Fuel pump - card reader control center

• US 5,694,326 A
• Filed: 05/08/1996
• Issued: 12/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Progressive International'L Electronics
• Original Assignee: Progressive International Electronics Inc.
• Inventors: Warn, Walter E., Carr, Fred K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH-STEWART, DEMETRA R
• Application Number:
  US08/646,388
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 364/479.01, 364/479.02, 364/479.06, 364/479.11, 364/510
• US Class Current: 700/231
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fuel pump-card reader control center for controlling the fuel dispensing process and accepting payment for the fuel dispensed through a card reader. The control center has a microprocessor with read-only-memory (ROM) and read-and-write-memory (RAM). Operating routines are stored in ROM and operating code for controlling the dispensing process and accepting payment for the fuel dispensed is stored in RAM. The control commands for pump control and card reader control are down-loadable from magnetic medium or remotely though a modem interface. Configuration circuits translate the communication language of the fuel pump control commands and the card reader control commands into a communication format which is readable by the dispensers such that the control center can control dispensing process of different dispenser brands and accept payment for the fuel dispensed. Response data from the dispensers is stored in the RAM, and is transmitted to a computer through a driver, where the computer is performing cash register function. The fuel pump-card reader control center is particularly well suited for use with a c-store point-of-sales application programs for controlling the dispensers. An external version of the controller has serial connection to the computer and an internal version resides in an expansion slot and has a bus interface connection to the computer.

Claims

1. A fuel delivery system, comprising:

(a) a plurality of fuel dispensers having a fuel pump means for delivering a variable volumetric flow of fuel into a vehicle tank and a card reader means for accepting payment for the fuel dispensed;

(b) a computer means, functionally connected to said fuel dispensers, for initiating commands to said fuel dispensers and for receiving response data from said fuel dispensers;

(c) a fuel pump-card reader control means having a programmable data processor with a read-only-memory means for storing routines for said data processor and a read-and-write-memory means for storing operating code and response data, operatively connected between said fuel dispensers and said computer means, for;

(1) reading an input selection key in said card reader means in said fuel dispensers for determining when a customer wants service and how said customer wants to pay for fuel dispensed;

(2) retrieving commands from said read-and-write-memory means in a predetermined sequence and outputting said commands in a readable format to said pump means and said card reader means in said dispensers causing fuel to be dispensed;

(3) receiving responses from said fuel pump means and said card reader means in said fuel dispensers during the fueling process and storing said responses in said read-and-write-memory means;

(4) retrieving said response data from said read-and

write memory means and down-loading to said computer means on request;

(d) a first configuration means electrically connected between said fuel pump-card reader control means and said pump means in said fuel dispensers for configuring said commands into a communication protocol readable by said pump means and said responses into a communication protocol readable by said control means;

(e) a second configuration means connected between said fuel pump-card reader control means and said card reader means in said dispensers for configuring said commands into a communication protocol readable by said card reader means and said responses into a communication protocol readable by said control means; and

(f) a down-load communication means for down-loading fuel pump and card reader control software to said read-and-write-memory means in said fuel pump-card reader control means.

2. A fuel delivery system as defined in claim 1 wherein said read-and-write-memory means includes a nonvolatile read-and-write chip for storing operating code and a static read-and-write chip for storing response data.

3. The fuel delivery means as defined in claim 1 wherein said fuel pump-card reader control means has a RS-232 serial connection to said computer means for transmitting and receiving data.

4. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 1 wherein said fuel pump-card reader control means has a computer bus interface means connecting to said computer means for transmitting and receiving data.

5. A fuel delivery system as defined in claim 1 wherein said first configuration means includes an opto-coupler with light emitting diode and transistor for translating current levels to communicate with said fuel pump means.

6. A fuel delivery system as defined in claim 1 wherein said second configuration means includes an opto-coupler with light emitting diode and transistor for translating current levels to communicate with said card reader means.

7. A fuel delivery system as defined in claim 1 wherein said first configuration means includes a comparator for translating voltage levels to communicate with said fuel pump means.

8. A fuel delivery system as defined in claim 1 wherein said second configuration means includes a RS-232 formatting chip for formatting communication with said card reader means.

9. A fuel delivery system as defined in claim 1 wherein said second configuration means includes a RS-422 formatting chip for formatting communication with said card reader means.

10. The fuel delivery system as defined in claim 1 wherein said second configuration means includes a RS-485 formatting chip for formatting communication with said card reader means.

11. A fuel pump-card reader control center for controlling a fuel delivery system, used in combination with at least one fuel dispenser having a fuel pump means with a first programmable memory device for dispensing fuel, a card reader means with a second programmable memory device for accepting payment for fuel dispensed, and a computer means with a third programmable memory device including application software programming for performing cash register operations, comprising:

(a) a fuel pump-card reader control means including a printed circuit board with a read-only-memory means for storing operating routines and a read-and-write-memory means for storing a series of commands to control said fuel dispenser and responses from said dispenser during the fueling process, and a dispenser control processor, operatively connected to said first and second programmable memory devices in said dispenser and to said third programmable memory device in said computer means, for

(1) reading said second programmable memory device in said card reader means to determine the presence of a customer at said dispenser and how said customer intends to pay for dispensed fuel;

(2) retrieving said commands from said read-and-write-memory means in a predetermined sequence and outputting said commands in a readable format to said first programmable memory device in said pump means in said dispenser causing said dispenser to dispense fuel;

(3) receiving response data from said first programmable memory device during the fueling process and storing said response data in said read-and-write-memory means;

(4) processing and outputting said response data to said third programmable memory device in said computer means through a driver interface program to control the flow of data between the two;

(b) a first configuration means functionally connected between said fuel dispenser control processor and said first programmable memory device in said pump means in said dispenser for translating the communication protocols of the two wherein said commands are readable by said first programmable memory device and said responses are readable by said dispenser control processor;

(c) a second configuration means functionally connected between said dispenser control processor and said second programmable memory device in said card reader in said dispenser for translating the communication protocols of the two wherein said commands are readable by said second programmable memory device and said responses are readable by said dispenser control processor;

(d) A down-load communication means for down-loading fuel pump and card reader control software to said read-and-write-means in said dispenser control processor.

12. A fuel pump-card reader control center as defined in claim 11 wherein said fuel pump-card reader control means resides in a card connector in an expansion bus in said computer means with said third programmable memory device and communicates with said computer through a bus interface.

13. A fuel pump-card reader control center as defined in claim 12 wherein said fuel pump-card reader control means further includes a serial formatting interface means for formatting communication between said control means and said computer means into a serial format for communication with said computer through said bus interface.

14. A fuel pump-card reader control center as defined in claim 11 wherein said fuel pump-card reader control means includes a RS-232 formatting chip for formatting the communication between said control means and said computer means with said third programmable memory device into RS-232 format.

15. A fuel pump-card reader control center as defined in claim 11 wherein said read-and-write-memory means in said fuel pump-card reader control means includes a nonvolatile read-and-write chip for storing said commands and a static read-and-write chip for storing said response data.

16. A fuel pump-card reader control center as defined in claim 15 wherein said static read-and-write chip is sub-sectioned into blocks including system pump block, system card block, and system card queue block for temporarily storing system pump and reader data.

17. A fuel pump-card reader control center as defined in claim 16 wherein said system pump block is further sub-section into individual pump blocks where there is a pump block for each fueling position in the fuel delivery system for temporarily storing data.

18. A fuel pump card reader control center as defined in claim 11 wherein said first configuration means and said fuel pump-card reader control means are functionally connected through an opto-coupler means for communicating between the two.

19. A method for controlling the fuel dispensing process by a fuel pump-card reader control center including a first microprocessor with read-only-memory means for storing operating routines and read-and-write-memory means for storing dispenser control commands and responses to said commands, functionally connected to at least one fuel dispenser having a second microprocessor with programmable memory device for dispensing fuel and a third microprocessor with programmable memory device for controlling a credit card reader, and further functionally connected to a computer means including a forth microprocessor with programmable memory device including an application program for performing cash register function, where said fuel pump-card reader control system utilizes a fuel pump configuration means to configure commands to and responses from said second microprocessor and a card reader configuration means to configure commands to and responses from said third microprocessor, comprising the steps of:

(a) setting the price per unit of the fuel to be dispensed by said dispenser by sending a command configured by said fuel pump configuration means including fueling position, hose number, read or write operation flag, and unit price, whereas with a write operation flag the price is stored in said memory of said dispenser, with a read operation flag said dispenser responds back to said first microprocessor with response configured by said fuel pump configuration means indicating fueling position, hose number, and unit price stored;

(b) reading a key queue in said card reader by sending a read command configured by said card reader configuration means including read code which is followed by a response configured by said card reader configuration means including reader number and key code;

(c) reading a card queue in said card reader by sending a read command configured by said card reader configuration means including read code which is followed by a response configured by said card reader configuration means including reader number and credit card data;

(d) starting the dispensing process by an authorization command configured by said fuel pump configuration means including command code, fueling position, hose number, and limit Mount of fuel to be dispensed;

(e) polling the status of said dispenser by a status request command configured by said fuel pump configuration means including fueling position and hose number, whereafter said dispenser responds with status indicator response configured by said fuel pump configuration means including hose is dispensing fuel, hose is idle, pump handle has been lifted and

(f) reading sales information by a sales information command configured by said fuel pump configuration means including command code, fueling position, hose number, and operational flag, whereas with a read operation flag said dispenser responds to said first microprocessor with response configured by said fuel pump configuration means including pump number, hose number, and amount of fuel dispensed, or with a clear operation flag thereby the sale flag is cleared.

20. A method as defined in claim 19 further comprising the step of setting the blend ratio of fuel to be dispensed by sending a blend command configured by said fuel pump configuration means including pump number, hose number, and percent of hose number one ratio.

21. A fuel pump-cash acceptor control center for controlling a fuel delivery system, used in combination with at least fuel dispenser having a fuel pump means with a first microprocessor for delivering a variable volumetric flow of fuel into a vehicle tank and a cash acceptor means for accepting bills for payment for the fuel dispensed, and a computer means with a third programmable memory device including application software programming for performing cash register function, comprising;

(a) a fuel pump-cash acceptor control means including a printed circuit board with a read-only-memory means for storing operating routines and a read-and-write-memory means for storing a series of commands to control said fuel dispenser and responses from said dispenser during the fueling process, and a dispenser control processor, operatively connected between said first and second programmable memory devices in said dispenser and to said third programmable memory device in said computer means, for

(1) reading said second programmable memory device in said cash acceptor means to determine the presence of a customer at said dispenser and how said customer intends to pay for dispensed fuel;

(2) retrieving commands from said read-and-write-memory means in a predetermined sequence and outputting said commands in a readable format to said first programmable memory devise in said pump means causing said dispenser to dispense fuel;

(3) receiving response data from said first programmable memory device during the fueling process and storing said response data in said read-and-write-memory means;

(4) processing and outputting said response data to said third programmable memory device in said computer means through a driver interface program to control the flow of data between the two;

(b) a first configuration means functionally connected between said fuel dispenser control processor and said first programmable memory device in said pump means in said dispenser for translating the communication protocols of the two wherein said commands are readable by said by said first programmable memory device and said response data is readable by said dispenser control processor;

(c) a second configuration means functionally connected said dispenser control processor and said second programmable memory device in said cash acceptor in said dispenser for translating the communication protocols of the two wherein said commands are readable by said second programmable memory device and said response data is readable by said dispenser control processor; and

(d) a down-load communication means for down-loading fuel pump and cash acceptor control software to said read-and-write-memory means coupled with said dispenser control processor.