GB2365412A

GB2365412A - A method of checking a vehicle's registration number before allowing release of petrol from a petrol pump

Info

Publication number: GB2365412A
Application number: GB0018860A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Comyns
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-08-01
Filing date: 2000-08-01
Publication date: 2002-02-20
Also published as: GB0018860D0

Abstract

A system and method for controlling the release of petrol to cars who's owners owe money to an authority comprises a petrol pump 7, and at least one camera 3. The registration number of the vehicle is identified using the camera 3 as the vehicle approaches the pump 7. The registration number is then checked by means such as a computer 4 against a list of parameters. A signal is transmitted to a receiver 5 and petrol supply is either allowed or denied. A manual over-ride 9 is provided. The camera 3 may be a stills camera, and a further camera 6 may be provided to record movement of the vehicle in the vicinity of the pump 7. The system may be used to ensure the payment of fines such as parking fines or other motor-related cost obligations.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> A Process and System for Ensuring Pqyment of Parking Fines and other Motorin-related Cost Obligations The present invention relates to a system for preventing the release of petrol from a petrol pump.

Each year billions of pounds are lost by the government through non-payment of motoring-related fees such as parking fines, road tax, motor insurance etc., since it is often difficult to locate the persons from whom the fees are due.

An object of the present invention is to provide a system for preventing the release of petrol from petrol pumps when persons owing motoring-related fees attempt to obtain petrol.

The invention provides a system Ps claimed in Claim I and a method as claimed in Claim 11.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the means for checking the registration is a computer. The computer is preferably located remotely from the petrol pump. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the camera is a stills camera.

The means for selectively allowing or preventing the release of petrol from the pump is preferably activated in response to a signal from the means for checking the registration number. In a preferred embodiment of the invention an additional camera is provided for recording the movement of the vehicle in the vicinity of the petrol pump. The additional camera is preferably a continuous camera. In a fai-ther preferred embodiment of the invention the additional camera is linked to the means for checking the registration number.

The system is preferably provided with means for over-riding the prevention of release of petrol. An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawing, which shows a diagrammatic view of a system according to the invention. A vehicle I having registration plates 2 enters a forecourt of a petrol station and is logged by a camera 3. The camera 3 should record a snap-shot image of the vehicle I in which it is possible to see at least one of the vehicle registration plates 2 clearly, as well as the general outline of the vehicle 1 to enable other features of the vehicle 1, such as the model number, colour etc. to be analysed, so that the vehicle can be identified. A snap-shot image is preferable at this stage, since it permits recordal of images for several vehicles within a short time frame. Snap-shot images may also be more easily transmitted. It is therefore, preferable that the camera 3 is a stills camera. The image recorded by the camera 3 is transmitted to a computer 4. The computer 4 preferably contains or is linked to a database containing information relating to persons who owe motoring-related fees. When the image of the vehicle I is received by the computer 4, the computer 4 compares the data recorded in the image with the data on the database relating to persons who owe motoring-related fees. The computer 4 then transmits a signal back to a receiver 5 in the vicinity of the petrol station forecourt. The receiver 5 can be located anywhere on the petrol station forecourt. When the camera 3 has taken a snap-shot image of the vehicle a second continuous camera 6, such as a video camera, monitors the vehicle I continuously to record the location of the vehicle I on the forecourt, and in particular to record details of a particular petrol pump 7, at which the vehicle I stops. The information collected by the camera 6 is transmitted to the computer 4, which transmits a signal to the receiver 5. The receiver 5 then transmits a signal to a petrol flow control device 8 on the appropriate petrol pump 7. The petrol flow control device 8 is configured to release

petrol unless it receives a signal indicating otherwise. The transmission and processing of the images from the cameras 3, 6 must be at a sufficiently high speed to ensure that a signal can be transmitted from the computer 4 before the driver of the vehicle I attempts to obtain petrol from the pump 7. The nature of the signal transmitted by the receiver 5 will depend on whether or not the computer 4 has matched the image of the vehicle 1 from the camera 3 to an entry in the database on persons owing motoring-related fees. For example, if the vehicle registration details on the image picked up by the camera 3 are the same as those for one of the entries on the database, a positive signal is transmitted to the receiver 5 and the petrol pump 7 so that the control device 8 is activated in such a way as to prevent petrol from being released from the petrol pump 7. A message is preferably relayed to -the person trying to obtain petrol from the pump 7, explaining that petrol can be obtained following payment to a petrol station operator of the monies owed to the relevant authority, e.g. the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency, local authorities etc. This message can be relayed audibly through a speaker on the pump 7 or visually via a screen on the pump 7. If the person then chooses to pay to the petrol station operator the monies owed, the petrol station operator can operate over-ride means 9 to over-ride the positive signal received at the pump 7, so that the petrol is no longer retained in the pump 7 but is released to the vehicle 1. Alternatively, the over-ride means 9 could be activated by payment of monies owed at the pump 7, for example, by means of a credit or debit card. Similarly, if the details on the image recorded by camera 3 do not match any of the entries on the database on the computer 4, a negative signal will be transmitted to the receiver 5 and the pump 7, so that the control device 8 permits release of petrol from the pump 7, as normal. If required, the control device 8 may not be activated until the computer 4 recognises a match with the database for a pre-determined number of times, for example, three times. In this case, a positive signal is not released by the computer 4 until a match has been made for a third time. Preferably, the computer 4 has a memory facility capable of

retaining such information. This application could be used when the fees owed are insubstantial.

Although the system is particularly suitable for recouping motoring-related fees, it could also be used to alert a petrol station operator and/or the police to a stolen vehicle on the forecourt, as well as preventing the driver of such a vehicle from obtaining petrol from the pump 7. This could be done by including information on stolen vehicles on the database on the computer 4 or linking the computer 4 to a fin-ther database relating to stolen vehicles. Other criminals, such as "hit-and-run" drivers could also be monitored in a similar way. It will be appreciated that variations of the embodiment described above are, of course, possible. For example, a single camera may be used to record a snap-shot image of the vehicle I as it enters the forecourt and record a continuous image of the vehicle I as it moves from the forecourt entrance to the pump 7. The camera 6 could be replaced by a closed-circuit television system. Alternatively, both cameras could be stills cameras. Although a single receiver 5 is described in the embodiment above, it would be possible to locate a receiver 5 on each pump so that the signal from the computer 4 would be received at the pump 7. In this case the receiver 5 could be part of the control device 8. It is possible that only the camera 3 is linked to the computer 4 and that the image from the camera 6 is analysed by a petrol station operator who reads the signal sent to the receiver 5 and then transmits an appropriate signal to the appropriate pump 7. Although the control device 8 is configured to release petrol unless a signal is received to indicate otherwise in the embodiment described above, the control device 8 may be configured to prevent release of petrol under normal operating conditions and only to release petrol when an appropriate signal is received.

It is not necessary to use a computer to analyse the images obtained from the camera(s) and transmit a signal. For example, a list of vehicles for which motoring-related fees

are due could be distributed to petrol stations and the petrol station operator could check images of vehicles from the camera(s) against this list. The petrol station operator would then be responsible for transmitting a signal to the pump 7. This could be done by remote control or by activating a switch linked to the pump 7. Alternatively, the petrol station could check the image of each vehicle against a list located remotely from the petrol station, for example, by telephone.

Claims

Claims: I A system for controlling the release of petrol from a petrol pump comprising a petrol pump, a camera for identifying the registration number of a vehicle approaching the petrol pump, means for checking the registration number identified by the camera against selected parameters and means for selectively allowing or preventing release of petrol from the pump to the vehicle in response to the said checking.
2. A system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the means for checking the registration number is a computer.
3. A system as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the computer is located remotely from the petrol pump.
4. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the camera is a stills camera.
5. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the means for selectively allowing or preventing release of petrol from the pump is activated in response to a signal from the means for checking the registration number.
6. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein an additional camera is provided for recording the movement of the vehicle in the vicinity of the petrol pump.
7. A system as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the additional camera is a continuous camera.
8. A system as claimed in Claim 6 or 7, wherein the second camera is linked to the means for checking the registration number.

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9. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein means are provided for over-riding the prevention of release of petrol.
10. A system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
11. A method for controlling the release of petrol from a petrol pump comprising the steps of identifying the registration number of a vehicle approaching the petrol pump, checking the identified registration number against selected parameters and allowing or preventing the release of petrol from the petrol pump as a result of the checking.