INTEGRATED POINT OF SALE TERMINAL

• US 20100325003A1
• Filed: 03/31/2010
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: Ringeman, Kenneth, Williams, Rodger K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,386,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/21
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery

Abstract

An integrated point-of-sale terminal for use with a fuel dispenser has a site controller, at least one dispenser having a user interface, at least one processor at the site controller, memory coupled to the processor, and a plurality of point-of-sale applications associated with the site controller. The processor is configured to dynamically regulate which of the plurality of point-of-sale applications has control of the dispenser user interface based on a set of business rules.

Claims

1. An integrated point-of-sale terminal for use with a fuel dispenser, said terminal comprising:

a. a site controller;

b. at least one dispenser having a user interface;

c. at least one processor at said site controller;

d. memory coupled to said at least one processor;

e. a plurality of point-of-sale applications coupled to said site controller;

wherein said at least one site controller processor is configured to dynamically regulate which of the plurality of point-of-sale applications has control of said dispenser user interface based on a set of business rules.

2. The integrated point-of-sale terminal of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of dispensers each having a respective user interface, wherein said at least one site controller is configured to regulate which of said plurality of point-of-sale applications has control of each of said respective plurality of dispensers user interfaces based on said set of business rules.

3. The integrated point-of-sale terminal of claim 1, wherein said plurality of point-of-sale (POS) applications comprises at least two of a welcome application, a payment application, a point-of-sale selection application, POS selling applications, a pre-fueling carwash merchandising application, a fueling application, an internet application, an advertising application, a post-fueling carwash merchandising application and a transaction finalization application.

4. The integrated point-of-sale terminal of claim 1, further comprising a director application that is configured to dynamically control the flow of said plurality of POS applications.

5. The integrated point-of-sale terminal of claim 1, further comprising at least one operator console operatively coupled to said site controller.

6. The integrated point-of-sale terminal of claim 1, further comprising a third party content provider operatively coupled to said site controller.

7. The integrated point-of-sale terminal of claim 4, wherein said director application is configured to dynamically control the flow of said plurality of POS applications so that when one of said plurality of POS applications willingly relinquishes control of said at least one dispenser user interface, director application uses a predetermined set of business rules to determine which POS application should receive control of said at least one dispenser user interface.

8. The integrated point-of-sale terminal of claim 4, wherein said director application is configured to dynamically control the flow of said plurality of POS applications so that when one of said plurality of POS applications requests control of said at least one dispenser user interface, said director application asks a controlling application of said plurality of POS applications to relinquish control, and said controlling POS application relinquishes control to said one of said plurality of POS applications that requests control.

9. The integrated point-of-sale terminal of claim 4, wherein said director application is configured to terminate a controlling application of said plurality of POS applications if one of said plurality of POS applications requests control of said at least one dispenser user interface and said controlling POS application refuses to relinquish control within a given period of time.

10. A method of allocating control of a user interface, said method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a processor and memory, said processor being configured to operate based on a predefined set of business rules stored in said memory;

b. providing a device operatively coupled to said processor and said memory, said device having a user interface for interaction with a user;

c. determining, based on said predetermined set of business rules, which one of a plurality of point-of-sale applications should gain control of said user interface;

d. receiving a request, from another one of said plurality of point-of-sale applications, to take control of said user interface;

e. determining, based on said predefined set of business rules, when said another one of said plurality of point-of-sale applications can take control of said user interface;

f. terminating said one of said plurality of point-of-sale applications control of said user interface; and

g. transferring control of said user interface to said another one of said plurality of point-of-sale applications.

11. The method of allocating control of a user interface of claim 10, wherein said plurality of point-of-sale applications comprises at least two of a welcome application, a payment application, a point-of-sale selection application, POS selling applications, a pre-fueling carwash merchandising application, a fueling application, an internet application, an advertising application, a post-fueling carwash merchandising application and a transaction finalization application.

12. The method of allocating control of a user interface of claim 10, wherein the step of determining further comprises terminating control after a predetermined period of time.

13. The method of allocating control of a user interface of claim 10, wherein said predetermined set of business rules are dynamically changed based on an identity of the user.

14. The method of allocating control of a user interface of claim 10, wherein said predetermined set of business rules are dynamically changed based on the user'"'"'s input to said user interface.

15. A method of allocating control of a user interface, said method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a processor and memory, said processor being configured to operate based on a predefined set of business rules stored in said memory;

b. providing a fuel dispenser operatively coupled to said processor and said memory, said fuel dispenser having a user interface for interaction with a user;

c. determining, based on said predetermined set of business rules and the user input at said user interface, which one of a plurality of point-of-sale applications should gain control of said user interface;

d. receiving a request, from another one of said plurality of point-of-sale applications, to take control of said user interface;

e. determining, based on said predefined set of business rules and the user input at said user interface, when said another one of said plurality of point-of-sale applications can take control of said user interface; and

f. transferring control of said user interface to said another one of said plurality of point-of-sale applications.

16. The method of allocating control of a user interface of claim 15, wherein said plurality of point-of-sale applications comprises a plurality of a welcome application, a payment application, a point-of-sale selection application, POS selling applications, a pre-fueling carwash merchandising application, a fueling application, an internet application, an advertising application, a post-fueling carwash merchandising application and a transaction finalization application.

17. The method of allocating control of a user interface of claim 15, wherein said predetermined set of business rules are dynamically changed based on identity of the user.

18. The method of allocating control of a user interface of claim 15, wherein said predetermined set of business rules are dynamically changed based on preferences preset for the user.