Google Exhibit 1005
`
`Page 1 of 46
`
`

`
`US 6,574,603 B1
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`9/1994 Hassett ..................... .. 364/401
`10/1994 Ryan ........................ .. 365/465
`11/1994 Simpson et al.
`.......... .. 141/208
`11/1994 Simpson et al.
`..
`141/387
`1/1995 Dwars et al.
`N 141/98
`2/1995 Gunnarsson
`342/42
`2/1995 Corfitsen ..... ..
`.. 414/749
`5/1995 Gunarsson ..
`342/51
`6/1995 smith .......... ..
`340/438
`8/1995 Grabow et al.
`375/267
`1/1996 Chaum et al.
`380/24
`2/1996 Ghaem etal.
`342/51
`3/1996 smith ............. ..
`365/424
`4/1996 Simpson et al. N
`141/206
`7/1996 Dextraze et al. N
`N 364/401
`9/1996 schuermann . . . . .
`. . . N 342/42
`9/1996 Hughes et al.
`340/933
`10/1996 Mitchell
`......... ..
`141/206
`2/1997 Oberrecht et al.
`141/94
`3/1997 Anderson et al.
`141/59
`4/1997 Hagl et al.
`...... N
`342/42
`4/1997 Sharpe et al.
`...... ..
`342/51
`5/1997 Ramsey, Jr. et al.
`. 141/98
`9/1997 Corfitsen ................ .. 141/94
`2/1998 smith ....................... .. 340/438
`
`
`
`5,351,187 A
`5,359,522 A
`5,363,889 A
`5,365,984 A
`5383500 A
`5,392,049 A
`5,393,195 A
`5,414,427 A
`5,422,624 A
`5,444,742 A
`5,485,520 A
`5,495,250 A
`5,499,181 A
`5505234 A
`5,541,835 A
`5,552,789 A
`5,557,268 A
`5,562,133 A
`5,605,182 A
`5,609,190 A
`5,621,411 A
`5,621,412 A
`5,628,351 A
`5,671,786 A
`5,717,374 A
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`W0 9514612
`6/1995
`W0 95/32919
`12/1995
`
`W° 96/28791
`W0 9639351
`W0 97/24689
`WO 97/35284
`PCT/GB 98/02919
`
`9/1996
`12/1996
`7/1997
`9/1997
`12/1998
`
`W0
`W0
`
`W0
`W0
`W0
`W0
`W0
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`.
`5
`CARB—Staff s.Proposesd Recommendation For The Adop-
`tron Of The United States Environmental Protection Agen-
`cy’s Vehicle Refueling Standard and Test Procedures; Apr.
`27, 1994.
`Micron Communications, Inc.—Meeting Notice dated Feb.
`4, 1997.
`~
`~
`.
`1:9/[1‘::,ti:lg,rN1(:t?e’ M1231’ 2:’ 19:7" d . M 29 1997
`as Om 66 mg
`gen a’
`ay
`’
`* cited by examiner
`
`‘
`
`2/1972 Girrsburgh et 61
`3/1972 Chambers et61~
`1/1974 Wostl et al.
`6/1974 Wost1 ~~~~~~ ~~
`4/1981 V6rr Ness
`1/1982 Stephens et 61-
`8/1982 Story et 61
`9/1984 W611<ey et 61
`12/1984 Fr6rrks et 61 ~
`7/1985 Lerrre1sorr
`~~
`2/1986 S6rrdstedt
`7/1986 Walton ....... ..
`12/1987 Greenberg
`12/1987 Bartlett .... ..
`3/1988 H6rre ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
`7/1988 Bydlorr ~~~~~~~ ~
`2/1989 B6rbi6uX et 61
`7/1989 Foekerrs ~~~~~ ~~
`11/1989 Hollerback .... ..
`12/1989 Woodeoek et 61
`1/1990 D1Lu11o et 61- ~
`6/1990 L6rrror1tet61~
`10/1990 K6eh1er ,,,,,, ~
`3/1991 Perrilletal.
`..
`6/1991 DiLu11o et al.
`10/1991 Stewart et al.
`12/1991 Fockens ........ ..
`12/1991 Randleman et al.
`2/1992 Hassett et al.
`7/1992 Mueller ...... ..
`.
`.. 141/209
`.
`7/1992 Slmpson et al.
`141/94
`10/1992 Hall
`.............. ..
`.
`.. 364/510
`2/1993 Slmpson et al.
`.. 235/382
`4/1993 Ieki et al.
`.. 364/465
`4/1993 Ryan .......... ..
`141/59
`6/1993 Simpson et al.
`N 364/405
`6/1993 Ishikawa et 91.
`141/94
`8/1993 Corfitsen .... ..
`10/1993 Parks et al.
`............... .. 141/219
`10/1993 Simpson et al.
`............ ,, 222/40
`
`.. 364/405
`10/1993 Hassett et al.
`............ .. 141 387
`12 1993 Ka lan et al.
`7/1994 SmIi)th ............................ 3/20/2
`
`7/1994 Simpson et al.
`141/59
`9/1994 Tibbals, III ................ .. 141/83
`
`
`
`~~~~~~ ~~ 141/94
`~~ 141/1
`.. 340/149
`141/98
`141/98
`~ 364/465
`~~ 235/381
`141/94
`~ 365/550
`~~ 340/933
`186/39
`.. 236/439
`.... .. 235/384
`340/825.55
`~ ~ ~~ 3432/140
`~ 365/465
`340/52
`141/94
`.. 141/113
`23/519
`~ 340/825
`141/94
`~ 365/479
`364/401
`340/825.06
`364/551.01
`340/825.54
`.. 364/406
`.. 365/401
`.. 364/405
`
`.
`.
`
`3,642,036 A
`3,650,303 A
`3,786,421 A
`3,814,148 A
`4,263,945 A
`4,313,168 A
`4,345,146 A
`4,469,149 A
`4,490,798 A
`4,532,511 A
`4,569,421 A *
`4,600,829 A
`4,711,994 A
`4,714,925 A
`4,728,955 A
`4,760,533 A
`4,804,937 A
`4,846,233 A
`4,881,581 A
`4,887,578 A
`4,897,642 A
`4,934,419 A
`4,967,366 A
`5,003,472 A *
`5,025,253 A
`§,058,044 A
`,070,328 A
`5,072,380 A
`5,086,389 A
`5,128,862 A *
`
`5,131,441 A
`5 156 198 A
`6
`6
`5,184,309 A
`5,204,512 A
`5,204,819 A
`5,217,051 A
`5,213,527 A
`5,238,034 A
`5,249,612 A
`5,249,707 A
`5,253,162 A
`5 267 592 A
`5:327:066 A
`5,327,945 A
`5,343,906 A
`
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 3, 2003
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`Sheet 1 of 27
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`US 6,574,603 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 3, 2003
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`Sheet 2 of 27
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`US 6,574,603 B1
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`
`FIG. 2A
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`66
`
`"'/
`
`FIG. 2B
`
`66
`
`FIG. 2C
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 3, 2003
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`Sheet 3 of 27
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`US 6,574,603 B1
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`$18.50 TOTAL SALE
`
`GALLONS
`
`PRICE/GAL
`
`FIG. 3
`
`Page 5 of 46
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`Page 5 of 46
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 3, 2003
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`Sheet 4 of 27
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`US 6,574,603 B1
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`FIG.4A
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`Page 6 of 46
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`Page 6 of 46
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`72
`
`US 6,574,603 B1
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`Page 7 of 46
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`Page 7 of 46
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 3, 2003
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`Sheet 6 of 27
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`US 6,574,603 B1
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`Page 8 of 46
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`Page 8 of 46
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`U.S. Patent
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`Page 9 of 46
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`Page 9 of 46
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2003
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`Sheet 8 of 27
`
`US 6,574,603 B1
`
`DISPENSER ELECTRONICS
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`AUDIO
`PROCESSOR
`EB
`
`MIC
`258
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`Page 10 of 46
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2003
`
`Sheet 9 of 27
`
`US 6,574,603 B1
`
`
`
`
`CENTRAL SITE
`CONTROL
`INTERFACE
`
`15.0.
`
`
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`MEMORY
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`55
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`FIG. 6
`
`Page 11 of 46
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`Page 11 of 46
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2003
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`Sheet 10 of 27
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`US 6,574,603 B1
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` '
`
`INTERFACE
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`185
`:
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`'
`_ _ _I
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`AUDIO
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`1%
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`VIDEO
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`Page 12 of 46
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`Page 12 of 46
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2003
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`Sheet 11 0127
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`US 6,574,603 B1
`
`
`
`CENTRAL SITE
`CONTROL
`INTERFACE
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`£3
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`Page 13 of 46
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`Page 13 of 46
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2003
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`Sheet 12 of 27
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`US 6,574,603 B1
`
`CENTRAL SITE
`CONTROLLER
`ELECTRONICS
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`FIG. 9
`
`INTERNET
`INTERFACE
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`
`Page 14 of 46
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`Page 14 of 46
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2003
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`Sheet 13 of 27
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`US 6,574,603 B1
`
`BEGIN
`
`500
`
`RECEIVE TXP ID AND
`AUTHORIZE
`
`502
`
`512
`
`514
`
`516
`
`DISPLAY
`ORDER OPTIONS
`
`
`
`506
`
`PLACE ORDER?
`
`YES
`
`RECEIVE
`ORDER
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`WITH TXP
`
`508
`
`510
`
`STORE ORDER
`AT CONTROLLER
`
`CONDUCT TRANSACTION
`AND PREPARE ORDER
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`
` IS TXP DETECTED?
`
`534
`
`536
`
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`START ORDER PREP
`
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`
`MONITOR FOR
`PRESENCE AT PICK-UP
`
`518
`
`IS TXP DETECTED?
`
`YES
`
`RECEIVE TXP ID,
`ORDER INDICIA
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`
`520
`
`
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`
`
`FIG. 10A
`
`Page 15 of 46
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`Page 15 of 46
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2003
`
`Sheet 14 of 27
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`US 6,574,603 B1
`
`ASSOCIATE ORDER
`
`WITH TXP
`
`522
`
`524
`
`
`
`
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`ALERT OPERATOR
`
`OF CUSTOMER PRESENCE
`
`526
`
`FIG. 1 OB
`
`Page 16 of 46
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`Page 16 of 46
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 3, 2003
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`Sheet 15 of 27
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`US 6,574,603 B1
`
`IN VEHICLE CONTROL
`AND INTERFACE
`
`OUTER PROCESSING
`SYSTEM
`
`BEGIN
`
`500
`
`502
`
`504
`
`506
`
`508
`
`DISPLAY RECEIVED
`OR STORED MENU
`
`RECEIVE OCCUPANT
`SELECTIONS
`
`STORE OCCUPANT
`SELECTIONS IN IVC
`AS AN ORDER
`
`DETERMINE
`WHETHER TO
`TRANSMIT ORDER
`
`(E.G. DETERMINE IF
`IVC IS BEING
`INTERROGATED OR
`WITHIN RANGE TO
`TRANSMIT ORDER
`
`510
`
`TRANSMIT ORDER
`FOR PROCESSING
`
`NO
`
`RECEIVE TRANsMITTED
`INFORMATION, INCLUDING
`OCCUPANT ORDER,
`TRANSMIT ID, ORDER AND T» DIRECTLY OR VIA RELAY
`FINANCIAL INFORMATION
`TO EFFECT PAYMENT FOR
`
`514
`
`512
`
`
`
`
`
`SEND OCCUPANT
`ORDER TO FOOD
`PROCESSING
`TERMINAL FOR
`PROCESSING
`
`PROCESSING TO ONE OF A
`SATELLITE (FOR RELAY),
`GROUND STATION (FOR
`RELAY), QSR RECEIVER, OR
`DISPENSER ASSOCIATED
`
`516
`
`FIG. 11A
`
`Page 17 of 46
`
`FOR PROCESSING)
`
`?
`YES
`RECEIVER
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 17 of 46
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2003
`
`Sheet 16 of 27
`
`US 6,574,603 B1
`
`518
`
`520
`
`522
`
`524
`
`PROCESS ORDER AND
`
`EFFECT PAYMENT (E.G.
`AUTHORIZE AND
`EFFECT PAYMENT VIA A
`REMOTE TRANSACTION
`
`AUTHORITY)
`
`TRANSMIT
`CONFIRMATION, ORDER
`TOTALS, AND/OR
`ORDER ID TO
`OCCUPANT DIRECTLY
`OR VIA RELAY
`
`
`
`
`
`
`RECEIVE AND
`STORE
`CONFIRMATION,
`ORDER TOTALS,
`AND/OR ORDER
`
`
`
`DISPLAY
`CONFIRMATION, ORDER
`TOTALS, AND/OR
`ORDER ID TO
`OCCUPANT IN VEHICLE
`
`
`
`
`
`DETERMINE WHETHER
`TO TRANSMIT ORDER
`
`526
`
`
`
`
`
`OR VEHICLE ID (E.G.
`DETERMINE IF IVC IS
`BEING INTERROGATED
`OR WITHIN RANGE TO
`IDENTIFY VEHICLE WITH
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ORDER)
`
`TRANSMIT ID FOR
`PROCESSING
`?
`
`FIG.
`
`11B
`
`Page 18 of 46
`
`Page 18 of 46
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2003
`
`Sheet 17 of 27
`
`US 6,574,603 B1
`
`TRANSMIT VEHICLE ID AND/
`OR ORDER ID TO IDENTIFY
`A VEHICLE PROXIMATE TO
`A STATION ALONG A DRIVE
`
`THRU LANE
`
`530
`
`T“7—>
`
`RECEIVE ID
`INFORMATION AND
`CORRELATE THE ID
`INFORMATION WITH
`AN ORDER
`
`538
`
`DETERMINE A
`
`
`
`
`
`LOCATION OF THE
`
`
`VEHICLE IN THE
`DRIVE THRU LANE
`
`ALERT FOOD
`PROCESSORS OF
`THE VEHICLE'S
`LOCATION OR
`POSITION IN THE
`DRIVE THRU LANE
`
`DETERMINE WHETHER
`TO TRANSMIT ORDER
`
`OR VEHICLE ID (E.G.
`DETERMINE IF IVC IS
`BEING INTERROGATED
`OR WITHIN RANGE TO
`IDENTIFY VEHICLE WITH
`
`
`
`ORDER)
`
`TRANSMIT ID FOR
`PROCESSING
`?
`
`
`
`
`RECEIVE ID
`INFORMATION AND
`CORRELATE THE ID
`INFORMATION WITH
`AN ORDER
`
`INSTRUCT
`OPERATOR TO
`DELIVER PROPER
`ORDER TO
`CORRESPONDING
`VEHICLE
`
`YES
`
`TRANSMIT VEHICLE ID AND/
`OR ORDER ID TO IDENTIFY
`A VEHICLE PROXIMATE TO
`AN ORDER PICK Up
`FJQSITIQN
`
`54
`
`548
`
`END
`
`FIG. 11C
`
`Page 19 Of 46
`
`Page 19 of 46
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2003
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`Sheet 18 of 27
`
`US 6,574,603 B1
`
`\
`
`\ \\
`
`263
`
`_-24.9
`
`2.4.1.
`
`251
`
`253
`
`FIG12A
`
`‘'
`
`..
`
`CV
`
`\_\\\\
`
`Tm? :
`
`-
`
`J
`
`8
`N
`
`’,, ”’
`
`__ /
`
`\
`
`\
`
`259,261
`
`Page 20 of 46
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`Page 20 of 46
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2003
`
`Sheet 19 of 27
`
`US 6,574,603 B1
`
`FIG.12B
`
`263
`
`259
`
`261
`
`Page 21 of 46
`
`Page 21 of 46
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2003
`
`Sheet 20 of 27
`
`US 6,574,603 B1
`
`BEGIN
`
`400
`
`
`
`ALTERNATELY TRANSMIT
`FROM TOP- AND MID-MOUNT
`ANTENNAS
`
`MONITOR FOR TXP RESPONSES
`AT TOP Rx ANTENNA
`
`
`
`
`RX RESPONSE
`FROM TXP?
`
`YES
`
`DETERMINE FROM WHICH
`TRANSMISSION THE
`TXP IS RESPONDING
`
`DETERMINE TRANSMISSION
`FIELD OR LOCATION FROM
`WHICH TXP IS RESPONDING
`
`READ TXP
`IDENTIFICATION
`INDICIA
`
`408
`
`410
`
`412
`
`VEHICLE
`MOUNTED
`
`9
`
`
`
`414
`
`VEHICLE QR
`CUSTOMER TXP?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 12C
`
`CUSTOMER
`CARRIED
`
`Q9
`
`Page 22 Of 46
`
`Page 22 of 46
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2003
`
`Sheet 21 of 27
`
`US 6,574,603 B1
`
`
`
`MONITOR FOR TxP
`RESPONSE AND
`PRESENCE
`
`
`
`
`4
`
`18
`
`RETURN TO
`BEGINNING
`
`
`
`416
`
`
`WITHIN
`
`MID-ANTENNA
`FIELD?
`
`
`
`420
`
`CONTINUE WITH
`THE TRANSACTION
`
`422
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`RESPONSE
`IGNORE
`FROM VEHICLE
`TxP
`
`RESPONSE
`-
`
`
`
`NO
`
`
`
`MONITOR FOR
`
`CQNT|NUED Txp
`
`PRESENCE IN
`
`
`MID-ANTENNA
`
`
`FIELD (OR)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`424
`
`ALLOW MOVEMENT
`THROUGHOUT
`FUELING
`
`
`
`
`
`426
`
`TRANSACTION
`COMPLETE?
`
`
`
`
`
`428
`
`ENVIRONMENT
`
`
`CONTINUE WITH
`TRANSACTION
`
`TRANSACTION
`COMPLETE?
`
`
`442
`
`RETURN TO
`BEGINNING
`
`
`
`RETURN TO
`BEGINNING
`
`FIG. 12D
`
`Page 23 Of 46
`
`Page 23 of 46
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2003
`
`Sheet 22 of 27
`
`US 6,574,603 B1
`
`14
`
`4
`
`14
`
`I64
`
`
`
`2| (fa
`
`i
`
`FIG.13A
`
`64
`
`14
`
`@@{:2 3 3
`
`
`
`
`
`CD
`
`<
`
`8
`
`
`
`Page 24 of 46
`
`Page 24 of 46
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2003
`
`Sheet 23 of 27
`
`US 6,574,603 B1
`
`0
`
`FIG.13B
`
`Page 25 of 46
`
`Page 25 of 46
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2003
`
`Sheet 24 of 27
`
`US 6,574,603 B1
`
`BEGIN
`
`
`
`700
`
`
`
`710
`
`
`
`MONITOR FOR
`TRANSPONDER SIGNAL
`
`
`
`
`DETECT
`TRANSPONDER
`SIGNAL?
`
`MONITOR SIGNAL
`CHARACTERISTICS
`
`(i.e. STRENGTH)
`
`
`IS SIGNAL
`STILL PRESENT?
`
`YES
`
`DETERMINE PROXIMITY
`OF VEHICLE TO DISPENSER
`
`DETERMINE SIDE
`
`OF DISPENSER
`
`
`(FUELING POSITION
`FOR FUELING)
`
`
`
`
`
`IS VEHICLE
`WITHIN FUELING
`PROXIMITY?
`
`
`
`TO FIG. 14B
`
`FIG. 14A
`
`Page 26 of 46
`
`Page 26 of 46
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2003
`
`Sheet 25 of 27
`
`US 6,574,603 B1
`
`780
`
`795
`
`FROM FIG. 14A
`
`ACTIVATE DISPENSER
`FUELING ELECTRONICS
`
`AS DESIRED
`
`
`
` IS SIGNAL
`
`
`STILL PRESENT?
`
`NO
`
`DEACTIVATE DISPENSER
`ELECTRONICS
`
`FIG. 14B
`
`Page 27 of 46
`
`Page 27 of 46
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2003
`
`Sheet 26 of 27
`
`US 6,574,603 B1
`
`BEGIN
`
`800
`
`MONITOR FOR
`TRANSPONDER SIGNAL
`
`DETECT
`TRANSPONDER
`
`SIGNAL?
`
`
`MONITOR SIGNAL CHARACTERISTICS
`
`(i.e. PHASE) RECEIVED
`AT VARIOUS DISPENSERS
`
`
`
`DETERMINE VEHICLE LOCATION
`
`(i.e.TR|ANGULATE VARIOUS
`RECEIVED SIGNALS)
`
`DETERMINE DISPENSER
`AT WHICH IS MOST PROXIMATE
`
`840
`
`850
`
`DETERMINE SIDE OF
`DISPENSER FOR FUELING
`
`860
`
`
`
`870
`IS VEHICLE
`
`WITHIN FUELING AREA
`
`OF DISPENSER?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`YES
`
`ACTIVATE DISPENSER FUELING
`ELECTRONICS AS DESIRED
`
`K 890
`
`YES
`
`
`IS VEHICLE
`WITHIN FUELING
`AREA?
`
`
`
`NO
`
`
`
`DEACTIVATE DISPENSER
`FUELING ELECTRONICS
`
`FIG. 15
`
`Page 28 of 46
`
`Page 28 of 46
`
`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2003
`
`Sheet 27 of 27
`
`US 6,574,603 B1
`
`FIG. 16
`
`Page 29 of 46
`
`Page 29 of 46
`
`

`
`US 6,574,603 B1
`
`1
`IN-VEHICLE ORDERING
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. appli-
`cation Ser. No. 09/034,969, filed Mar. 4, 1998, which claims
`the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/060,066,
`filed Sep. 26, 1997.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to remote ordering
`systems and, more particularly, to remote ordering systems
`allowing vehicle occupants to place orders from within the
`vehicle and monitoring vehicle movement within and
`throughout a fueling and/or restaurant environment.
`In recent years, traditional gasoline pumps and service
`stations have evolved into elaborate point-of-sale (POS)
`devices having sophisticated control electronics and user
`interfaces with large displays and touch-pads or screens. The
`dispensers include various types of payment means, such as
`card readers and cash acceptors,
`to expedite and further
`enhance fueling transactions. Acustomer is not limited to the
`purchase of fuel at the dispenser. More recent dispensers
`allow the customer to purchase services, such as car washes,
`and goods, such as fast food or convenience store products
`at the dispenser. Once purchased, the customer need only
`pick up the goods and services at the station store or the
`outlet of a vending machine.
`Remote transaction systems have evolved wherein the
`fuel dispenser is adapted to communicate with various types
`of remote communication devices, such as transponders, to
`provide various types of identification and information to the
`fuel dispenser automatically. These systems are known to
`facilitate communications of various types of information
`between a vehicle and other stations, such as fuel dispensers,
`toll booths, and parking facilities. The more sophisticated
`systems provide a transponder on the vehicle configured to
`communicate with a fuel dispenser wherein identification
`and financial information is sent from the vehicle to the fuel
`
`dispenser to effect payment for fueling.
`Systems also exist which allow a customer to order food
`from a menu at the fuel dispenser interface, however, a
`customer paying for gas using the transponder must still pay
`for food at the dispenser or at the quick-serve restaurant
`from which the food is being ordered. Thus, a first drawback
`is that the customer is required to pay for fuel using the
`transponder and pay for any items ordered from the quick-
`serve restaurant by some other means, preferably a debit or
`credit card. Another drawback is that other occupants in the
`vehicle cannot see or interact with the dispenser interface to
`determine and select the items desired for the order. For
`
`example, if four people are in the vehicle, only the person
`dispensing fuel is privy to the items available for order and
`their respective prices. A further disadvantage of placing
`food orders at a fuel dispenser is that such ordering increases
`the amount of time a vehicle is at a particular fueling
`position, which may result in increased congestion and lost
`profits due to potential customers selecting an apparently
`less congested fueling environment. Thus, merging the rela-
`tively new transponder transactions with ordering food at a
`dispenser may result in a decrease in fueling and ordering
`efficiencies - a result in stark contrast to the goals of each of
`these systems.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention provides a solution to the disad-
`vantages associated with the latest trends in quick-serve
`restaurant environments and, in particular, quick-serve res-
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`taurant environments associated with fuel dispensing. The
`present invention relates to an in-vehicle controller (IVC)
`having an interface allowing occupants of the vehicle to
`place orders from within the vehicle for items provided by
`a quick-serve restaurant before or after the vehicle reaches
`a typical order entry position associated with the quick-serve
`restaurant. Occupants in the vehicle are provided a menu on
`a display of an in-vehicle interface. The occupants may
`select any number of desired items to form an occupant
`order. The occupant order is stored and/or transmitted
`directly or indirectly to the quick-serve restaurant for pro-
`cessing. Financial information may be sent along with the
`customer order to effect payment for the occupant order.
`Preferably,
`the occupant order is transmitted directly to
`communication electronics in or associated with a fuel
`dispenser in an environment associated with a quick-serve
`restaurant. The dispenser electronics will forward the occu-
`pant order to the quick-serve restaurant for processing.
`Alternatively, the occupant order may be transmitted to the
`quick-serve restaurant via satellite or ground-based commu-
`nication systems, which in effect relay information trans-
`mitted from the vehicle to communication electronics asso-
`ciated with the quickserve restaurant. In other words, the
`invention relates to the transmission of an occupant order,
`which was entered from within a vehicle, to the quick-serve
`restaurant for processing.
`The occupant order may be substantially immediately
`transmitted for processing, or the occupant order may be
`held for any amount of time before being transmitted. For
`example, the occupants of the vehicle may enter their order
`prior to arriving at a fueling and quick-serve restaurant
`environment wherein the order is actually transmitted to the
`fuel dispenser upon arrival at a particular fueling position. At
`that point, the order is passed to the quick-serve restaurant
`for processing while the occupant fuels the vehicle.
`Another aspect of the present invention may relate to
`monitoring a vehicle’s position throughout a fueling envi-
`ronment in order to associate orders placed from within the
`vehicle with a particular customer or vehicle at an appro-
`priate receiving point. The receiving point may be a pick-up
`window at a quick-serve restaurant drive-thru, a car wash
`terminal, or any other point adapted to receive products or
`services ordered from the vehicle. In addition to associating
`the appropriate customer with the order being picked up,
`operators of a quick-serve restaurant (QSR) can monitor or
`detect the position of the vehicle in the drive-thru lane or
`elsewhere in the fueling environment as well as determine
`when to start order preparation.
`The customer may choose to pay for the order automati-
`cally as described above, along with the fuel at the dispenser,
`at
`the order pick-up position, or at one of the in-store
`registers associated with the QSR or the convenience store.
`Assuming that the transaction was paid for automatically or
`at the dispenser along with the fuel, the customer may enter
`the vehicle and proceed to drive around the fuel station store
`along a drive-thru lane and pass a customer position monitor.
`As the customer approaches the customer position monitor,
`a drive-thru position interrogator may be used to receive a
`signal from the vehicle indicating the customer is at a known
`position in the drive-thru lane. At this point, a control system
`will alert the food preparation area to prepare the order and
`indicate to an order pick-up interface and controller the
`position of the vehicle in the drive-thru lane. Once the
`customer reaches the order pick-up window, the order pick-
`up interrogator will determine the presence of the customer
`vehicle and associate the occupant order accordingly so that
`the drive-thru window operator can deliver the freshly
`prepared order to the correct customer.
`
`Page 30 of 46
`
`Page 30 of 46
`
`

`
`US 6,574,603 B1
`
`3
`Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention may
`provide a remote ordering system configured to communi-
`cate with an in-vehicle order interface. The ordering system
`includes communication electronics adapted to ultimately
`communicate with vehicle communication electronics asso-
`ciated with an in-vehicle order interface and an order pro-
`cessing terminal at a quick-serve restaurant adapted to
`display an occupant order to a food processor. The system
`will also include a control system associated with the
`communication electronics and the occupant order process-
`ing terminal. The control system is configured to receive the
`occupant order via the communication electronics, send the
`occupant order to the order processing terminal
`for
`processing, receive account information, and effect payment
`for the order based on the occupant account information.
`The in-vehicle order interface may take on many
`configurations, all of which will include a display and input
`device operating in conjunction with a controller to provide
`a menu to an occupant and recognize items selected by the
`occupant through the input device. The in-vehicle interface
`will also be associated with communication electronics
`configured to transmit the occupant order and, preferably,
`account information, for ultimate receipt at
`the ordering
`system. Such communications may be direct, via satellite or
`via ground relay, such as a cellular communication system.
`As noted, the preferred embodiment is found in a fueling
`environment associated with a quick-serve restaurant
`wherein communications are sent to dispenser communica-
`tion electronics or communication electronics associated
`
`with the dispenser or dispensing area. The order received at
`the dispenser or in the dispensing area is transmitted to the
`quick-serve restaurant for processing.
`Another aspect of the present invention may provide a
`multistage ordering system. The system may include first
`remote communications electronics adapted to communicate
`with an in-vehicle occupant order system. An order receipt
`position apart from the fuel dispenser is provided and
`includes second remote communications electronics adapted
`to communicate with the in-vehicle occupant order system,
`a receipt position output indicating the vehicle associated
`with the order is at
`the order receipt
`location, and an
`intermediate location output indicating the vehicle is locat-
`ing position. An intermediate locating position located along
`the path of travel between the fuel dispenser and the order
`receipt position is also provided. The intermediate locating
`position has a third remote communications electronics
`adapted to communicate with the in-vehicle occupant order
`system. The control system is associated with each of the
`communications electronics.
`
`The control system is preferably adapted to ultimately
`communicate with the in-vehicle occupant order system
`through the first communications electronics when the
`in-vehicle occupant order system is proximate a fuel
`dispenser, associate the occupant order with the vehicle or
`occupant, and communicate with the in-vehicle occupant
`order system through the third remote communications
`electronics when the remote communications unit is proxi-
`mate the intermediate locating position. When the vehicle is
`proximate the intermediate locating position,
`the control
`system provides an intermediate location output in order to
`determine the location of the customer between the dis-
`
`penser and order receipt location. The control system will
`again communicate with the in-vehicle occupant order sys-
`tem at the order receipt location when the customer arrives
`to pick up the order. The control system will identify the
`order at the receipt location for the particular customer who
`placed the order at
`the order entry interface of the fuel
`dispenser.
`
`4
`Typically, the order receipt location is associated with a
`quick-serve restaurant wherein the customer may pick up the
`food ordered from within the vehicle. The order receipt
`location is further associated with an order preparation
`location having an order preparation output. The control
`system may also be associated with the order preparation
`output and adapted to control the order preparation output to
`indicate the customer associated with the order is at the
`
`10
`
`intermediate location wherein processing the order for the
`customer is effected when the customer is determined to be
`at the intermediate location.
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`The present invention solves the unique problems asso-
`ciated with keeping track of orders from a QSR in a fueling
`environment. In such an environment, orders for pick up at
`the drive-thru window, or within the store for that matter,
`may be placed in a different sequence than that in which they
`are actually picked up. The reason for the possible discrep-
`ancy in order placement and order pick-up arises because the
`orders can be placed at several locations, including from
`within the vehicle, at one of the many fuel dispensers
`interfaces, and the traditional order entry interface of QSR.
`In particular, those customers placing orders at the dispenser
`will most likely intermingle in the drive-thru line with those
`placing orders at
`the order entry interface. The present
`invention uses transponders to appropriately associate
`orders placed at different
`locations with the appropriate
`customer at a common pick-up location.
`These and other aspects of the present invention will
`become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the
`following description of the preferred embodiments when
`considered with the drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a fueling and retail
`environment constructed according to the present invention.
`FIG. 2A depicts a vehicle having a vehicle-mounted
`controller constructed according to the present invention.
`FIG. 2B depicts a personal transponder integrated into a
`debit/credit or smartcard constructed according to the
`present invention.
`FIG. 2C depicts a personal transponder integrated into
`key fob constructed according to the present invention.
`FIG. 3 depicts a fuel dispenser shown constructed accord-
`ing to the present invention.
`FIG. 4A is a schematic of an in-vehicle controller and
`
`associated peripheral devices on a vehicle constructed
`according to the present invention.
`FIG. 4B is a schematic of an in-vehicle controller and
`
`associated peripheral devices constructed according to the
`present invention.
`FIG. 4C is a more detailed block schematic of the
`
`in-vehicle controller constructed according to the present
`invention.
`FIG. 4D is a schematic of the various communication
`
`systems available for use with the present invention.
`FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of fuel dispenser
`electronics constructed according to the present invention.
`FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of convenience store
`transaction electronics, including a transaction terminal, for
`a fueling environment constructed according to the present
`invention.
`
`FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a quick-serve
`restaurant control system for a fueling environment con-
`structed according to the present invention.
`
`Page 31 of 46
`
`Page 31 of 46
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`

`
`US 6,574,603 B1
`
`5
`FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a car wash control
`system constructed according to the present invention.
`FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of a central control
`system for a fueling environment constructed according to
`the present invention.
`FIGS. 10A and 10B are a flow chart representing a basic
`flow of a multistage ordering process according to the
`present invention.
`FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C are a flow chart outlining the
`basic operation of the present invention.
`FIG. 12A is a schematic representation of a side view of
`a dispenser having multiple antenna arrangements for pro-
`viding directional interrogation fields constructed according
`to the present invention.
`FIG. 12B is a schematic representation of a front view of
`a dispenser having multiple antenna arrangements for pro-
`viding directional interrogation fields constructed according
`to the present invention.
`FIGS. 12C and 12D are a flow chart of a basic process for
`monitoring the location and type of transponder at a fueling
`position according to a preferred embodiment of the present
`invention.
`
`FIG. 13A is an overhead schematic representation of a
`fueling environment having antenna arrangements providing
`various interrogation fields.
`FIG. 13B is an overhead schematic representation of a
`fueling environment having antenna arrangements providing
`continuous location monitoring of transponders in the fuel-
`ing environment.
`FIGS. 14A and 14B are a flow chart of a basic process for
`determining the proximity or location of a transponder with
`respect to a particular fueling position at a dispenser accord-
`ing to the present invention.
`FIG. 15 is a flow chart of a basic control process for
`determining transponder location for an embodiment similar
`to that depicted in FIG. 13B.
`FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a fuel dispenser having
`underground antennas constructed according to the present
`invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`like reference characters
`In the following description,
`designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several
`figures. It should be understood that the illustrations are for
`the purpose of describing preferred embodiments of the
`invention and are not intended to limit the invention thereto.
`
`Given the extensive nature of the present application, an
`overview of the necessary hardware for the various areas in
`the fueling and restaurant environment will be discussed
`followed by a description of the various functional aspects
`of the system and how a vehicle and customer will interact
`with the system during various types of transactions.
`Notably, the various aspects discussed herein may constitute
`subject matter covered by the accompanying claims alone or
`in combination.
`
`As best seen in FIG. 1, a fueling and retail environment,
`generally designated 10, is shown constructed according to
`the present invention. The fueling and retail environment
`provides customers 12 the opportunity to purchase fuel for
`their vehicles 14 as well as other goods and services, such
`as fast food and car washes. The fueling and retail environ-
`ment 10 may include one or more of a forecourt 16, where
`the fuel dispensers 18 are located, a convenience or fuel
`station store 20, one or more quick-serve restaurants (QSR)
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`6
`22, a car wash 24, and a backroom 26. The backroom 26 is
`generally the central control area for integrating or coordi-
`nating control of the dispensers 18, convenience store 20,
`QSR 22, and car wash 24.
`The convenience store 20 typically includes an inventory
`of a wide assortment of products, ranging from beverages
`and foods to household goods. The convenience store
`includes a transaction terminal or register 30, where a
`customer 12 may purchase convenience store products, fuel,
`car washes or QSR food.
`
`The QSR 22 generally includes an order pick-up area 32
`having a QSR transaction terminal or register 34 located
`within the convenience store and a drive-thru terminal and
`
`window 36. Depending on the application, the QSR trans-
`action termina