System for transacting fuel purchases using an island transaction terminal

• US 5,797,470 A
• Filed: 12/01/1995
• Issued: 08/25/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company Incorporated (BP PLC)
• Original Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company Incorporated (BP PLC)
• Inventors: Bohnert, Michael H., Lien, Ronald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARTUSKA, FRANCIS JOHN
• Application Number:
  US08/566,012
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 194/206, 194/207, 194/217, 194/218, 194/350, 235/381, 186/36, 186/53, 186/37
• US Class Current: 186/53
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/205 Housing aspects of ATMs
• 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: G07F 9/10 Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling

Abstract

A system for transacting fuel purchases. A plurality of fuel dispensing pumps are interconnected to an island transaction terminal through a central master terminal. Each fuel dispensing pump comprises an independent fuel dispensing nozzle. Storage is provided for storing fuel dispensing pump reservations. A processor determines whether one of the plurality of fuel dispensing pumps is already reserved. A money acceptor and a money equivalent acceptor receive payment of money and a money equivalent, respectively. The central master terminal verifies the payment. An enabler enables the requested fuel dispensing pump to dispense fuel using a remote signal to the requested fuel dispensing pump upon verification of the payment by the central master terminal.

Claims

1. A system for transacting fuel purchases comprising:

a first plurality of fuel dispensing pumps disposed at a first island location, each dispensing pump at the first island location comprising independent means for dispensing fuel and means for enabling each pump to dispense fuel in response to a dispensing signal;

a second plurality of fuel dispensing pumps disposed at a second island location, each dispensing pump at the second island location comprising independent means for dispensing fuel and means for enabling each pump to dispense fuel in response to a dispensing signal;

a first island transaction terminal disposed at the first island location, the first island transaction terminal comprising means for receiving a request for purchasing fuel at a specified dispensing pump located at either of the island locations, means for receiving payment for such fuel purchase in the form of money or money equivalent, and means for emitting a first payment signal containing information regarding the amount of payment received, the form of payment and the specified dispensing pump for which such fuel purchase is requested;

a second island transaction terminal disposed at the second island location, the second island transaction terminal comprising means for receiving a request for purchasing fuel at a specified dispensing pump located at either of the island locations, means for receiving payment for such fuel purchase in the form of money or money equivalent, and means for emitting a second payment signal containing information regarding the amount of payment received, the form of payment and the specified dispensing pump for which such fuel pump is requested;

a payment station disposed away from the first and second island locations, the payment station comprising means for receiving a request for purchasing fuel at a specified dispensing pump, means for receiving payment for such fuel purchase and means for emitting a third payment signal containing information regarding the amount of payment received, the form of payment and the specified dispensing pump for which such fuel purchase is requested;

a master terminal comprising means for receiving the first, second, and third payment signals, means for storing the information contained in such signals, means for communicating with a financial verification center to verify the payment of money equivalent payments, means for choosing between contemporaneous requests for fuel purchases from the same dispensing pump and means for emitting a dispensing signal to the requested dispensing pump to enable the dispensing of fuel from that dispensing pump.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein both the first and second island transaction terminals and the payment station have means for dispensing a receipt confirming payment received.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for receiving a request for purchasing fuel comprises a key pad.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for receiving a request for purchasing fuel comprises a card reader.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the master terminal further comprises means for transmitting money equivalent payment information to an off-site terminal and means for receiving back from the off-site terminal a signal indicating approval of the requested fuel purchase.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the first and second island transaction terminals further comprise a display for displaying the response from the off-site terminal.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the master terminal further comprises means for resolving conflicts between fuel purchase requests.