Presenting refueling information using a mobile communication device

Abstract

A mobile communication device aids a driver of an automobile to locate a refueling vender. The mobile communication device receives signals containing information regarding refueling venders within a vicinity of the location of the device. In response to a request to locate a refueling vender within a limited geographic of the device and based on the received information regarding refueling venders within a vicinity of the device, the device displays on a touchscreen information—including price and location—regarding a set of selected refueling venders that satisfy the selection criteria. The driver can request additional information regarding a chosen one of the refueling venders, and the device determines and displays driving directions from the location of device to the location of the chosen one of the refueling venders the driving directions to thereby assist the driver to drive to the chosen one of the refueling venders to refuel.

1 . A mobile communication device comprising:
 a communication module configured to communicate wirelessly via at least one communication network, the communication module configured to:
 receive wireless electronic positioning signals; and 
 receive wireless electronic signals containing information regarding refueling venders within a vicinity of the location of the mobile communication device; 
   a touchscreen display;   an electronic memory; and   a processor in operative association with the communication module, the touchscreen display, and the electronic memory, the processor configured to:
 determine, based on the wireless electronic positioning signals, a location of the mobile communication device; 
 store in the electronic memory the location of the mobile communication device; 
 store in the electronic memory the information regarding refueling venders within a vicinity of the location of the mobile communication device; 
 provide a user interface on the touchscreen display; 
 receive from the driver, via the user interface, a request to locate a refueling vender according to a selection criteria, wherein the selection criteria comprises a limited geographic area that includes the location of the mobile communication device; 
 in response to the request and based on the received information regarding refueling venders within a vicinity of the location of the mobile communication device, cause the touchscreen to display information regarding a set of selected refueling venders that satisfy the selection criteria, wherein the information comprises price and location of each vender in the set of selected refueling venders that satisfy the selection criteria; 
 receive from the driver, via the user interface, a request for additional information regarding a chosen one of the venders in the set of selected refueling venders that satisfy the selection criteria; 
 determine driving directions from the location of the mobile communication device to the location of the chosen one of the venders; and 
 cause the touchscreen to display the driving directions to thereby assist the driver to drive to the chosen one of the refueling venders to refuel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the selection criteria further comprises a refueling vender brand. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the information regarding the set of selected refueling venders that satisfy the selection criteria further comprises an identity of each vender in the set of selected refueling venders that satisfy the selection criteria. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the additional information regarding a chosen one of the refueling venders further comprises vender identity and distance from the location of the mobile device to the chosen one of the venders, and the electronic processor is further configured to display on the touchscreen the identity of the chosen one of the venders and the distance from the location of the mobile device to the chosen one of the venders. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the automobile comprises a computer system for use by the driver, and the electronic processor is further configured to interface the mobile communication device with the computer system of the automobile. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile communication device of  claim 5 , wherein the electronic processor is further configured to receive from the computer system of the automobile data regarding a fuel level of the automobile. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic processor is further configured to use the mobile communication device to purchase fuel from the chosen vender. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic processor displays the driving directions on the touchscreen by displaying a map and displaying instructions to follow a route on the map. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the refueling vendors are gas stations. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the information regarding the set of selected refueling venders that satisfy the selection criteria further comprises availability information. 
     
     
         11 . A method of using a mobile communication device to aid a driver of an automobile to locate a refueling vender, the mobile communication device having a touchscreen, an electronic processor, and electronic memory, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the mobile communication device, wireless electronic positioning signals;   determining, by the mobile communication device, based on the received wireless electronic positioning signals, a location of the mobile communication device;   storing in the electronic memory of the mobile communication device the location of the mobile communication device;   receiving, by the mobile communication device, wireless electronic signals containing information regarding refueling venders within a vicinity of the location of the mobile communication device;   storing in the electronic memory of the mobile communication device the information regarding refueling venders within a vicinity of the location of the mobile communication device;   providing a user interface on the touchscreen of the mobile communication device;   receiving from the driver, via the user interface, a request to locate a refueling vender according to a selection criteria, wherein the selection criteria comprises a limited geographic area that includes the location of the mobile communication device;   in response to the request and based on the received information regarding refueling venders within a vicinity of the location of the mobile communication device, displaying on the touchscreen information regarding a set of selected refueling venders that satisfy the selection criteria, wherein the information comprises price and location of each vender in the set of selected refueling venders that satisfy the selection criteria;   receiving from the driver, via the user interface, a request for additional information regarding a chosen one of the refueling venders in the set of selected refueling venders that satisfy the selection criteria;   determining, by the electronic processor, driving directions from the location of the mobile communication device to the location of the chosen one of the refueling venders; and   displaying the driving directions on the touchscreen to thereby assist the driver to drive to the chosen one of the refueling venders to refuel.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the selection criteria further comprises a refueling vender brand. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the information regarding the set of selected refueling venders that satisfy the selection criteria further comprises vender identity of each vender in the set of selected refueling venders that satisfy the selection criteria. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the additional information regarding a chosen one of the refueling venders further comprises vender identity and distance from the location of the mobile device to the chosen one of the refueling venders, and the method further comprises:
 displaying on the touchscreen the identity of the chosen one of the refueling venders and the distance from the location of the mobile device to the chosen one of the refueling venders   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the automobile comprises a computer system for use by the driver, the method further comprising:
 interfacing the mobile communication device with the computer system of the automobile.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving from the computer system of the automobile data indicative of a fuel level of the automobile.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 using the mobile communication device to purchase fuel from the chosen vender.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein displaying the driving directions on the touchscreen comprises:
 displaying a map; and   displaying instructions to follow a route on the map.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the refueling vendors are gas stations. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the information regarding the set of selected refueling venders that satisfy the selection criteria further comprises availability information. 
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions for execution by an electronic processor of a mobile communication device to aid a driver of an automobile to locate a refueling vender, the mobile communication device having, in addition to the electronic processor, a touchscreen, and electronic memory, the instructions comprising:
 instructions for determining, by the mobile communication device, based on wireless electronic positioning signals received by the mobile communication device, a location of the mobile communication device;   instructions for storing the location of the mobile communication device in the electronic memory of the mobile communication device;   instructions for storing in the electronic memory of the mobile communication device information regarding refueling venders within a vicinity of the location of the mobile communication device, said information based on information received by the mobile communication device;   instructions for providing a user interface on the touchscreen of the mobile communication device;   instructions for receiving from the driver, via the user interface, a request to locate a refueling vender according to a selection criteria, wherein the selection criteria comprises a limited geographic area that includes the location of the mobile communication device;   instructions for causing the touchscreen to display, in response to the request and based on the received information regarding refueling venders within a vicinity of the location of the mobile communication device, information regarding a set of selected refueling venders that satisfy the selection criteria, wherein the information comprises price and location of each vender in the set of selected refueling venders that satisfy the selection criteria;   instructions for receiving from the driver, via the user interface, a request for additional information regarding a chosen one of the venders in the set of selected refueling venders that satisfy the selection criteria;   instructions for determining driving directions from the location of the mobile communication device to the location of the chosen one of the venders; and   instructions for causing the touchscreen to display the driving directions to thereby assist the driver to drive to the chosen one of the venders to refuel.   
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the selection criteria further comprises a refueling vender brand. 
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the information regarding the set of selected refueling venders that satisfy the selection criteria further comprises vender identity of each vender in the set of selected refueling venders that satisfy the selection criteria. 
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the additional information regarding a chosen one of the venders further comprises vender identity and distance from the location of the mobile device to the chosen one of the venders, and the instructions further comprising:
 instructions to cause the touchscreen to display the identity of the chosen one of the venders and the distance from the location of the mobile device to the chosen one of the venders   
     
     
         25 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the automobile comprises a computer system for use by the driver, the instructions further comprising:
 instructions to interface the mobile communication device with the computer system of the automobile.   
     
     
         26 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 instructions to receive from the computer system of the automobile data indicative of a fuel level of the automobile.   
     
     
         27 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 instructions to effectuate a purchase of fuel from the chosen vender.   
     
     
         28 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the instructions to display the driving directions on the touchscreen comprises:
 instructions to display a map; and   instructions to display instructions to follow a route on the map.   
     
     
         29 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the refueling vendors are gas stations. 
     
     
         30 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the information regarding the set of selected refueling venders that satisfy the selection criteria further comprises availability information.