초록 ▼

A fluid delivery nozzle for wireless communication to either an active or a passive device located on a vehicle and for wireless communication from the fluid delivery nozzle to a central location for storage of vehicle data. Upon initiation of a fluid delivery transaction, a communication link is es

A fluid delivery nozzle for wireless communication to either an active or a passive device located on a vehicle and for wireless communication from the fluid delivery nozzle to a central location for storage of vehicle data. Upon initiation of a fluid delivery transaction, a communication link is established between a vehicle communication device and the central location and between a fluid container of the vehicle and the fluid delivery nozzle. The information received from the vehicle and container is relayed to the central location to authorize delivery of a fluid to the vehicle. Information is also transferred from the central location back and forth to the fluid delivery nozzle to update and store information regarding the fluid delivery transaction. A keyboard and display are provided on the fluid delivery nozzle to provide an operator interface during the fluid delivery transaction. Using the keyboard, the operator may directly control the delivery of fluid to the container or may respond to information displayed on the nozzle during the fluid delivery transaction.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for controlling fluid delivery, the method comprising the steps of: providing a site controller for a fluid delivery location, the site controller having a first envelope of communication encompassing the fluid delivery location wherein wireless signals may be acquired;providing a fluid

1. A method for controlling fluid delivery, the method comprising the steps of: providing a site controller for a fluid delivery location, the site controller having a first envelope of communication encompassing the fluid delivery location wherein wireless signals may be acquired;providing a fluid delivery device, the fluid delivery device having a second envelope of communication wherein wireless signals may be acquired within a short distance from the fluid delivery device;upon entry of a fluid container device within the first envelope of communication, wirelessly receiving at the site controller at least one of: a container identification code from the container, the container associated with the fluid container device;a first identification code from the fluid container device;an operator identification code from an operator identification device; andinformation regarding at least one of the container other than the container identification code, the fluid container device other than the first identification code and the operator other than the operator identification code;upon arrival of the fluid container device within the second envelope of communication, wirelessly receiving at the fluid delivery device before a fluid delivery a second identification code from the fluid container device, the fluid container device not physically associated with the fluid delivery device, and the site controller not physically associated with the fluid delivery device and the fluid container device;transmitting wirelessly, by the fluid delivery device, to the site controller the second identification code;upon comparing, by the site controller, the first identification code and the second identification code and determining that the appropriate fluid container should be delivered fluid, transmitting wirelessly from the site controller an activation instruction to the fluid delivery device, the activation instruction enabling the fluid delivery device to begin dispensing fluid;wirelessly receiving at the site controller certain information specific to the fluid delivery from the fluid delivery device; andtransmitting wirelessly from the site controller a de-activation instruction to the fluid delivery device, the de-activation instruction enabling the fluid delivery device to stop dispensing fluid. 2. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying information regarding the fluid delivery on a display device coupled to the fluid delivery device. 3. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of acquiring at least one of the container identification code, first identification code and operator identification through at least one of: (i) manual input at the fluid delivery device and (ii) a scanning device. 4. A method as defined in claim 2, further comprising the step of transmitting advertising or promotional information to the display device. 5. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of generating a payment transaction from said certain information specific to said fluid delivery. 6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises liquid fuel and the fluid delivery device operatively controls a fuel dispenser and wherein the fluid container device is associated with a fuel tank of a vehicle. 7. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein information regarding the fuel tank of the vehicle is acquired from the fluid container device. 8. A method for controlling a fluid delivery, the method comprising the steps of: providing a site controller for a fluid delivery location, the site controller having a first envelope of communication encompassing the fluid delivery location wherein wireless signals may be acquired;providing a fluid delivery device, the fluid delivery device having a second envelope of communication wherein wireless signals may be acquired within a short distance from the fluid delivery device;upon arrival of the fluid container device within the second envelope of communication, (a) wirelessly receiving at the fluid delivery device before a fluid delivery a first identification code from the fluid container device, the fluid container device not physically associated with the fluid delivery device and transmitting wirelessly, by the fluid delivery device, to the site controller the first identification code; and(b) wirelessly receiving, by the site controller, at least one of: a second identification code from the fluid container device;an operator identification code from an operator identification device; andinformation regarding at least one of the fluid container other than the identification code from the fluid container device, the fluid container device other than the identification code from the fluid container device, and the operator other than the operator identification code from the operator identification device;determining, by the site controller, that the fluid container device should be delivered fluid based upon a comparison of the first identification code and at least one of: the second identification code, the operator identification code, and the information regarding at least one of the fluid container other than the identification code from the fluid container device, the fluid container device other than the identification code from the fluid container device, and the operator other than the operator identification code from the operator identification device;wirelessly receiving at the fluid delivery device an activation instruction, the activation instruction enabling fluid to be dispensed by the fluid delivery device;transmitting wirelessly during the fluid delivery by the fluid delivery device to the site controller information specific to the fluid delivery; andwirelessly receiving at the fluid delivery device from the site controller a de-activation instruction, the de-activation instruction causing the fluid delivery device to prohibit further dispensing of fluid. 9. A method as defined in claim 8, further comprising the step of displaying on a display device operably coupled to the fluid delivery device information regarding the fluid delivery. 10. A method as defined in claim 8, further comprising the step of transmitting the information specific to the fluid delivery to a remote location by the site controller. 11. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein said remote location has financial account information regarding an at least one of an operator of the fluid container and the fluid container, and further comprising the step of generating a debit or credit transaction using the information specific to the fluid delivery to pay for the fluid delivered. 12. A method as defined in claim 8, further comprising the step of communicating information regarding the geographic location of the fluid container device from a GPS transmitter associated with the fluid delivery device and including the information regarding the geographic location in the information regarding the fluid delivery. 13. A method as defined in claim 8, further comprising the step of communicating information specific to said fluid delivery to a third-party information storage and retrieval device which includes information regarding at least one of the fluid container device, the fluid container, and a container associated with the fluid container device and transmitting said information regarding the container to said third-party information storage and retrieval device. 14. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein the fluid container is a vehicle being fueled and said information specific to the fluid delivery includes engine diagnostics, fault codes, maintenance schedule information, recall notices, or stolen status of the vehicle. 15. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the fluid container device includes an information storage and retrieval device which contains information regarding the status of a container associated with the fluid container device and further comprising the step of combining the information regarding the status of a container associated with the fluid container device with the information specific to the fluid delivery transmitted to the site controller. 16. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the status information includes diagnostic information obtained from at least one of the fluid container device and a wireless communication device coupled to the fluid container. 17. A method for remotely controlling a plurality of fluid deliveries, the method comprising the steps of: providing a site controller for a fluid delivery location, the site controller having an envelope of communication encompassing the fluid delivery location wherein wireless signals may be acquired;providing a plurality of fluid container devices wherein at least one of the fluid container devices moves in and out of the envelope of communication, and wherein the site controller is not physically associated with the plurality of fluid container devices and controls any fluid delivery to fluid containers associated with the fluid container devices;upon entry of at least one of the fluid container devices within the envelope of communication, wirelessly receiving at the site controller from the at least one of the fluid container devices at least one of: (i) a first identification code associated with at least one fluid container device; and (ii) a first status information associated with at least one fluid container device;upon arrival of the at least one of the fluid container devices to the point of fluid delivery, the point of fluid delivery including at least one fluid delivery device, wirelessly receiving at the site controller before at least one fluid delivery, at least one of: (i) a second identification code associated with at least one fluid container device; and (ii) a second status information associated with at least one fluid container device from the at least one fluid delivery device, the site controller not physically associated with the fluid delivery devices, the respective fluid delivery devices associated with a respective fluid container device; andupon comparing the at least one of: (i) a first identification code associated with at least one fluid container device; and (ii) a first status information associated with at least one fluid container device information, and the at least one of: (i) a second identification code associated with at least one fluid container device; and (ii) a second status information associated with at least one fluid container device by the site controller, and determining that fluid should be delivered, wirelessly transmitting from the site controller an activation instruction to the respective fluid delivery device, the activation instruction enabling the fluid delivery device to begin dispensing fluid;wirelessly receiving at the site controller during the fluid deliveries certain information regarding the fluid deliveries, the information including data to control the fluid deliveries; andwirelessly transmitting by the site controller a de-activation instruction to at least one of the fluid delivery devices, the de-activation instruction enabling at least one of the fluid delivery devices to stop dispensing fluid to the fluid container associated with the respective fluid container device. 18. A method for controlling a fluid delivery, the method comprising the steps of: providing a site controller for a fluid delivery location, the site controller having an envelope of communication encompassing the fluid delivery location wherein wireless signals may be acquired;providing a fluid delivery device, the fluid delivery device configured to wirelessly communicate with the site controller within the envelope of communication and the fluid delivery device is not physically associated with the site controller;wirelessly receiving, from the fluid delivery device, at the site controller information including an identification code of a fluid container regarding an impending fluid delivery, wherein the site controller controls the fluid delivery device that becomes associated with the impending fluid delivery;wirelessly receiving, by the site controller, at least one of: the identification code from the fluid container that becomes associated with the impending fluid delivery;an operator identification code from an operator identification device; andinformation regarding at least one of: the fluid container other than the identification code from the fluid container, and the operator other than the operator identification code from the operator identification device;upon correlating, by the site controller, the identification code from the fluid delivery device and at least one of: the identification code from the fluid container, the operator identification code, and the information regarding at least one of: the fluid container other than the identification code from the fluid container, and the operator other than the operator identification code from the operator identification device, determining, by the site controller, that the fluid should be deliveredand wirelessly transmitting from the site controller to the fluid delivery device an instruction, the instruction configured to control the fluid delivery device during the fluid delivery;wirelessly receiving during the fluid delivery at the site controller from the fluid delivery device, at least one of additional information (i) specific to the fluid container; (ii) specific to the fluid delivery; and (iii) specific to the fluid delivery device;wirelessly transmitting by the site controller a de-activation instruction to the fluid delivery device, the de-activation instruction enabling the fluid delivery device to stop dispensing fluid. 19. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein the fluid delivery devices provide a fluid to at least one human subject and wherein the fluid container devices are associated with at least one human subject. 20. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the certain information specific to the fluid delivery includes information regarding a fluid container associated with the fluid container device. 21. A method as defined in claim 20, wherein said information regarding the fluid container comprises diagnostic information regarding the fluid container. 22. A method as defined in claim 18, wherein the fluid delivery device dispenses fluids to a human subject. 23. A method as defined in claim 22, wherein the certain information specific to the fluid delivery includes information collected by the fluid delivery device associated with the human subject regarding the human subject. 24. A method as defined in claim 21, wherein said fluid container device is associated with a human subject. 25. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein said fluid container device wirelessly communicates information regarding a fluid container associated with the fluid container device to the site controller. 26. A method as defined in claim 25, further comprising the step of communicating information regarding the fluid container from the site controller to the fluid delivery device. 27. A method as defined in claim 18, further comprising the step of communicating information regarding the fluid delivery between the fluid container device and the fluid delivery device. 28. A method as defined in claim 18, further comprising the step of communicating information regarding the apparatus containing the fluid container to the site controller from the fluid delivery device. 29. A method as defined in claim 28, further comprising the step of communicating information regarding the apparatus containing the fluid container from the site controller to the fluid delivery device that becomes associated with the fluid container device for the fluid delivery. 30. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein said information regarding the status of the fluid container is transmitted from the site controller to the fluid delivery device.