METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY MONITORING FUEL TANK ULLAGE IN AN AUTOMATED FUEL AUTHORIZATION PROGRAM

摘要

Described herein is a fuel authorization program that vehicles enrolled in the fuel authorization program to provide fuel tank sensor data in each fuel authorization request, so that an amount of fuel authorized will be limited to the amount needed to fill the vehicle's fuel tank, reducing a likelihood that fuel will be diverted. In at least some embodiments, the fuel authorization controller at the vehicle automatically uses the fuel tank sensor data and known tank size to include in a fuel authorization request sent to a fuel vendor data defining how much fuel is required to fill the vehicle fuel tanks. In at least some embodiments, the fuel vendor consults data from a source other than the vehicle (such as records maintained by the fuel authorization program) to determine how large the vehicles fuel tanks are, and to calculate how much fuel is required.

主权项

1. A method for administering a fuel authorization program, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) in response to receiving a radiofrequency (RF) query from a participating fuel vendor over an RF data link at an enrolled vehicle, automatically implementing the steps of:
(i) obtaining a fuel tank reading from a fuel tank sensor at the vehicle to provide an indication of how much fuel is required to fill a vehicle fuel tank;(ii) establishing an infrared (IR) data link between the vehicle and a specific fuel pump, thereby unambiguously identifying the fuel pump the vehicle is proximate to;(iii) communicating the indication of how much fuel is required and vehicle fuel authorization credentials from the vehicle to the fuel vendor, using at least one of the RF data link and the IR data link; (b) automatically using the vehicle fuel authorization credentials to determine if the vehicle is authorized to receive fuel; (c) after determining the vehicle is enrolled in the fuel authorization program and is authorized to receive fuel, enabling fuel delivery at the fuel pump the vehicle is proximate to in a quantity sufficient to fill the fuel tank based on the indication of how much fuel is required communicated from the vehicle to the fuel vendor.