Internet capable browser dispenser architecture
First Claim
1. An interactive fuel dispensing system comprising:
- a plurality of fuel dispensers having at least one fueling position, each position including a thin client comprising a dispenser controller, a display, an input device and a browser running on said controller to provide an interactive graphical user interface;
a local server associated with a fuel station store including a server controller and associated software to provide local services to each said thin client; and
each said thin client and said local server having network connections for connecting to a network including remote servers, each said thin client adapted to access local services from said local server and remote services from the remote servers by manipulation of said interactive user interface.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to an interactive fuel dispenser system having a plurality of fuel dispensers operating in conjunction with a local server. Each dispenser generally has two fueling positions, each with a graphical user interface through which a customer interacts. In contrast with efforts to turn fuel dispensers into super computers, applicants'"'"' provide a dispenser architecture that need only be sufficient to establish interactivity with a server to create multimedia applications and carry out POS functions with a browser interface. Each fueling position acts as a client of a local server at the fuel station store. In the preferred embodiment, each fueling position client also may access remote servers connected to the same network in which the fueling position clients and the local server are connected. Preferably, this network is connected to the Worldwide Web of the Internet.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An interactive fuel dispensing system comprising:
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a plurality of fuel dispensers having at least one fueling position, each position including a thin client comprising a dispenser controller, a display, an input device and a browser running on said controller to provide an interactive graphical user interface; a local server associated with a fuel station store including a server controller and associated software to provide local services to each said thin client; and each said thin client and said local server having network connections for connecting to a network including remote servers, each said thin client adapted to access local services from said local server and remote services from the remote servers by manipulation of said interactive user interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An interactive fuel dispensing system comprising:
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a plurality of fuel dispensers having a controller and a plurality of fueling positions each having a display, an input device and a software browser operatively associated with said controller to form a graphical user interface at each fueling position, each said graphical user interface being a client and connected to a network of remote servers; a local server connected to the network and being one of the remote servers; said local server adapted to provide local services to said clients when accessed; each said client adapted to access said local server to receive the local services and access at least one remote server in the network to receive remote services; the local and remote services being selectable by a customer with said input device, accessed via said browser, received by said controller and displayed to the customer on said display; and whereby the customer is provided an interface at one said fueling position capable of interactively accessing local and remote services.
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22. An interactive fuel dispensing system with Internet access comprising:
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a plurality of fuel dispensers having multiple fueling positions, each fueling position being a thin client including a graphical user interface and a browser having a connection to the Internet; a local server located within a fuel station store and having a connection to the Internet; said local server adapted to interactively provide local services to said clients through the Internet when accessed by one of said clients; and each of said clients adapted to interactively request local services provided by said local server and remote services provided by remote servers on the Internet via said browser; whereby the customer is provided an interface at the fueling position capable of interactively accessing local and remote services.
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23. An interactive fuel dispenser having Internet access comprising two fueling positions, each said position configured to act as a thin client and including a graphical user interface and a browser having a connection to the Internet, each said client adapted to interactively request local services provided by a local server in a fuel station store and remote services provided by at least one remote server, said graphical user interface providing a customer access to local or remote services as desired, whereby the customer is provided an interface at the fueling position capable of interactively accessing local and remote services.
- 24. An interactive multimedia fuel dispenser for providing multimedia application comprising a control system, a display, an input device and a network connection for connecting to a local server providing interactive services to provide a graphical user interface, said control system including a hypertext mark-up language (HTML) browser for accessing services provided by a local server connected to connected network using hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP).
Specification