Master dispenser display with multiple communication interfaces allowing virtual transaction ticket

• US 20030200108A1
• Filed: 02/10/2003
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dresser Incorporated (Nagano Keiki Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dresser Incorporated (Nagano Keiki Company Limited)
• Inventors: Malnoe, Michel
• Application Number:
  US10/364,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20030200108A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/085 Testing or calibrating apparatus therefore testing or calibrating apparatus for measuring volume flow in general G01F25/00
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/246 involving digital counting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/047 using payment protocols involving electronic receipts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 5/00 Receipt-giving machines cash registers giving receipts G07G1/00

Abstract

An electronic refueling transaction receipt is generated at a fuel dispenser position. The electronic receipt can be wirelessly communicated to a user device associated with the refueling customer. The electronic receipt can also be communicated to a remote location such as a network address or e-mail account. For this purpose, the user device communicates to the fuel dispenser a destination address specifying the location where the dispenser should transmit the virtual receipt, such as an e-mail address. The user device can direct the execution of remote management functions involving the fuel dispenser. The communication exchange to facilitate the management operations includes the use of a wireless link between the dispenser and user device. The remote management tasks include diagnostics and calibration.

Claims

1. A method for use with a fuel dispenser position and a user device operably associated with the fuel dispenser position, said method comprising the steps of:

the fuel dispenser position performing a refueling operation defining a transaction; and

causing the fuel dispenser position to generate and communicate to the user device an electronic transaction receipt.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the causing step further includes the step of:

wirelessly communicating the electronic transaction receipt to the user device.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further includes the step of:

the user device communicating to the dispenser position at least one of first information and second information, the first information comprising dispenser-related parameter data, and the second information comprising payment-related data.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, further includes the step of:

causing the fuel dispenser position to perform the refueling operation using the first information and/or the second information.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, further includes the steps of:

the fuel dispenser position performing a transaction authorization and payment process using the second information; and

the fuel dispenser position dispensing fuel in accordance with the first information.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further includes the step of:

storing the electronic transaction receipt on the user device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further includes the steps of:

the user device communicating to the fuel dispenser position a location indicator; and

the fuel dispenser position communicating the electronic transaction receipt to the location specified by the location indicator.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the location indicator including a network address.

9. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the location indicator including at least one of an Internet address, a World Wide Web address, an e-mail address, an e-mail account, an electronic messaging address, a point-of-sale (POS) facility designation, and a destination within a refueling environment encompassing at least the fuel dispenser position.

10. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the dispenser-related parameter data includes at least one of fuel type, fuel amount, and purchase amount, and the payment-related data includes at least one of billing account information and purchase amount.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic transaction receipt includes at least one of dispenser location, date, time, fuel type, unit price, volume purchased, and amount purchased.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the user device includes at least one of a cellular phone, a mobile device, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a Palm Pilot, a paging device, and a laptop computer.

13. A method for use with a fuel dispenser position and a user device operably associated with the fuel dispenser position, said method comprising the steps of:

causing the fuel dispenser position to generate an electronic receipt of a refueling transaction; and

communicating the electronic receipt to the user device.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, further includes the step of:

the user device receiving and storing the electronic receipt.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the communicating step further includes the step of:

wirelessly communicating the electronic receipt from the dispenser position to the user device.

16. The method as recited in claim 13, further includes the step of:

the user device communicating to the dispenser position at least one of first information and second information, the first information comprising dispenser-related parameter data, and the second information comprising payment-related data.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, further includes the step of:

causing the fuel dispenser position to perform at least one refueling transaction task using the first information and/or the second information.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, further includes the steps of:

the fuel dispenser position performing a transaction authorization and payment process using the second information; and

the fuel dispenser position dispensing fuel using the first information.

19. The method as recited in claim 13, further includes the steps of:

the user device communicating to the fuel dispenser position a location indicator; and

the fuel dispenser position communicating the electronic receipt to the location specified by the location indicator.

20. The method as recited in claim 13, further includes the step of:

the fuel dispenser position communicating the electronic receipt to a location different from a user device location.

21. A method for use with a fuel dispenser position, said method comprising the steps of:

providing the fuel dispenser position with a location indicator;

the fuel dispenser position generating an electronic receipt representative of a refueling transaction; and

communicating the electronic receipt to a location specified by the location indicator.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, further includes the steps of:

providing a user device operably associated with the fuel dispenser position; and

communicating the location indicator from the user device to the fuel dispenser position.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein communication of the location indicator includes wireless communication.

24. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the location indicator including a network address.

25. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the location indicator including at least one of an Internet address, a World Wide Web address, an e-mail address, an e-mail account, an electronic messaging address, a point-of-sale (POS) facility designation, and a destination within a refueling environment encompassing at least the fuel dispenser position.

26. The method as recited in claim 21, further includes the step of:

communicating the electronic receipt to a user device operably associated with the fuel dispenser position.

27. The method as recited in claim 21, further includes the steps of:

providing a user device operably associated with the fuel dispenser position; and

the user device communicating to the fuel dispenser position at least one of first information and second information, the first information comprising dispenser-related parameter data, and the second information comprising payment-related data.

28. The method as recited in claim 27, further includes the step of:

causing the fuel dispenser position to perform a refueling operation using the first information and/or the second information.

29. The method as recited in claim 28, further includes the steps of:

the fuel dispenser position performing a transaction authorization and payment process using the second information; and

the fuel dispenser position dispensing fuel in accordance with the first information.

30. A method for use with a fuel dispenser position and a user device operably associated with the fuel dispenser position, said method comprising the steps of:

the user device communicating a location indicator to the fuel dispenser position;

the fuel dispenser position generating an electronic receipt representative of a refueling transaction; and

the fuel dispenser position communicating the electronic receipt to a location specified by the location indicator.

31. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein communication of the location indicator includes wireless communication.

32. The method as recited in claim 30, further includes the step of:

communicating the electronic receipt to the user device.

33. The method as recited in claim 30, further includes the step of:

the user device communicating to the fuel dispenser position at least one of first information and second information, the first information comprising dispenser-related parameter data, and the second information comprising payment-related data.

34. The method as recited in claim 33, further includes the step of:

causing the fuel dispenser position to perform a refueling operation using the first information and/or the second information.

35. The method as recited in claim 34, further includes the steps of:

the fuel dispenser position performing a transaction authorization and payment process using the second information; and

the fuel dispenser position dispensing fuel in accordance with the first information.

36. A method for use with a fuel dispenser position, said method comprising the steps of:

the fuel dispenser position generating an electronic transaction receipt representative of a refueling transaction; and

the fuel dispenser position communicating the electronic transaction receipt to a location apart therefrom.

37. The method as recited in claim 36, wherein the communicating step further includes the step of:

communicating the electronic transaction receipt to a user device operably associated with the fuel dispenser position.

38. The method as recited in claim 37, wherein communication of the electronic transaction receipt to the user device includes wireless communication.

39. The method as recited in claim 36, wherein the communicating step further includes the step of:

communicating the electronic transaction receipt to a network location.

40. The method as recited in claim 36, wherein the communicating step further includes the step of:

communicating the electronic transaction receipt to a location specified by a refueling customer operably associated with the fuel dispenser position.

41. The method as recited in claim 36, wherein the communicating step further includes the step of:

communicating the electronic transaction receipt to a location specified in a wireless communication from a user device operably associated with the fuel dispenser position.

42. The method as recited in claim 36, further includes the step of:

the fuel dispenser position receiving information from a user device operably associated with the fuel dispenser position.

43. The method as recited in claim 42, wherein the information includes a location indicator indicative of the location.

44. The method as recited in claim 42, wherein the information includes at least one of first information and second information, the first information comprising dispenser-related parameter data, and the second information comprising payment-related data.

45. The method as recited in claim 44, further includes the step of:

causing the fuel dispenser position to perform a refueling operation using the first information and/or the second information.

46. A system, comprising:

a fuel dispenser position;

said fuel dispenser position being operably configured to generate an electronic receipt representative of a refueling transaction; and

said fuel dispenser position being operably configured further to communicate the electronic receipt to a location apart therefrom.

47. The system as recited in claim 46, further includes:

a wireless communications link, said wireless communications link operably connecting the fuel dispenser position to the location to facilitate communication of the electronic receipt therebetween.

48. The system as recited in claim 46, further includes:

a user device operably associated with said fuel dispenser position.

49. The system as recited in claim 48, wherein said user device being operably configured to communicate to said fuel dispenser position a location indicator indicative of the location.

50. The system as recited in claim 49, wherein said fuel dispenser position being configured further to communicate the electronic receipt to the location in response to and in accordance with the location indicator.

51. The system as recited in claim 49, wherein the location indicator includes at least one of a network address, an Internet address, a World Wide Web address, an e-mail address, an e-mail account, an electronic messaging address, a point-of-sale (POS) facility designation, and a destination within a refueling environment encompassing at least said fuel dispenser position.

52. The system as recited in claim 48, wherein said fuel dispenser position being operably configured further to communicate the electronic receipt to said user device.

53. The system as recited in claim 48, wherein said user device being operably configured further to communicate to said fuel dispenser position at least one of first information and second information, the first information comprising dispenser-related parameter data, and the second information comprising payment-related data.

54. The system as recited in claim 53, wherein said fuel dispenser position being operably configured further to perform at least one refueling transaction task using the first information and/or the second information.

55. The system as recited in claim 54, wherein said fuel dispenser position being operably configured further to perform a transaction authorization and payment process using the second information, and/or to dispense fuel using the first information.

56. A system, comprising:

a fuel dispenser position; and

a user device operably associated with said fuel dispenser position;

said fuel dispenser position being operably configured to generate an electronic receipt representative of a refueling transaction;

said fuel dispenser position being operably configured further to communicate the electronic receipt to said user device and/or to a location apart from said user device.

57. The system as recited in claim 56, wherein communication of the electronic receipt to said user device includes wireless communication.

58. The system as recited in claim 56, wherein said user device being operably configured to receive and store the electronic receipt communicated from said fuel dispenser position.

59. The system as recited in claim 56, wherein said user device being operably configured to communicate to said fuel dispenser position a location indicator indicative of said location.

60. The system as recited in claim 59, wherein said fuel dispenser position being operably configured further to communicate the electronic receipt to said location in response to and in accordance with the location indicator.

61. The system as recited in claim 56, wherein said user device being operably configured to communicate to said fuel dispenser position at least one of first information and second information, the first information comprising dispenser-related parameter data, and the second information comprising payment-related data.

62. The system as recited in claim 61, wherein said fuel dispenser position being operably configured further to perform at least one refueling transaction task using the first information and/or the second information.

63. The system as recited in claim 62, wherein said fuel dispenser position being operably configured further to perform a transaction authorization and payment process using the second information, and/or to dispense fuel using the first information.

64. A fuel dispenser apparatus, comprising:

a fuel dispenser assembly;

an electronic transaction receipt signal generator;

a remote communications module; and

a processor, said processor being operably coupled to said signal generator and to said remote communications module.

65. The apparatus as recited in claim 64, further includes:

a data structure having a remote location indicator, said data structure being operably coupled to said processor.

66. The apparatus as recited in claim 64, wherein said remote communications module further includes:

a wireless communication device.

67. A system in association with a fuel dispenser position, said system comprising:

first means, at the fuel dispenser position, for generating an electronic transaction receipt representative of a refueling transaction; and

second means, at the fuel dispenser position, for communicating the electronic transaction receipt to a location apart from the fuel dispenser position.

68. The system as recited in claim 67, further includes:

a user device operably associated with the fuel dispenser position.

69. The system as recited in claim 68, wherein said second means further includes:

means for wirelessly communicating the electronic transaction receipt to said user device.

70. The system as recited in claim 68, wherein said second means further includes:

means for directing communication of the electronic transaction receipt to a location specified by a location indicator communicated from said user device.

71. The system as recited in claim 68, further includes:

means, at the user device, for communicating to said fuel dispenser position a location indicator indicative of said location, for use by said second means in the communication of the electronic transaction receipt.

72. The system as recited in claim 68, further includes:

means, at the user device, for communicating to said fuel dispenser position at least one of first information and second information, the first information comprising dispenser-related parameter data, and the second information comprising payment-related data.

73. The system as recited in claim 72, further includes:

means, at the fuel dispenser position, for performing at least one refueling transaction task using the first information and/or the second information.

74. A system in association with a fuel dispenser position and a user device operably associated with said fuel dispenser position, said system comprising:

first means, at the fuel dispenser position, for generating an electronic transaction receipt representative of a refueling transaction; and

second means, at the fuel dispenser position, for communicating the electronic transaction receipt to said user device and/or to a location apart from said user device.

75. The system as recited in claim 74, wherein said second means further includes:

means for wirelessly communicating the electronic transaction receipt to said user device.

76. The system as recited in claim 74, further includes:

means, at the user device, for communicating to said fuel dispenser position a location indicator indicative of said location; and

means, in association with said second means, for directing communication of the electronic transaction receipt in accordance with the location indicator communicated from said user device.

77. The system as recited in claim 74, further includes:

means at the user device, for communicating to said fuel dispenser position at least one of first information and second information, the first information comprising dispenser-related parameter data, and the second information comprising payment-related data.

78. The system as recited in claim 77, further includes:

means, at the fuel dispenser position, for performing at least one refueling transaction task using the first information and/or the second information.

79. A method for use with a fuel dispenser position and a user device operably associated with the fuel dispenser position, the fuel dispenser position comprising at least one component, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing a wireless communications link between the user device and the fuel dispenser position; and

causing the user device to perform at least one remote management function involving the fuel dispenser position, using the wireless communications link.

80. The method as recited in claim 79, wherein the causing step further includes the step of:

causing the user device and the fuel dispenser position to cooperatively perform at least one task using at least one communication over the wireless communications link, the at least one task comprising at least one of a diagnostic function, a calibration function, a configuration function, a monitoring function, and a maintenance function.

81. The method as recited in claim 79, wherein the causing step further includes performing at least one of the following operating sequences (i)-(iii):

(i) the user device communicating at least one diagnostic command to the fuel dispenser position, and

the fuel dispenser position conducting a diagnostic operation in accordance with the at least one diagnostic command communicated from the user device;

(ii) the user device communicating at least one configuration command to the fuel dispenser, and

the fuel dispenser position conducting a configuration operation in accordance with the at least one configuration command communicated from the user device; and

(iii) the user device communicating at least one calibration command to the fuel dispenser, and

the fuel dispenser position conducting a calibration operation in accordance with the at least one calibration command communicated from the user device.

82. The method as recited in claim 81, further includes the step of:

the fuel dispenser position storing a calibration history representing a compilation of calibration adjustments each corresponding to a respective calibration operation.

83. The method as recited in 79, further includes the step of:

the fuel dispenser position communicating to the user device over the wireless communications link at least one result realized by performance of the at least one remote management function.

84. A method for use with a fuel dispenser position and a user device operably associated with the fuel dispenser position, the fuel dispenser position comprising at least one component, said method comprising the steps of:

the user device communicating non-refueling transaction related information to the fuel dispenser position; and

the fuel dispenser position running at least one non-refueling transaction related operation in respect to at least one fuel dispenser component, using the non-refueling transaction related information communicated from the user device.

85. The method as recited in claim 84, wherein the communicating step includes wireless communication.

86. The method as recited in claim 84, wherein the non-refueling transaction related information communicated to the fuel dispenser position being adapted to facilitate remote management of the fuel dispenser position by the user device.

87. The method as recited in claim 84, further includes performing at least one of the following operating sequences (i)-(iv):

(i) the communicating step further includes the step of the user device communicating diagnostic-related information to the fuel dispenser position, and

the running step further includes the step of the fuel dispenser position running a diagnostic operation in accordance with the diagnostic-related information communicated from the user device;

(ii) the communicating step further includes the step of the user device communicating configuration-related information to the fuel dispenser position, and

the running step further includes the step of the fuel dispenser position running a configuration operation in accordance with the configuration-related information communicated from the user device;

(iii) the communicating step further includes the step of the user device communicating calibration-related information to the fuel dispenser position, and

the running step further includes the step of the fuel dispenser position running a calibration operation in accordance with the calibration-related information communicated from the user device; and

(iv) the communicating step further includes the step of the user device communicating first information to the fuel dispenser position, the first information comprising maintenance-related information and/or monitoring-related information, and

the running step further includes the step of the fuel dispenser position running a maintenance operation and/or a monitoring operation in accordance with the first information communicated from the user device.

88. The method as recited in 84, further includes the step of:

the fuel dispenser position wirelessly communicating to the user device at least one result realized by the running of the at least one non-refueling transaction related operation.

89. A system, comprising:

a fuel dispenser position having at least one component; and

a user device operably associated with said fuel dispenser position;

said user device being operably configured to perform at least one remote management function involving the fuel dispenser position.

90. The system as recited in claim 89, wherein:

said fuel dispenser position being operably configured to perform at least one dispenser component-related task, the at least one dispenser-component related task comprising at least one of a diagnostic function, a calibration function, a configuration function, a monitoring function, and a maintenance function;

said user device being operably configured to communicate information to said fuel dispenser position for use thereby to facilitate performance of the at least one dispenser component-related task.

91. The system as recited in claim 89, wherein:

the user device being operably configured further to communicate to the fuel dispenser position at least one of (i) at least one diagnostic command, (ii) at least one configuration command, and (iii) at least one calibration command; and

the fuel dispenser position being operably configured to at least one of (i) conduct a diagnostic operation in accordance with the at least one diagnostic command communicated from the user device, (ii) conduct a configuration operation in accordance with the at least one configuration command communicated from the user device, and (iii) conduct a calibration operation in accordance with the at least one calibration command communicated from the user device.

92. The system as recited in claim 91, where said fuel dispenser position further includes:

a memory to store a calibration history representing a compilation of calibration adjustments each corresponding to a respective calibration operation.

94. The system as recited in claim 89, wherein communication from the user device to the fuel dispenser position includes wireless communication.

93. The system as recited in 89, wherein the fuel dispenser position being operably configured further to wirelessly communicate to the user device at least one result realized by performance of the at least one remote management function.

95. A system, comprising:

a fuel dispenser position comprising at least one component; and

a user device operably associated with the fuel dispenser position;

said user device being operably configured to communicate non-refueling transaction related information to said fuel dispenser position; and

said fuel dispenser position being operably configured to run at least one non-refueling transaction related operation in respect to at least one fuel dispenser component, using the non-refueling transaction related information communicated from said user device.

96. The system as recited in claim 95, wherein communication from said user device to said fuel dispenser position includes wireless communication.

97. The system as recited in claim 95, wherein:

said user device being operably configured further to communicate to said fuel dispenser position at least one of (i) diagnostic-related information, (ii) configuration-related information, (iii) calibration-related information, and (iv) first information, the first information comprising maintenance-related information and/or monitoring-related information;

said fuel dispenser position being operably configured further to at least one of (i) run a diagnostic operation in accordance with the diagnostic-related information communicated from said user device, (ii) run a configuration operation in accordance with the configuration-related information communicated from said user device, (iii) run a calibration operation in accordance with the calibration-related information communicated from the user device, and (iv) run a maintenance operation and/or a monitoring operation in accordance with the first information communicated from said user device.

98. The system as recited in 95, wherein said fuel dispenser position being operably configured further to wirelessly communicate to said user device at least one result realized by the running of the at least one non-refueling transaction related operation.

99. An apparatus, comprising:

a fuel dispenser having a component assembly;

a communication unit at the fuel dispenser;

a processor at the fuel dispenser, said processor being operably coupled to said dispenser component assembly and said communication unit;

a user device;

at least one executable remote dispenser management functionality at the user device; and

a wireless communication link between said user device and said fuel dispenser.

100. The apparatus as recited in claim 99, wherein the at least one executable remote dispenser management functionality further includes:

at least one of a diagnostic routine, calibration routine, configuration routine, monitoring routine, and maintenance routine.

101. A system in association with a fuel dispenser position and a user device operably associated with said fuel dispenser position, said fuel dispenser position having at least one component, said system comprising:

means, at the user device, for enabling communication with the fuel dispenser position; and

means, at the user device, for performing at least one remote management function involving the fuel dispenser position.

102. The system as recited in claim 101, further includes:

first means, at the fuel dispenser position, for performing at least one task, the at least one task comprising at least one of a diagnostic function, a calibration function, a configuration function, a monitoring function, and a maintenance function;

second means, at the user device, for communicating information to said fuel dispenser position for use by said first means to facilitate performance of the at least one task.

103. The system as recited in claim 101, further includes:

means, at the user device, for communicating to said fuel dispenser position at least one of (i) at least one diagnostic command, (ii) at least one configuration command, and (iii) at least one calibration command;

means, at the fuel dispenser position, for at least one of (i) conducting a diagnostic operation in accordance with the at least one diagnostic command communicated from the user device, (ii) conducting a configuration operation in accordance with the at least one configuration command communicated from the user device, and (iii) conducting a calibration operation in accordance with the at least one calibration command communicated from the user device.

104. The system as recited in claim 103, further includes:

means, at the fuel dispenser position, for storing a calibration history representing a compilation of calibration adjustments each corresponding to a respective calibration operation.

106. The system as recited in claim 101, wherein communication from the user device to the fuel dispenser position includes wireless communication.

105. The system as recited in 101, further includes:

means, at the fuel dispenser position, for wirelessly communicating to the user device at least one result realized by performance of the at least one remote management function.

107. A system in association with a fuel dispenser position and a user device operably associated with said fuel dispenser position, said fuel dispenser position having at least one component, said system comprising:

means, at the user device, for communicating non-refueling transaction related information to said fuel dispenser position; and

means, at the fuel dispenser position, for running at least one non-refueling transaction related operation in respect to at least one fuel dispenser component, using the non-refueling transaction related information communicated from said user device.

108. The system as recited in claim 107, wherein communication from said user device to said fuel dispenser position includes wireless communication.

109. The system as recited in claim 107, further includes:

means, at the user device, for communicating to said fuel dispenser position at least one of (i) diagnostic-related information, (ii) configuration-related information, (iii) calibration-related information, and (iv) first information, the first information comprising maintenance-related information and/or monitoring-related information; and

means, at the fuel dispenser position, for at least one of (i) running a diagnostic operation in accordance with the diagnostic-related information communicated from said user device, (ii) running a configuration operation in accordance with the configuration-related information communicated from said user device, (iii) running a calibration operation in accordance with the calibration-related information communicated from the user device, and (iv) running a maintenance operation and/or a monitoring operation in accordance with the first information communicated from said user device.

110. The system as recited in 107, further includes:

means, at the fuel dispenser position, for wirelessly communicating to said user device at least one result realized by the running of the at least one non-refueling transaction related operation.

111. A system in association with a fuel dispenser position having at least one dispenser component, said system comprising:

a single circuit board assembly at the fuel dispenser position;

the single circuit board assembly having at least one functionality facilitating a fuel dispensing operation;

the single circuit board assembly comprising;

a wireless communications device,

a display,

an interface assembly, said interface assembly being configured to facilitate interfacing with an off-board assembly comprising a power supply unit, a dispenser valve unit, a flowmeter unit, a fuel pump unit, and a vapor recovery unit,

a communication interface module, said communication interface module being adapted to facilitate interfacing and/or communication with a plurality of communication and/or connection formats, protocols, and/or schemes, and

a processor, said processor being operably coupled to said wireless communications device, said display, said interface assembly, and said communication interface module.