Fuel dispenser/operator intercom system

• US 5,798,931 A
• Filed: 06/06/1996
• Issued: 08/25/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: Kaehler, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elmore, Reba I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, Monica
• Application Number:
  US08/659,304
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 364/479.01, 186/36, 340/149, 358/93, 455/53.1, 455/66, 379/53
• US Class Current: 700/231
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• 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: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• 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: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10

Abstract

An apparatus for installation in a retail setting for selling fuel and other products ordered by a customer interacting with an operator. A video control system interfaces an external audio/video signal source with an audio/video signal source from an other product ordering apparatus operator. The external audio/video source transmits advertising and promotional materials to a video display located on a card reader equipped fuel dispenser. Additionally, customers can signal and communicate through audio/video signals with the operator to order other merchandise. Total transaction costs for fuel and non-fuel products is provided and paid for at the fuel dispenser.

Claims

1. An apparatus for installation in a retail setting for selling fuel and other products ordered by a customer interacting with an operator, comprising:

a. at least two fuel positions for dispensing fuel, each said position having;

i. a video display for displaying information to the customer,

ii. a first microphone to capture the voice of the customer,

iii. a first speaker to reproduce the voice of the operator,

iv. a signaling device actuable to permit the customer to signal to the operator that the customer wishes to place an order for fast food items by interfacing with an operator,

v. a payment receiver for receiving payment from the customer, and

vi. a menu for displaying fast food items to customers,

vii. each said position configured to provide a complete fuel transaction at said position without operator intervention when fast food items are not ordered,

b. a fast food ordering apparatus located apart from said fueling positions at an operators'"'"' work station including;

i. an order-entry data terminal for receiving operator-keyed data about products ordered by a customer from any one of said positions of said fuel dispenser,

ii. a video control system including,

video switching circuitry having first and second inputs, said video control system further including a digital logic dependent output adapted for carrying the chosen signal to a selected position of said fuel dispenser,

an operator selection device having input adapted for outputting a selection signal to trigger which said fueling position will receive audio and video signals from said fast food ordering apparatus, and

logic circuitry connected to said video switching circuitry to ensure only one of said video displays, located at one said position, is served by the audio and visual signals of said fast food ordering apparatus at one time,

iii. a camera at said data terminal and connected to said video control system at said first input,

iv. a second microphone positioned to capture the voice of the operator during a transaction and connected to said video control system at said second input,

v. a second speaker connected to said first microphone in said fuel dispenser to reproduce the voice of the customer during a transaction, and

vi. an indicator at said operator'"'"'s workstation adapted for receiving the signal from said signaling device at fueling position and for identifying from which fueling position the signal originates,

c. a fuel dispensing and payment receiving processing site controller linked to said fueling positions and to said fast food ordering apparatus to receive cost information, said fuel dispensing and payment receiving processing site controller adapted to receive cost information concerning the products ordered by the customer, including total sale cost information, to said fueling position for dislay on said video display so that the customer may pay for the products and fuel in the same transaction through said payment receiver; and

d. wherein each said fueling position is configured to provide audio and video of the operator to place a fast food item order when said signaling device is activated in addition to carrying out a fueling transaction.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said site controller computes a running total of line items as they are ordered and transmits the total to the appropriate video display for display with the line items.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said fuel dispenser housing includes a computation device that computes a running total of the line items as they are ordered and transmits the total to the appropriate video display for display with the line items.

4. An apparatus for installation in a retail setting for selling fuel and fast food items ordered by a customer interacting with an operator, comprising:

a. a fuel dispenser housing including;

i. fuel dispensing and measuring apparatus,

ii. a video display for displaying information to the customer,

iii. a first microphone to capture the voice of the customer,

iv. a first speaker to reproduce the voice of the operator,

v. a signalling device actuable to permit the customer to signal to the operator that the customer wishes to place an order for fast food items by interfacing with an operator, and

vi. a customer interface configured to provide a complete fuel transaction at said housing without operator intervention when fast food items are not ordered,

b. a fast food ordering apparatus located apart from said housing including;

i. a data terminal for receiving operator-keyed data about products ordered by a customer at said housing,

ii. a camera to be oriented to capture an image of the operator during a transaction and linked to the video display in the fuel dispenser,

iii. a second microphone to be positioned to capture the voice of the operator during a transaction and linked to the first speaker in the fuel dispenser,

iv. a second speaker linked to the first microphone in the fuel dispenser to reproduce the voice of the customer during a transaction,

v. an indicator linked to the signalling device to indicate to the operator that the customer wishes to order other products, and

vi. a video control system linked to the video display to control video images displayed on the video display, and

c. a site controller linked to the fuel dispenser and to the fast food ordering apparatus to receive cost information concerning fast food ordered by the customer and communicating received cost information to said fuel dispenser so that the customer may pay for other products as well as dispensed fuel,

wherein said apparatus is configured to provide audio and video of the operator at the video display to place a fast food item order when said signalling device is activated in addition to carrying out a fueling transaction.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a video signal source linked to said video display for displaying a video signal on said display prior to the customer'"'"'s actuation of the signalling device.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said data terminal is computer system for a fast-food operation.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said fuel dispenser further comprises a printer to print a claim document for the customer to use to claim the other products ordered during a transaction.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a primary video signal source and wherein said fuel dispenser is linked to said primary video signal source and said video display displays a video from said primary video signal source prior to a customer'"'"'s actuation of said signalling device.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said fuel dispenser further comprises an indication of other products available by actuation of said signalling device.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said indicator provides an audible indication and a visible indication.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said fuel dispenser further comprises a message store to display a message on said video display after a customer actuates said signalling device and before the operator responds to said indicator.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said other product ordering apparatus further comprises a headset to be worn by the operator and wherein said second microphone and said second speaker are mounted in said headset.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said video control system includes a video image store of depictions of other products available for purchase and displays depictions of ordered items as entered by the operator in said data terminal.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

there are a plurality of said fuel dispensers associated with a single other product ordering apparatus,

said indicator indicates as an active dispenser the one from which the customer is signalling,

said other product ordering apparatus further comprises a dispenser selector to direct the image and voice of the operator to be displayed on the video display and reproduced by the first speaker of the active dispenser, and

said video control system controls the video display of the active dispenser.

15. A dispenser selector as claimed in claim 14 further including a graphics and video interface to superimpose graphically the order data keyed into said data terminal over the image and voice of the operator to be displayed on said video display and reproduced by said first speaker of the active dispenser.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a payment receiver for receiving payment from a customer.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said payment receiver is a card reader.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said payment receiver is a cash acceptor.

19. A method of arranging for sale and payment for fuel and fast food products in a single transaction, comprising the steps of:

providing a fuel dispenser housing having fuel dispensing and measuring apparatus, a video display for displaying information to the customer, a first microphone to capture the voice of the customer, a first speaker to reproduce the voice of the operator, a camera to provide video of a fast food operator on the video display when fast food ordering is initiated, a signalling device actuable to permit the customer to signal to the operator that the customer wishes to place an order for other products, and a payment receiver for receiving payment from the customer;

dispensing fuel through the fuel dispensing and measuring apparatus;

monitoring the cost of fuel dispensed;

signalling a store operator from a signalling device located at the fuel dispenser when fast food ordering is desired;

responding to the signal from the signalling device by the video display and the first speaker;

transmitting product order data requested by the customer from the first microphone to a fast food ordering location;

registering the order data received from the customer on an order-entry data terminal;

transmitting product order cost data from the remote product ordering location to the video display of the fuel dispenser; and

receiving payment for the fuel and fast food from the customer through the payment receiver.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said step of dispensing is performed through a card-reader equipped fuel dispenser and further comprising reading data on card inserted in the card reader.

21. The method of claim 19 further including the step of displaying other advertising and promotional information on the video display by transmitting a video image from an external audio/visual signal source.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein said step of signalling the store operator further includes the steps of actuating a button on the fuel dispenser.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of responding to actuation of the signalling device further includes the steps of:

displaying a message on the fuel pump video screen after the customer actuates the order button and before the operator responds to said indicator;

selecting a fuel pump to respond to from among the signalling customers; and

switching the video display on the selected customer'"'"'s fuel pump from the external audio/visual signal providing advertising to an audio/video signal transmitting from the store operator'"'"'s workstation.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the switching step includes the step of digitally triggering one of the two analog audio/visual signals through a digitally triggered video multiplexor.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein the transmitting product order cost data step includes the steps of:

responding to the customer over the audio/visual transmission originating from the operator'"'"'s workstation;

sending an audio/visual order confirmation to the customer; and

providing total sale cost information to the customer located at the fuel pump.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of sending an audio/visual order confirmation to the customer further includes sending a video image of the store operator.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of sending an audio/visual order confirmation to the customer further includes superimposing graphic product order data on the video image of the store operator.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the step of providing total sale cost information to the customer further includes the steps of:

transmitting the fast food product cost information from the store operator'"'"'s data terminal via twisted pair wiring to the central control computer;

combining the total fuel sale cost and fast food total cost at the central control computer; and

relaying the total sale cost information from the central control computer to the video display on the fuel pump.

29. An apparatus for installation in a retail setting for selling fuel and fast food products ordered by a customer interacting with an operator, comprising:

a. a fuel dispenser housing including;

i. fuel dispensing and measuring apparatus,

ii. a video display for displaying information to the customer,

iii. a first microphone to capture the voice of the customer,

iv. a first speaker to reproduce the voice of the operator,

v. a signalling device actuable to permit the customer to signal to the operator that the customer wishes to place an order for fast food items by interfacing with an operator, and

vi. a customer interface configured to provide a complete fuel transaction at said housing without operator intervention when fast food items are not ordered,

b. fast food ordering apparatus including;

i. a data terminal for receiving operator-keyed data about other products ordered by a customer at said housing,

ii. a second microphone to be positioned to capture the voice of the operator during a transaction and linked to the first speaker in the fuel dispenser,

iii. a second speaker linked to the first microphone in the fuel dispenser to reproduce the voice of the customer during a transaction,

iv. an indicator linked to the signalling device to indicate to the operator that the customer wishes to order other products, and

v. a camera for taking images of the operator during fast food ordering and linked to the video display in the fuel dispenser,

c. a controller linked to the fuel dispenser and to the other product ordering apparatus to receive order information concerning other products ordered by the customer and communicate received order information to said fuel dispenser so that the customer may pay for other products as well as dispensed fuel.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 further including a video source linked to the video display to provide video images to display on said video display.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said video source is a video player.

32. The apparatus of claim 29 further comprising a video controller operatively associated with said camera and said video display adapted to mix the order information with the video images provided by said camera for display on said video display.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said video controller is located at said fuel dispenser housing.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said video controller is located at said fast food ordering apparatus.

35. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said video controller is adapted to superimpose the order information on said video display.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said video controller is adapted to superimpose the order information on said video display line by line.

37. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the order information displayed to the customer provides a video receipt for the customer.

38. A method of arranging for sale and payment for fuel and other products in a single transaction, comprising the steps of:

providing a card-reader equipped fuel dispenser housing having fuel dispensing and measuring apparatus, a video display for displaying information to the customer, a first microphone to capture the voice of the customer, a first speaker to reproduce the voice of the operator, a camera to provide video of a fast food operator on the video display when fast food ordering is initiated a signalling device actuable to permit the customer to signal to the operator that the customer wishes to place an order for other products, and a payment receiver for receiving payment from the customer;

authorizing credit for the customer from a central computer;

dispensing fuel through the fuel dispensing and measuring apparatus;

monitoring the cost of fuel dispensed;

displaying other advertising and promotional information provided by an external audio/visual signal source to the customer located at the fuel dispenser;

signalling a store operator from a signalling device located at the fuel dispenser when fast food ordering is desired, further including the steps of actuating a button on the fuel dispenser;

responding to actuation of the signalling device by the customer by inviting the customer to place an order for other products in the form of a presentation on the video display or reproducing the voice of an operator on the first speaker, said responding further including the steps of;

i. displaying a message on the fuel pump video screen after the customer actuates the order button and before the operator responds to said indicator,

ii. selecting a fuel pump to respond to from among the signalling customers, and

iii. switching the video display on the selected customer'"'"'s fuel dispenser from an external audio/video signal providing advertising to an audio/video signal transmitting from the store operator'"'"'s workstation, wherein said switching includes the step of digitally triggering one of two analog audio/video signals through a video multiplexor,

transmitting fast food order data requested by the customer from the first microphone to a remote product ordering location;

registering the fast food order data on an order-entry data terminal;

transmitting order cost data from the remote product ordering location to the fuel dispenser, wherein said transmitting further includes the steps of;

i. responding to the customer over the audio/video transmission originating from the operator'"'"'s workstation,

ii. sending an audio/visual order confirmation to the customer'"'"'s fuel dispenser, said sending further including the step of superimposing graphic product order information from the operator'"'"'s data entry terminal on the video image of the store operator,

iii. providing total sale cost information to the customer on the video display located at the fuel dispenser, said providing further including the steps of transmitting the fast food product cost information from the store operator'"'"'s data terminal to the site controller, combining the total fuel cost and fast food cost at the site controller, and relaying the total sale cost information form the site controller to the video display on the fuel pump,

receiving payment for the fuel and fast food products from the customer through the payment receiver;

printing a pick-up ticket for the customer to carry to the delivery window; and

delivering the other product orders to the customer at a delivery window.

39. An apparatus for installation in a retail setting for selling fuel and other non-fuel products ordered by a customer interacting with an operator, comprising:

a. a fuel dispenser housing including;

i. fuel dispensing and measuring apparatus,

ii. a video display for displaying information to the customer,

iii. a first microphone to capture the voice of the customer,

iv. a first speaker to reproduce the voice of the operator,

v. a signalling device actuable to permit the customer to signal to the operator that the customer wishes to place an order for fast food products by interfacing with the operator,

vi. a video controller linked to said video display for providing mixed video images to said video display, and

vii. a customer interface configured to provide a complete fuel transaction at said housing without operator intervention when fast food items are not ordered,

b. fast food ordering apparatus including;

i. a data terminal for receiving operator-keyed data about fast food products ordered by a customer,

ii. a second microphone to be positioned to capture the voice of the operator during a transaction and linked to the first speaker in the fuel dispenser,

iii. a second speaker linked to the first microphone in the fuel dispenser to reproduce the voice of the customer during a transaction, and

iv. an indicator linked to the signalling device to indicate to the operator that the customer wishes to order other products,

c. a controller linked to the fuel dispenser and to the fast food product ordering apparatus to receive order information concerning other products ordered by the customer and communicate received order information to said fuel dispenser so that the customer may pay for other products as well as dispensed fuel, and

d. a camera focused on the operator and linked to the video controller to provide video images to display on said video display, said video controller adapted to mix the order information with the video images to provide a video receipt with line item detail of the order,

wherein said apparatus is configured to provide audio and video of the operator at the video display to place a fast food item order when said signalling device is activated in addition to carrying out a fueling transaction.

40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein said data terminal of said fast food order apparatus is a point-of-sale terminal.