Patents by Inventor Thomas S. Fansler

Thomas S. Fansler has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10423898
    Abstract: Techniques involving modeling and analysis of operational metrics in transportation industries are disclosed. Representative methods involve defining a set of fuel consumption performance factors having a potential to impact vehicle fuel economy. Fuel consumption performance factors are received, and categorical variables are identified from at least a subset of the fuel consumption performance factors to create one or more categorical groupings. The fuel consumption performance factors associated with at least one of the categorical groupings are processed to identify a hypothetical maximum fuel economy or “baseline” for the at least one of the categorical groupings, and to identify fuel economy deduction coefficients based on the fuel consumption performance factors that adversely impact the hypothetical maximum fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Thomas S. Fansler, Ronald Edward Konezny
  • Patent number: 10163141
    Abstract: Techniques for authorizing fuel purchases based on vehicle available fuel tank capacity. The authorization may be performed on a transaction basis, such that each fueling event may be independently authorized. A current fuel tank capacity for the vehicle is obtained, and transmitted to an authorization entity. An authorization is obtained for dispensing a quantity of fuel that does not exceed the current fuel tank capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Thomas S. Fansler, Ronald Edward Konezny
  • Publication number: 20130013431
    Abstract: Techniques for authorizing fuel purchases based on vehicle available fuel tank capacity. The authorization may be performed on a transaction basis, such that each fueling event may be independently authorized. A current fuel tank capacity for the vehicle is obtained, and transmitted to an authorization entity. An authorization is obtained for dispensing a quantity of fuel that does not exceed the current fuel tank capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas S. Fansler, Ronald Edward Konezny
  • Publication number: 20120209579
    Abstract: Techniques involving modeling and analysis of operational metrics in transportation industries are disclosed. Representative methods involve defining a set of fuel consumption performance factors having a potential to impact vehicle fuel economy. Fuel consumption performance factors are received, and categorical variables are identified from at least a subset of the fuel consumption performance factors to create one or more categorical groupings. The fuel consumption performance factors associated with at least one of the categorical groupings are processed to identify a hypothetical maximum fuel economy or “baseline” for the at least one of the categorical groupings, and to identify fuel economy deduction coefficients based on the fuel consumption performance factors that adversely impact the hypothetical maximum fuel economy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas S. Fansler, Ronald Edward Konezny
  • Patent number: 7778894
    Abstract: Method and apparatus provide for electronically processing vehicle location data wherein the vehicle location data specifies a sequence of vehicle locations, and wherein the processing determines if the sequence of vehicle locations form a sequence of the vehicle's travel that is acceptable for the purposes of filing tax reports relating to the vehicle. Processing further provides for determining the acceptability of the sequence according to one or more criteria, and provides a user tools that enable the user to accept or revise the vehicle location data for the unacceptable part of the sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Intertax
    Inventors: Michael A. Monsor, Keith P. Morgan, Thomas S. Fansler