Method and System for Purchasing Non-Fuel Merchandise

• US 20100306069A1
• Filed: 05/26/2010
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Additech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Additech, Inc.
• Inventors: Austin, Andrew, Woodrow, Walter
• Granted Patent: US 10,430,843 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/006 Details of the software used for the vending machines

Abstract

The present methods and systems (including computer software, computer hardware, and an intermediary system) facilitate a transaction for non-fuel merchandise items at any fuel dispenser during a pre-pay or post-pay inside the store fuel sale. Consumers can select non-fuel merchandise items at a fuel dispenser (either via a fuel dispenser key pad or a separate computerized customer interface, attached to a fuel dispenser) at the time they are selecting their fuel at the fuel dispenser.

Claims

1. A method to purchase nonfuel merchandise items at a fuel dispenser comprising:

tendering a total amount inside the store for all purchases;

after tendering, selecting a nonfuel merchandise item from an interface at said fuel dispenser;

passing said nonfuel merchandise item selection to a point-of-sale system associated with said store;

determining a balance remaining based on said total amount and the purchase price for said nonfuel item selection; and

enabling said fuel dispenser to deliver fuel based upon said balance remaining.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said total amount is tendered in cash.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said total amount is tendered as a credit card payment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said passing step includes a specified message protocol between said fuel dispenser and point-of-sale system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting step includes a plurality of nonfuel merchandise items.

6. A method to purchase nonfuel merchandise items at a fuel dispenser, comprising:

selecting a payment option at the fuel dispenser to pay after fueling;

enabling said fuel dispenser to deliver fuel;

selecting a nonfuel merchandise item from an interface at said fuel dispenser;

determining a total amount based on said fuel purchase and nonfuel item purchase;

passing said total amount to a point-of-sale system associated with a store; and

tendering said total amount inside said store after said passing step.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said total amount is tendered in cash.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said total amount is tendered as a credit card payment.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said passing step includes a specified message protocol between said fuel dispenser and point-of-sale system.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein said selecting step includes a plurality of nonfuel merchandise items.