System and Method For Managing Carbon Emission Credits at a Fuel Dispensing Station Via a Portable Computing Device

• US 20140089073A1
• Filed: 01/15/2013
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Jacobs, Paul E., Dessert, Robert L., Kraar, Eric, Statler, Stephen B., Guest, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US13/741,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20140089073A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0855 involving a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/326 Payment applications installed on the mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for managing carbon emission credits at a fuel dispensing station via a portable computing device. An exemplary method comprises: receiving a request via a communications network for a transaction at a fuel dispensing station; determining a pump identifier associated with the fuel dispensing station; receiving a user selection of a carbon offset for the transaction; sending a message to a store controller associated with the pump identifier for an amount for the selected carbon offset; receiving the amount for the carbon offset; receiving a gas payment amount for the transaction; and initiating processing of a payment comprising the gas payment amount and the amount for the carbon offset.

Claims

1. A method for managing carbon emission credits at a fuel dispensing station via a portable computing device, the method comprising:

receiving a request via a communications network for a transaction at a fuel dispensing station;

determining a pump identifier associated with the fuel dispensing station;

receiving a user selection of a carbon offset for the transaction;

sending a message to a store controller associated with the pump identifier for an amount for the selected carbon offset;

receiving the amount for the carbon offset;

receiving a gas payment amount for the transaction; and

initiating processing of a payment comprising the gas payment amount and the amount for the carbon offset.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the request for the transaction at the fuel dispensing station comprises receiving a tag comprising the pump identifier.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the gas payment amount for the transaction comprises receiving the gas payment amount from one of the store controller and a point-of-sale device integrated with the fuel dispensing station.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating a carbon offset user account based on the amount for the carbon offset.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount for the carbon offset is determined based on the gas payment amount.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount for carbon offset includes a matching contribution.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the updating the carbon offset user account comprises one or more of achieving a gamification level and receiving an award.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the carbon offset comprises a contribution amount.

9. A computer system for managing carbon emission credits at a fuel dispensing station via a portable computing device, the system comprising:

a processor operable for;

receiving a request via a communications network for a transaction at a fuel dispensing station;

determining a pump identifier associated with the fuel dispensing station;

receiving a user selection of a carbon offset for the transaction;

sending a message to a store controller associated with the pump identifier for an amount for the selected carbon offset;

receiving a gas payment amount for the transaction; and

initiating processing of a payment comprising the gas payment amount and the amount for the carbon offset.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the receiving the request for the transaction at the fuel dispensing station comprises receiving a tag comprising the pump identifier.

11. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the receiving the gas payment amount for the transaction comprises receiving the gas payment amount from one of the store controller and a point-of-sale device integrated with the fuel dispensing station.

12. The computer system of claim 9, further comprising updating a carbon offset user account based on the amount for the carbon offset.

13. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the amount for the carbon offset is determined based on the gas payment amount.

14. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the amount for carbon offset includes a matching contribution.

15. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the updating the carbon offset user account comprises one or more of achieving a gamification level and receiving an award.

16. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the carbon offset comprises a contribution amount.

17. A computer system for managing carbon emission credits at a fuel dispensing station via a portable computing device, the system comprising:

means for receiving a request via a communications network for a transaction at a fuel dispensing station;

means for determining a pump identifier associated with the fuel dispensing station;

means for receiving a user selection of a carbon offset for the transaction;

means for sending a message to a store controller associated with the pump identifier for an amount for the selected carbon offset;

means for receiving the amount for the carbon offset;

means for receiving a gas payment amount for the transaction; and

means for initiating processing of a payment comprising the gas payment amount and the amount for the carbon offset.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the means for receiving the request for the transaction at the fuel dispensing station comprises means for receiving a tag comprising the pump identifier.

19. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the means for receiving the gas payment amount for the transaction comprises means for receiving the gas payment amount from one of the store controller and a point-of-sale device integrated with the fuel dispensing station.

20. The computer system of claim 17, further comprising means for updating a carbon offset user account based on the amount for the carbon offset.

21. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the amount for the carbon offset is determined based on the gas payment amount.

22. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the amount for carbon offset includes a matching contribution.

23. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the means for updating the carbon offset user account comprises one or more of means for achieving a gamification level and means for receiving an award.

24. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the carbon offset comprises a contribution amount.

25. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for managing carbon emission credits at a fuel dispensing station via a portable computing device, the method comprising:

receiving a request via a communications network for a transaction at a fuel dispensing station;

determining a pump identifier associated with the fuel dispensing station;

receiving a user selection of a carbon offset for the transaction;

sending a message to a store controller associated with the pump identifier for an amount for the selected carbon offset;

receiving a gas payment amount for the transaction; and

initiating processing of a payment comprising the gas payment amount and the amount for the carbon offset.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the receiving the request for the transaction at the fuel dispensing station comprises receiving a tag comprising the pump identifier.

27. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the receiving the gas payment amount for the transaction comprises receiving the gas payment amount from one of the store controller and a point-of-sale device integrated with the fuel dispensing station.

28. The computer program product of claim 25, further comprising updating a carbon offset user account based on the amount for the carbon offset.

29. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the amount for the carbon offset is determined based on the gas payment amount.

30. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the amount for carbon offset includes a matching contribution.

31. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein the updating the carbon offset user account comprises one or more of achieving a gamification level and receiving an award.

32. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the carbon offset comprises a contribution amount.

33. A method for managing transactions at a fuel dispensing station via a portable computing device, the method comprising:

receiving a request via a communications network for a transaction at a fuel dispensing station;

pre-authorizing a payment method for the transaction;

determining a pump identifier associated with the fuel dispensing station;

receiving one or more pump options associated with the transaction;

sending the one or more pump options to a pump controller associated with the pump identifier;

receiving a payment amount for the transaction; and

initiating payment processing of the received payment amount using the payment method.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the receiving the request for the transaction at the fuel dispensing station comprises receiving a tag comprising the pump identifier.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the one or more pump options comprises a fuel grade selection.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the payment amount for the transaction is received from a store controller associated with the pump controller.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the pre-authorizing the payment method for the transaction comprises:

sending a pre-authorization request to a merchant acquirer.

38. A computer system for managing transactions at a fuel dispensing station via a portable computing device, the system comprising:

a processor operable for;

receiving a request via a communications network for a transaction at a fuel dispensing station;

pre-authorizing a payment method for the transaction;

determining a pump identifier associated with the fuel dispensing station;

receiving one or more pump options associated with the transaction;

sending the one or more pump options to a pump controller associated with the pump identifier;

receiving a payment amount for the transaction; and

initiating payment processing of the received payment amount using the payment method.

39. The computer system of claim 38, wherein the receiving the request for the transaction at the fuel dispensing station comprises receiving a tag comprising the pump identifier.

40. The computer system of claim 38, wherein the one or more pump options comprises a fuel grade selection and a car wash selection.

41. The computer system of claim 38, wherein the payment amount for the transaction is received from a store controller associated with the pump controller.

42. The computer system of claim 38, wherein the pre-authorizing the payment method for the transaction comprises:

sending a pre-authorization request to a merchant acquirer.

43. A computer system for managing transactions at a fuel dispensing station via a portable computing device, the system comprising:

means for receiving a request via a communications network for a transaction at a fuel dispensing station;

means for pre-authorizing a payment method for the transaction;

means for determining a pump identifier associated with the fuel dispensing station;

means for receiving one or more pump options associated with the transaction;

means for sending the one or more pump options to a pump controller associated with the pump identifier;

means for receiving a payment amount for the transaction; and

means for initiating payment processing of the received payment amount using the payment method.

44. The computer system of claim 43, wherein the means for receiving the request for the transaction at the fuel dispensing station comprises means for receiving a tag comprising the pump identifier.

45. The computer system of claim 43, wherein the one or more pump options comprises a fuel grade selection and a car wash selection.

46. The computer system of claim 43, wherein the payment amount for the transaction is received from a store controller associated with the pump controller.

47. The computer system of claim 43, wherein the means for pre-authorizing the payment method for the transaction comprises:

means for sending a pre-authorization request to a merchant acquirer.

48. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for managing transactions at a fuel dispensing station via a portable computing device, the method comprising:

receiving a request via a communications network for a transaction at a fuel dispensing station;

pre-authorizing a payment method for the transaction;

determining a pump identifier associated with the fuel dispensing station;

receiving one or more pump options associated with the transaction;

sending the one or more pump options to a pump controller associated with the pump identifier;

receiving a payment amount for the transaction; and

initiating payment processing of the received payment amount using the payment method.

49. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein the receiving the request for the transaction at the fuel dispensing station comprises receiving a tag comprising the pump identifier.

50. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein the one or more pump options comprises a fuel grade selection.

51. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein the payment amount for the transaction is received from a store controller associated with the pump controller.

52. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein the pre-authorizing the payment method for the transaction comprises:

sending a pre-authorization request to a merchant acquirer.

53. A method for controlling a display at a fuel dispensing station via a portable computing device, the method comprising:

receiving a request initiated by a portable computing device for a transaction at a fuel dispensing station;

determining a pump identifier associated with the fuel dispensing station;

establishing a pump session between the portable computing device and a pump controller associated with the pump identifier;

during the pump session, receiving a display control request initiated by the portable computing device for controlling a display integrated with the fuel dispensing station; and

sending the display control request to the pump controller for controlling the display in accordance with the display control request.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the display control request comprises a selection of a video channel.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein the display control request changes an advertising message or an offer presented on the display.

56. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

receiving a further display control request to view on the portable computing device content being presented on the display integrated with the fuel dispensing station.

57. The method of claim 56, further comprising:

sending the further display control request to the pump controller;

determining the content being presented on the display integrated with the fuel dispensing station; and

sending the content to the portable computing device.

58. A computer system for controlling a display at a fuel dispensing station via a portable computing device, the system comprising:

a processor operable for;

receiving a request initiated by a portable computing device for a transaction at a fuel dispensing station;

determining a pump identifier associated with the fuel dispensing station;

establishing a pump session between the portable computing device and a pump controller associated with the pump identifier;

during the pump session, receiving a display control request initiated by the portable computing device for controlling a display integrated with the fuel dispensing station; and

sending the display control request to the pump controller for controlling the display in accordance with the display control request.

59. The computer system of claim 58, wherein the display control request comprises a selection of a video channel.

60. The computer system of claim 58, wherein the display control request changes an advertising message or an offer presented on the display.

61. The computer system of claim 58, wherein the processor is further operable for receiving a further display control request to view on the portable computing device content being presented on the display integrated with the fuel dispensing station.

62. The computer system of claim 61, wherein the processor is further operable for:

sending the further display control request to the pump controller;

determining the content being presented on the display integrated with the fuel dispensing station; and

sending the content to the portable computing device.

63. A computer system for controlling a display at a fuel dispensing station via a portable computing device, the system comprising:

means for receiving a request initiated by a portable computing device for a transaction at a fuel dispensing station;

means for determining a pump identifier associated with the fuel dispensing station;

means for establishing a pump session between the portable computing device and a pump controller associated with the pump identifier;

means for receiving, during the pump session, a display control request initiated by the portable computing device for controlling a display integrated with the fuel dispensing station; and

means for sending the display control request to the pump controller for controlling the display in accordance with the display control request.

64. The computer system of claim 63, wherein the display control request comprises a selection of a video channel.

65. The computer system of claim 63, wherein the display control request changes an advertising message or an offer presented on the display.

66. The computer system of claim 63, further comprising means for receiving a further display control request to view on the portable computing device content being presented on the display integrated with the fuel dispensing station.

67. The computer system of claim 66, further comprising:

means for sending the further display control request to the pump controller;

means for determining the content being presented on the display integrated with the fuel dispensing station; and

means for sending the content to the portable computing device.

68. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for controlling a display at a fuel dispensing station via a portable computing device, the method comprising:

receiving a request initiated by a portable computing device for a transaction at a fuel dispensing station;

determining a pump identifier associated with the fuel dispensing station;

establishing a pump session between the portable computing device and a pump controller associated with the pump identifier;

during the pump session, receiving a display control request initiated by the portable computing device for controlling a display integrated with the fuel dispensing station; and

sending the display control request to the pump controller for controlling the display in accordance with the display control request.

69. The computer program product of claim 68, wherein the display control request comprises a selection of a video channel.

70. The computer program product of claim 68, wherein the display control request changes an advertising message or an offer presented on the display.

71. The computer program product of claim 68, wherein the method further comprises receiving a further display control request to view on the portable computing device content being presented on the display integrated with the fuel dispensing station.

72. The computer program product of claim 71, wherein the method further comprises:

sending the further display control request to the pump controller;

determining the content being presented on the display integrated with the fuel dispensing station; and

sending the content to the portable computing device.