Multiple browser interface

• US 20020156835A1
• Filed: 04/23/2001
• Published: 10/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: Williams, Rodger, Gentry, Kenneth H. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,280,087 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

The present invention provides a display controller driving multiple browser displays, which are associated with user input devices. Preferably, the display controller runs a browser application for each display and receives input from each user input device. Primary control for the browser applications is provided by a control application located remotely from the display controller. The user input is forwarded to the control application, which will process the user input and provide instructions to the corresponding browser application to request content from a web server application. The control application may also provide instructions unrelated to the user input to control any one or all of the browser applications.

Claims

1. A system for providing a multiple browser interface comprising:

a) a plurality of displays with associated input devices; and

b) a display controller associated with said plurality of displays, said display controller comprising;

i) communication electronics for communicating with a server running a control application; and

ii) a control system associated with said communication electronics and adapted to;

1) run browser applications for each of said plurality of displays;

2) receive input from each of said input devices and provide the input to the control application; and

3) receive instructions for said browser applications from the control application.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of displays and said display controller are mounted to a fuel dispenser.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein each of said plurality of displays is positioned to face opposing fueling positions.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of displays and said display controller are mounted to a kiosk.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a server remote from said display controller and adapted to run said control application.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said server is further adapted to run a web server application configured to provide content to the browser applications of the display controller.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein said control application is adapted to process the input and provide certain of the instructions for a corresponding one of the browser applications.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein said control application is adapted to provide certain of the instructions for a corresponding one of the browser applications based on events or instructions unrelated to the input.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein, for each of said browser applications, said control system is further adapted to provide a request for content from a web server based on the instructions;

receive content in response to the request; and

display the content on a corresponding one of said plurality of displays.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said display controller is assigned one Internet Protocol (IP) address and each of the browser applications is assigned a unique port associated with the IP address.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said input devices include keys on at least one of said plurality of displays.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said input devices include a touch screen configuration for at least one of said plurality of displays.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said communication electronics are wireless communication electronics adapted to provide wireless communications with the server.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

a) providing a request for content from a web server based on the instructions;

b) receiving content in response to the request; and

c) displaying the content on a corresponding one of the plurality of displays.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising running a web server application at the second location to provide content to the browser applications.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising using the control application to process the input and provide certain of the instructions for a corresponding one of the browser applications.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising using the control application to provide certain of the instructions for a corresponding one of the browser applications based on events or instructions unrelated to the input.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising effecting control of a peripheral at the first location with instructions from the second location.

14. A method of supporting multiple browsers comprising:

a) running browser applications for each of a plurality of displays associated with input devices at a first location;

b) receiving input from each of the input devices;

c) sending the input to a control application at a second location; and

d) receiving instructions for said browser applications from the control application.

20. A system for supporting a multiple browser controller comprising:

a) communication electronics for communicating with the multiple browser controller; and

b) a control system associated with said communication electronics and adapted to;

i) receive user input sent from the multiple browser controller; and

ii) send instructions for browser applications running on the multiple browser controller based on the input;

iii) receive a request from one of the browser applications corresponding to the instructions; and

iv) send content to the multiple browser controller for display by the one of the browser applications.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said control system is adapted to provide certain of the instructions for the one of the browser applications based on events or instructions unrelated to the input.

22. A system for supporting multiple browsers comprising:

a) means for running browser applications for each of a plurality of displays associated with input devices at a first location;

b) means for receiving input from each of the input devices;

c) means for sending the input to a control application at a second location; and

d) means for receiving instructions for said browser applications from the control application.

23. The system of claim 22 further comprising:

a) means for providing a request for content from a web server based on the instructions;

b) means for receiving content in response to the request; and

c) means for displaying the content on a corresponding one of the plurality of displays.

24. The system of claim 22 further comprising means for running a web server application at the second location to provide content to the browser applications.

25. The system of claim 22 further comprising means for processing the input and providing certain of the instructions for a corresponding one of the browser applications.

26. The system of claim 22 further comprising means for providing certain of the instructions for a corresponding one of the browser applications based on events or instructions unrelated to the input.

27. The system of claim 22 further comprising means for effecting control of a peripheral at the first location with instructions from the second location.