Fuel dispensing and retail system providing for transponder prepayment
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fueling system comprising:
- a. a fuel dispenser having a payment acceptor integral with or proximate to said dispenser;
b. a customer interface for conducting a transaction;
c. wireless communication electronics for communicating with the remote communication unit; and
d. a control system adapted to;
i. effect payment for a fueling transaction through value received through said payment acceptor;
ii. effect payment for a fueling transaction through value received through said wireless communication electronics via the remote communication unit;
iii. effect storage of a prepaid value associated with the remote communication unit based on value received through said payment acceptor, wherein said fuel dispenser provides a customer opportunity to pay for a fueling transaction at the dispenser using the payment acceptor or said remote communication unit as well as add to said prepaid value associated with the remote communication unit via said payment acceptor;
iv. read said prepaid value from a database apart from said remote communication unit and write the updated prepaid value to said database apart from said remote communication unit;
wherein a customer prepays for subsequent transactions at a terminal capable of communicating with said remote communication unit to store said prepaid value on said remote communication unit or associate said prepaid value in said database associated with said terminal.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fueling system for conducting a transaction with a prepaid remote communication unit. The system includes wireless communication electronics for communicating with a remote communication unit, a dispenser and customer interface for conducting a transaction and accepting payment, and a control system. The control system is adapted to determine a value correlating to payment made by a customer, effect storage of the value in association with the remote communication unit, communicate with the remote communications unit subsequent to effecting storage of the value and deduct the value of an amount of a transaction associated with the communications unit to effect payment.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A fueling system comprising:
-
a. a fuel dispenser having a payment acceptor integral with or proximate to said dispenser; b. a customer interface for conducting a transaction; c. wireless communication electronics for communicating with the remote communication unit; and d. a control system adapted to; i. effect payment for a fueling transaction through value received through said payment acceptor; ii. effect payment for a fueling transaction through value received through said wireless communication electronics via the remote communication unit; iii. effect storage of a prepaid value associated with the remote communication unit based on value received through said payment acceptor, wherein said fuel dispenser provides a customer opportunity to pay for a fueling transaction at the dispenser using the payment acceptor or said remote communication unit as well as add to said prepaid value associated with the remote communication unit via said payment acceptor; iv. read said prepaid value from a database apart from said remote communication unit and write the updated prepaid value to said database apart from said remote communication unit; wherein a customer prepays for subsequent transactions at a terminal capable of communicating with said remote communication unit to store said prepaid value on said remote communication unit or associate said prepaid value in said database associated with said terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for conducting a transaction at a fueling dispenser with a remote communication unit, said dispenser having a payment acceptor integral with or proximate to said dispenser, comprising the steps of:
-
a. adding a value received through said payment acceptor to a prepaid value stored in association with said remote communication unit to increase the prepaid value stored in association with the remote communication unit; b. reading the prepaid value stored in association with the remote communication unit; c. totaling a purchase cost for any goods and services subject to the transaction; d. deducting the purchase cost from the prepaid value to calculate an updated prepaid value; and e. storing the updated prepaid value in association with the remote communication unit; the storing step in (e) further comprises reading said prepaid value from a database apart from the remote communication unit and writing the updated prepaid value to said database apart from said remote communication unit; wherein a customer prepays for subsequent transactions at a terminal capable of communicating with said remote communication unit to store said prepaid value on said remote communication unit or associate said prepaid value in said database associated with said terminal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
-
Specification