IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,614,289
Granted Patent B2
US 12,614,289 · App. 17/932,145 · Granted Apr 28, 2026

Determining dispenser vehicle connection

Inventor: Sangamesh Gundappa (Bengaluru, IN)
Assignee: Wayne Fueling Systems LLC
G06T7/251G06T7/70G06V10/761G06V10/945G06T2207/30232G06T2207/30252G06V2201/07G06V2201/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,614,289
App. No.
17/932,145
Granted
Apr 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one aspect, image data characterizing a video feed acquired by a camera oriented toward and including a field of view, of a forecourt of a dispensing station, that includes a dispenser and a vehicle can be received. Movement data indicating that the vehicle is physically connected to the dispenser while the vehicle is in motion can be determined from the received image data. A command can be determined based on the determined movement data. The command can be provided. Related apparatus, systems, methods, techniques, and articles are also described.

Claims (52)

1 . A method comprising:

receiving image data characterizing a video feed acquired by a camera oriented toward and including a field of view of a forecourt of a dispensing station including at least one dispenser operably coupled to a forecourt controller configured to manage operation of the dispensing station, the field of view including the at least one dispenser and a vehicle;

determining, from the received image data, movement data indicating that the vehicle is physically connected to the at least one dispenser while the vehicle is in motion;

determining one or more commands based on the determined movement data;

providing a first command to an alarm system having at least one speaker oriented toward the forecourt, the first command causing the at least one speaker to emit an audio message indicative of movement of the vehicle while physically connected to the at least one dispenser;

providing a second command to the forecourt controller, the second command identifying the at least one dispenser to be deactivated;

disabling, by the forecourt controller and responsive to receiving the second command, a flow of fuel to the at least one dispenser identified in the second command;

generating a notification indicative of movement of the vehicle while the vehicle is physically connected to the at least one dispenser, the notification generated based on the provided second command and including a visual depiction of the movement of the vehicle while the vehicle is physically connected to the at least one dispenser; and

providing the notification for display on an end user device, wherein the end user device is a fueling station terminal operably coupled to the at least one dispenser via the forecourt controller, the fueling station terminal including an interactive display of the forecourt controller.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining of the movement data includes:

performing automatic monitoring on the video feed;

identifying a feature in the video feed based on the automatic monitoring, the feature including at least one of a position and a motion of the at least one dispenser;

comparing the feature present in the video feed to at least one model feature, the model feature associated with the vehicle being physically connected to the at least one dispenser while the vehicle is in motion; and

determining a similarity measure for the feature, the similarity measure indicative of a degree to which the feature matches the at least one model feature,

wherein the movement data is determined when the determined similarity measure exceeds a predetermined threshold.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the feature includes at least one of a position and a motion of the vehicle.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the field of view includes a user of the at least one dispenser, and wherein the feature includes at least one of a position and a motion of the user.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the notification is further provided to a mobile device of a fueling station attendant, the mobile device in operable communication with the forecourt controller, wherein the mobile device includes an interactive display, wherein the notification includes the visual depiction of the movement of the vehicle while the vehicle is physically connected to the at least one dispenser to be displayed on the interactive display of the mobile device.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the alarm system includes at least one strobe lamp oriented toward the forecourt, and wherein the first command causes the strobe lamp to illuminate to thereby indicate movement of the vehicle while physically connected to the at least one dispenser.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the notification is further transmitted to the vehicle, the vehicle having a graphical display, wherein the notification includes the visual depiction of the movement of the vehicle while the vehicle is physically connected to the at least one dispenser to be displayed on the graphical display of the vehicle.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving, the determining, and the generating is performed by at least one data processor forming part of at least one computing system.

9 . A system comprising:

at least one data processor; and

memory storing instructions configured to cause the at least one data processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving image data characterizing a video feed acquired by a camera oriented toward and including a field of view of a forecourt of a dispensing station including at least one dispenser operably coupled to a forecourt controller configured to manage operation of the dispensing station, the field of view including the at least one dispenser and a vehicle;

determining, from the received image data, movement data indicating that the vehicle is physically connected to the at least one dispenser while the vehicle is in motion;

determining one or more commands based on the determined movement data;

providing a first command to an alarm system having at least one speaker oriented toward the forecourt, the first command causing the at least one speaker to emit an audio message indicative of movement of the vehicle while physically connected to the at least one dispenser;

providing a second command to the forecourt controller, the second command identifying the at least one dispenser to be deactivated;

disabling, by the forecourt controller and responsive to receiving the second command, a flow of fuel to the at least one dispenser identified in the second command;

generating a notification indicative of movement of the vehicle while the vehicle is physically connected to the at least one dispenser, the notification generated based on the provided second command and including a visual depiction of the movement of the vehicle while the vehicle is physically connected to the at least one dispenser; and

providing the notification for display on an end user device, wherein the end user device is a fueling station terminal operably coupled to the at least one dispenser via the forecourt controller, the fueling station terminal including an interactive display of the forecourt controller.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the determining of the movement data includes:

performing automatic monitoring on the video feed; and

identifying a feature in the video feed based on the automatic monitoring, the feature including at least one of a position and a motion of the at least one dispenser;

comparing the feature present in the video feed to at least one model feature, the model feature associated with the vehicle being physically connected to the at least one dispenser while the vehicle is in motion; and

determining a similarity measure for the feature, the similarity measure indicative of a degree to which the feature matches the at least one model feature,

wherein the movement data is determined when the determined similarity measure exceeds a predetermined threshold.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the feature includes at least one of a position and a motion of the vehicle.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the field of view includes a user of the at least one dispenser, and wherein the feature includes at least one of a position and a motion of the user.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the alarm system includes at least one strobe lamp oriented toward the forecourt, and wherein the command causes the strobe lamp to illuminate to thereby indicate movement of the vehicle while physically connected to the at least one dispenser.

14 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the notification is further provided to a mobile device of a fueling station attendant, the mobile device in operable communication with the forecourt controller, wherein the mobile device includes an interactive display, wherein the notification includes the visual depiction of the movement of the vehicle while the vehicle is physically connected to the at least one dispenser to be displayed on the interactive display of the mobile device.

15 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the notification is further transmitted to the vehicle, the vehicle having a graphical display, wherein the notification includes the visual depiction of the movement of the vehicle while the vehicle is physically connected to the at least one dispenser to be displayed on the graphical display of the vehicle.

16 . A non-transitory computer program product storing instructions which, when executed by at least one data processor forming part of at least one computing system, cause the at least one data processor to implement operations comprising:

receiving data characterizing a video feed acquired by a camera oriented toward and including a field of view of a forecourt of a dispensing station including at least one dispenser operably coupled to a forecourt controller configured to manage operation of the dispensing station, the field of view including the at least one dispenser and a vehicle;

determining, from the received data, movement data indicating that the vehicle is physically connected to the at least one dispenser while the vehicle is in motion;

determining one or more commands based on the determined movement data;

providing a first command to an alarm system having at least one speaker oriented toward the forecourt, the first command causing the at least one speaker to emit an audio message indicative of movement of the vehicle while physically connected to the at least one dispenser;

providing a second command to the forecourt controller, the second command identifying the at least one dispenser to be deactivated;

disabling, by the forecourt controller and responsive to receiving the second command, a flow of fuel to the at least one dispenser identified in the second command;

generating a notification indicative of movement of the vehicle while the vehicle is physically connected to the at least one dispenser, the notification generated based on the provided second command and including a visual depiction of movement of the vehicle while the vehicle is physically connected to the at least one dispenser; and

providing the notification for display on an end user device, wherein the end user device is a fueling station terminal operably coupled to the at least one dispenser via the forecourt controller, the fueling station terminal including an interactive display of the forecourt controller.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2022
From: GUNDAPPA, SANGAMESH
To: WAYNE FUELING SYSTEMS LLC
Reel/Frame 061361/0668 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63245168 · Sep 16, 2021
Related Publication 20230080450A1 · Mar 16, 2023
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