ELECTRONIC FUND TRANSFER OR TRANSACTION SYSTEM

• US 20100102120A1
• Filed: 01/04/2010
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Millennium Commerce, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Arigern Capital LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Gatto, James G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,861,928 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]

Abstract

A fuel dispenser control system is provided which includes a biometric device. The biometric device is configured to acquire instances of biometric information in connection with respective fueling transactions. The fuel dispenser control system further includes a control subsystem. The control subsystem is configured to receive at least first biometric information in connection with at least a first fueling transaction, request comparison of the first biometric information with second biometric information associated with corresponding financial information, and determine whether to effect payment of the fueling transaction on the account, based on the comparison.

Claims

1. A method for providing cash in excess of a transaction cost from a fuel dispenser, the method comprising:

receiving account information, from a financial information reader, for an account to be used to pay at least the transaction cost in connection with a fueling transaction;

receiving a request for a select cash amount in excess of the transaction cost at an input device;

sending the financial information and the request for the select cash amount to a control system for authorization of the fueling transaction and the select cash amount from the account.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving authorization for the fueling transaction and the select cash amount from the control system.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

tracking an amount of fuel being dispensed for the fueling transaction; and

sending the amount of fueling transaction in addition to the select cash amount to the control system to enable charging the account.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

receiving confirmation from the control system that the account has been charged; and

dispensing the select cash amount.

5. A method for operating a fuel dispensing system, the method comprising:

facilitating a purchase transaction for fuel at a customer interface of a fuel dispenser;

receiving a request for a select cash amount in excess of a monetary amount of the purchase transaction;

obtaining financial information associated with an account; and

requesting authorization of the purchase transaction and the select cash amount on the account.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

receiving an indication of fuel being dispensed from the fuel dispenser;

tracking an amount of fuel being dispensed and an associated cost for the amount of fuel being dispensed.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

receiving authorization for the purchase transaction and the select cash amount; and

dispensing the select cash amount.

8. An article of manufacture including a computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving account information for an account from a financial information reader for a fueling transaction;

receiving a request for a select cash amount in excess of a cost of the fueling transaction at an input device; and

sending the financial information and the request for the select cash amount to a control system for authorization of the fueling transaction and the select cash amount from the account.

9. The article of manufacture of claim 8, the operations further comprising:

receiving authorization for the fueling transaction and the select cash amount from the control system.

10. The article of manufacture of claim 9, the operations further comprising:

tracking an amount of fuel being dispensed for the fueling transaction; and

sending the amount of fueling transaction in addition to the select cash amount to the control system to enable charging the account.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 10, the operations further comprising:

receiving confirmation from the control system that the account has been charged; and

dispensing the select cash amount.

12. A fuel dispenser control system comprising:

a biometric device configured to acquire instances of biometric information in connection with respective fueling transactions; and

a control subsystem configured to;

receive at least first biometric information in connection with at least a first fueling transaction;

request comparison of the first biometric information with second biometric information associated with corresponding financial information; and

determine whether to effect payment of the first fueling transaction on the account, based on the comparison.

13. The fuel dispenser control system of claim 12, wherein the control subsystem is further configured to:

receive a request for a cash amount in excess of the first fueling transaction; and

wherein the control system configured to determine whether to effect payment of the first fueling transaction on the account further comprises the control system configured to determine whether to effect payment of the first fueling transaction and the cash amount on the account.

14. The fuel dispenser control system of claim 12, further comprising:

a fuel delivery system configured to dispense fuel; and

wherein the control subsystem is further configured to control fuel delivery through the fuel delivery system.

15. The fuel delivery control system of claim 12, further comprising:

a storage device configured to store the second biometric information and the corresponding financial information; and

wherein the control system configured to request comparison of the first biometric information with second biometric information associated with corresponding financial information comprises the control system configured to;

retrieve the second biometric information from the storage device;

compare the first biometric information with the second biometric information; and

retrieve the corresponding financial information, based on the comparison.

16. The fuel delivery control system of claim 12 further comprising:

a display configured to display at least some details of the fueling transaction.

17. A method of operating a fuel dispenser by a control system, the method comprising:

receiving first biometric information from a biometric device;

causing a storage device to be searched for second biometric information matching the first biometric information;

receiving, from the storage device, financial information for an account associated with the second biometric information;

requesting authorization of payment, on the account, of an amount of the fueling transaction.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

receiving a request for a select cash amount in excess of the fueling transaction; and

wherein requesting authorization of payment further comprises request authorization of payment, on the account, of the select cash amount in addition to the amount of the fueling transaction.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

dispensing the select cash amount.

20. An article of manufacture including a computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving first biometric information from a biometric device;

requesting that a storage device be searched for second biometric information matching the first biometric information;

receiving, from the storage device, financial information for an account associated with the second biometric information;

requesting authorization of payment for the fueling transaction and for a select cash amount in excess of the fueling transaction on the account.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

receiving a request for a select cash amount in excess of the fueling transaction; and

wherein requesting authorization of payment further comprises request authorization of payment, on the account, of the select cash amount in addition to the amount of the fueling transaction.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

dispensing the select cash amount.