Wireless communication in a retail refueling environment
First Claim
1. A system for wireless communication within a retail refueling environment, comprising:
- an in-store controller for processing at least one message relating to a retail refueling environment;
a server module, connected to the in-store controller, comprising at least one of a transmitter and a receiver;
at least one client module comprising at least one of a transmitter and a receiver;
at least one service device, connected to the at least one client module, for processing the at least one message; and
a wireless communication link for communicating the at least one message between the at least one of a transmitter and a receiver in the server module and the at least one of a transmitter and a receiver in the at least one client module.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, system, and apparatus for wireless communication in a retail refueling environment. In one aspect of the present invention, wireless RF server and client modules are used to interface an in-store controller to various third party devices. In another aspect of the invention, wireless RF server and client modules are used to interface an Indoor Payment Terminal (IPT) to various peripheral devices. In still another aspect of the invention, wireless RF server and client modules are used to interface the Point-Of-Sale (POS) system to control systems located within the fuel dispensers. In still another aspect of the invention, wireless RF server and client modules are used to perform intra-dispenser communication. In still another aspect of the invention, a protocol link layer is used to allow the replacement of conventional wired connections with wireless RF modules without having to modify the existing protocol.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. A system for wireless communication within a retail refueling environment, comprising:
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an in-store controller for processing at least one message relating to a retail refueling environment;
a server module, connected to the in-store controller, comprising at least one of a transmitter and a receiver;
at least one client module comprising at least one of a transmitter and a receiver;
at least one service device, connected to the at least one client module, for processing the at least one message; and
a wireless communication link for communicating the at least one message between the at least one of a transmitter and a receiver in the server module and the at least one of a transmitter and a receiver in the at least one client module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for -wireless communication within a retail refueling environment, comprising:
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an indoor payment terminal (IPT) for processing at least one message relating to a retail refueling environment;
a server module, connected to the IPT, comprising at least one of a transmitter and a receiver;
at least one client module comprising at least one of a transmitter and a receiver;
at least one peripheral device, connected to the at least one client module, for processing the at least one message; and
a wireless communication link for communicating the at least one message between the at least one of a transmitter and a receiver in the server module and the at least one of a transmitter and a receiver in the at least one client module. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. An in-store to forecourt communication system for wireless communication within a retail refueling environment, comprising:
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a point of sale (POS) network controller for processing at least one message relating to a retail refueling environment;
a server module, connected to the POS network controller, comprising at least one of a transmitter and a receiver;
at least one client module comprising at least one of a transmitter and a receiver;
at least one forecourt controller device, connected to the at least one client module, for processing the at least one message; and
a wireless communication link for communicating the at least one message between the at least one of a transmitter and a receiver in the server module and the at least one of a transmitter and a receiver in the at least one client module. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An intra-dispenser communication system for wireless communication within a retail refueling environment, comprising:
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a dispenser controller device for processing at least one message relating to a retail refueling environment;
a server module, connected to the dispenser controller device, comprising at least one of a transmitter and a receiver;
at least one client module comprising at least one of a transmitter and a receiver;
at least one dispenser peripheral, connected to the at least one client module, for processing the at least one message; and
a wireless communication link for communicating the at least one message between the at least one of a transmitter and a receiver in the server module and the at least one of a transmitter and a receiver in the at least one client module. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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36. The intra-dispenser communication system of claim wherein the wireless communication link comprises a spread spectrum communication link.
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47. A method for wireless communication within a retail refueling environment, comprising the steps of:
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generating at least one message formatted according to a protocol link layer for communication of at least one data packet, the at least one data packet comprising information relating to a retail refueling environment;
transmitting the at least one message over a wireless communication link;
receiving the at least one message via the wireless communication link; and
processing the at least one message to extract the information relating to the retail refueling environment. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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Specification