PURCHASING SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR COMPUTERIZED SELLING IN A SERVICE STATION

• US 20110295713A1
• Filed: 05/31/2011
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yishay Ehrenberg
• Original Assignee: Bebuy Limited
• Inventors: Ehrenberg, Yishay, Barkay, Rahav
• Granted Patent: US 8,392,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0081 the reader being a portable scanner or data reader G07G1/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/12 electronically operated digital data processing aspects G06Q20/00

Abstract

A portable purchasing device is delivered to a vehicle of a customer of a service station. The customer initiates a purchase order by using the portable purchasing device. The purchase order is transmitted by the portable purchasing device, to a central purchase management computer that adds the purchase order to an order queue. A basket that includes products indicated in the purchase order, is delivered to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for computerized selling of products in a service station, comprising the steps:

delivering a portable purchasing device to a vehicle of a customer of the service station;

allowing the customer to initiate a purchase order by using the portable purchasing device;

transmitting the purchase order, by the portable purchasing device, to a purchase management computer;

adding, by the purchase management computer, the purchase order to an orders queue and allowing a sales person to select the purchase order, from the orders queue, for preparing a basket; and

delivering the basket that includes products indicated in the purchase order, to the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of allowing includes:

allowing the customer to select a payment means.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of allowing includes:

allowing the customer to swipe a payment card by using an integrated magnetic stripe reader of the portable purchasing device; and

obtaining, by the integrated magnetic stripe reader, details of the payment card;

wherein the purchase order includes the details of the payment card.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of allowing includes:

displaying a product list and product details on a screen of the portable purchasing device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of allowing includes:

allowing the customer to select at least one product to be included in the purchase order.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising notifying, by the purchase management computer, a location and availability of the portable purchasing device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the delivering of the basket is to the vehicle in the location indicated in the notification.

8. The method of claim 6 further includes fetching the portable purchasing device from the vehicle, following the notification.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the fetching is from the vehicle that parks in the location indicated in the notification.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring locations of the portable purchasing devices; and

alerting a location change of one of the portable purchasing devices.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to the delivering of the portable purchasing device, detecting the vehicle, when the vehicle approaches a pump area of the service station and notifying the sales person of the approaching car.

12. A purchasing system that resides in a service station, comprising:

(a) multiple portable purchasing devices, adapted to be delivered to vehicles of customers of the service station, each portable purchasing device includes;

(i) a processor for allowing the customer to initiate a purchase order; and

(ii) a wireless transceiver for transmitting the purchase order, to a purchase management computer;

(b) the purchase management computer, coupled to the multiple portable purchasing devices via a wireless communication channel, is configured to add the purchase order to an orders queue and to allow a sales person to select the purchase order, from the orders queue, for preparing a basket, to be delivered to the vehicle.

13. The purchasing system of claim 12, wherein each portable purchasing device further comprising an integrated magnetic stripe reader for allowing the customer to swipe a payment card and for obtaining details of the payment card;

wherein the purchase order includes the details of the payment card.

14. The purchasing system of claim 12, wherein each portable purchasing device further comprising a screen for displaying a product list and product details.

15. The purchasing system of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to allow the customer to select at least one product to be included in the purchase order.

16. The purchasing system of claim 12, wherein the purchase management computer is configure to notify a location and availability of the portable purchasing device.

17. The purchasing system of claim 12 further comprising at least one device locator, coupled to the purchase management computer, for detecting a location of each of the portable purchasing devices and wherein the purchase management computer is adapted to notify the location based on the detecting by the at least one device locator.

18. The purchasing system of claim 12 further comprising at least one device locator, coupled to the purchase management computer, for monitoring locations of the portable purchasing devices;

and wherein the purchase management computer is configure to alert location changes of the portable purchasing devices.