Fuel distribution network

Abstract

A method for using a fuel distribution network. The method including receiving a fuel reservation request (FRR) from a fuel network user interface module (FNUIM), obtaining a physical location of the FNUIM, determining a user associated with the FRR, and obtaining a list of fuel stations using the physical location and information associated with the user. The method further includes sending, to FNUIM, a list of fuel stations, receiving, from the FNUIM, a selection request specifying a fuel station from the list of fuel stations and a fuel reservation amount specifying an amount of fuel, sending a backend service provider (BSP) reservation request to the fuel station, where the BSP reservation request comprises the fuel reservation amount, and sending a confirmation message comprising a reservation expiration time to the FNUIM.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer readable medium comprising computer readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer system to perform a method, the method comprising:
 receiving a fuel reservation request (FRR) from a fuel network user interface module (FNUIM);   obtaining a physical location of the FNUIM;   determining a user associated with the FRR;   obtaining a list of fuel stations using the physical location and information associated with the user;   sending, to FNUIM, a list of fuel stations;   receiving, from the FNUIM, a selection request specifying a fuel station from the list of fuel stations and a fuel reservation amount specifying an amount of fuel;   sending a backend service provider (BSP) reservation request to the fuel station, wherein the BSP reservation request comprises the fuel reservation amount; and   sending a confirmation message comprising a reservation expiration time to the FNUIM.   
     
     
         2 . The computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein information associated with the user comprises user fueling affiliations (UFA), wherein the UFA specifies a fueling group of which the user is a member, wherein only members of the fueling group can access the fuel station. 
     
     
         3 . The computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of fuel is reserved for the user at the fuel station until expiration of the reservation expiration time. 
     
     
         4 . The computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel is one selected from a group consisting of hydrogen, compressed natural gas, and electricity. 
     
     
         5 . The computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the list of fuel stations comprises an amount of fuel for reservation at each fuel station on the list of fuel stations. 
     
     
         6 . The computer readable medium of  claim 5 , wherein the list of fuel stations further comprises a physical address of each fuel station on the list of fuel stations and a fuel price for at least one type of fuel available at each fuel station on the list of fuel stations. 
     
     
         7 . The computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining the physical location of the FNUIM comprises extracting the physical location from the FRR and wherein determining the user associated with the FRR comprises extracting a user ID from the FRR. 
     
     
         8 . A fuel network user interface module (FNUIM), comprising:
 a processor;   a user interface;   a memory; and   software instructions stored in memory, which when executed by the processor, perform a method, the method comprising:
 generating a fuel reservation request (FRR), wherein the FRR specifies a vehicle; 
 sending the FRR to a backend service provider (BSP); 
 receiving a list of fuel stations from the BSP; 
 displaying the list of fuel stations on the user interface; 
 generating a selection request specifying a fuel station from the list of fuel stations and a fuel reservation amount specifying an amount of fuel; 
 sending the selection request to the BSP; and 
 receiving, from the BSP, a confirmation message comprising a reservation expiration time. 
   
     
     
         9 . The FNUIM of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a communication interface configured to enable communication between the FNUIM and a positioning system,   wherein the FRR comprises a user ID and a physical location of the FNUIM, and   wherein the physical location is obtained from the positioning system.   
     
     
         10 . The FNUIM of  claim 9 , wherein the FNUIM is a smart phone. 
     
     
         11 . The FNUIM of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a positioning system configured to determine a physical location of the FNUIM,   wherein the FRR comprises a user ID and the physical location of the FNUIM, and   wherein the physical location is obtained from the positioning system.   
     
     
         12 . The FNUIM of  claim 8 , wherein the FNUIM is integrated into a vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The FNUIM of  claim 8 , the method further comprising:
 prior to generating the FRR:
 obtaining fuel information from a vehicle; and 
 determining, based on the fuel information, to initiate the generation of the FRR. 
   
     
     
         14 . The FNUIM of  claim 13 , wherein the fuel information comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of an amount of fuel remaining in a vehicle and a current rate of consumption of the fuel. 
     
     
         15 . The FNUIM of  claim 8 , wherein the fuel is one selected from a group consisting of hydrogen, compressed natural gas, and electricity. 
     
     
         16 . The FNUIM of  claim 8 , wherein displaying the list of fuel stations on the user interface comprises displaying a location of each fuel station on the list of fuel stations on a map using an icon. 
     
     
         17 . The FNUIM of  claim 16 , wherein a color of the icon is determined based on an amount of fuel available at the corresponding fuel station compared to an amount of fuel the vehicle is configured to store. 
     
     
         18 . A fuel station comprising:
 a fuel storage unit configured to store fuel;   a fuel output connection operatively connected to the fuel storage unit and configured to interface with a vehicle to enable transfer of the fuel from the fuel storage unit to the vehicle;   a fuel station control module comprising:
 a processor; 
 a memory; and 
 software instructions stored in memory, which when executed by the processor, perform a method, the method comprising:
 receiving a backend service provider (BSP) reservation request,
 wherein the BSP reservation request comprises a user ID, a fuel reservation amount specifying an amount of fuel and a reservation expiration time, 
 wherein the amount of fuel is reserved for a user associated with the user ID at the fuel station until expiration of the reservation expiration time; 
 storing, in response to the BSP reservation request, a fuel reservation record comprising the user ID, the fuel reservation amount, and the reservation expiration time; 
 prior to expiration of the reservation expiration time: 
 
 
   
        receiving a request to access the fuel station from the user associated with the user ID; 
        authenticating the user; 
        obtaining, after successful authentication, the fuel reservation record using the user ID; 
        granting access to the fuel output connection; and 
        enabling the user to transfer up to the amount of fuel specified in the fuel reservation amount to the vehicle using the fuel output connection. 
     
     
         19 . The fuel station of  claim 18 , configured to periodically send an update message for the BSP, wherein the update message comprises an amount of fuel currently stored fuel storage unit. 
     
     
         20 . The fuel station of  claim 18 , wherein authenticating the user comprises using at least one selected from a group consisting of a keypad operatively connected to the fuel station, a smart phone, a radio-frequency identifier, a smartcard, universal serial bus (USB) token. 
     
     
         21 . The fuel station of  claim 18 , wherein granting access to the fuel output connection comprising opening the fuel station to access the fuel output connection, wherein the fuel output connection comprises a hose. 
     
     
         22 . The fuel station of  claim 18 , wherein the fuel station control module is configured to communicate with the BSP over at least one selected from a group consisting of a wired network and a wireless network.