Patent Application
20200172388
The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0153770, filed on Dec. 3, 2018, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.
The present invention relates to a gas pump identification system configured for identifying a gas pump through a non-contact type sensor provided in a vehicle and making payment, and a method of controlling the same.
In a typical self-service gas station, when a driver directly selects the fuel amount and a payment means through a terminal provided in a gas pump and payment using a credit card succeeds, a filling gun is inserted into a filling inlet to start pumping gas. However, a payment method using such a terminal always requires a credit card. In many cases, the user interface of the terminal differs between gas stations, making it difficult to operate the terminal.
To solve such problems, various simple payment methods have been introduced. However, even in these methods, not only a gas station which a vehicle enters but also a gas pump to be used by a driver among a plurality of gas pumps in the gas station needs to be specified. The gas station which the vehicle enters may be specified without separate operation through recognition of the license number of the vehicle using a camera provided at the entrance of the gas station or based on global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the vehicle. However, to identify a gas pump to be used, it is inconvenient for a driver to directly input the unique identification information related to the gas pump indicated on the outside of the gas pump. Of course, in some simple payment methods, a gas pump closest to a vehicle is specified based on the strength of a beacon signal through wireless communication. However, in the instant case, since communication interference or scattered reflection may occur due to entry of a large vehicle into a gas station, it is difficult to guarantee quality according to situations.
The information included in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and may not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.
Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a gas pump identification system and a method of controlling the same that substantially obviate one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a gas pump identification system configured for identifying a gas pump in a gas station using a non-contact method, and a method of controlling the same.
Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a gas pump identification system configured for identifying a gas pump by inserting a filling gun into a filling inlet, and a method of controlling the same.
Additional advantages, objects, and features of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the present invention. The objectives and other advantages of the present invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a method of controlling a gas pump identification system may include acquiring, by a gas pump identification information acquirer disposed in a vehicle, identification information related to a gas pump from a gas pump identification information provider provided in a filling gun while the filling gun of the gas pump is inserted into a filling inlet of the vehicle, transmitting the acquired identification information to a terminal of the vehicle, and generating, by the terminal, order information based on the identification information and transmitting the order information to a payment server. The gas pump identification information acquirer is configured for acquiring the identification information from the gas pump identification information provider using a non-contact recognition method in a state in which the filling gun is inserted into the filling inlet.
In another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle may include a gas pump identification information acquirer configured to acquire identification information related to a gas pump from a gas pump identification information provider provided in a filling gun while the filling gun of a gas pump is inserted into a filling inlet of the vehicle, and a terminal configured to generate order information based on the identification information and to transmit the order information to a payment server. The gas pump identification information acquirer is configured for acquiring the identification information from the gas pump identification information provider using a non-contact recognition method in a state in which the filling gun is inserted into the filling inlet.
In another aspect of the present invention, a gas pump identification system may include a vehicle including a gas pump identification information acquirer configured to acquire identification information related to a gas pump from a gas pump identification information provider provided in a filling gun while the filling gun of a gas pump is inserted into a filling inlet of the vehicle and a terminal configured to generate order information based on the acquired identification information, and a payment server configured to receive the generated order information from the terminal and to make payment based on the order information. The gas pump identification information acquirer is configured for acquiring the identification information from the gas pump identification information provider using a non-contact recognition method in a state in which the filling gun is inserted into the filling inlet.
In another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle may include a charger identification information acquirer configured to acquire identification information related to a charger from a charger identification information provider provided in a plug of the charger as the plug of the charger is inserted into a socket, and a terminal configured to generate order information based on the acquired identification information and to transmit the order information to a payment server. The charger identification information acquirer is configured for acquiring the identification information from the charger identification information provider using a non-contact recognition method in a state in which the plug is inserted into the socket.
For example, the charger identification information acquirer may approach the charger identification information provider within a predetermined distance in a state in which the plug is inserted into the socket.
For example, the charger identification information acquirer may be disposed near the socket.
For example, the charger identification information acquirer may include a near field communication (NFC) reader, and the charger identification information provider may include an NFC tag.
The non-contact recognition method may include at least one of an infrared (IR) communication method, a visible light communication method, a magnetic secure transmission (MST) method, an acoustic communication method, and a quick response (QR) code method.
For example, the order information may include at least one of charger identification information, payment means information, charging method (slow or fast) information or requested payment amount information or requested charge amount information, and the payment means information may include at least one of a credit card number, a membership number, discount means information, installment information, and loyalty card information.
In another aspect of the present invention, a charger identification system may include a vehicle including a charger identification information acquirer configured to acquire identification information related to a charger from a charger identification information provider provided in a plug of the charger as the plug of the charger is inserted into a socket and a terminal configured to generate order information based on the acquired identification information, and a payment server configured to receive the generated order information from the terminal and to make payment based on the order information, wherein the charger identification information acquirer is configured for acquiring the identification information from the charger identification information provider using a non-contact recognition method in a state in which the plug of the charger is inserted into the socket.
For example, the charger identification system may further include a local server configured to receive approval information related to the payment and the order information from the payment server and a charging station including the charger, and the local server may determine the charger based on the identification information included in the order information and transmit charger operation information corresponding to the order information to the charger.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the present invention as claimed.
The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention.
It may be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the present invention. The specific design features of the present invention as included herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particularly intended application and use environment.
In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent portions of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawing.
Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the present invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that the present description is not intended to limit the present invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the other hand, the present invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
Hereinafter, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings to be easily implemented by those skilled in the art. However, the present invention may be variously implemented and is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein. In the drawings, to clearly describe the present invention, portions which are not related to the description of the present invention will be omitted and similar portions are denoted by similar reference numerals throughout the specification.
In the entire specification, when a certain portion “includes” a certain component, this indicates that the other components are not excluded, but may be further included unless specially described. The same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
In the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a sensor for identifying a gas pump is provided in each of a vehicle and a filling gun, and the filling gun is inserted into the filling inlet such that the vehicle automatically acquires the identification information related to the gas pump.
To the present end, when the filling gun is inserted into or approaches the filling inlet, the vehicle acquires the unique identification information related to the gas pump held by the filling gun using a non-contact method. Accordingly, in the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the filling gun includes a gas pump identification information provider for actively transmitting the unique identification information related to the gas pump to the filling inlet (regardless of the request of the filling inlet) or passively allowing the filling inlet to acquire the unique identification information related to the gas pump. Furthermore, the vehicle includes a gas pump identification information acquirer for actively reading the identification information related to the gas pump held by the filling gun or receiving the identification information related to the gas pump in a response to a request transmitted to the filling gun. At the instant time, the gas pump identification information acquirer acquires the identification information related to the gas pump in a state in which the filling gun is inserted into the filling inlet and thus may be provided adjacent to the filling inlet.
In the following description, for convenience, the gas pump identification information acquirer and the gas pump identification information provider may be collectively referred to as a sensor, regardless of whether active/passive operation is performed or whether detection is actually performed. For example, the gas pump identification information provider of the filling gun is referred to as a “filling gun sensor”, and the gas pump identification information acquirer on, near or adjacent to the filling inlet is referred to as a “filling inlet sensor”.
First, the configuration of the filling gun and the filling inlet, to which the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are applicable, will be described with reference to
First, referring to the upper side of
Next, referring to the upper side of
Of course, the non-contact recognition method and the positions and arrangement of the sensors shown in
Referring to
First, the vehicle 100 may include a filling inlet sensor 110 and an audio/video/navigation (AVN) system 120 (or an audio/video/navigation terminal (AVNT)).
The NFC reader 12 or the filling inlet side IR communication module 30 described with reference to
The AVN system 120 may transmit order information to the payment platform server through wireless communication based on the gas pump identification information acquired by the filling inlet sensor 110. At the instant time, the order information may include at least one of gas pump identification information, payment means information, fuel type information or requested payment amount information (and/or requested fuel amount information). Here, fuel type information may be included in the gas pump identification information. Furthermore, the payment means information may include at least one of a credit card number, a membership number, discount means information such as a coupon number or affiliation, installment information, and loyalty card information. Furthermore, the AVN system 120 may receive payment means information prestored in the server 300 in connection with account information by logging in to the payment platform server 300 to receive account information, use payment means information stored therein or directly receive at least a portion of payment means information from a user. Meanwhile, the AVN system 120 may output the payment means information and a final payment processing result through a display in a form of a predetermined on screen display (OSD).
The payment platform server 300 may pay for gas through an online payment system (e.g., a card purchase approval request through connection of a card company server) using the order information received from the AVN system 120 of the vehicle 100. Payment approval information for gas may be transmitted to the AVN system 120 and the affiliated gas station server 400. At the instant time, the payment platform server 300 may transmit the payment approval information to the affiliated gas station server 400 along with the order information.
The affiliated gas station server 400 may receive the order information and the payment approval information from the payment platform server 300 and transmit the order information and the payment approval information to a local server 220 of the gas station 200 corresponding to the gas pump identification information related to the order information among a plurality of gas stations managed thereby.
The gas station 200 may include one or more gas pumps 210 and the local server 220. Each gas pump 210 includes the filling gun sensor 211 configured for providing identification information thereof to the filling inlet sensor 110. For example, the filling gun sensor 211 may be implemented in a form of the NFC tag 22 or the filling gun side IR communication module 40 described with reference to
The local server 220 may check the order information and the approval information received from the affiliated gas station server 400 and control the gas pump 210 (e.g., operation information transmission) such that gas of an amount corresponding to the approval information is supplied to the gas pump 210 corresponding to the gas pump identification information included in the order information. Furthermore, the local server 220 may transmit the approval information to the corresponding gas pump 210 such that the gas pump 210 outputs a receipt.
Meanwhile, in various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the affiliated gas station server 400 may be omitted and the payment platform server 300 may be implemented to directly communicate with the local server 220 of the gas station.
Referring to
When communication succeeds (Yes of S420), the AVN system may detect gas pumping start through sensor communication (that is, gas pump identification information acquisition) (S430), and call a simple payment function based on the unique value of the filling gun sensor (that is, the gas pump identification information) (S440). At the instant time, the simple payment function may be an application executed in the AVN system and may be performed in a smartphone or a tablet connected to the AVN system in various exemplary embodiments. In the instant case, the smartphone or the tablet may perform a function after acquiring the gas pump identification information, e.g., a function for interfacing with the payment platform server 300, and return the order information to the AVN system after the driver confirms the order information.
When calling of the simple payment function fails due to communication error or sensor failure (No of S450), a user may manually input gas pump information to the AVN system (S460).
The AVN system may generate order information and payment means information through the called simple payment information and automatically transmit the order information to the payment platform server 300 (S470).
When communication with the payment platform server 300 succeeds (Yes of S480), the AVN system may receive payment approval information according to the order information (S490A), and otherwise, the AVN system may receive order failure notification information (S490B).
Referring to
The filling inlet sensor 110 transmits the gas pump identification information to the AVNT 120, and the AVNT 120 generates order information based on the gas pump identification information and transmits the order information to the payment platform server 300. In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, when the simple payment function is performed in the user terminal instead of the AVNT 120, the gas pump identification information may be transmitted to the user terminal.
The payment platform server 300 may perform payment processing based on the order information and transmit the order information and payment approval information to the affiliated gas station server 400.
The affiliated gas station server 400 determines the gas station based on the gas station identification information related to the order information and transmits the order information and the payment approval information to the local server 220 of the gas station. The local server 220 of the gas station transmits gas pump operation information and the payment approval information to a gas pump 210 corresponding to the gas pump identification information.
Referring to
Upon determining that the vehicle enters the affiliated gas station, the payment platform server 400 may transmit at least payment means information related to the information stored in connection with the vehicle to the vehicle. At the instant time, when previous order information is stored in the payment platform server 400, order information including payment amount information in addition to the payment means information may be transmitted to the vehicle. Therefore, the simple payment function may be displayed on the display of the AVN system of the vehicle and order information according to settings stored in the server 400 may be output ({circle around (2)}).
When a driver makes a request for payment in advance and inserts the filling gun of the gas pump into the filling inlet, the AVNT may acquire the gas pump identification information related to the gas pump through sensor communication between the filling inlet and the filling gun. Therefore, the AVNT may include gas pump identification information in the order information and transmit the order information to the payment platform server 400, starting pumping gas according to payment approval ({circle around (3)}).
The payment approval information may be transmitted from the payment platform server 400 to the AVNT, and the AVNT may output final approval details on the display in a form of OSD according to approval information ({circle around (4)}).
In a general gas station payment system, a customer needs to directly check and input a gas pump number. Although a method of installing a beacon in each gas pump and performing communication using a Bluetooth module within the vehicle is applied, interference or scattered reflection may frequently occur by various environmental variables in the gas station due to short-range communication characteristics. However, when the payment system according to the exemplary embodiments is used, sensor communication may be performed due to contact between the filling inlet and the filling gun when pumping gas, and the vehicle may acquire the gas pump identification information such that the terminal (e.g., the AVNT) within the vehicle may generate order information based on the above information and transmit the order information to the payment platform. Accordingly, the customer may conveniently receive the simple payment service in the gas station without inputting the gas pump identification information. Furthermore, in the present process, since communication between the terminal within the vehicle and the server is performed, the vehicle may naturally satisfy a trigger condition of various personalization services according to entry into the gas station.
Meanwhile, although the gas pump of the gas station for supplying liquid fossil fuels such as gasoline or diesel oil and the filling gun provided therein have been described in the above-described embodiments, the above-described embodiments are applied to an external charger of an electric vehicle charging station for charging electric vehicles and a plug provided therein, recognizing a charger using a similar method. In the instant case, the fuel type information related to payment information may be replaced with a charging method (slow/fast) and pumped gas amount information may be replaced with charge amount information. For example, in the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a socket, into which the filling inlet and the plug are inserted, may be collectively referred to as an “insertion inlet”, the filling gun and the plug may be collectively referred to as an “insertion part”, and the gas pump and the external charger may be collectively referred to as a “supply unit”.
In brief, the vehicle according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention includes a charger identification information acquirer for acquiring identification information related to the charger from a charger identification information provider provided in the plug as the plug of the charger is inserted into the socket, and a terminal for generating order information based on the acquired identification information and transmitting the order information to a payment server. The charger identification information acquirer may acquire the identification information from the charger identification information provider using a non-contact recognition method in a state in which the plug is inserted into the socket.
For example, the charger identification information acquirer may approach the charger identification information provider within a predetermined distance in a state in which the plug is inserted into the socket.
For example, the charger identification information acquirer may be disposed near the socket.
For example, the charger identification information acquirer may include a near field communication (NFC) reader, and the charger identification information provider may include an NFC tag.
For example, the non-contact recognition method may include at least one of an infrared (IR) communication method, a visible light communication method, a magnetic secure transmission (MST) method, an acoustic communication method, and a quick response (QR) code method.
For example, the order information may include at least one of charger identification information, payment means information, charging method (slow/fast) information, requested payment amount information or request charge amount information, and the payment means information may include at least one of a credit card number, a membership number, discount means information, installment information, and loyalty card information.
Furthermore, a charger identification system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention includes a vehicle including a charger identification information acquirer for acquiring identification information related to the charger from a charger identification information provider provided in the plug as the plug of the charger is inserted into a socket and a terminal for generating order information based on the acquired identification information, and a payment server for receiving the generated order information from the terminal and making payment based on the order information. The charger identification information acquirer may acquire the identification information from the charger identification information provider using a non-contact recognition method in a state in which the plug is inserted into the socket.
For example, the charger identification system may further include a local server for receiving approval information related to the payment and the order information from the payment server and a charging station including the charger. The local server may determine the charger based on the identification information included in the order information and transmit charger operation information corresponding to the order information to the charger.
The gas pump identification system according to at least an exemplary embodiment of the present invention having the above-described configuration can conveniently identify the gas pump through the non-contact type sensors respectively provided in the filling inlet and the filling gun.
In particular, it is possible to identify the gas pump by inserting the filling gun into the filling inlet without being influenced by a surrounding environment and to conveniently make payment for gas.
The effects of the present invention are not limited to the above-described effects and other effects which are not described herein may be derived by those skilled in the art from the above description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
The present invention can also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable recording medium. The computer readable recording medium is any data storage device that can store data which can thereafter be read by a computer system. Examples of the computer readable recording medium include read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and optical data storage devices.
For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “inner”, “outer”, “up”, “down”, “upwards”, “downwards”, “front”, “rear”, “back”, “inside”, “outside”, “inwardly”, “outwardly”, “internal”, “external”, “inner”, “outer”, “forwards”, and “backwards” are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures. It will be further understood that the term “connect” or its derivatives refer both to direct and indirect connection.
The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described to explain certain principles of the present invention and their practical application, to enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the present invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2018-0153770 | Dec 2018 | KR | national |
