Methods and systems for customer validation using an indentification document and/or one or more pins

• US 20060108413A1
• Filed: 11/16/2005
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pump-On LLC
• Original Assignee: Pump-On LLC
• Inventors: Demere, Raymond S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,481,366 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for remote authorization of fuel dispensing and authorization or confirmation of participation in frequent shopper programs, club memberships, and the like. In one embodiment, identification documents may be used as membership cards for a retailer'"'"'s membership or frequent shopper program. In another embodiment, an identification may be a membership card to gain access to a retailer. In another aspect, an identification document may be coupled with one or more PINs to validate a customer, or alternatively, the one or more PINs can be used instead of the identification document to validate a customer.

Claims

1. A method of validating a customer, the method comprising:

receiving a membership validation request, including identifying indicia, from a remote retail location, the identifying indicia being extracted from an identification document of a user by an identification document reader as well as one or more PINs at the remote retail location;

querying a remote database for validation of the customer;

receiving an indication of membership validation from the database; and

transmitting the indication to the remote retail location.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the indication is positive, transmitting information about the customer'"'"'s purchase for storage in the remote database.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the indication is positive, providing the customer access to the remote retail location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein an off-site terminal includes the database of customer records.

4. A method for remote authorization of fuel dispensing comprising:

receiving a fuel dispensing authorization request, including identifying indicia, from a fuel dispensing station, the identifying indicia being extracted from an identification document of a user by an identification document reader of the fuel dispensing station in conjunction with one or more PINs entered into a PIN pad at the fuel dispensing station;

querying a database of customer records for authorization of the customer;

receiving an indication of customer authorization from the database; and

transmitting the indication to the fuel dispensing station.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising transmitting a fuel dispenser enablement signal to the fuel dispensing station to enable a fuel dispenser at the fuel dispensing station, if the indication is positive.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising storing the identifying indicia at least until the customer completes fuel dispensing, if the indication is positive.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising releasing the identifying indicia if the customer pays for the dispensed fuel.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising storing the identifying indicia in the database if the customer does not pay for the dispensed fuel.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising generating a drive-off ticket that includes the identifying indicia if the customer does not pay for the dispensed fuel.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing the identifying indicia to law enforcement personnel if the customer does not pay for the dispensed fuel.

12. The method of claim 4, further comprising notifying the customer of a reason for refusal of authorization, if the indication is negative.

13. A method for remote authorization of fuel dispensing comprising:

receiving a fuel dispensing authorization request, including identifying indicia, from a fuel dispensing station, the identifying indicia being extracted from one or more PINs entered into a PIN pad at the fuel dispensing station;

querying a database of customer records for authorization of the customer;

receiving an indication of customer authorization from the database; and

transmitting the indication to the fuel dispensing station.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting a fuel dispenser enablement signal to the fuel dispensing station to enable a fuel dispenser at the fuel dispensing station, if the indication is positive.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising storing the identifying indicia at least until the customer completes fuel dispensing, if the indication is positive.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising releasing the identifying indicia if the customer pays for the dispensed fuel.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing the identifying indicia in the database if the customer does not pay for the dispensed fuel.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising generating a drive-off ticket that includes the identifying indicia if the customer does not pay for the dispensed fuel.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing the identifying indicia to law enforcement personnel if the customer does not pay for the dispensed fuel.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising notifying the customer of a reason for refusal of authorization, if the indication is negative.