Apparatus and method for selling merchandise at fuel dispensers
First Claim
1. An apparatus for selling merchandise selected by a customer for purchase at a fuel dispenser, wherein the purchased merchandise is to be shipped to the customer, the apparatus comprising:
- a user interface through which a user can select merchandise for purchase;
an electronic communication interface adapted to communicate electronically with the fuel dispenser; and
a controller coupled to the communication interface to communicate with the fuel dispenser, and adapted to monitor whether the fuel dispenser is being used, wherein, after determining that the fuel dispenser is being used, the controller triggers the user interface, and obtains through the communication interface customer information corresponding to a shipping address for the selected merchandise, with minimal or no input of information by the user for obtaining the shipping address.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and a method are provided for selling at a fuel dispenser merchandise to be shipped to the customer. A point-of-sale (POS) kiosk is provided in a physical proximity of the fuel dispenser. The POS kiosk has a controller and a communication interface. The controller monitors whether fuel is dispensed by the fuel dispenser. A user interface through which a user can select a desired merchandise is provided, after it is determined that fuel is being dispensed by the fuel dispenser. The POS kiosk communicates electronically through the communication interface to obtain customer information corresponding to a shipping address for the selected merchandise from a credit agency and/or a database, with minimal or no input of information by the user for obtaining the shipping address.
72 Citations
42 Claims
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1. An apparatus for selling merchandise selected by a customer for purchase at a fuel dispenser, wherein the purchased merchandise is to be shipped to the customer, the apparatus comprising:
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a user interface through which a user can select merchandise for purchase;
an electronic communication interface adapted to communicate electronically with the fuel dispenser; and
a controller coupled to the communication interface to communicate with the fuel dispenser, and adapted to monitor whether the fuel dispenser is being used, wherein, after determining that the fuel dispenser is being used, the controller triggers the user interface, and obtains through the communication interface customer information corresponding to a shipping address for the selected merchandise, with minimal or no input of information by the user for obtaining the shipping address. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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25. A method for selling merchandise selected by a customer for purchase at a fuel dispenser, wherein the purchased merchandise is to be shipped to the customer, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a POS kiosk in a physical proximity of the fuel dispenser, wherein the POS kiosk has a controller and a communication interface;
(b) monitoring through the controller whether fuel is dispensed by the fuel dispenser;
(c) providing a user interface through which a user can select desired merchandise, after it is determined in step (b) that fuel is being dispensed by the fuel dispenser; and
(d) communicating electronically from the POS kiosk through the communication interface to obtain customer information corresponding to a shipping address for the selected merchandise, without input of the shipping address by the user.
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26. A method for selling merchandise selected by a customer for purchase at a fuel dispenser using a POS kiosk in a physical proximity of a fuel dispenser, the POS kiosk having a controller and a communication interface, wherein the purchased merchandise is to be shipped to the customer, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) monitoring through the controller whether fuel is dispensed by the fuel dispenser;
(b) providing a user interface through which a user can select desired merchandise, after it is determined in step (a) that fuel is being dispensed by the fuel dispenser; and
(c) communicating electronically from the POS kiosk through the communication interface to obtain customer information corresponding to a shipping address for the selected merchandise, with minimal or no input of information by the user for obtaining the shipping address.
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Specification