in response to the transferred data, operating the computer to search a data base to select information to be presented to the occupant of the vehicle, the selected information being comprised of at least one of a promotional message provided by a supplier of goods or services or a discount offer provided by a supplier of goods or services; and presenting the selected information to the occupant of the vehicle.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as in claim 41, wherein the step of presenting comprises the steps of: transferring the selected information from the computer to the fuel dispenser, and from the fuel dispenser to the vehicle; and presenting the response to the occupant of the vehicle by at least one displaying, annunciating or printing at least some of the selected information within the vehicle.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as in claim 41, wherein the step of presenting comprises the steps of: transferring the selected information from the computer to the fuel dispenser; and presenting the response to the occupant of the vehicle by at least one displaying or printing at least some of the selected information with the fuel dispenser.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as in claim 41, wherein the computer is a remote computer, and wherein the step of transferring data includes a step of transmitting the data to a data communications network that is bidirectionally coupled between the fuel dispenser and the computer.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as in claim 41, wherein the fuel dispenser comprises the computer.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 41, wherein a communications unit that is bidirectionally coupled to a plurality of fuel dispensers comprises the computer.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for providing information to an occupant of a vehicle, comprising steps of: providing a fuel dispenser; transferring data from the vehicle to the fuel dispenser through an interface, the transferred data comprising first data that is descriptive of an occupant of the vehicle; forwarding at least the first data from the fuel dispenser to a computer to obtain second data from a data base that is accessible by the computer, the second data being further descriptive of the occupant of the vehicle; selecting information to be provided to the occupant of the vehicle in accordance with at least the obtained second data; and providing the selected information to the occupant of the vehicle in a human perceptible form using at least one of vehicle information outputting means or fuel dispenser information outputting means.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for providing information to an occupant of a vehicle, comprising steps of: providing a fuel dispenser; transferring data from the vehicle to the fuel dispenser through an interface, the transferred data comprising first data that is descriptive of an occupant of the vehicle; forwarding at least the first data from the fuel dispenser to a computer to obtain second data from a data base that is accessible by the computer, the second data being further descriptive of the occupant of the vehicle; selecting information to be provided to the occupant of the vehicle in accordance with at least the obtained second data; and providing the selected information to the occupant of the vehicle in a human perceptible form using at least one of vehicle information outputting means or fuel dispenser information outputting means.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 47, wherein the first data is comprised of an account number.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 48, wherein the obtained second data comprises customer data maintained by an issuer of the account number.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 47, wherein at least one of the steps of transferring, forwarding, selecting and providing are executed contemporaneously with a step of pumping fuel from the fuel dispenser into a fuel tank of the vehicle.
Claim 60
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for providing information to an occupant of a vehicle, comprising steps of: providing a fuel dispenser; transferring data from a vehicle to a computer via the fuel dispenser, the transferred data comprising data that was entered by the occupant of the vehicle using a data input device; in response to at least the transferred data, operating the computer to search a data base to select information to be presented to the occupant of the vehicle; and presenting the selected information to the occupant of the vehicle.
Claim 61
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for providing information to an occupant of a vehicle, comprising steps of: providing a fuel dispenser; transferring data from a vehicle to a computer via the fuel dispenser, the transferred data comprising data that was entered by the occupant of the vehicle using a data input device; in response to at least the transferred data, operating the computer to search a data base to select information to be presented to the occupant of the vehicle; and presenting the selected information to the occupant of the vehicle.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as in claim 51, wherein the selected information is comprised of at least one of a promotional message provided by a supplier of goods or services or a discount offer provided by a supplier of goods or services.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as in claim 51, wherein the step of operating the computer to search the data base to select information to be presented to the occupant of the vehicle further takes into consideration, when selecting the information, a location of the fuel dispenser.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as in claim 51, wherein the step of presenting comprises the steps of: transferring the selected information from the computer to the fuel dispenser, and from the fuel dispenser to the vehicle; and presenting the response to the occupant of the vehicle by at least one displaying, annunciating or printing at least some of the selected information within the vehicle.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as in claim 51, wherein the step of presenting comprises the steps of: transferring the selected information from the computer to the fuel dispenser; and presenting the response to the occupant of the vehicle by at least one displaying or printing at least some of the selected information with the fuel dispenser.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as in claim 51, wherein the computer is a remote computer, and wherein the step of transferring data includes a step of transmitting the data to a data communications network that is bidirectionally coupled between the fuel dispenser and the computer.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 51, wherein the computer comprises a portion of the fuel dispenser.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 51, wherein the computer comprises a portion of a communications unit that is bidirectionally coupled to a plurality of fuel dispensers.
Claim 69
Independent Claim
112 words
A system for fueling vehicles, comprising: a plurality of fuel dispensers; and a local computer that is bidirectionally coupled to said plurality of fuel dispensers through a local, first data communications network, and that is further bidirectionally coupled to a plurality of remote plurality of fuel dispensers and said first data communications network, and from said local computer to one of said remote computers over said second data communications network; and wherein a response to said data access request from said one of said remote computers is transmitted to said local computer over said second data communications network, and from said local computer towards said one of said plurality of fuel dispensers.
Claim 70
Independent Claim
112 words
A system for fueling vehicles, comprising: a plurality of fuel dispensers; and a local computer that is bidirectionally coupled to said plurality of fuel dispensers through a local, first data communications network, and that is further bidirectionally coupled to a plurality of remote plurality of fuel dispensers and said first data communications network, and from said local computer to one of said remote computers over said second data communications network; and wherein a response to said data access request from said one of said remote computers is transmitted to said local computer over said second data communications network, and from said local computer towards said one of said plurality of fuel dispensers.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as in claim 59, wherein at least said transceivers operate with a bit serial protocol.
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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) | 2003-05-23 | 2003-11-22 | 2004-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-23 | 2007-11-22 | 2008-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-23 | 2011-11-22 | 2012-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |