Patent ID: 6598792
Filing Date: 2003-07-29
Classification: B67D,G06Q,G07F

Abstract:
Method for controlling supply of fuel in a thank of a vehicle having a driver at a service station provided with at least a distribution station comprising a set of distribution guns associated with a computer coupled to a receiving unit and connected to a pump controller having a conventional free service mode and a system mode wherein said guns are under control of said computer and cannot be used in said conventional free service mode, said pump controller being connected to a system terminal by a bidirectional link, said receiving unit being connected to a reading and/or writing device for a smart card owned by said driver and said guns each comprising an identification module which can be read without contact by an in-board electronic system provided in said vehicle which comprises transmitting means tuned to said receiving unit, said method having a sequence comprising a first step of reading identification data contained in said smart card by said reading device with identification of said driver and/or said vehicle by said distribution station from said identification data, a second step of transmitting said identification data to said terminal through said bidirectional line in order to send to said pump controller and information about said computer and to act on said computer to pass from said free service mode to said system mode, a third step of recognized said vehicle and said computer, said third step comprising an engagement of said gun in said tank which provokes reading of identification information contained in said identification module and generating of a message comprising said identification information, information about said computer and information previously stored in said in-board electronic system about said vehicle and about drivers habilitated to drive said vehicle, a fourth step of transmitting periodically said message to the receiving unit only when said in-board electronic system is reading said identification information, a fifth step of ending the periodic transmission of messages when the step of reading said identification information is stopped, a sixth step wherein following to detection of an absence of messages the receiving unit acts on the computer to stop supply of fuel and to restaure this supply when the message are again received by the receiving unit, a seventh step wherein when the fun is placed back the computer returns under the control of a station operator and the pump controller returns to the free service mode upon payment of the fuel delivered by the gun.