JP2002225996A - Oil filling system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To relieve troubles or economic loads which occur when oil filling charges are paid at an oil filling station. SOLUTION: An oil filling system 10 comprises a self-service oil filling type metering equipment 12, a setting equipment 14, and a managing computer 18. The computer 18 includes an oil filling control unit 20 to output an oil filling permission for the equipment 12, a storage part 24 in which data of money received beforehand corresponding to telephone number of a portable telephone of a customer is stored, and a public circuit interface 26 to receive signals sent from the portable telephone 22. The computer 28 determines if data transmitted from the telephone 22 is from a registered customer and if there are data of money received in the storage part 24, the computer 18 transmits a signal, which permits filling of oil in quantities corresponding to the amount of money paid by the customer, to the telephone 22. After completion of filling of oil, amount of money of oil filling is subtracted from the data of money received to update the data of money received.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refueling system configured to rationalize a method of adjusting a refueling fee when refueling a vehicle at a gas station.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a gas station where a self-service type weighing machine is installed, a driver himself / herself sets a refueling operation, performs refueling operation, and adjusts a refueling fee. Therefore, before performing refueling, the driver performs a setting operation of inputting a predetermined oil type, a refueling amount, or a refueling amount using a setting device having a switch for a refueling type and a refueling amount, and then adjusts the refueling fee. The method is specified.
As a method of adjusting the refueling fee, there are a method of paying with cash, a method of paying with a credit card, a prepaid card, and the like. If the payment method is cash, the driver needs to move to the refueling office after refueling and settle the refueling fee.

In the case of an island settlement system in which a self-service metering machine is provided with an automatic payment machine for setting a refueling amount or a refueling amount, the refueling fee must be settled at a refueling place. Can be. This automatic payment machine is provided with a bill insertion part and a coin insertion part, and has a discrimination part for discriminating the kind of the inserted bill and coin, and a display part for displaying the inserted amount.

[0004] In the island settlement type refueling system, when a refueling amount or a refueling amount is preset before refueling, the driver first puts a bill (a 10,000 yen bill, a 5,000 yen bill, etc.) into an automatic dispenser. After the bill is inserted into the bill insertion unit and the deposited amount is read by the bill reader and the deposited amount is displayed on the display unit, the desired oil type (regular, high-octane, light oil, etc.) is input, and the desired refueling amount ( By inputting 10 liters, 20 liters, etc.) or the amount of refueling (2,000 yen, 3,000 yen, etc.), the weighing machine becomes ready for refueling.

[0005] In addition, when the payment is made by credit card, the trouble of handling cash at the gas station can be saved, and the burden on the staff at the gas station can be reduced.

[0006] In the payment method of the prepaid card system, since the fee is paid first, the refueling station can obtain the refueling fee before refueling, and the economic burden on the refueling station is reduced.

[0007]

However, in the refueling system of the island settlement type provided with the above-described automatic payment machine, the staff at the gas station must replenish the change stored in the automatic payment machine. , Change management was troublesome.

[0008] Further, in the case of settlement by credit card, it is necessary to make a contract with a credit company for each gas station, and a commission must be paid to the credit company.

[0009] Therefore, at the gas station, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a customer purchases a prepaid card (payment prepaid card) in advance and refuels the vehicle based on the deposit data stored in the prepaid card at the time of recharging after refueling. It is being considered to adopt a method of updating the deposit data by subtracting the fee.

However, in the above-described prepaid card settlement method, when a prepaid card is issued from a magnetic card or an IC card, it is necessary to deduct the card production cost from the deposit amount paid by the customer, and the refueling is required accordingly. There was a problem that the profit of the place decreased. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a refueling system that solves the above-mentioned problems.

[0011]

The present invention has the following features to solve the above-mentioned problems.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when transmission data is received from the mobile phone, the payment data corresponding to the telephone number of the mobile phone stored in the storage means is searched, and the data corresponding to the telephone number is searched. When there is remittance data to be sent, a refueling permission for the refueling amount corresponding to the remittance data is transmitted to the weighing machine, whereby the refueling fee can be settled without using a credit card or a prepaid card.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the communication means is provided in a plurality of weighing machines, and the refueling permission means transfers the transmission data from the portable telephone received by the communication means of one weighing machine. By retrieving the deposit data corresponding to the telephone number of the mobile phone and transmitting a refueling permission of the refueling amount according to the deposit data to the one weighing machine, the customer can specify the weighing machine to be refueled and In addition, it is possible to easily determine the weighing machine that transmits the refueling permission.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of a refueling system according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a refueling system 10 generally includes a self-service refueling type weighing machine 1 installed in a refueling area 11.
2, a setting device 14 provided on the weighing machine 12, and an office 1
A management computer (also referred to as an “SS controller”) 18 installed in the computer 6.

The setting device 14 is attached to the weighing machine 12 and allows the operator (customer) who refuels to input a desired oil type, refueling amount, or refueling amount, thereby allowing the management computer 18 to refuel. Request.

The management computer 18 manages the state of the weighing machine 12 (for example, whether or not refueling is in progress), outputs a refueling permission to the weighing machine 12, and has a refueling control unit 20 which is owned by the customer. A storage unit (storage means) 24 for storing payment data received in advance corresponding to the telephone number of the mobile phone 22, and a signal transmitted from the mobile phone 22 (transmission data including a phone number unique to the mobile phone 22)
And a public line interface unit 26 having a built-in modem for receiving the same via a public line. Storage unit 2
Reference numeral 4 denotes a database in which a customer list of customers whose deposit data is registered in advance is stored as a database, and the customer list is associated with the telephone number of the mobile phone 22, and includes a customer name, a deposit amount, an oil type to be refueled, and an oil type unit price. Is stored.

A management computer 18 installed in the office 16 is connected to a weighing machine 12 and a setting device 14 installed in the refueling area 11 via a communication line (SS-LAN) 28.

The weighing machine 12 includes a weighing machine control unit 30 for managing each device and refueling information, a nozzle switch 32 for detecting that the refueling nozzle is locked by a nozzle hook (not shown), Pump 34 that feeds oil to the oiling nozzle
And a flow meter 36 that measures the amount of oil supplied to the oil supply nozzle and outputs a flow pulse.

The portable telephone 22 of the present invention is a portable mobile communication device capable of making a telephone call via a public line, such as an FDD (Frequency Division Duplication) portable telephone or a TDD (Time Division Duplication). ) Type PHS (Personal Handy System) telephones and the like.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for depositing a refueling fee of the refueling system 10. As shown in FIG. 2, in procedure 1, a staff at a gas station deposits cash from a customer. In step 2, the staff at the gas station manages the computer 1
8 to set the deposit mode.

In step 3, a call is made from the portable telephone 22 of the customer to the management computer 18 of the gas station. In step 4, the telephone number of the mobile phone 22 is displayed, and the attendant checks the telephone number. Then, the deposit amount is input in correspondence with the telephone number of each mobile phone 22, and the telephone number and the amount deposited from the customer are stored as the customer's deposit data (deposit amount) in the storage unit 24 of the management computer 18.
To memorize. In step 5, the service station clerk issues a receipt to the customer as needed.

The customer who has registered the telephone number and the deposit data of the portable telephone 22 in the above-described procedure can use the metering machine 12 for refueling.
When the vehicle is moved before the service, a call is made from the mobile phone 22 to the management computer 18 of the gas station. Then, the management computer 18 determines whether or not the received transmission data is for a registered customer, and when there is payment data in the storage unit 24, the management computer 18 sends the received data to the mobile phone 22 in accordance with the payment amount of the customer. A signal to permit refueling of the refueled amount is transmitted. Further, the management computer 18 prohibits refueling when the received transmission data is not registered in the customer list of the storage unit or when the deposit data is zero.

Next, control processing executed by the management computer 18 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the control processing executed by the management computer 18.

As shown in FIG. 3, in step S11 (hereinafter, "step" is omitted), the management computer 18 uses an external telephone (the portable telephone 22 held by the customer).
) Is received. In step S11, when an external signal is received, the process proceeds to step S12, where the customer list stored in the storage unit 24 is searched to confirm that the received telephone number is a number registered in the customer list of the storage unit 24 in advance. I do.

In the next S13, it is checked whether or not the telephone number of the portable telephone 22 is registered in the customer list. In S13, if the telephone number of the mobile phone 22 is not registered in the customer list, the process proceeds to S14.
To inform that refueling is not possible.

In S13, the portable telephone 2
If the telephone number 2 is registered in the customer list, the process proceeds to the next step S15, and it is checked whether or not the payment data (payment amount) corresponding to the telephone number is registered in the customer list. In S15, if there is no deposit data corresponding to the telephone number, the flow shifts to S14 to notify that refueling is impossible.

In S15, if there is deposit data corresponding to the telephone number, the flow advances to the next S16, where the deposit data (deposit amount) corresponding to the telephone number indicates the unit price of the oil type to be refueled (per liter). Check if there is more. In S16, if the deposit data (deposit amount) corresponding to the telephone number is not more than the unit price of the oil type to be refueled (refueling fee per liter),
The process proceeds to S14 to notify that refueling is not possible.

In S16, if the deposit data (deposit amount) corresponding to the telephone number is equal to or more than the unit price (refueling fee per liter) of the oil type to be refueled, the process proceeds to S17.
To check if the nozzle switch 32 has been turned off.

In S17, when the customer removes the refueling nozzle of the weighing machine 12 for refueling from the nozzle hook and the nozzle switch 32 is turned off, the process proceeds to S18, and the weighing machine 12 in which the nozzle switch 32 is turned off is operated. In response, a permission signal for permitting preset refueling of the refueling amount according to the deposit data (deposit amount) corresponding to the telephone number of the customer is transmitted.

In the next S19, it is checked whether or not the weighing machine 12 is refueling. In S19, when the flow pulse is output from the flow pulse monitoring device 36, it is determined that the fuel is being supplied, and the process proceeds to S20. Then, in S20, it is checked whether or not the oil supply pump 34 of the weighing machine 12 has stopped.

If the refueling pump 34 of the weighing machine 12 is stopped in S20, the process proceeds to S22, and the refueling amount corresponding to the refueling amount refueled by the weighing machine 12 is transferred to the deposit data (deposit amount) corresponding to the telephone number. And updates the deposit data stored in the storage unit 24.

As described above, the customer can settle the refueling fee by calling the portable telephone 22,
The mobile phone 22 can be used instead of a wallet,
Even if you forget your wallet, you can refuel. Further, since the cash is paid first at the gas station, there is an advantage that there is no financial burden, and that there is no need for a card production cost or a commission of a credit company.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the control processing executed by the weighing machine control unit 30. As shown in FIG. 4, the weighing machine control unit 30 checks whether or not the nozzle switch 32 is turned off in S31. S3
In 1, after the customer calls the management computer 18 with the mobile phone 22, the fueling nozzle of the weighing machine 12 is removed from the nozzle hook and the nozzle switch 32 is turned off.
Proceeding to S32, a fueling request signal indicating that the nozzle switch 32 has been turned off is transmitted to the management computer 18.

In S33, it is checked whether a refueling permission signal from the management computer 18 has been received. As described above, the management computer 18 transmits the permission signal for permitting the preset refueling of the refueling amount according to the payment data (deposit amount) corresponding to the telephone number of the customer.

In S33, when the refueling permission signal from the management computer 18 is received, the process proceeds to S34, and the refueling amount corresponding to the deposit amount registered in the management computer 18 is preset. Subsequently, in S35, the refueling pump 34
Is started, and it is checked whether or not a flow pulse is output from the flow meter 36 in S36. When the flow rate pulse is output from the flow meter 36 in S36, the flow rate pulse is counted in S37 and the refueling amount is integrated.

At S38, a refueling signal indicating that the weighing machine 12 is refueling is transmitted to the management computer 18. In the next S39, it is checked whether or not the nozzle switch 32 has been turned on. In S39, when the refueling nozzle is returned to the nozzle hook and the nozzle switch 32 is turned on, the process proceeds to S40, and the refueling pump 34 is stopped.
Then, in S41, a refueling end signal indicating that refueling has been completed is transmitted to the management computer 18. This completes the control of the weighing machine control unit 30.

In the first embodiment, a configuration in which one weighing machine 12 is connected to the management computer 18 is described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to a gas station in which a plurality of weighing machines are installed. Of course. In that case, the management computer 1
In step S11, when the transmission from the mobile phone 22 carried by the customer is received in step S11, a voice message such as "Please answer the weighing machine number used by the customer" is transmitted to the mobile phone 22. Then, when the customer answers the weighing machine number via the mobile phone 22, the fueling can be enabled by outputting a fueling permission for the light-weight machine number.

Here, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.
Is a weighing machine ₁₂ 1 to 12 ₄ of the oil supply area 11, for example four self-service refueling scheme, each weighing machine ₁₂ 1 to 12
A setter ₁₄ 1-14 ₄ provided ₄ consists installed administrative computer 38. within the office 16.

The setter ₁₄ 1-14 _4, each weighing device 12 ₁
Are attached to 12 ₄ each, oil species operator who performs refueling (customer) wants, by inputting the refueling quantity or refueling amount, requesting fueling authorization to the management computer 18.

The management computer 38 controls each weighing machine 12 ₁
It manages the 12 ₄ states, each weighing machine ₁₂ 1 -
A fuel supply control unit 40 for outputting a fuel supply permission to 12 _4,
A storage unit (storage means) 44 for storing payment data received in advance corresponding to the telephone number of the mobile phone 22 carried by the customer.

[0041] Further, each of the weighing machine 12 ₁ to 12 _4, the mobile telephone 22 signals transmitted from the communication device for receiving via the base station 48 (cellular phone 22 specific transmission data including the telephone number) 46 _{1-46 4} is provided.
The communication device 46 ₁ to 46 _4, the mobile phone has the same structure as is capable of transmitting and receiving arrangement via radio waves, and has a function of communicating with the cellular phone 22. To each weighing machine ₁₂ 1 to 12 _4, the customer telephone number to call from the cellular phone 22 to the communication device ₄₆ 1 to 46 ₄ are described.

Further, the information management computer 38, including the signal transmitted from the portable telephone 22 is received in one of the communication device 46 ₁ to 46 _4, the telephone number received from a communication device 46 that has received Is transferred. Then, the refueling control unit 40 checks whether the transferred telephone number is registered in the customer list stored in the storage unit 44,
If the deposit data is equal to or more than the unit price of the oil liquid to be refueled (refueling fee per liter), the refueling permission signal of the refueling amount corresponding to the deposit amount is sent to the measuring machine 12 which has received the signal from the mobile phone 22. Is output.

The management computer 48 installed in the office 16 is connected to the weighing machines 12 ₁ to 12 ₁ installed in the refueling area.
12 ₄ and setter ₁₄ 1-14 ₄ and the communication line (SS-L
AN) 50.

Here, the management computer 38 executes the processing.
The control process will be described. FIG. 6 shows the management code of the second embodiment.
Is a flowchart of a control process executed by the computer 38;
is there. As shown in FIG. 6, the management computer 38
Is the plurality of weighing machines 12 in S51. ₁~ 12₄One of the total
Phone number of the mobile phone 22 carried by the customer from the mass machine 12
And whether the weighing machine number has been transferred.
In S51, the telephone number and the weighing are performed from one weighing machine 12.
When the machine number has been transferred, the process proceeds to S52, where the storage unit 44
Search the phone number registered in the customer list stored in
To search. In the next step S53, the customer is registered in the customer list.
Is the phone number of the mobile phone 22 in the phone number?
Check if.

In S53, if the telephone number of the portable telephone 22 is not included in the telephone numbers registered in the customer list, the flow shifts to S54 to indicate that the customer is a new customer on the display (not shown) of the weighing machine 12. For example, a control signal for guiding and displaying a message such as “New customers should come to the office before refueling” is transmitted to the weighing machine 12. Then, when a predetermined time (for example, about one minute) has elapsed in S57, the guidance display is reset in S58.

If it is determined in S53 that the telephone number of the portable telephone 22 is included in the telephone numbers registered in the customer list, the process proceeds to S55, and the deposit amount (payment data) corresponding to the telephone number is added to the customer list. ).

In S55, if there is no deposit amount (payment amount) corresponding to the telephone number in the customer list, S
The process proceeds to 56 and sends a control signal to the weighing machine 12 to guide and display a message such as "Please come to the office before refueling because there is no customer deposit". Then, when a predetermined time (for example, about one minute) has elapsed in S57, the guidance display is reset in S58.

In S55, if the deposit amount (deposit data) corresponding to the telephone number in the customer list is equal to or more than the unit price (refueling fee per liter) of the oil type to be refueled, the flow proceeds to S59, and the deposit amount ( A refueling permission signal that enables preset refueling of a refueling amount corresponding to the amount of deposit) is transmitted to the weighing machine 12 that has received the signal from the mobile phone 22.

In the next step S60, an instruction to drive the refueling pump 34 is issued to the weighing machine 12 which has received the signal from the portable telephone 22. Then, in S61, after the refueling is completed, it is checked whether or not the actual refueling amount actually refueled from the weighing machine 12 which has received the signal from the mobile phone 22 is input.

In S61, when the actual refueling amount refueled from the weighing machine 12 is input, the flow proceeds to S62, in which the refueling amount refueled this time from the deposit amount (deposit amount) registered in the customer list in the storage unit 44. Subtract the amount. And
In S63, the remaining deposit amount obtained by subtracting the refueling amount from the deposit amount is stored in the storage unit 44, and the deposit amount in the customer list is updated.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the processing executed by the control unit of the weighing machine 12 according to the second embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 7, the control unit of the weighing machine 12 executes S71.
To check whether a signal transmitted from an external telephone (including the portable telephone 22 carried by the customer) has been received. If there is an external telephone call in S71, the flow advances to S72 to enter the telephone number of the received telephone into the management computer 38.
Send to

In the next step S73, it is checked whether or not a preset refueling permission signal has been received from the management computer 38. If it is determined in S73 that the preset refueling permission signal has not been received, the process proceeds to S74, and it is checked whether the call is from a new customer.

If it is determined in step S74 that the call is from a new customer, the process proceeds to step S75, and the display (not shown) of the weighing machine 12 that has received the external call indicates, for example, "Before new customers refuel. Please come to the office. " Then, in S76, it is checked whether a display reset signal has been received. When the display reset signal is received in S76, the process proceeds to S77, and the weighing machine 1
The display of the display unit 2 (not shown) is reset.

If it is determined in step S74 that the call is not from a new customer, the flow shifts to step S78 to check whether information indicating that there is no deposit amount corresponding to the received telephone number of the portable telephone 22 is checked. . In S78, when the information indicating that there is no deposit amount corresponding to the received telephone number of the mobile phone 22 is received, the process proceeds to S79, and the display (not shown) of the weighing machine 12 displays, for example, “Customer's deposit amount”. Please come to the office before refueling. " Thereafter, when the display reset signal is received in S76, the process proceeds to S77, and the display of the display (not shown) of the weighing machine 12 is reset.

If the information indicating that there is no deposit amount corresponding to the received telephone number of the portable telephone set 22 is received in S78, the process returns to S73.

If a preset refueling permission signal has been received in S73, the flow advances to S80 to check whether the refueling nozzle has been removed from the nozzle hook. In S80, when the refueling nozzle is removed from the nozzle hook and the nozzle switch 32 is turned off, the process proceeds to S81, in which the flow rate pulses output from the flow meter 36 are counted and the refueling amount is integrated.

In the next step S82, it is checked whether or not the accumulated actual refueling amount is equal to or less than a preset refueling amount according to the deposit amount. In S82, when the accumulated actual refueling amount is equal to or less than the preset refueling amount, the process proceeds to S84, and the refueling pump 34 is stopped. Thereafter, the actual refueling amount is transmitted to the management computer 38.

As described above, each weighing machine 12₁~ 12₄Carrying
Signal transmitted from the mobile phone 22 (specific to the mobile phone 22)
Communication device for receiving transmission data including the telephone number of
46 ₁~ 46₄Is installed on the management computer.
The plurality of weighing machines 12 are ₁~ 12₄Received from inside
One weighing machine 12 can be easily identified,
The weighing machine 12 transmitting the permission signal can be confirmed.
You.

In the above-described embodiment, a ground-mounted weighing machine has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a suspension-type refueling device that raises and lowers a refueling nozzle. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case of self-service refueling has been described as an example. However, it is needless to say that the present invention can also be applied to the case of full-service refueling in which a service station staff performs setting operation and refueling work.

[0060]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when transmission data is received from a portable telephone, the payment data corresponding to the telephone number of the portable telephone stored in the storage means is searched. Then, when there is deposit data corresponding to the telephone number, a refueling fee of a refueling amount corresponding to the deposit data is transmitted to the measuring machine, so that the refueling fee is settled without using a credit card or a prepaid card. be able to. As a result, the refueling station can collect the refueling fee before refueling, which reduces the economic burden and eliminates the need to pay the card production costs and commissions of the credit company. Profit can be increased.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the communication means is provided in a plurality of weighing machines, and the refueling permission means transfers the transmission data from the portable telephone received by the communication means of one weighing machine. Then, the depositing data corresponding to the telephone number of the mobile phone is searched, and a refueling permission of a refueling amount according to the depositing data is transmitted to the one weighing machine, so that the weighing machine to be refueled by the customer can be specified. At the same time, it is possible to easily determine the weighing machine that transmits the refueling permission.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of a refueling system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a refueling fee deposit operation procedure of the refueling system 10.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a control process performed by a management computer 18.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control process executed by a weighing machine control unit 30;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a control process executed by a management computer 38 according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process executed by a control unit of the weighing machine 12 according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10,37 supply system 12 ₍₁₂ 1 _{to 12} 4) weighing machine 14 ₍₁₄ 1 _{to 14} 4) setter 18, 38 management computer 20, 40 oil supply controller 22 mobile phone 24, 44 storage unit 26 public line interface unit 30 Meter control unit 32 Nozzle switch 34 Oil pump 36 Flow meter 46 _{1 to} 46 ₄ Communication device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 17/60 422 G06F 17/60 422 506 506 H04Q 7/38 H04B 7/26 109S

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A weighing machine having a refueling nozzle for refueling a vehicle of a customer and a fluid sending means for delivering an oil solution to the refueling nozzle, and corresponding to a telephone number of a portable mobile phone carried by the customer. Storage means for storing payment data preliminarily deposited, communication means for receiving a signal transmitted from the customer's mobile phone, and when the communication means receives transmission data from the mobile phone, Retrieval of payment data corresponding to the telephone number of the mobile phone stored in the storage means, and when there is payment data corresponding to the telephone number, permission for refueling of a refueling amount corresponding to the payment data is given to the weighing machine. A refueling system, comprising: a refueling permission means for transmitting. 2. The communication means is provided in a plurality of weighing machines, and the refueling permission means transfers the transmission data from the mobile phone received by the communication means of one of the weighing machines. 3. The refueling system according to claim 2, wherein retrieving data corresponding to the telephone number is searched, and refueling permission of a refueling amount corresponding to the remitting data is transmitted to the one weighing machine.