Fuel dispenser having a guided customer transaction interface and the method therefor

• US 20030075600A1
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Environ-Opw, Inc. (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Environ Products, Inc. (Future FinTech Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Webb, Michael C., Struthers, Kevin D.
• Application Number:
  US10/259,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20030075600A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/106 operated by push-buttons
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/14 responsive to input of recorded programmed information, e.g. on punched cards
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/222 involving digital counting
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/228 using digital counting
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/246 involving digital counting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/009 User recognition or proximity detection

Abstract

Provided is a computer-implemented, interface method by which a customer may execute transactions at a fuel dispenser having a large display and acting as a thin client in communication with at least one server. The interface is guided in that the dispenser display presents to the customer a predetermined sequence of screens, which are predetermined arrangements of objects representative of transaction opportunities. Both the arrangement of objects into screens and the sequence of screen display are reconfigurable by a fuel or retail marketer either locally or remotely from at least one host server. Also provided is a fuel dispenser having a large display and acting as a thin client in communication with at least one host server, which comprises and uses the present interface method to effect customer transactions.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for guiding a customer transaction at a fuel dispenser, wherein the fuel dispenser is in communication with at least one host server, comprises a card reader and a display, and operates as a programmable thin client for displaying selectable objects representative of transaction opportunities, wherein each object comprises at least one term and at least one property, the method comprising the steps of:

a) configuring the terms and the properties of the objects into a plurality of screens, each screen comprising a distinctive arrangement of selectable objects;

b) configuring a sequence for displaying the plurality of screens;

c) displaying to a customer a first screen;

d) the customer selecting at least one displayed object;

e) in response to the customer'"'"'s selection, displaying at least one subsequent screen;

f) repeating steps (d) and (e) until all desired transaction opportunities have been chosen;

g) at any point in the method after step (b), reconfiguring from the at least one host server at least one term or at least one property of at least one of the displayed objects as well as the sequence of display of at least one screen.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

h) the customer inputting requested identification data;

i) transmitting to the at least one host server signals representative of the requested identification data;

j) in response to the transmitted signals, reconfiguring from the at least one host server at least one property of at least one of the displayed objects;

k) in accordance with the at least one reconfigured property, displaying at least one subsequent screen.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the fuel dispenser further comprises means for aurally communicating the selectable objects and voice-activated means for inputting customer selections of selectable objects, the method further comprising the steps of:

a) aurally communicating a first screen of selectable objects;

b) the customer selecting at least one aurally communicated object;

c) in response to the customer'"'"'s selection, aurally communicating a subsequent screen of selectable objects;

d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until all desired transaction opportunities have been chosen.

4. A fuel dispenser for guiding a customer transaction, wherein the fuel dispenser is in communication with at least one host server and operates as a programmable thin client for displaying selectable objects representative of transaction opportunities, wherein each object comprises at least one term and at least one property, said dispenser comprising:

means for dispensing fuel,

means for displaying objects,

means for accepting payment from a customer, and

a guided customer transaction interface,

wherein the guided customer transaction interface comprises a method comprising the steps of;

a) configuring the terms and the properties of the objects into a plurality of screens, each screen comprising a distinctive arrangement of selectable objects;

b) configuring a sequence for displaying the plurality of screens;

c) displaying to a customer a first screen;

d) the customer selecting at least one displayed object;

e) in response to the customer'"'"'s selection, displaying at least one subsequent screen;

f) repeating steps (d) and (e) until all desired transaction opportunities have been chosen;

g) at any point in the method after step (b), reconfiguring from the at least one host server at least one term or at least one property of at least one of the displayed objects as well as the sequence of display of at least one screen.

5. The fuel dispenser of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

h) the customer inputting requested identification data;

i) transmitting to the at least one host server signals representative of the requested identification data;

j) in response to the transmitted signals, reconfiguring from the at least one host server at least one property of at least one displayed object;

k) in accordance with the at least one reconfigured property, displaying at least one subsequent screen.

6. The fuel dispenser of claim 4, further comprising means for aurally communicating the selectable objects and voice-activated means for inputting customer selections of selectable objects, the method further comprising the steps of:

a) aurally communicating a first screen of selectable objects;

b) the customer selecting at least one aurally communicated object;

c) in response to the customer'"'"'s selection, aurally communicating a subsequent screen of selectable objects;

d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until all desired transaction opportunities have been chosen.