Fuel dispensing and retail system for providing customer selected guidelines and limitations

• US 20020014952A1
• Filed: 07/24/2001
• Published: 02/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: Terranova, Steven N.
• Application Number:
  US09/912,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20020014952A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/067 using communication means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/08 Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred arrangement of flow- or pressure-control valves B67D7/36; computing, calculating, counting G06; coin-freed apparatus for dispensing fluids G07F13/00; prepayment devices for metering liquids G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/145 by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

The present invention provides a fuel dispensing system for setting transaction parameters in association with a remote communications unit. This system will include wireless or radio communications electronics adapted to receive signals from remote communications units, a transaction interface for carrying out transactions, and a control system and associated memory operating in conjunction with the communications electronics and a transaction interface. The control system is adapted to receive indicia from a remote communications unit and control the transaction at the transaction interface involving the remote communications unit according to predefined parameters associated with the remote communications unit. Any identification indicia and predefined parameters may be stored in the memory in association with the remote communications unit and the control system may be adapted to access these predefined parameters in the memory upon receipt of the identification indicia and control the transaction accordingly. Alternatively, the predefined parameters may be transmitted directly from the remote communications unit to the communications electronics and control system. The predefined parameters may limit a transaction to a select type or grade of fuel, a select type or amount of a product or service, as well as limiting or preventing the purchase of certain products or services. Notably, the control system may include a dispenser control system, a central site control system, a control system associated with a remote network, or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. A system for providing transaction parameters in association with a remote communication unit comprising:

a) wireless communication electronics adapted to receive signals including indicia from remote communication units;

b) a transaction interface for carryout transactions

c) a control system and memory associated with said communication electronics and said transaction interface; and

d) said control system adapted to receive the indicia from a remote communication unit and control a transaction at the transaction interface involving the remote communication unit according to predefined parameters associated with the remote communication unit.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the indicia is identification indicia and said predefined parameters are stored in said memory in association with the identification indicia of the remote communication unit and said control system is adapted to access said predefined parameters in said memory upon receipt of the identification indicia and control the transaction accordingly.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the predefined parameters are transmitted to the communication electronics from said remote communication unit and said control system is adapted to receive the predefined parameters and control the transaction accordingly.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the predefined parameters limit a transaction to a select type of fuel.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the predefined parameters limit a transaction to a select grade of fuel.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the predefined parameters limit a transaction to a purchase amount.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the predefined parameters control a transaction by preventing purchase of select product.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the predefined parameters control a transaction by limiting a quantity of a select product.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said communication electronics includes an interrogator adapted to interrogate the remote communication unit.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the remote communication units are transponders adapted to respond to interrogation signals from said interrogator.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said control system includes a dispenser control system located within a fuel dispenser.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said control system includes a central site control system located apart from said fuel dispenser.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said control system is connected to a network having said memory containing the predefined parameters.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said network is a remote network located substantially apart from said communication electronics.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein said network is a local network.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising means for alerting a customer of a predefined parameter associated with said control system.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said control system is adapted cause said means to alert the customer when a predefined parameter is reached during a transaction.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein said control system is adapted cause said means to alert the customer that a predefined parameter exists.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein said control system is adapted to monitor a transaction for actions violating the predefined parameters and cause said means to alert the customer of an action violating the predefined parameters.

20. The system of claim 1 further comprising means for alerting an operator of a predefined parameter associated with said control system.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said control system is adapted cause said means to alert the operator when a predefined parameter is reached during a transaction.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein said control system is adapted cause said means to alert the operator that a predefined parameter exists.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein said control system is adapted to monitor a transaction for actions violating the predefined parameters and cause said means to alert the operator of an action violating the predefined parameters.

24. The system of claim 1 wherein said control system is adapted to monitor a transaction for actions violating the predefined parameters and prevent actions in the transaction violating the predefined parameters.

25. The system of claim 16 wherein said means is display.

26. The system of claim 20 wherein said means is display.

27. The system of claim 16 wherein said means is an audio system and speaker.

28. The system of claim 20 wherein said means is an audio system and speaker.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein said predefined parameters are stored in said memory in association with the interrogated remote communication unit and said control system is adapted to access said predefined parameters and control the transaction accordingly.

31. The system of claim 29 wherein the predefined parameters are transmitted to the control system through said interrogator from said remote communication unit and said control system is adapted to receive the predefined parameters and control the transaction according to the predefined parameters

32. The system of claim 29 wherein said control system includes a dispenser control system in a fuel dispenser including said customer transaction interface.

33. The system of claim 29 wherein said control system further includes a central site control system located apart from said fuel dispenser.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the receiving step includes receiving identification indicia from the remote communication unit and the obtaining step includes accessing the predefined parameters in a database using the identification indicia, the database being located apart from the remote communication unit.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein the receiving step includes receiving the predefined parameters from the remote communication unit.

29. An interrogation system associated with a fuel dispensing system for enforcing parameters associated with a remote communication unit, said system comprising:

a) a customer transaction interface associated with an interrogator for communicating with remote communication units;

b) a control system and memory associated with said interrogator; and

c) said control system adapted to interrogate a remote communication unit with said interrogator during a transaction and control the transaction according to predefined parameters associated with the remote communication unit.

34. A method for enforcing transaction parameters associated with a remote communication unit comprising:

a) receiving information from a remote communication unit in association with a transaction;

b) obtaining predefined parameters for the transaction associated with the remote communication unit; and

c) controlling the transaction according to the predefined parameters.