System and method for transactions using purchaser identification

• US 20050049981A1
• Filed: 09/02/2003
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dresser Incorporated (Nagano Keiki Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dresser Incorporated (Nagano Keiki Company Limited)
• Inventors: Mixon, Stephen Randall
• Application Number:
  US10/653,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20050049981A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/400
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A system and method of dispensing fuel from a fuel dispenser prior to receipt of payment includes receiving identifying information about a purchaser, dispensing the fuel, requesting payment for the value of the fuel dispensed, determining if sufficient payment is received and if sufficient payment is received, discarding the identifying information.

Claims

1. A method of dispensing fuel from a fuel dispenser prior to receipt of payment, comprising:

receiving identifying information about a purchaser of the fuel;

dispensing the fuel;

requesting payment for the value of the fuel dispensed;

if payment tendered, receiving payment;

determining if sufficient payment is received; and

if sufficient payment is received, discarding the identifying information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein if sufficient payment is not received, retaining the identifying information.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising reporting the identifying information to the appropriate policing authority.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving identifying information comprises receiving identifying information from a governmentally issued identification.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the governmentally issued identification is a driver'"'"'s license.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

receiving a request from the purchaser for at least one good and/or service in addition to the fuel;

determining from the identifying information if the purchaser meets a condition to sale of the at least one good and/or service; and

if the purchaser does not meet the condition to sale, not dispensing the at least one good and/or service to which the condition applies.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the at least one good and/or service comprises at least one of a gaming ticket, a tobacco product, and an alcoholic beverage.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the identifying information includes the purchaser'"'"'s age and wherein the condition to sale is age.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving identifying information comprises receiving identifying information from a privately issued identification.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving identifying information comprises receiving a substantially unique biometric identifier.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving identifying information comprises receiving identifying information from two or more different sources.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising verifying the identifying information against a database.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising comparing the identifying information against a database to determine if the purchaser is an authorized user of an account presented for payment.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein dispensing at least one good or service comprises:

receiving a request for at least one good and/or service in addition to fuel;

determining from the identifying information if the purchaser meets a condition to sale of the at least one good and/or service; and

if the purchaser does not meet the condition to sale, not dispensing the at least one good and/or service to which the condition applies.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the identifying information includes the purchaser'"'"'s age and wherein the condition to sale is a minimum age.

16. An article comprising a machine readable medium storing instructions operable to cause one or more machines to perform operations comprising:

determining if identifying information about a purchaser is desired for a transaction;

if identifying information about a purchaser is desired, receiving identifying information about a purchaser of at least one good and/or service;

dispensing the at least one good and/or service;

if payment for the at least one good and/or service has not been received, requesting payment for the value of the at least one good and/or service dispensed; and

determining if sufficient payment is received and if sufficient payment is received and if identifying information about a purchaser is received, discarding the identifying information.

17. The article of claim 16 wherein the instructions are further operable to cause one or more machines to perform operations comprising:

determining that identifying information about a purchaser is desired if the purchaser wishes to pay for the at least one good and/or service dispensed after receipt of the at least one good and/or service dispensed.

18. The article of claim 16 wherein the instructions are further operable to cause one or more machines to perform operations comprising:

requesting pre-payment for the value of the at least one good and/or service the purchaser desires to be dispensed prior to dispensing the at least one good and/or service.

19. The article of claim 16 wherein the instructions are further operable to cause one or more machines to perform operations comprising:

determining that identifying information about the purchaser is desired if the purchaser requests at least one good and/or service having a condition of sale requiring identifying information about the purchaser to verify.

20. The article of claim 19 wherein the instructions are further operable to cause one or more machines to perform operations comprising:

determining from the identifying information if the purchaser meets the condition of sale; and

if the purchaser does not meet the condition of sale, not dispensing the at least one good and/or service to which the condition applies.

21. The article of claim 20 wherein the condition of sale is that the purchaser be of a minimum age.

22. The article of claim 20 wherein the goods and/or services comprise at least one of a gaming ticket, a tobacco product, and an alcoholic beverage.

23. A fuel dispenser, comprising:

a user input device operable to receive identifying information about a user of the fuel dispenser;

a fuel dispensing assembly operable to dispense fuel; and

a controller operably coupled to the user input device and the fuel dispensing assembly, the controller configured to perform the following;

receive identifying information about the user of the fuel dispenser;

enable the fuel dispensing assembly to dispense fuel;

determine whether payment for the fuel is sufficient; and

if payment is sufficient, discard the identifying information about the user of the fuel dispenser.

24. The fuel dispenser of claim 23 wherein the controller is further configured to perform the following:

if sufficient payment is not received, retain the identifying information.

25. The fuel dispenser of claim 23 wherein the user input device is operable to receive identifying information from a governmentally issued identification.

26. The fuel dispenser of claim 25 wherein the governmentally issued identification is a driver'"'"'s license.

27. The fuel dispenser of claim 23 wherein the controller is further configured to perform the following:

receive a request for at least one good and/or service other than fuel;

determine from the identifying information if the user meets a condition to sale of the at least one good and/or service; and

if the user does not meet the condition to sale, not dispense the at least one good and/or service to which the condition applies.

28. The fuel dispenser of claim 27 wherein the at least one good and/or service comprises at least one of a gaming ticket, a tobacco product, and an alcoholic beverage.

29. The fuel dispenser of claim 27 wherein the identifying information includes the user'"'"'s age and the condition to sale is a minimum age.

30. The fuel dispenser of claim 23 wherein the user input device is operable to receive identifying information from a privately issued identification.

31. The fuel dispenser of claim 23 wherein the user input device is operable to receive identifying information as a substantially unique biometric identifier.

32. The fuel dispenser of claim 23 wherein the controller is further configured to perform the following:

verify the identifying information against a database.

33. The fuel dispenser of claim 23 wherein the controller is further configured to perform the following:

determine if the user is an authorized user of an account presented for payment.