Carwash communication
US9802581B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 18, 2015 |
| Grant date | Oct 31, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 3, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W4/90
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An example carwash method involves a customer using a smartphone with an app for finding participating carwash locations, making online payments for select carwash options, and then using the smartphone app to start the washing process when the customer arrives at the carwash. Various means can be used for determining when the vehicle is at the carwash entrance. Examples of such means include, but are not limited to, reading the GPS coordinates of the smartphone in the vehicle; establishing Bluetooth, WiFi or some other limited-range wireless communication link between the smartphone and the local carwash controller; displaying and manually entering a code or password at the carwash; and scanning a QR code displayed on the smartphone. During the carwash operation, in some examples, the smartphone app provides the customer with an emergency stop option.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.