Dispenser control console interfaced to a register

• US 5,663,887 A
• Filed: 01/11/1996
• Issued: 09/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amphenol Corporation, Progressive International'L Electronics
• Original Assignee: Progressive International Electronics Inc.
• Inventors: Warn, Walter E., Carr, Fred K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elmore, Reba I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US08/583,895
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 364/479.01, 364/479.02, 364/479.06, 364/479.07, 364/479.08, 364/479.09, 364/479.1, 364/479.11, 364/479.12, 364/465, 364/131-135 , 364/405, 364/509, 364/510, 340/825.35, 222/14, 222/23-28, 395/216-218, 395/220-222
• US Class Current: 700/232
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/14 Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit data transmission in general H04L; telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station H04Q9/00

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fuel dispenser control console which is interfaced to a cash register for down-loading sales information to the register when the sale is paid out on the console. The control console includes a programmable data processor which processes commands for controlling the dispensers. Commands to the dispensers are initiated through input keys on the console. Sales information is down-loaded to the cash register through a serial connection to the console. Sales information is transferred from the console to the register in a command format (character string) which mimics a cash register keyboard entry. The system uses a communication protocol translator to configure the command logic signals from the console into a format readable by the dispensers such that the system can be used with various dispenser brands.

Claims

1. A fuel dispenser-cash register control system for controlling the dispensing process in at least one fuel dispenser, for storing in memory information on the amount of fuel dispensed from said dispenser, and for transferring information on each dispensing transaction to a designated department in a cash register when the sale is paid out on the console, comprising:

(a) a control console means having a first programmable micro processor coupled with a first read-only-memory device and a first read-and-write-memory device, and a series of console input key switches, for;

(1) controlling said dispenser from said console input key switches causing said first microprocessor to retrieve dispenser control commands from said first read-only-memory device in a predetermined sequence and output said commands to said fuel dispenser causing said dispenser to dispense fuel;

(2) receiving dispenser responses from said dispenser during the fueling process and storing said responses in said first read-and-write-memory device;

(3) generating and transferring to said cash register a character string containing information on the dispensing transaction when the transaction is paid out on said console means;

(b) an application interface means between said first microprocessor in said control console means and a second microprocessor coupled with a second read-only-memory device and a second read-and-write memory device in said cash register for,

(1) generating and sending by said first microprocessor in said control console a character string which mimics a keyboard entry in said cash register, and

(2) receiving and processing said character string by said second microprocessor in said cash register causing the sale to be posted in a department;

(c) a configuration means having electrical connection to said control console means and said fuel dispenser for

(1) configuring said dispenser control commands into a communication protocol readable by said fuel dispenser, and

(2) configuring said dispenser responses into a communication protocol readable by said control console means.

2. A fuel dispenser-cash register control system as defined in claim 1, wherein said configuration means includes an opto-coupler with light emitting diode and transistor for translating current levels.

3. A fuel dispenser-cash register control system as defined in claimed 1, wherein said configuration means includes a comparator for translating voltage levels.

4. A method for controlling the dispensing process in a fuel dispenser delivering fuel to a vehicle by a fuel dispenser-cash register control console means which down-loads sales information on the fuel dispensed from said dispenser to a cash register means at completion of the fueling transaction through an application interface means, comprising the steps of:

(a) setting the price per unit of the fuel to be dispensed by a price command from said console means to said dispenser;

(b) authorizing said dispenser with an authorization command from said console means allowing said dispenser to dispense fuel;

(c) polling the status of said fuel dispenser by a status request command from said console means to determine if dispenser is idle, if the nozzle handle has been lifted and service is being requested at dispenser, or if dispenser is dispensing fuel;

(d) reading sales information at said dispenser by a sales information command from said console means where in turn said dispenser responds with the dollar and volume amount of fuel dispensed;

(e) down-loading from said console means said sales information to said cash register through said application interface means wherein said console means sends to said cash register means a character string which mimics a cash register key stroke; and

(f) posting in a designated department said sales information by said cash register means as a sale.

5. A fuel dispenser control system for controlling the dispensing process in at least one fuel dispenser, for storing in memory information on the amount of fuel dispensed from said dispenser, and for down-loading said information on the amount of fuel dispensed to a PC at request, comprising:

(a) a control console means having a first programmable data processor coupled with a first read-only-memory device and a first read-and-write-memory device, and a series of console input key switches, for;

(1) controlling said dispenses from said console input key switches causing said first data processor to retrieve dispenser control commands from said first read-only-memory in a predetermined sequence and output said commands to said to said fuel dispenser causing said dispenser to dispense fuel;

(2) receiving dispenser responses including pump totals from said dispenser during the fueling process and storing said totals in said first read-and-write-memory device;

(3) generating and down-loading to said PC fuel totals reports;

(b) an application interface means between said first data processor in said console means and a second data processor couple to a second read-only-memory device and a second read-and-write-memory device in said PC for,

(1) allowing for the flow of data between said console means and said PC, and

(2) reading said totals reports from said console means by said PC;

(c) a configuration means with electrical connection to said console means and said fuel dispenser;

for

(1) configuring said dispenser control commands into a communication protocol readable by said fuel dispenser, and

(2) configuring said dispenser responses into a communication protocol readable by said control console means.

6. A fuel dispenser control system as defined in claim 5, wherein said configuration means includes an opto-coupler with light emitting diode and transistor for translating current levels.

7. A fuel dispenser control system as defined in claim 5, wherein said configuration means includes an comparator for translating voltage levels.

8. A method for controlling the dispensing process in at least one fuel dispenser delivering fuel to a vehicle by a fuel dispenser control console means which stores in memory information on the amount of fuel dispensed by fueling position and hose number, and down-loads said information to a PC through an application interface means, comprising the steps of:

(a) setting the price per unit of the fuel to be dispensed by a price command from said console means to said dispenser;

(b) authorizing said dispenser with an authorization command from said console means allowing said dispenser to dispense fuel;

(c) polling the status of said fuel dispenser by a status request command from said console means to determine if said dispenser is idle, if the nozzle has been lifted and service is being requested, or if dispenser is dispensing fuel;

(d) reading sales information at said dispenser by a sales information command from said console means where in turn said dispenser responds with the dollar and volume amount of fuel dispensed which is stored in memory as pump totals;

(e) generating by said console means from said pump totals pump totals reports at request of said PC through said application interface means;

(f) down-loading from said console means to said PC said pump totals reports through said application interface means.

9. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein step (e) is practiced by generating a resettable totals report.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein step (e) is practiced by generating a non-resettable totals report.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein step (e) is practiced by generating a shift 1 totals report.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein step (e) is practiced by generating a shift 2 totals report.

13. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein step (e) is practiced by generating a shift 3 totals report.

14. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein step (e) is practiced by generating a polled pump totals report.